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Everybody's Business

This cafe does fusion differently

It's emphasis is Asian fusion cuisine but remains a shop for sweet treats.

By SHARON GINN
Published September 1, 2006

Craving Asian cuisine and chocolate? You can find both at Cafe Kita, the recently renamed and revamped former home of Sugar Rae's Sweet Shop.

Owner Henrique Budiman took over the shop at 1155 S Dale Mabry Highway on Aug. 1. Budiman, a former cook at Smokey Bones, envisioned a casual little bistro where he could provide lunch daily and dinner on the weekends. But he also knew better than turn away the kids accustomed to coming by the shop for sweet afternoon snacks.

"Usually after school they come here to have ice cream and candies," Budiman said. "They're used to it. I can't just get rid of it."

So the treats are sharing space with his casual Asian-fusion cuisine, which Budiman said is a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Korean dishes that he plans to expand in the coming weeks. Budiman also is adding more grown-up desserts, such as cheesecakes and several kinds of locally made Mike's Pies.

Cafe Kita opens at 9 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays, serving coffee and a limited breakfast menu. It is open until 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and offers dinner until 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Lunch is takeout or dine in - there's seating for about 10 - but customers with laptops are invited to come and stay. Budiman said he expects to add high-speed wireless Internet access soon.

"If I call it a bistro, people think it's high class and expensive," Budiman said, "but you can come here, enjoy yourself and yet enjoy bistro-style food."

MORE SWEET TREATS: South Tampa residents have another place to go for an ice cream fix, this one two blocks south of Gandy Boulevard. The owners of Gracie's want their shop to be known for its unique flavorings, ice cream cakes and unusual selection.

The shop, at 5226 S Dale Mabry Blvd., is named after the 21-month-old daughter of co-owner Bob Vasaturo. It offers 12 flavors of premium ice cream, seven flavors of Italian ice and vanilla and chocolate custards.

All the desserts are made on site, and many of the ingredients (flavorings, pastes, chocolates) are imported from Italy. The top picks since Gracie's opened in June are pistachio, butter pecan, toasted coconut macadamia and, yes, even vanilla.

"I try to use the best products," Vasaturo said. "I don't like to skimp to save money."

Vasaturo also is the founder of Westshore Pizza and co-owner of Channelside Cinemas Inc. He offers Westshore Pizza at the movie theaters and plans to introduce Gracie's ice creams there in the next month or two.

Gracie's is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays.

KIDS ON THE MOVE: South Tampa's Gymboree Play & Music location is moving a few blocks south. The toddler hot spot held classes this week at its current location but plans to reopen Tuesday at 3309 S Dale Mabry Highway.

NO STAMPS, JUST COINS: The small contract post office run out of the American Rare Coin Galleries shop has closed. Owner David Goldsmith, who has run the post office at 3217 S MacDill Ave. for seven years, shut down the operation this month because of staffing issues.

"One of my employees retired and the other one got sick, and I just couldn't run it by myself anymore," Goldsmith said.

Goldsmith said his coin business remains open by appointment, though most of his business is done by mail order.

Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3394 or e-mail sharonlginn@yahoo.com

[Last modified August 30, 2006, 08:37:45]