I had the priveledge of sitting down with Marcella Hakun, a Junior at UT who did Semester at Sea last Spring. She was kind enough to share her experience and tell us a little about the life lessons she brought home with her.
Top 5 Food Trucks in Tampa
The Tampa Bay area has a plethora of outdoor festivals and farmer’s markets, providing locals with amazing food and fun. Local food trucks that attend these markets provide diverse food choices and almost anyone can find something they would enjoy. My personal experience from attending many markets has allowed me to gather my top list of food trucks in the area.
1. Riddle on the Griddle
If you are a grilled cheese lover, this food truck will fit right up your alley. This truck attends the Hyde Park Farmer’s Market on the first Sunday of every month, as well as the Seminole Heights and North Tampa markets. Their simple seven item menu provides every customer with amazing grilled cheeses that won’t disappoint. A personal favorite is the Korrie Jo, consisting of sun-dried tomatoes, basil pesto, and Italian 4 cheese. Check out their website and mark your calendars for their next event near you.
2. The St. Pete Taco Lady
If you’re looking for a new place to get your tacos from, take a drive to downtown St. Pete! The Taco Lady food truck puts a delicious spin on Mexican and American food. Taco options range from chicken, beef, fish, and vegetarian, so there is something for everyone. She is always at the St. Pete Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning. You can follow her on facebook @stpetetacolady to stay up to date about events and locations.
3. Craving Donuts
Although Tampa has many specialty donut shops, Craving Donuts food truck ranks higher than most. They serve made-to-order fried cake donuts that taste like no other. They serve more than 10 delicious flavors, each one tasting equally as good. The truck serves the Hyde Park Farmer’s Market, but they also do catering and specialty orders. You can order on their website or follow their weekly schedule to see their next stop.
4. Tree Dog Roots & Salsa
Looking for a healthier alternative at the markets? Try Tree Dog Roots, a food truck that provides bowls and salsas made from only root vegetables and added meats. Their menu changes based on what’s in season, but the delicious flavors are consistent every time. Like other food trucks, they travel to many of the local markets in Tampa. Follow them on Facebook @treedogroots to find their schedule as well as fundraisers you can support through them.
5. Rico’s Acai
Many places in Tampa provide healthy and filling acai bowls, but they can be a little pricey. Rico’s Acai truck is located downtown on N. Florida Ave and is open seven days a week. Their bowls range from $7-$12 and you can boost your bowl with a wide range of toppings they provide. You can visit their website to see a full menu, hours, and other locations.
Top 5 Places to Get Bowls in Tampa
If you’re new to Tampa, you will learn very quickly that it is an up and coming city for fresh, healthy, and trendy food places. The “bowl” has becomes a very popular food item for many of these places as it serves as a healthy and filling lunch or dinner. They typically consist of a base (starch or salad), a vegetable, a protein (meat), sauces, and whatever else you would like to add. Here is a list of Tampa’s top five places to get a bowl, all which are reasonably priced and guarantee to keep you full through the work day.
1. Green Lemon
915 S. Howard Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
813.868.5463
Although most places are buffet-style where you pick each component, Green Lemon has a set menu of “Fiesta Bowls.” As part of the Ciccio Restaurant Group, Green Lemon is one of Tampa’s favorite for bowls, tacos, and more importantly-margaritas. Although their menu does allow you to pick what kind of rice and meat you would like, the sauces and other vegetables are set depending on the bowl. A personal favorite is the Fitness Bowl, which consists of seasonal vegetables in a lime vinaigrette. I typically add grilled chicken or steak and quinoa. This combination of protein and grains keeps you full and almost always leaves you with leftovers. Each bowl only ranges from $9-$12 and is well worth your money.
2. Fresh Kitchen
1350 S. Howard Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
813.280.0515
As another Ciccio Restaurant located on South Howard, Fresh Kitchen (FK) is another locals’ favorite. With new locations in St. Pete and on W. Kennedy Blvd., it is quick, convenient, and easy to do for a lunch break or dinner. Unlike Green Lemon, however, this is set up buffet-style. As mentioned above, you pick each component of your bowl as you move down the line. Although intimidating with all of the options to choose from, it will soon become your favorite. Their sweet potato noodles are what makes these bowls unique-not many other places provide them as a base! If you have a spiralizer at home, you can attempt to make them following the directions from here.
3. Vale Food Co
501 N. Franklin St.
Tampa, FL 33602
813.374.1370
Vale Food Co. first opened locations in Tallahassee and Gainesville, and just recently opened in Tampa last month. As the trending health food craze continues to grow among millennials, the downtown location is perfect for UT and USF students. It is also convenient for business professionals working in downtown and those who have a limited lunch break. Vale provides a variety of options for your bowls and is always very quick. You can expect to spend less than ten minutes getting your food to go, and it’s always fresh. Forewarning for new customers- the honey sriracha chicken is very good, but extremely spicy! Check out their menu here
4. So Fresh
512 N. Franklin St.
Tampa, FL 33602
813.999.1911
So Fresh is located both on South Howard Ave. and in Downtown Tampa. It is a Florida based franchise that is slowly expanding around the Tampa Bay Area, and has had lots of success with their menu. Their large menu provides smoothies, salads, wraps, and bowls, and you can go many times and still try something new. A personal favorite is the BBQ bowl, which gives you a TexMex meal while still serving as a healthy meal.
5. Evos
609 S. Howard Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
813.258.EVOS
This is another franchise founded in Tampa and is a quick, easy, and healthy alternative to other fast food places. They take pride in their food made with “quality, organic, and natural ingredients” They even “airbake” instead of frying their food, which uses less grease and provides more nutritional value. Although they serve burgers, wraps, smoothies, and other meals, their bowls qualify as one of the top five in Tampa. The Mediterranean Chicken Lemonati is a favorite of many. Here is list of other guilt-free meals you can find at an Evos close to you.
Video Podcast-Yoga with Chanel Lobdell
I had the opportunity to ask Chanel, a yoga intstructor at UT, a few questions about yoga and how its impact on her life.
(Note: Audio quality is poor due to the rented equipment from the Cass cage, and edited due to technical difficulties with the memory card.)
Top 5 Skills You Gain from Working in a Restaurant
If you have ever worked at a bar or a restaurant, you know how stressful it can be. However, it can be very rewarding at the same time. People commonly hear about how awful it is to work in a restaurant or how it’s not worth it. No matter what area of the hospitality business it may be, I believe that it is something that everyone should experience at some point in their life. Through the difficult customers and annoying coworkers, there is a lot to be said for putting others first and seeing how your service directly impacts another’s experience. The skills you gain are vital and applicable to any other job you may have in the future.
1. Patience. Patience. Patience.
I’ve always said, “Patience is a virtue that I will never have.” However, after working at a bar and dealing with needy customers, wrong orders, and computers that don’t work right, patience was something that became necessary in order to stay calm. It is very hard to not get stressed or angry about the little things that mess up your routine. When you have customers who are putting the blame on you, it can make it even harder. The best way to deal with all of this is to be patient and let your tables know you are doing your best. If you still struggle with finding that patience at work, check out this psychology article that walks you through how to balance the emotions that cause anger, stress, etc. in the first place.
2. Multitasking
Table 10 needs ketchup. Woman at table 2 needs a refill on her diet coke. Table 3 has a small child that dropped salad dressing all over the table and floor. Your party of 8 wants separate checks. The gentleman at the bar needs another beer and is ready to order.
How can you possibly get all these tasks done efficiently and effectively while keeping everyone happy? I can tell you right now that not all your customers are going to be thrilled that they had to wait an extra 5 or 10 minutes for their refill. The best way to do all of this is to stay calm and to work through each task one at a time, and do as many as you can without messing any of them up. Maybe this means you take the gentleman’s order on your way to refill the diet coke. However you do it, do it well. As long as your customers can see that you are working hard to get what they need, they are understanding (most of the time). Most importantly, those who appreciate your service and hard work are the ones who will tip you accordingly. Additionally, no matter how annoyed or angry you get with a customer, you always put your best face forward and treat them with respect.
3. How to be Direct and have Thick Skin
It’s a given that not all of your customers are going to be easy-going. You are going to have customers who demand to have their food quicker than the people who were there before them. Some customers may even yell at you for things that are not your fault, like the food tasting badly. If you are working at a bar, it becomes even more common for customers to be a little more aggressive after they’ve had a few drinks. The best advice is to be direct with the customer about what they can and cannot do, and let them know that you are doing the best you can. No matter what they say, or how little they tip, you must have thick skin. MindTools provides a great article about how to deal with rude customers that are applicable to any situation.
4. Interpersonal Skills
One great thing about working in the restaurant business is that you have no idea who you might meet. I was working at a bar in downtown Tampa, and a Yankees player casually walked in and tipped me $20.00 for getting him a water and just being polite. Making conversation at the bar and serving those customers to the best of your ability is also one of the best ways to network. You create a relationship with customers who might become regulars, or you may give a traveler a great impression and experience of the restaurant. These interpersonal skills are also skills that you can take with you to any other job you may have in the future. If you are a bit on the shy side when starting out, here is a link to a great article that details what interpersonal skills are, why they are important, and how to develop them.
5. Teamwork
Working with your fellow waiters, cooks, and bartenders is what drives the success of a restaurant. Everyone must be on the same page and have the same positive outlook. When you have 5 different tables to worry about and you just need a break or don’t have the time, another waiter should be willing to cover for you (you should also be willing to do the same for them). At the end of the night, teamwork also becomes beneficial when the ketchup bottles need to be refilled, the floor swept and mopped, and dishes a mile high need to be cleaned.
Although going through all these hardships to gain these skills might sound intimidating, they are well worth it and will serve you so much more in the long run.
Top 5 Foods That Only Belong in Maryland
Born and raised on the eastern shore of Maryland, I had the luxury of growing up eating only the best seafood around. With the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay near by, I grew up fishing and crabbing with my dad and uncle. Those long, hot summers were the best time of the year as we would catch and cook the food we caught that same day. Striper fish and blue crabs are what made the best dinners during the summers, and is perhaps why I refuse to eat them anywhere outside of the Chesapeake Bay region. Here are my top 5 favorite foods that don’t compare to anywhere else found outside of Maryland:
Steamed Crabs
This may be an obvious one, but I have yet to travel to place where I can catch, steam, and peel and eat crabs and have them taste as good as they do at home. Maybe it’s the Old Bay seasoning and a pile of corn on the cob to accompany them, but this is truly part of Maryland’s culture. Many people will have crab feasts during the summer season, and Baltimore hosts one of the biggest ones in June. Click here to learn more about what these feasts entail and why us Marylanders rave about them.
Crab Cakes
We have the best crabs, so it only makes sense that we would have the best crab cakes as well. Once you pick all your crab meat (you’ll need about a pound to make 4-5 cakes), you add mayonnaise, mustard, and whatever other ingredients you like and fry or bake them. Although you can’t go wrong getting a crab cake anywhere in Maryland, G&M Restaurant right outside of Baltimore ranks pretty high, and any local will tell you the same.
Crab Dip
This is one of everyone’s favorite dish, and recipes vary. Between the freshness of the crabs and other staple ingredients, it is easy to understand why this dish is so famous. Unless you’ve eaten it locally, no other states’ crab dip compares to the taste and quality of ours. Many places will add additional spices and vegetables, but locals know to keep it simple. Here is a great recipe to use.
Fried Striper
Fried Striper, or locally known as Rock Fish, is a delicacy I always looked forward to after my dad returned from a fishing trip. Once again, the freshness and quality are what sets this dish apart from other places where you can find it. My dad always kept it simple-just add bread crumbs and fry in a skillet.
Maryland Crab Soup
It only sounds right that one would get Maryland Crab Soup in Maryland. Using our famous Old Bay seasoning, vegetables, and crab meat, this dish ranks very high with locals in addition to all the others. Other regions can replicate the recipe, but would be crazy to think that theirs would compare to what you find in state.
Note: In Tampa/St. Pete area? The Brass Monkey is a Maryland themed restaurant that prioritizes their ingredients to match the quality of those found in Maryland. It’s almost as good as home!)
Top 5 Fun Things to Do If You Stay in Tampa for Spring Break
It’s that point in the semester where everyone is drowning in homework, projects, and midterms. The only thing getting us through is knowing that Spring Break is right around the corner, and we will have an entire week off to relax and take break from our insanely busy schedules. Even if you don’t have plans to fly home or travel during this break, there are so many fun activities around Tampa that can turn your Spring Break into a “staycation.” Here are some activities around the area that will make your break fun and relaxing, and don’t require you to spend hundreds of dollars on a big trip.
1. Go visit the Manatee Viewing Center at Apollo Beach
Big Bend Power Station is a power plant at Apollo Beach where manatees go during the cold months to keep warm. Apollo Beach is just a short 30 minute drive from Tampa, and can serve as a fun way to adventure out of the city during Spring Break. The manatee sanctuary is meant to keep the manatees in a safe, warm environment during the winter months from November to April. Here is their website for more details about the sanctuary, visiting hours, and more.
2. GO TO THE BEACH
Everyone has heard us say, “We live where you vacation!” Everyone comes to our beaches for their Spring Break, and we’re only a quick 40 minute drive from St. Pete and Clearwater beaches. If you want to venture a little farther, also check out Siesta Key Beach or Anna Maria Island; they’re about an hour drive south of Tampa. There are plenty of restaurants and bars around all of these destinations, so you can make it a whole day trip without having to worry about packing enough food and drinks. Anna Maria Island also has free parking, which is a huge plus. You can’t go wrong with any of these spots!
3. Weeki Wachee Springs
Weeki Wachee Springs is open all year round and is great for those who want to do something more recreational. Between kayaking and paddle boarding down the springs, you’ll definitely get a workout, too. The bright blue waters are clear enough that you are able to see some manatees if you go during the right time. The park also just started a new night adventure in which the bottom of the kayaks have lights on them to illuminate the water beneath you. This destination is about an hour north, and you can check out park details here.
4. Busch Gardens
If you live in Tampa, you’ve definitely heard people talk about Busch Gardens. It’s very close to UT, and tickets are much less than you would pay for Universal or Disney. You can even buy an annual pass that would allow you access to the Adventure Island Water Park once it opens for the season mid-March. With plenty of rides and wildlife to keep you busy, you can expect to spend a full day at the park. Fair warning-you do have to pay for parking, so it would be smart to carpool or Uber depending on rates.
5. Go on Brewery Tours
Sometimes being a tourist in your own town brings you the most fun! Tampa big enough that there are always new places to visit and restaurants to try. For a rapidly growing city, Tampa also holds a lot of historical sites that offer lots of fun tours. Breweries can be a fun place to go take a tour and learn more about the history of the location and the beer. Cigar City, Six Ten, Yuengling, and Coppertail Brewing companies are just a few that are very popular in Tampa. You can also check out 3 Daughters in St. Pete, along with many others. Just remember to bring along your designated driver!
Race to the Finish Line
On Saturday, February 24th, the Gasparilla Distance Classic took place on Bayshore Boulevard. These photos capture the various emotions of walkers and runners as they near the finish line.
Fun at the Fair
The Florida State Fair ran from February 8th through the 19th outside of Tampa, FL. These photos were taken on February 17th and captures the excitement of people of all ages throughout the fairgrounds.
Top 5 Reasons Orange Theory Fitness is the Best Gym Membership
Although going to the gym and working out is not everyone’s favorite activity, it is something that a lot of people (surprisingly) enjoy. However, sticking to your workout routine can become boring and mundane, leaving you with little motivation to actually go to the gym or to get outside and do your usual exercise. I discovered Orange Theory Fitness when I was trying to switch up my typical running routine and wanted to become stronger in other ways. After being a member at Orange Theory for almost 5 months, I have learned the top 5 reasons why membership here is the best one to invest your money in.
1. Team Atmosphere
Gyms can be very intimidating when you first become a member, and you sometimes don’t feel comfortable until you’ve been multiple times and get a feel for the atmosphere. At Orange Theory, you enter for the first time feeling like you just signed up to become a part of a team. If it’s your first or fiftieth time attending a class, you will feel like you are part of a community that supports you and pushes you to become better. Everyone is doing the same workout as you and is pushing themselves to improve upon their individual progress. So, when you feel like quitting, you realize that everyone else is suffering through the workout and feeling just as tired as you are. Some workouts even involve partner exercises, which add to the comradery that takes place at the gym. Additionally, different gym locations will create team challenges for which you can sign up. Lasting over a period of a few weeks, each team competes against each other for the most points and goals attained. Also, challenges are created to support important causes. The Orange Theory location in South Tampa is currently supporting a cause aiming to find a cure for ALS. For more information about how to become a member and participate, visit their website.
2. Workout Variety
In order to understand how Orange Theory works, and why it’s called Orange Theory, you need to have some background information. Their workouts are based on heart-monitor training. This means that by wearing a heart rate monitor, every person’s heart rate is measured and displayed on TV screens. There are three categories, each corresponding to a heart rate zone. The green zone indicates that you are running or working out at a base pace. The orange zone indicates a push pace that uses at least 84% of your heart rate, and all out pace puts you in the red zone. The goal of each workout out is to get as many minutes, or “splat points”, in the orange or red zone as possible, which increases your after-burn. This means that no matter your fitness level, the workout is aimed to better your current abilities. You can have a college athlete on one side of you, and a 60-year-old on the other. There are no limitations to age or fitness levels here.
This type of training is based on “Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption” that is proven to stimulate calorie burn. Visit www.orangetheoryfitness.com to learn more about the science behind this training.
What makes these workouts even more unique, however, is that no class or workout is ever the same, meaning it is impossible to get bored. Although half of the 60 minute class is always spent on the treadmill and the other half on the rower and weight floor, the intervals and exercises are constantly changing. You don’t know what the workout will be until you get there, leaving you no time to change your mind about working out that day.
3. Music
Personally, one of the most annoying things for me when I workout is having to skip through songs or pick playlists that I enjoy listening to. At Orange Theory, this problem is solved. The music is chosen by the trainer and is blaring in the background of every workout. Whether it’s throwback songs, rap, rock, etc., the trainers ensure that it’s motivating and will get the class going. Songs will change or speed up with the intervals of the workout, making it easy and enjoyable to run to the beat. Check out this article to better understand the psychology behind pairing music while exercising.
4. Trainers
Orange Theory provides only the best motivating and qualified trainers for their classes. They are there to guide you and ensure your workouts are safe, effective, and fun. After going to a few different classes, you’ll get a feel for which trainers you prefer over others, whether it be because of their high-energy, music choice, or simply their personality. Trainers also teach the same class times on the same days, so you can create a schedule based around which ones you like to attend.
In addition to finding a trainer that you like, it is important to find one that best understands your goals and will help you achieve them. If you aren’t getting the results you expected, talk to your trainer of choice to see how you should how they can help. They may be able to pinpoint which parts of the workout you need to push yourself more and how exactly you do that. For example, if you are a runner that has a low resting heart rate, it may be very difficult for you to get splat points, or minutes in the orange zone, during the workout. Trainers might suggest that you increase your incline during push paces on the treadmill to raise you heart rate quicker, or to increase your base pace speed.
5. Accountability
The best part of working out with others and with a trainer is that you are held accountable. If you feel like cancelling a class, you are required to do so at least 8 hours in advance or you lose a class off your package. This means that if you don’t feel like working out an hour before the class, you can’t just cancel unless you want to lose your money’s worth-which nobody wants to do. Additionally, once you start going to the same class time and seeing the same people, they notice when you’re not there. There are no excuses here, and all you have to do is show up and put in the effort. Another important accountability factor at Orange Theory is that all classes are the same, no matter which gym location you go to. So, if you have friends in another state or on the other side of town, you both did the same workout if you attended the same class time. Even if your friends didn’t go to the same studio as you, they completed the same workout and put in the same effort. Livestrong also reiterates the importance of working out with a group or team and discusses how that can impact your goals.
Allie Spurrier 