THAI ONE ON!
A little Thai and Indian cuisine in Gulfport came as a delightful
surprise when I last visited The Village Pub on Shore Blvd S last week
with a group of ladies. The evening specials on Mondays (a green curry
dish) and Wednesdays (2 for 1 curry dishes) will be another enticement
to explore their other offerings.
The hot dish that half the ladies seemed to be ordering and yummying
over was the shepherd’s pie, homemade and served with veggies. The
presentation was covered with piped mashed potatoes in a boat-shaped
dish that was attractive, too. I am looking forward to trying that,
if I can ever get over the stench of steak and kidney pie wafting
through a London cafeteria years ago. (I still have the smell in my
head when I see anything called a savory English pie. I am trying to
get over this with pie therapy, making and eating lots of different
savory pies.)
The disappointment dish was their chicken pie. This is not your
grandma’s version, chuck full of tender chicken and colorful veggies
tucked under a flaky American pie crust. Their version of “succulent”
chicken had most of its juice sucked out before it was canned. These
were not tender pieces of moist, favorable chicken pieces that falls
off a plump, beautifully golden browned roaster. This bird apparently
was a scrawny non-laying hen (we’re talking menopausal), whose dying
wish was to be embalmed and shelved for eternity in a metal coffin. I
know this because I for the first time in my life bought chicken
canned in water last week to make a quick chicken salad sandwich. I
quickly realized my mistake when I wasn’t sure if the meat was chicken
or “chicken of the sea.” I hope to be pecked to death and submerged
in quicksand, if I venture from the meat counter to the meat morgue
ever again. So help me Chicken Little.
My motto from now on is fresh, healthy and simple whenever possible.
I will go for a natural peanut butter and honey sandwich with sliced
bananas on a toasted multigrain bagel, or Polly-o ricotta cheese with
tangerine slices and pistachios (love this combo when I want a
dessert), instead of any substitution for real and fresh food when I
need a quick food fix, my drug of choice.
Back to The Village Pub’s chicken pie: “served with mashed potatoes or
French fries and vegetables.” Folks, there are no vegetables in their
chicken pie, and the homemade sauce is blah. The whole plate is a
presentation of different shades of brown starch and little dry
squares of protein. The protein squares are lying in a puddle of thin
blah and topped with a 6″ square of puff pastry. I love puff pastry,
and it would have worked nicely in this dish if underneath it was a
memorable creamy sauce with tender, favor-packed chicken and some peas
and carrots for color and nutritional balance. The coleslaw was a
welcome rainbow-crunch relief from the carb overload, but I needed
more than 1/4 cup of it.
On the upside, I had some fresh-tasting, non-greasy Thai rolls full of
crunchy veggies and served with a tangy sweet sauce for an appetizer.
Also, the padadam are not to be missed. These thin, crispy Indian
crackers go well with three offerings: creamy minty yogurt, pickled
onions, and chutney mango.
The service is cheery and accommodating, and sitting outside on their
clean, comfortable, and homey covered deck across from the Boca Ciega
Bay is a relaxing treat.
May your day be filled with good food, friends and health,
Foodie Adventurer
It’s too bad about the Pie…a favorite of mine…and a Good Pie will draw a large crowd. I had a pretty good pie at the Horse & Jockey http://www.horseandjockeypub.us/ some time back, not Boston good, but close enough.
I had a blah experience at Peg’s most recently, a spot we have frequented since they were on Gulfport Boulevard. Living out west you get a taste for Mexican food, and what you get around these parts is TexMex…but Peg’s was different, by a few degrees.
I don’t like the fact that they don’t serve beef (deshebrada), pulled beef brisket in their burritos but I could settle for the pork hesitantly. The old excuse it that it’s not real Mexican, well I hate to differ, (as you know) but I’ve spent many a day south of the border, chomping on beef burritos. I’ve even eaten them in Juárez, the home of the burrito and a huge cattle center, so I know that burritos can be served with beef. Heck I’ve had burritos with shark meat, seaweed, and chiles, so I know how adventurous a burrito can be.
The food is OK, the beer selection is thin, the outside deck area is pleasant but the mosquitoes will carry you away. They had fans on the floor to blow at your feet, but the electricity was surging so the fans were running on high…and then low….high…and then low…it was annoying to say the least.
Fans on your feet is really not the answer, nor is a Beef burrito not real Mexican food, but we lived with it. Two burritos and two beers with chips was close to $40 with a tip. I’m not a cheap skate, I’m willing to pay for what I receive, and throw in a few for ambiance at La Fogata or the Columbia, but a burrito with beans and rice and a beer on a deck with mosquitoes and fans, is just not worth the extra money that one pays for a dinning experience.
2iview–How do you like LaFogata? What do you recommend?
Disappointing news about Peg’s. When I called free information (800.225.5411), they were given 4 stars. Must have been an old review. I had a wonderful shrimp burrito a while back in cooler weather, though.
Recently, I heard the Horse and Jockey resturant had changed hands. Some of my friends who loved going there previously won’t go back because the food was poorly prepared. They won’t even give them a second chance! That is the way it is when there are so many dining choices in an area.
I know what you mean by wallet shock. I ordered a large pizza (half cheese and peperoni, the other half supreme), plus a dozen chicken wings at Gigi’s, with a draft beer. It set me back $47 with the tip. Pizza, chicken wings, and draft beer use to be the budget dining experience.
If I have to, I will go back to work for porterhouse steaks, but pizza and chicken wings?!?! Maybe they are shipping in the water for the dough from New York City. A pizza place in Virginia Beach does that. Something about the hard water that makes for a real New York pizza.
I am hearing that the early bird specials at La Fogata are purse friendly and good. Hope to get back there before I leave for Seattle for the holidays.
I will be dining Saturday at ecco’s. They are suppose to have a blues/jazz singer that night, too. I had a terrible time, however, getting reservations. Google’s 411 and my other free information did not list them. They are not in my phone book or the Gulfport business pamphlet. When I was near a computer, I went to their web site, but couldn’t find their hours listed. Then I called for two days to make a reservation, getting an answering machine, assuring me that my call would be returned. I eventually stopped in and the owner checked his messages, but mine had not been saved. So they have some kinks to work out with all that.
The wine tasting and dinner they are having on November 18, is calling to me. I really enjoy getting to sample a variey of wines paired with interesting food throughout the evening. And the $45 charge beats Pizza, chicken wings, and beer for value.
Where do you go for Chinese? Every place I’ve tried so far was inconsistant, and many places could use a good scrubbing. So even if they are good, I am not returning. Even my favorite Thai places are a hit or miss. I am stretching my dollars, so the misses usually mean I am checking out other places.
My favorite Mexican joint is the creative Red Mesa. (Stay away from their new 2nd location in downtown St Pete, if you want conversation at your table. It has beautiful decor and terrible acoustics and a limited menu.) I take visitors to their 4th street location because they serve dishes that you can’t get at the usual Mexican resturants. And for value you can’t beat their early bird specials that include fresh-made chips and salsa, an alcoholic beverage, and dessert. Sunday brunch is a special treat, also.
For creative, delicious pizza, I enjoy Michael and Angelo’s in Treasure Island when Dominic’s is closed (which seems to be frequently). M & A’s put out some fine dinners, too. But again it has been a few months since I have been there, so you never can be sure if you have the same owner or cook.
Look forward to hearing more of your dining outings.
Foodie Adverurer
mTober,
We’ve gone for their Churrasco experience, which is where you pay out front, $35 or whatever, and eat for hours. The waitresses return over and over again with hot meat platters and slice what you want. They have a six or so meat varieties on rotation, and as long as the card on your table is turned up to the green side, the food just keeps coming. You have to be careful to turn the card down so the waitresses don’t line up. There’s an open deli (salad bar) for all your side dishes and you can retrieve anything at any time. Click on cuisine http://www.lafogataonline.com/
We have good experiences there, though Foodie wasn’t too pleased the day she went, we’ve seen many repeat customers so they can’t be all-bad…not at those prices. It’s not a traditional churrascaria dining experience, as Foodie pointed out, and they could turn right instead of left on some items, but all in all, it’s a good place to kick back after a long day and listen to good music and a waterfall at your feet during the week an on special occasions threat yourself to a meat lovers paradise.
I would suggest going to Bellini’s bar first and checking out the place. You can eat Tapas (Brazilian appetizers) in the bar or be served on the deck in front of the waterfall. You can ask for a tour of the dining room and be sure to check out the bathroom…it’s a conversational piece. You pay for atmosphere, and really good Caipirinhas (sugar cane rum ) http://www.lebloncachaca.com/caipirinha/
I like their Scallop Slider appetizers.
Organic Spring Salad with shrimp is a quick meal.
On the dining side…
The Shitake Filet or Kobe is real tasty.
To: mtoberNoUlteriorMotives
You can read my past review of La Fogata by clicking on
“Foodie Alert.” Things apparently have changed positively is the scuttle butt I’m hearing. So I look forward to trying it again when I return in January. Give it a try and tell our readers what you think.
Enjoy the best this holiday….food, friends, and health!
Foodie Adventurer
Friends and I went to the Village Pub for dinner this past Sat. I had the Shepherd’s Pie and it was good as usual. One of my friends had the liver and onions and her husband had the special–corned beef and cabbage. They both enjoyed their meals very much. When I suggested this as our dining spot my friend was aprehensive saying “I am not into that British stuff and fish and chips!” She was pleasantly surprised and the Village Pub now has two more fans!
Theresa and I love Peg’s, especially with Doug’s fantastic home brew. We thoroughly enjoy the food they offer. We do love Mexican food. Peg’s has their own special flavor – I’d call it “Peg’s Mex.” With the very small kitchen they have, Peg’s is more limited on offerings. Howevre, it is one of our very favorite places in Gulfport. And Doug’s beer is a treat.
Now, for Mexican food that stands out for being authentic, Agave’s on St. Pete Beach is our choice. That is our favorite food on the beach by far. Red Mesa is OK, and we like going there, but Agave’s is better and definitely more authentic.
Carmelitas on Park St. is a great value for Mexican food too. Simple, but effective.
Horse and Jockey is my first choice for pizza. It is thin and crispy which some people don’t care for. But if you like to pick up the slices and have a little snap to the crust, it is perfect. Yea, a Britsh Pub for pizza, call me strange. Bass on tap is a nice thing too.
By the way…
We’re eagerly waiting for a good Sushi Bar to open in Gulfport. We’d love to see our Sushi money stay in town.
I have eaten at the Village Pub a few times. I had the fish and chips and they are wonderful, the atmosphere is comfortable and the sevice was exceptional, expected less from the tatooed guy that waited on us but was pleasantly surprised. The second time, didn’t really care for my meal, think it was just me, and that was the curry, I have never had it before so I didn’t know what I was getting myself into and it was just not for me. Service was ok, woman with short blonde hair and glasses. She was pleasant, but certainly not the best in the business. I intend on going back and trying a few things more on the menu, but definately the fish and chips are my favorite so far. Give them a chance, I know you will enjoy it. Great outdoor seating also.
Had brunch with friends today at MAD FISH (the silver diner)on St. Pete Beach. It was great! They are open 24 hrs. now. Then………had dinner at L’Moes on 4th Street. Another delightful experience. http://www.lmoes.com
Check ‘em out!!
Big Dog….How about creating a generic article where we can just add comments with restaurant recommendations and places for Foodie to check out. It would be easier than adding to an unrelated older article.
Just a thought…….:-)
Here’s a place you might not consider unless someone pointed it out.
Rosie’s Clam Shack
Pinellas Park
6657 49th St N
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/30/344446/restaurant/Tampa-Bay/Rosies-Clam-Shack-Pinellas-Park
Nothing fancy but I think Bob would appreciate the clams….
an ya gonna luv Rosie!
I’ve driven by that place a gazillion times and wondered if it was good. Glad to hear it is. Speaking of New England, another that specializes in that fare is the Boston Cooker in Oldsmar. It is a bit of a hike but I recall it as being very good. (lived up that way for some yrs) They have been here probably 20-25yrs.
http://www.bostoncooker.com/
oh sure… been to both Cookers…some time ago now.
The Wharf is good and it has a place to load from the boat.
http://www.wharfrestaurant.org
and
http://www.billysstonecrab.com
where you can go out on a boat ride.
Now I’m hungry…see what you did? Now I’ll have to open a can of clam chowder from the Vermont Country store http://www.vermontcountrystore.com
I went to the Village Pub once and will never go back. We walked in sat down and waited for the waitress and while sitting there a roach crawled across the table. That told me the story, I can’t imagine what is in the food. I won’t be back!!!!!!!!!!!!
Todd Edmonds
To be fair, a roach is a water bug and could be found in any restaurant in Gulfport. They can be carried in by customers or from the grocery store. If you can remember when plastic bags were introduced, one of the argument for the bags was that insects were not attracted to them.
I would imagine every restaurant has a contract with an exterminator.
I agree, first few occasions I didn’t get it. Try a number of extra times.