While most people in the blogosphere are writing about their New Year’s Resolutions or goals for 2014, I’ve decided instead to let you in a little secret. It’s been a while since I’ve written down resolutions after New Year’s Eve.  So, this year I decided to write about my “eating goals” for 2014. And by that, I mean the restaurants I want to visit in 2014.  There are a lot of great restaurants popping up all over the Tampa Bay Area, so here’s my wish list:

Elevage

This year I waited till the last possible minute to make reservations for New Year’s Eve.  Ever since we moved to Tampa, our tradition has been to go out to dinner and come home to watch the ball drop on Tv.  For the past few years, we’ve made it to Sidebern’s for New Year’s Eve.  We love the tasting menu and enjoy the time it takes.  If you’ve never been, be prepared to be there for about two hours if you order the tasting menu.  After our dinner at Sideberns, we walked about a block to the new Epicurean Hotel which hosts Elevage.  We were greeted by the happiest staff on earth.  I’m not kidding.  Every one was so very nice and cheery when we walked through their doors.  We saw the layout of the restaurant and headed to the roof top bar, Edge. The bar has great views of the city and a great snacking menu.

Rooster and the Till

Rooster and the Till in Seminole Heights had their grand opening on New Year’s Eve.  The quaint restaurant seats 37 patrons.  The restaurant offers Modern American cuisine using products from nearby farms and gardens.  Here’s a video link of Chef Ferrell Alvarez on Fox 13.  I’m  a big cheese fan, so I’m looking forward to their charcuterie and cheese tasting as well as their lamb shoulder with creamed farro.  I’ve heard a lot about farro lately, but I’m afraid to cook it.

Cask and Larder

While Cask and Larder is not in the Tampa Bay area, it’s actually in Winter Park, I’ve decided to add them here because of our history with Chef Petraski.  A year ago, Chef Petraski came to our market for a cooking/canning demonstration.  You can read all about it here.  The concept behind Cask and Larder is that of a craft brewery with a southern kitchen.  Can you say win-win?  Craft beer and southern food? Why yes, please and thank you.  I hear they offer a fabulous Brunch Menu too.

So here’s my list of three restaurants to visit in 2014.  If you get there before I do, please tell me what you thought!

What’s on your wish list for 2014?

This post is sponsored by Spartan Race.

Is running an adventure race part of your New Year Resolutions?  I was recently contacted by Spartan Race to offer our followers a chance at winning one free entry to any US 2014 race.  If you are wondering what makes this race different from other ones, I will say that it has different levels.  There’s a beginning entry level Spartan Sprint, intermediate level Super Spartan, the advanced Spartan Beast and the ‘99.9% need not apply’ extreme level Death Race.

 

The Reebok Spartan race will have a Special Ops Spartan Race Sprint at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on February 15th.  This race will benefit the USSOCOM Care Coalition.  This sprint race will be a mix of mud and outdoor obstacles combined with the challenge of the signature Spartan stadium obstacles created by Special Ops Forces.  Each finisher will receive a unique Special Ops Spartan Sprint Medal.

If you are not up for the race, but would like the opportunity to work out with the #1 MMA Welterweight Contender Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks here’s your chance.  You can attend the private event Free Reebok Spartan Workout on January 11, 2014.  But you need to act quick because the event is limited to the first 300 people to register.  Click here to register!

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

You can click here to register with a 15% off code.  Are you ready?