No one-on-one competition this week. In fact, no competition at all, to speak of.
The Friday Food Fight team attended that other food fight on Wednesday night. Tampa Bay Food Fight was held on the floor of Amalie Arena, and featured small servings of a vast array of dishes from 40 restaurants, as well as craft cocktails, beer, wine, et al, plus cooking competitions, celebrity chefs, auctions and other festivities.
About a thousand people milled around Amalie Arena, grabbing whatever small plates caught their fancy, scarfing them down, hunting for more. The Tampa Bay Food Fight is an annual fundraiser for Metro Ministries, a Tampa-based nonprofit that provides services for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.
I can’t tell you precisely how many things I tried, but suffice to say it was a multitudinous. Here’s a rundown of my favorites, in the order I ate them. Caution: Objects in photos may appear larger than they are.
BARE NAKED KITCHEN
This healthy mini-bowl included ahi tuna, edamame, cucumber, citrus fruit, ginger and more, providing an uber-fresh flavor burst. A terrific way to get started.
BEACON
The rooftop lounge/restaurant at the JW Marriott Water Street in Tampa produced a delightful salad, with assorted greens, cranberries, grapefruit, a slice of prosciutto, a small bulb of Burrata cheese and more, glazed with a sweet(ish) dressing. Sunshine in a paper bowl.
JUNO & THE PEACOCK
Raw tuna, shredded carrot, a passion fruit boba and other filigree rested in a sleek clear-plastic spoon. The chef behind the table told us to just open up and gulp. We did as instructed — and were glad of it.
CRU CELLARS
A simple tenderloin carpaccio spiked with a strip of pickled onion, served Bruschetta-style atop an elegant piece of bread.
FORBICI MODERN ITALIAN
This eatery in Hyde Park placed its yummy Bolognese atop a round piece of polenta.
MISE EN PLACE
The venerable French restaurant went with soup: Roasted Cauliflower Sunchoke Cipollini Onion Bisque. Lush and scrumptious, but not overly rich. Tiny bits of bacon were a bonus, because everything is better with bacon. As I was ambling down the aisle, Mis en Place owner Maryann Ferenc buttonholed me and said I needed to try her soup. Thanks for that, Maryann.
OCEAN PRIME
My foraging did not find much in the way of deserts, but I’m pleased that I came across this carrot cake. It was near the end of the event, and I’d been more than well fed. So credit goes to this confection for keeping my tastebuds piqued. The cake sat in a citrusy sauce, which took it to the next level.
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Tampa Bay Food Fight featured a Chef Team Battle pitting St. Pete against Tampa. St. Pete won. Confetti blasted over the VIP area.
As a longtime resident of St. Pete, I’ll resist the opportunity to talk trash. But I will say that I’m proud for my city. Congratulations to both teams.
And congrats to all the organizers and sponsors, and especially to Metro Ministries. A special thanks for Creative Loafing for helping out.
