Food and Drink

I took my daughter, Mo, to Manila for some book work in 2014 and now have a deep appreciation for Filipino cuisine.

Trust me when I say Tampa's first sari-sari counter Lucky Tigré, which opened late last year, should be on your radar if you like steamed buns, sticky rice, and Filipino dumplings.

Why does James Beard hate us?

Driving the news: The semifinalists for the annual James Beard Awards, the signature celebration of the best American cuisine and chefs, were announced Wednesday.

There's a great backstory to the food truck you might've noticed on 22nd Street between First Ave North and Central in St. Pete.

Flashback: In 2011, Italian chef Alessandro Toglia opened a little shop in Rome with his family.

Making weekend plans? Here are four events to put on your radar:

Sarasota National Stamp Expo: Young folks, a stamp is a little sticker you have to pay to put on an envelope so the mail carrier will deliver it IRL. Want to see a bunch of them?

Later this month, corks will pop and suds will spill at a brand-new spot on Hyde Park's high-paced restaurant row called Bouzy, named after a vineyard village in France where the residents celebrate champagne year round.

• Chef Eric Bach, a 2012 Tampa Prep grad and former executive sous chef at Bern's Steakhouse, has crafted the menu and will run the kitchen.

The Florida State Fair has unveiled the gastronomic peculiarities that a brave or ignorant number of us will shove down our gullets when the midway clanks to life next month. Marvel at the madness.

Tampa Cuban Funnel Cake Sandwich: The insides of a Cuban sando — pork, ham, salami, pickles, mustard, Swiss — between two funnel cakes. Yep! Then it's heat pressed and topped with a donut glaze.

Monin, the influential international flavor and beverage company with U.S. headquarters and a Flavor Innovation Center in Clearwater, has picked its 2023 Flavor of the Year:

• Hot honey!

JoDog Craft Hot Dogs — billed as a new street food concept with riffs on the classic American hot dog — opened last week at Sparkman Wharf, the 56-acre shipping-container dining district at Water Street Tampa.

• From Michelin-starred chef Joe Isidori, JoDog offers geo-inspired takes like the Carolina slaw dog, the spicy Mexico City dog and the Hello Tokyo, which features kewpie mayo, furikake and crispy garlic.