"The history of this building, that in itself is a story..."

If Norman Rockwell visited right here he would surely drop everything and pick up his paint brush.  

A little boy walking his dog. 
.... A couple sitting on a park bench watching the sunset.
........The laughter of children on the swings.
.............A breeze rippling the waters of a babbling spring .
................. And the best part, a family sitting down together to enjoy a hearty meal.

Picture it in your mind.

A snapshot of Americana.

This truly exists today and we are blessed to have it here in the very heart of Tampa, FL. 

Honoring the American spirit - much like Rockwell - Richard Gonzmart and his team named this beautiful place Ulele and it is now open for all to enjoy.

In fact, I believe that Richard Gonzmart and Norman Rockwell have a lot more in common than one might think. Rockwell was an American artist with a talent to capture personal moments and places -his art often gracing the popular covers of The Saurday Evening Post.  America went through numerous changes during Rockwell's sixty year career and many times he illustrated these transitions from an old way of life to a new future by combining something traditional with something modern.  This too rings true with the beautiful Ulele restaurant and of Gonzmart -being a man with a deep appreciation of the genunine good life we are all striving to preserve.  

Richard Gonzmart with his granddaughter, Amelia Turner. She had just finished throwing food pebbles to the catfish in the spring from Inside the Ulele VIP Party slideshow from the Tampa Bay Business Journal - picture by Eric Snider.

You can read a tremendous article here written by Eric Snyder in the Tampa Business Journal about Gonzmart and his endeavors - who is the fourth generation owner of the famous Columbia Restaurant (which undoubtedly is one of the most historic Florida restaurants). But Richard is so much more than an entreprenuer... he is a survivor, a family man, a genuine philanthropist, and lover of life.  Once you've met him, you feel like you are family.  

My good friend Susan Hausler and Richard Gonzmart celebrating the opening of Ulele.

As Richard says, "I guess I take after both my grandfather and father. Like them a lot of Don Quixote lives within me. Their history is frequently on my mind. It echoes in many of the choices we make in our business even as we create new memories and new history."  

Pretty Rockwell-ish don't you think?

Stained glass windows from Gonzmart's personal family collection that found an amazing home in the restaurant, just above the doors to the executive kitchen.  

Ulele is located at 1810 North Highland Avenue in Tampa on the historic and beautiful Hillsborough river just north of downtown.  It is beautiful both inside and out.  Art pieces were delicately chosen with care- many of them specifically made for their place of honor in this restaurant's decor.   

 There is much history to the name Ulele both personally for Gonzmart and historically for Florida.  

You really can picture it all and it is hard to put it all into one photo or paragraph.  The river and the babbling spring, the lively conversation in the bar, the heat searing from the open kitchen, the clink of glasses in the beer garden, the whispers on the couches of the rooftop terrace, the almost unreal and lush landscaping, the water works park with giggling kids, puppies playing in the dog park nearby, and a view worth the price of a Rockwell painting... and I am not exaggerating here. You can FEEL the history and new memories being born here.  

And the interior is just as beautiful!

This photo is from www.ulele.com

“Commonplaces are never tiresome.  It is we who become tired when we cease to be curious or appreciative...[We] find that it is not a new scene which is needed, but a new viewpoint.” –Norman Rockwell

Managing partner Keith Sedeta also said it well, "The history of this building, that in itself is a story..."  The Ulele spring was in much need of some TLC and the old waterworks building that Ulele now occupies will certainly be Gonzmart's legacy.

Brewmaster Tim Shackton enjoys his huge state of the art onsite brewery making craft beer only available at Ulele (just ask em for a brewery tour after dinner). 

I snagged my friend's camera and took this picture of our good friend Gerardo Luna and Brewmaster Tim SChackton during our behind the scenes brewery tour.

This photo is from www.ulele.com

And the roof top terrace and downstairs beer garden offer a delightful variety in al fresco dining.  

'

It is -at the same time -great for romantics as well as for foodie groups or corporate events too!  

This photo is from www.ulele.com

They also have a striking wine cellar right under the stairs specializing in wines from the US.  (Don't mind the beautiful models posing in front of it for our fantastic local photographer, Gerardo Luna.)  Check out more amazing photos of Ulele on his website or facebook page here.  

And then there is the food.... OH The Food!!!...(clearly I went back three or five times to enjoy and get all these yummy pics- ahh a blogger's work is almost never done...) 

Fresh Florida lobster claw cocktail

Jalapeno corn beer bread

Crispy calamari

Top sirloin and fresh salads

Flank steak

seafood pot pie

water works meatloaf

beer pan chicken

 Oh and  did I mention they are now open for lunch too....

But wait!!!  How about some completely unqiue and amazing desserts?

Guava pie

amazing homemade ice creams

delicious coffees

Why YES, this IS "candied duck bacon maple fried ice cream".....

Executive Chef Eric Lackey keeps the entire ranch-to-table process on the forefront of the menu.  I can attest to their marketing being completely on point on their site, "The restaurant and brewery serve unique foods and spirits by fusing elements from a rich variety of Native American and multicultural influences, including those of European explorers.  The menu features items indigenous to this area's waters and farms."  The complete menu is available here.

Chef Lackey in front of a custom made gas grill that does up to 800 degrees  right in the front of the dining room.  

Chef loves to hear great feedback from his customers and is often moving from the front grill to the dining floor to the back kitchens on the go and concentrating.  Myself, Chef Lackey, Susan Hausler and Mimi Batcho - Photo by Gerardo Luna

This Americana - this beautiful place is now restored to what it should be.  I am pretty sure Richard Gonzmart would agree with Norman Rockwell, who said it well...

"I paint life as I would like it to be." 

And Rockwell certainly would find Ulele to be fresh inspiration as well.  As Richard says,

"Here's to life and embracing each day with passion, compassion, integrity, faith and purpose!"

 cathy@asavoryspoonful.com

A Farm to Table Distillery

So, you've all heard about farm to table.... but how about a Farm to Table Distillery?!  Right here in Florida!!  Talk about a great way to break the ice!  

The Ice Plant Bar and St Augustine Distillery are actually two entities at one historical location open just barely one year.  To begin with, the building is literally that- an old renovated ice factory.  The décor early is early twentieth century with an authentic speakeasy feel right down to the server and bartender uniforms and the somewhat nondiscript yet historical exterior..  

The Ice Plant restaurant is located on the second floor with two large bars separating two open airy rooms.  The original "Ice Plant" building dates back to 1927 and still has the original bridge crane on rails overhead the bar. The crane was used to pick up huge blocks of ice to then be broken down and sold to local customers and the shrimp boats.   Check out all of the ice holders on the wall of the bar.

The restaurant is a very comfortable space with large wood tables and you can just imagine the roar in the air during happy hour or the clinking of freshly stabbed ice for their drink concoctions.  They don't just stop at the drinks, however, their food is amazing.

  

My husband picking out some amazing food and drinks

They are focused on the art and craft of mixing exceptional local ingredients in precise measurements to create perfect and unique flavor profiles and according to their website they utilize fresh, house-pressed juices and bitters and specially developed syrups- which I can verify result in very sexy cocktails.  Attention is paid to the smallest of details with three different kinds of ice and custom cubes.  Their mission is to return to the craft of ice harvesting by freezing purified water in large blocks.  

Photo from IcePlantBar.com

The farm to table restaurant and bar is open for lunch and dinner so we enjoyed a mid-afternoon lunch and frosty beverage before touring the place.  The service was outstanding as well!  

I enjoyed a Gin's Cup made of St. Augustine Distillery New World Gin, Pimm's No. 1, cucumber, ginger, lemon, honey, bitters and amazing teeny tiny ice pebbles.

But here's another one to try sometime... DEATH IN THE MORNING - Pierde Almas Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Luxardo Maraschino, lime, grapefruit, Hellfire bitters... wow!  

For lunch, I enjoyed a truly delicious, crispy, cheesey "Old City Melt" which had gruyére, mozzarella, cheddar, tomato, pesto, on a most fantastic fresh and crunchy multi grain bread and perfectly seasoned side pasta salad!

Oh and by the way.... it's good to know that their menu lists the following: 1/2 MEATLOAF SANDWICH - Grass-fed Georgia beef, smoked bacon and tomato jam, cuban roll.  BUT the catch here is that it is NOT a half sandwich - it's a whopping half pound of beef in each sandwich!!! :0  I also love their spin on some great foods - like "T.A.B.L.E." - Tomato, avocado, smoked bacon, lettuce, fried egg, aioli, Texas toast. Next time my husband is looking forward to going back for dinner to try their BBQ BISON BACK RIBS  - Sweet and spicy house bbq sauce, smoked potato waffle, and local green beans.  For me- it is all about coming back just for the bar snacks...... ready for this???

• WILD BOAR SALAMI with Spiced candied pecans, marinated olives, crostini

• PISTACHIO AND GOAT CHEESE "TRUFFLES"

• SOFT PRETZEL BREAD with beer cheese fondue, dijonnaise

• DEVILS ON HORSEBACK - Bacon wrapped dates, buttermilk blue cheese purée

You can also come during Saturdays this fall to take some great cocktail classes too:

No matter what though, don't miss the complimentary Distillery Tour and fantastic tasting of the handcrafted, small batch spirits distillery. Currently they offer the Florida Cane Vodka and New World Gin for purchase in addition to various bar ware, momentos and recipe books in their gift shop.

They walk you through the history of the building complete with a museum, short film and walking tour.

Then there was the educational and fun tasting room:

Both the St. Augustine Distillery Co. and Ice Plant Bar received the 2014 Award for Excellence for the Reuse/Repurpose Sector by the Urban Land Institute of North Florida - what an honor!

The Distillery craft spirits are now available at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Publix Liquor Stores, and Winn Dixie Wine & Spirits locations throughout Florida!  Don't be "bitter" if you're not a Florida resident, you can order online from Broudy's, who can ship to most states.   Be sure to make your way over to St. Augustine soon as this place is truly getting lots of "buzz"!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ice Bar & St. Augustine Distillery

110 Riberia Street

St. Augustine, FL 32084

(904) 829-6553

Monday- Friday 11:30am– 2am

Saturday & Sunday 5pm- 2am

*Location is approximately two blocks south of King Street in the historic district (down the street from the San Sebastian Winery).  Special thank you to the Peace and Plenty Bed and Breakfast for letting us know about this great new old place!!  

Photo from localsguidesa.com

“She had never known that ice could take on so many shades of blue"  - Malinda Lo, Huntress

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thanks!
-Cathy