***

For those who were real Merinos Deli food lovers, allow me to add more info to why Merinos went out of business.

The new owner found a clause in our lease that gave him permission to open a used car lot. Well, that took up any and all the remaining parking spaces.

He knew exactly what he was doing as my rent was at a very reasonable amount and he wanted to raise it, knowing all too well before he obtained the building what I paid per month.

Essentially he stabbed me in the back!

If your interested, I am doing well, however I am seeking a job like so many others out there in the country.

Hopefully, one day I will be back in the hood with a bigger and better restaurant.

If you have some money and want to be a partner in a successful Merinos, e-mail me at merino1951 AT aol.com and we can talk about it.

The business is a good one, but it takes money, not that much, but in order to be successful you have to have cash flow.

I welcome all seekers!

Thanks for hearing me out!
Mike Merino

***

Here’s the review from 2007 shortly after Merino’s opened.

Merino’s Deli also won in the Best Deli category in the Eating Tampa 2008 Reader’s Poll.

I wish Mike all the best and hope he finds his way to opening another shop. The closing of his store was a real loss to the neighborhood.

“Many franchisees are suing over excessive fees, overly-expensive products and expensive supply contracts among other complaints, he said.”

I’m a huge fan of Kennedy’s. The first cookbook I ever owned was The Art of Mexican Cooking.

While she’s visiting Tampa she’ll also do a book signing at Inkwood Saturday the 15th 14th and offer a cooking class at the Rolling Pin Kitchen in Brandon on Thursday the 13th 12th. Her schedule is posted below.

Rene Valenzuela, owner and chef of the Taco Bus writes:

“Diana never announces ahead of time what the menu will be. Part of the reason is that she will come and shop for ingredients locally not knowing if they will be good enough for a pre-set menu. The class will be about 2-3 hrs, she will cook 3 or 4 dishes.”

“One of the dishes will probably be a sophisticated, time consuming and difficult Mole or Adobo. She mentioned her intent to include a fish dish but its not for sure.”

Inkwood Books will set up a stand of her books at El Taconazo so you can purchase them in the weeks leading up to her visit, and then have them signed on Valentine’s Day Friday the 13th.

It’s $75 for the class. For more information email Rene Valenzuela at DianaKennedyTampa@me.com.

Here’s her schedule while visiting Tampa.

Thursday Feb 12th 6:00 PM cooking class at The Rolling Pin in Brandon
Friday Feb 13th 2:00 book signing at Barnes and Noble South Dale Mabry (Maybe this one, neither store has posted any info yet)
Friday Feb 14th 13th 5:30 book signing at El Taconazo
Friday Feb 14th 13th 6:30 cooking class and book signing at El Taconazo
Saturday Feb 15th 14th 2:00 PM book signing and food sampling at Inkwood Books Tampa

From Rolling Pin Kitchen page –

“Diana Kennedy is an authority in authentic Mexican food, author of a dozen cookbooks and has been decorated with the Order of the Aztec Eagle: the highest honor bestowed on foreigners by the Mexican Government.”

“What she has done for Mexican food in the USA is commonly compared to what Julia Child did for French food and what Marcella Hazan did for the tastes of Italy. She has shown America authentic Mexican food: rich, complex, extensive and fascinating, one of the truly great world cuisines.”

“You will love her food, appreciate her demonstration skills and her vast experiences in the Mexican Culture. Tonight’s Menu: TBD based on what is fresh in the market.”

Books by Diana Kennedy:
The Art of Mexican Cooking

The Essential Cuisines of Mexico: Revised and updated throughout, with more than 30 new recipes.

From My Mexican Kitchen: Techniques and Ingredients

My Mexico: A Culinary Odyssey with More Than 300 Recipes

(Cross-posted at Creative Loafing)

“I just spoke with the new owner of Ella’s. They are the new 2 story restaurant being built at Shadowlawn and Nebraska. She will be participating in the Holiday Home Tour / Taste of Seminole Heights. So if you come on the tour you can taste the fare.”

He’s also spreading the rumor that Merino’s may re-open in the space soon to be vacated by the Antiquarian bookstore. (The bookstore is moving to new digs at the beginning of December). I report this rumor only because I really, really want it to be true.

“Due to the bad Economic Times, we are forced to close. Merino’s Deli is no longer in business. Building is being renovated.”

This is a shame. Merino’s Deli was a much needed addition to the Seminole Heights neighborhood. Certainly the small space and lack of parking didn’t help them, but I was always hoping they would be moving into a larger space at some point instead of out into the street.

Good luck, Mike! I hope this set back is only temporary and you find your way once again to running your own shop in Seminole Heights.

Check it out.

***

EVOS Promotes “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week”

Customers to get healthy dose of antibiotic awareness info and 100% antibiotic- free Steakburgers – for free!

Tampa, Fl. – (September 29, 2008) – EVOS® restaurants are joining in the Center for Disease Control’s “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week” to help educate people on antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. The initiative is a national campaign that runs from October 6 through October 10.

Antibiotic resistance has been called one of the world’s most pressing health problems. Almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it is really needed. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, schoolmates, and co-workers – threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat. For this reason, antibiotic resistance is among the CDC’s top concerns.

“Our customers tend to be health-conscious, and we see this as an opportunity to give them some important information that they can use to make some smart choices about the use of antibiotics,” said EVOS co-founder Dino Lambridis.

EVOS customers will find some of the CDC’s facts and prevention tips on their trays and in takeout bags during “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week.”

On Wednesday, October 8th, EVOS customers can enjoy a free EVOS Freerange Steakburger as the company’s way of saying thanks and helping to spread the word about this important initiative. The EVOS Steakburger – just like all beef and chicken at EVOS – is 100% antibiotic free.

“There’s no need to give our cows drugs – they’re not sick,” said Lambridis. “The same principle applies to people. Don’t take antibiotics for colds and flu. That’s why we are helping the CDC spread the word about this important health issue.”

EVOS has four locations in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area: 2774 E. Fowler Ave., 609 S. Howard Ave., 157 Westshore Plaza and 2631 4th St. North.

For more information on antibiotic resistance, see the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/getsmart.

About EVOS;

EVOS® is a quick-service restaurant chain serving healthier burgers, fries, and shakes. Dino Lambridis, Alkis Crassas and Michael Jeffers have expanded the business to include four stores in Florida, one in Nevada and one in North Carolina since starting franchise expansion in 2005. Their philosophy is to use healthier ingredients such as naturally-raised hormone/antibiotic-free beef and organic ingredients, as well as alternative cooking techniques. The result is 50-70% less fat without sacrificing flavor. The company also employs sustainable business practices that range from purchasing renewable wind energy to utilizing environmentally-friendly materials in the building of its stores. EVOS has signed area rep and franchise agreements in 15 states for more than 200 stores over 10 years. Additional information is available on the company’s website at www.evos.com.

Tampa Bay Online has more.

“Dunkin’ Donuts, the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world, broke ground in May and aims to open its first LEED Gold-certified restaurant in St. Petersburg, Fla., in September.”

This has the potential to have a lot more positive “green” impact than switching to organic tomato sauce for one pizza style.