I used to live in a neighborhood called Seminole Heights in Tampa, Florida. When I was there, about fifteen years ago, I ate at Angelica’s or Nicko’s Fine Foods Diner. Sadly, Angelica’s is no longer there, but I remember it fondly as a welcoming place, filled with Frida Kahlo inspired art and offering some of the most delicious Mexican food I’ve ever tasted. Nick’s had the perfect diner atmosphere, great breakfasts, and the best chicken gyros.
Now Seminole Heights is experiencing an explosion of new restaurants. When my friend and I were there in November, we had dinners at Fodder and Shine (www.fodderandshine.com) and Ichicoro Ramen (www.ichicoroya.com). Both places were excellent! At Fodder and Shine, I had the Pot Likker Poached Shrimp, and at Ichicoro I had a seafood appetizer that was almost too beautiful and delicious to describe. It was presented as a long platter with rows of shrimp and scallops and salty seaweed “chips” on the side. Say what you will about the hipster revolution, but I like what they are bringing to the table. Tasty and pretty!
As a side note, I was extra glad that I visited the ramen restaurant. While my friend and I sat at the bar waiting for a table, I recognized a familiar face among the wait staff. This lovely young woman was one of my best students, one of the most creative writers I had the pleasure to meet in my years as a teacher. It was so good to see her, reconnect, and learn that she is happy, healthy, and in love with her neighborhood.
There were no sit-down-and-write coffee shops in Seminole Heights when I lived there, so it was great to see these popping up as well. I wrote at an outside table at Mikey’s Cafe and Bakery (www.cafe-bakery.com). Mikey’s makes scrumptious sandwiches served with crispy dill pickles. Yum! Lane, one of the charming co-owners, chatted with me. He talked about the neighborhood with such love and respect and this was very nice to hear. Mikey’s is located between a pet supply store and a bike shop. While I wrote, I was treated to a parade of cute dogs and people walking and biking past me.
I didn’t go visit my former apartments or any of my other old haunts like Nick’s or Maurico Faedo’s Bakery, the antique shops, or the vintage clothing stores. I was afraid I’d feel too sentimental. When I did wander a bit, I almost stepped on a ring neck snake, and I saw kitties everywhere.
Ring necks are adorable, docile snakes. This one tried her best to posture for me, raising her head, trying to make herself appear bigger than her tiny body. I resisted the urge to pick her up and instead respected her warning by walking quietly away. She slithered into the neighbor’s garage, and I wished her well.
I remember someone once told me that Seminole Heights used to be a pecan grove. When people first built houses there, back in the early 1900s, there were a lot of rodents due to all those sweet pecans. People got themselves some domestic predators to solve the problem. I had two cats, Magic and Tramp. Both my toms scampered from porch to porch in Seminole Heights. It felt good to honor their memories and know that the neighborhood is still populated with felines.
It’s a strange feeling to be somewhere familiar and changing, but visiting Seminole Heights reassured me that the Florida I knew lingered… on the front porches of the houses, on the cobblestone streets, in the charm of the people who called me ‘darlin’’ and ‘hon,’ and in the animals who continue to grace the former pecan grove. Sweet. My sweet Florida.
