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Small bites

Tidbits from the food world.

By CHRIS SHERMAN
Published January 31, 2007

Changing recipes and names

- Hogfish Grill, the barbecue and seafood concept from Frank Chivas, will evolve and move south to the Caribbean. More beans, rice, jerk spices and reggae on the sound system plus a Jamaican chef in the kitchen and a lot of rum on the back bar will remake it Rumba's (1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., Clearwater; (727) 446-7027).

- The newest Johnny Carino's (5062 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg; (727) 520-1000), which opened last year, is now newer as Novo. New name, menu and decor will switch from Italian to a broader Mediterranean concept adding Spanish, Greek and French accents to steak, seafood and pastas. Change is not chainwide, but is the idea of the local group that owns Carino's and Applebee's around the bay area. Novo may come to their other Carino's in the market.

Bubbling over

St. Petersburg's Grand Central District is set for an injection of bubbles and an overdose of vintage Floridiana at Beak's Old Florida. Owner is Jamie Farquharson, who built the original Bubble Room funkhouse on Captiva Island 25 years ago, and a second in Orlando. He left Florida a decade ago for the New Age West, so his latest venture (2451 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; (727) 321-9100) will be more mellow and modestly priced, laid-back bar food plus truckloads of tropical flea-market finds.

BBQ cha-cha

- The sizzle of Latin barbecue is spreading beyond small madre-y-padre places. The eclectic international menu at the sleek new Elements Global Cuisine is courtesy of Argentine-born chef and partner Jose Luis (3121 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport; (727) 343-9894). The flair and flame of Brazilian churrasco are on the grill in Pinellas Park at Sol e Mar (6715 49th St.; (727) 525-6240).

- Churrascaria will also enter the Tampa cattle chute in the Dale Mabry-West Shore Boulevard corridor. Look for Boizao to open across from International Plaza later this year.

Extra helpings

Soho hotspot Mangroves Seafood Grille has spun off its New American cooking and high energy club scene to a second unit in the boom suburbs of south Hillsborough County. Mangrove's new location in Apollo Beach (6520 U.S. 41 N; (813) 641-7877) is open for lunch, dinner and late-night drinks until 3 a.m.

Redwoods revised

Rejuvenated tastes in the kitchen and on the plates at Redwoods (247 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; (727) 896-5118) come from new chef Domenica Macchia. She worked for Daniel Boulud and Gray Kunz in New York and picked up their affections for classic French style and market produce.

Look for roasted root vegetables, toasted nuts, pommes frites and carrot crisps, and house marinated olives to garnish Redwoods rustic entrees.

Chris Sherman, Times staff writer

[Last modified January 30, 2007, 12:00:16]