Q & A with Chef Chad Johnson

Q. Tell us about SideBerns:

A. SideBern's is a modern fine dining restaurant. Not only in the sense that our food utilizes modern cooking techniques, but also our service, wine program, and bar are up to date with current trends. The style and ambiance are fine dining, but with a casual side not traditionally associated with the level of food and wine we offer. The cuisine is New American with heavy influences from the Mediterranean region and a focus on working with local farmers.

Q. What would you recommend ordering for the full experience?

A. Definitely the tasting menu with wine pairing -- you get to see 6 different dishes, and if you're dining with someone else and you share each course you can see and taste 12 different dishes and wines.

Chef’s Recs | Ingredients

Find | Store Bought Ingredients

Tabasco Green Jalapeño Sauce

Right now I'm addicted to the green Tabasco. I haven't used it in the restaurant, but at home I've tried it on just about everything. My favorite, so far, has been fried rice finished with a shot of it for acid and a bit of heat.

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Find | Food Purveyor

Winter Park Dairy

They are amazing. Cheese maker David Green is really a pioneer in the art of cheese production in Florida. All of his raw milk cheeses are outstanding, but the Bleu Sunshine in particular can stand up next to any blue I've ever had.

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Chef’s Recs | Tampa Bay Area, Florida

Find | Markets & Food Stores

MD Oriental Market

I love MD Oriental Market in Tampa. The produce and seafood are always fresh, and they always have a lot of hard to find items like live dungeness crab, live frogs, snails, etc. The pork belly in the prepared food section makes a great lunch.

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Eat | Restaurants

Where I Would Take A Visiting Chef

Restaurant BT

I would start the evening off with foie gras and cocktails at Restaurant BT.

Bern's Steakhouse

I’d then head over to Bern's Steakhouse for creamed spinach and a bone-in Delmonico.

Tiny Tap

After that, beers at the Tiny Tap.

Taco Bus

For a late night snack of beef tongue tacos.

Best Off The Beaten Track | La Casa Sierra

It's a small Cuban restaurant run by a family that makes you feel right at home. The food is simple with a rotating daily menu served from a steam table buffet. Everything is great, particularly the oxtail, but it's the atmosphere and welcome by the mother and father that keep me going back.

Quintessential Florida | Maritana Grille at the Don CeSar Hotel

Chef Eric Neri does a great job of blending elements of traditional continental cooking with modern twists. As far as the ambiance and scenery, you can't get more Florida than dining in a hotel on the beach.

Seafood Shack | Ted Peter's Smokehouse

The smoked fish dip sandwich and coleslaw is simple and perfect.

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Drink | Wine Bar

Bianchi's Enoteca

It’s great -- Susan and Romeo keep a rotating list of really unique wines by the glass. They also have a great list of cheese and charcuterie.

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Details

Details of Chad Johnson’s recommendations for where to eat, drink and shop in the Tampa Bay area.

Recipes

- Roasted Gulf Shrimp with Aleppo Pepper, Lime and Miso Mayonnaise

City Guides

- Tampa Bay Area: Download