The Tampa Bay Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women has held its annual Gourmet Gents Culinary Fare for 12 years now, but the best of the lot had to be on Sunday at Higgins Hall.
Trust me, when you show up two hours into a three-hour dining event and the food is almost all gone, it's a clear sign the entrees were on time, even though I wasn't.
"We had people lining up at 1:15," said City Council member and chapter president Gwen Miller. "We told them the food wasn't ready because the gents didn't show up until 1. They said they just wanted to watch the gents prepare the food."
Nearly 150 men came out to showcase their culinary skills. While I missed out on most of the dishes, many of the 500 folks who did partake were more than happy to let me know what I missed.
Thanks a lot.
There was chicken served up in every way imaginable, from curried to barbecue to peppered. There was jerk turkey, turkey au gratin and creamed turkey. There was stuffed peppers, collard greens, red beans, black beans, ox tails, pig feet, pigeon peas and conch stew. Desserts ranged from red velvet cake to banana pudding to peach cobbler to 7Up Cake, a specialty of County Commission Chairman Thomas Scott.
County Commission candidate Bob Buckhorn offered magic muffins; Hillsborough County sheriff's Chief Deputy David Gee brought key lime pie. Other office seekers included Doretha Edgecomb (School Board), Helene Marks (clerk of the court) and U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, who served as honorary chairman.
Luckily, a few folks had some food in reserve because I would have had one angry 2-year-old daughter on my hands if all she could digest were fleeting aromas. Plus, my stomach would have stopped talking to my brain. So let me extend kudos to Oriental Fish Co. owner Marvin R. Knight, whose bounty of fried crabs, grilled fish and hush puppies hit the spot.
And I guess kudos also go to the participants, who helped raise money for college scholarships. The chapter has awarded scholarships to eight girls and expects to continue to support them for the next four years.
ONE OF THE "GOURMET GENTS" was former mayoral candidate Frank Sanchez, who was fresh off a trip to Ecuador. Sanchez's negotiating firm includes Ecuador's Ministry of Trade among its clients and he was a special guest at the Miss Universe pageant, held in Ecuador two weeks ago.
Sanchez met pageant co-owner Donald Trump. "Physically, he's a big guy," Sanchez said. "And he was charming, very charming."
Sanchez also spoke with Kwame Jackson and Bill Rancic, participants in Trump's popular reality show, The Apprentice. Rancic was called in to replace Jackson as a judge after Jackson was disqualified for fraternizing with contestants.
Sanchez did his fraternizing at the post-pageant gala, where he met actress Bo Derek, singer Gloria Estefan and several contestants.
Sanchez said his personal pick for Miss Universe was Danielle A. Jones, Miss Trinidad and Tobago. But he quickly added he did find winner Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Australia, very charming.
I'm sure.
HEY, DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE that the Stanley Cup excitement is over. With each Lightning player getting to spend 24 hours with the cup, it's possible the prized trophy will show up anywhere, anytime.
Team captain Dave Andreychuk, who apparently was given extra time with the cup after playing in the league 22 years, showed up with it at Red Dog last week. The cup also reportedly made a cameo at the Hooters on Gulf-to-Bay in Clearwater.
