Mu Shu Chicken

Very famous Chineese dish with a mix of chicken and vegetables. Smear the plumb sauce on the thin pancakes and roll them up like a burrito.

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Crab and Sweet Corn Soup

This soup has a egg drop soup base with crab and corn added. Needed a little soy and chili oil to spice it up.

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New Changes

You may have noticed more frequent posting (after a hiatus).  I just got a new Droid Incredible, and lets say that the desciption fits.  Being that it is Google, it comes with apps that plug right into Blogger.  Makes this so much easier.  And the camera isn't bad either.

Black Bean Cakes

They are fried and crunchy on the outside. Inside they are soft and creamy. Served with sour cream and guacamole on the side. Very tasty.

Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City

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Tostones

These are Pan-fried unripe plantains. Crunchy and chewy with a nice coating of salt.

Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City

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Sangria da Cava

This is another delicious drink. It's fruit and light. Very refreshing.  The base is Cava (or sparkling white whine - think champagne).  The rest is a simple syrup, brandy, and citrus.  Kind of like a alcoholic Spite, but with added citrus.

Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City

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Dirty Martini with Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

I won't touch anything with olives, but Clay likes it.

Columbia Restaurant - Ybor Ciry

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Octopus Salad

2311 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa

Dirty South Wrap

Sorry for taking so long to post this.  This is another tasty item off the menu at Ella's.  Sunday is their "Soul Food Sunday".  I'm not sure if this item is on their regular menu.  The wrap contains eggplant, goat cheese, lettuce, zucchini, and hummus.  The goat cheese has a wonderful gamey flavor and is sharp and creamy.  The vegetables are nicely suateed.  I also got the dish with a side of sweet potato fries.  Very tasty.  They are lightly coated and fried.  There is a slight crispy texture on the surface of the fry with a soft interior.  The fries are slighty spicy and, since they are made of sweet potatoes, they are also sweet.

Unlike regular potatos, sweet potatoes are softer, so the texture will be softer and chewier than french fries.

Ella's, 5119 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa

Bloody Ella (Bloody Mary)

This is a nice, spicy concoction that has a homemade BBQ rub on the rim of the glass.  It is garnished with an olive and a lime wedge.  It has a strong tomato flavor with a good dose of horseradish.

Ella's, 5119 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa

Yama Roll

Yama Roll - $10.  This picture is awful and doesn't do it justice.  Tonight was the first time I had this role and it was very tasty.  The base roll is fried shrimp sushi (Mexican Roll to most).  Then they bake a combination of lava sauce and imitation crab.  This mix is then poured over the sushi.  Very tasty.  This is a fully cooked roll.  Lava sauce is a mixture of mayo and Sriracha sauce (a orange-red spicy pepper sauce you can find in any oriental market and even some grocery stores).  The roll is spicy and creamy with a nice, strong seafood taste.

Origami Sushi, 3647 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa

Ebi Fry

Ebi Fry - Under $10.  This is another one of my favorite dishes.  Whole shrimp (yes, heads, eyes, legs, etc.) are fried up crisp and served with red onion, scallions, and a special sauce (tangy, sweet, and a mildly spicy).  Please don't let the fear of eating a shrimp head scare you away.  They are delicious.  In fact, they are the best part of the shrimp.  Also, save this plate with its sauce after your done.  The sauce is wonderful for dipping sushi.

Origami Sushi, 3647 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa

Oriental Style BBQ Eel

Oriental Style BBQ Eel - Under $10.  Some might be a little grossed out by the though of eating eel.  Well, don't be.  It is one of my favorite things to eat (at least prepared like this).  The eel has a rich, fatty texture.  The sauce is sweet and they sear it on one side which causes it to carmelize.  This is the best preparation of the dish that I have found so far.  As an added bonus, they pile it on top of sweet pickled vegetables (carrots, cucumber, and onion).

China Yuan Seafood Restaurant, 8502 N. Armenia Ave., Suite 1A, Tampa