Happy Friday, foodies (You’ve earned it). Let’s kick off the weekend with some super delicious food, all of which you’ll have to add to your hit list for this weekend. Ryan Rodriguez of @EatTampa on Instagram is gonna tell us about his favorite local stops.
Tell us about yourself! What do you do and what are 3 words you’d use to describe yourself.
Born and raised in sunny Tampa, FL. I am a husband, father and aspirising restaurant owner. 3 words to describe me are Loyal, Adventurous and Driven!
What made you start Eat Tampa? Have you made a lot of foodie friends?
I’ve always had a love for food and my hometown. I wanted to spread the word on new and great restaurants in Tampa. @EatTampa was inevitable. I started following other foodies in the area like @CarlosEats @TampaBayEatsOut and @OfficialFoodGroup which motivated me to create a feed of my own.
What’s the best food you’ve discovered from Eat Tampa?
That is the hardest question. With award winning chefs like @greg__baker (The Refinery / Fodder & Shine) and @chefmichaelmina (Locale Market / Farmtable Kitchen) it’s hard to say what’s the best. I say, get out there and enjoy finding out for yourself!
How about the best cocktail?
Not much of a cocktail drinker but the best one I’ve had recently was the mule at @DocBsKitchen. However, it may have been the side of candied bacon that set it off!
Best dessert?
The best dessert is for sure the fruity pebbles cheesecake @datz4foodies’ Dough!
What’s your favorite food on the Datz menu?
My favorite food item on the Datz menu is The Cheesy Todd. As a burger and a mac~n~cheese lover, they go together harmoniously!
What’s your favorite food and why is it your favorite?
After much thought, my favorite food is a good ol’ burger. There are so many ways to create a burger, from the blend of meats to the type of bun and endless options for toppings. I will also never turn down a taco, a slice of pizza or @portilloshotdogs Italian beef!
Share a food with us that you’ve seen on the internet and would love to try.
I am dying to try @Slapfish by Chef @andrewgruel for the “Clobster”, a crab and lobster grilled cheese, with a side of chowder fries and a lobster roll to go.?
What do you think about Tampa’s food scene?
The Tampa food scene is diverse and ever-growing. We have bold chefs/owners who step outside the box to produce quality food and conquer trends like the doughnut ice cream cone @datz4foodies.
What’s another city’s food scene you would like to try?
I really want to check out the Los Angeles food scene.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever eaten?
I once ate a scorpion from the bottom of a tequila bottle. It was crunchy and besides the tequila, it was tasteless. I’d do it again if I had too 😉
What’s your best advice on how to adult?
Do what makes you happy. If you don’t know what makes you happy, try something new until you find it.
