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GOP, Democratic national conventions: Where to eat in Tampa, Charlotte Post food critic Tom Sietsema makes his top restaurant picks in the two host cities.
In Tampa, where the Republican National Convention will be held, the robust menu at Boca includes yellowfin tuna with vegetables, couscous and a drizzle of chermoula aioli. (Boca, 901 W. Platt St. 813-254-2622. www.bocatampa.com. Entrees, $15 to $26.)
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
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The Hyde Park restaurant, headed by chef Ted Dorsey, has its own farm 30 minutes away, which yields Boca’s eggs, collards and other fresh ingredients.
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Boca’s interior. The restaurant was carved from what originated as a gas station — reportedly one of Tampa’s first.
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Boca chef Ted Dorsey. If you like the champagne vinegar or breakfast sausage made by Dorsey and crew, you can buy those and dozens of other items in Boca’s front market.
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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At Boca, tangy Key lime pie with a reduction of locally roasted coffee.
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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Bern's Steakhouse is a Tampa institution going back to 1956. (Bern’s Steakhouse, 1208 S. Howard Ave. 813-251-2421. www.bernsteakhouse.com. Entrees, $20.91 to $70.88.)
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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Dry-aged steaks at Bern’s, which offers 15 cuts of prime Midwestern meat and dozens of ways to prepare them. In addition, the restaurant’s founder, Bern Laxer, who died a decade ago at age 78, began collecting wine early in his career; some of his discerning purchases remain on display in the restaurant’s 500,000-plus-bottle wine cellar.
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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At Bern’s: a 14-ounce bone-in strip steak with onion rings, greens and carrot almondine. In back, from left, french onion soup, loaded baked potato and Caesar salad.
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Bern’s has seven ground-floor dining rooms, but patrons can have dessert in the restaurant’s upstairs Dessert Room, which offers a sampler plate including: macadamia cake, King Midas, banana cheese pie, and vanilla cheesecake.
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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At the King’s Kitchen in Charlotte, host city of the Democratic National Convention, save room for the cinnamon-spiced, pineapple-sweetened hummingbird cake — raised to glory with toasted coconut and fluffy cream cheese frosting. (King’s Kitchen, 129 W. Trade St. 704-375-1990. www.kingskitchen.org. Lunch entrees, $8 to $13; dinner entrees, $13 to $24.)
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
The restaurant, in Charlotte’s Uptown area, operates as a faith-based nonprofit; proceeds go to feed the poor and train the needy for restaurant employment. The menu says: “Eat some chicken and feed somebody,” and a chalkboard lists the restaurant’s sponsors.
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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With the its offbeat decor, Five Church sets itself apart from the rest of Charlotte’s traditional restaurants. The Vegas-y setting is followed by food designed to “play along with the decor,” says chef Jamie Lynch. (Five Church, 127 N. Tryon St., entrance at the corner of Fifth and Church streets. 704-919-1322. www.5church.com. Dinner entrees $16 to $40.)
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
Five Church’s chickpea salad is brightened with mint and lemon vinaigrette.
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A Five Church bestseller: The lamb burger features grilled red onion marmalade, Gorgonzola cheese, arugula, a house-made sesame bun, thick french fries and a “secret sauce” of house-made ketchup swirled with curry and mayonnaise.
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Good Food on Montford focuses on small plates and global flavors, including shrimp-topped arepas (corn-flour cakes) that are chewy-true to their South American source. (Good Food on Montford, 1701 Montford Dr. 704-525-0881. www.goodfoodonmontford.com. Tapas $6 to $12.)
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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Good Food’s crisp falafel with minty yogurt brings the Middle East to Tar Heel country.
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Good Food chef Kerry Moffett, who hails from Maryland’s Garrett Park and opened the restaurant with brother Bruce three years ago. The two also own another Charlotte restaurant, Barrington’s.
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At the Moffett brothers’ restaurant, silverware becomes decorative light fixtures.
Joseph Victor Stefanchik
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FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
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