Chef of the Week

Joel's Steakhouse Chef: The Man With the Food Plan

Chef Esteban Sainz is a serious talent in a small steakhouse.

I worked for over a month trying to get an interview with the owner of Joel's Steakhouse but something always seemed to stop me. Either he had the flu or I was sick or there was always some type of timing problem. When I finally sat down with Joel, he realized that I didn't want to interview him, the owner and entrepreneur. He told me that I wanted to interview his chef, so we put the stop to our talk and he introduced me to Esteban Sainz, the man with the food plan. He was born in Charlestown in 1970 and has managed one heckuva lot of experience in the 40 years he's been around. He learned at an early age where he wanted to spend his time--in the kitchen. His grandmother, Abuela, taught him how to cook while throwing huge family themed …

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Frugal Family

Check Out These Deals in Bloomingdale Patch

Patch locates bargains on food and entertainment

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, Frugal Family scoured our local sources to come up with great deals on meals, haircuts, golfing and dancing. Remember to check with the merchant for additional …

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Tres Amigos a Disappointment

Stopped in for a quick bite...ooops

  I was out and about doing some Christmas shopping and was thinking about lunch when my phone rang. It was my brother, Rayce, and he was hungry, so he mentioned Mexican food at the same time I looked across the field behind Chili's and saw the Tres Amigos Cantina Mexican Kitchen and Bar, 2025 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon.  It's funny how many times that place has changed hands but the theme remains the same. I realize that this particular restaurant is a bit off the beaten path from Bloomingdale, Valrico and Lithia-Pinecrest where I do my reviews but I feel people need to be warned. I stepped a little out of my comfort zone and sadly paid the price. I don't normally go to places that change names, management and employees like they had a …

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Sponsors Sought to Offset Cost of Trip to London

Bloomingdale band, orchestra and choir to perform at international parade

London's calling. But the members of the Bloomingdale High School music department needs funds to get there. The approximately 600 members of the Bloomingdale High School Rajun Bulls Band, Bloomingdale Orchestra, the Crimson Guard and the Elite Ambassadors Show Choir have been selected to perform in the 25th anniversary New Year's Day parade in London. They were nominated for the honor by a group of judges composed mostly of college marching band members. Bloomingdale is one of only two Florida school selected to perform in the internationally televised parade. The other is Seminole High School in Sanford. "Basically, its the entire music department at Bloomingdale that's been invited to perform," said band booster and PTSA president, …

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