Closer Look

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Moody Judy’s specializes in hot dogs, Cubans and unique sandwiches, and of course ice cream—and fun. Judy Lambert owns the café, and would not have it any other way.

“I love food, meeting people and making sweet memories,” Lambert said. “My goal is to create a meeting place where family and friends can enjoy good food and laugh together.”

Lambert jokes with her guests, suggests tasty food combinations and sets everyone at ease with her playful sense of humor. She is not really moody — she thinks of herself as creative and silly.

A good example are the fun names on her menu: Junkyard Dog, Garbage Dog, Inferno Dog, Fancy Schmancy Grilled Cheese, Gator Tracks and Fat Elvis.

For hot dog lovers, Moody Judy’s is the perfect place to indulge because it carries Vienna Beef and Sabrett dogs, both in the natural casings, as well as a skinless Nathan’s.

“We make an authentic Chicago dog from the poppy seed bun to the sport pepper,” said Lambert. “Our Coney and footlong dogs are served with our homemade chili, onions, mustard and sometimes Fritos. We have the best coleslaw, and use it not only as a side, but also as a topping for a dog, burger or chicken sandwich.”

Moody Judy’s also has salads and sandwiches, including its popular Fajita Clucker that is loaded with grilled chicken, onions and various types of peppers. Also, on the menu is their Cuban with fresh roasted Mojo pork and Cuban bread Italian roast beef, cheesesteaks and burgers, served on fresh bakery bread or tortilla.

For dessert, the shop offers 31 flavors of ice cream, many that are chocolate based, like its Fat Elvis, which is chocolate, peanut butter and bananas. It even has a special frozen concoction called Exhausted Parents — a blend of ice cream, bourbon, espresso and bittersweet chocolate. Nondairy choices include soy vanilla chocolate chip and mango carrot and Italian ices.

Lambert is not limited by the options on her menu.

“If we have it, we will make it any way you want, the way you want it,” said Lambert. “People associate food with memories, or want something they had before. I love recreating those memories and duplicating what you’ve experienced in the past.”

In addition to taking care of her customers, Lambert also believes in taking care her community.

“One of the gifts of being a small business is being a part of the community,” said Lambert. “We participate in local fundraising events for schools and the Moose Lodge, and this summer we’re participating in a food drive for underprivileged local children.”

Moody Judy’s is located in the Arbor Square Plaza at Connerton on U.S. 41, in Land O’ Lakes.

(813) 995-0900

Published 6/12/19

If you’re looking for artisan-style pizza served lighting fast with unlimited toppings, then you’ll want to check out MOD Pizza in Lutz, located near the Tampa Premium Outlets on State Road 56.

Scott and Ally Svenson founded MOD Pizza 10 years ago, because they love Italian street pizza and wanted to improve upon the usual pizzeria experience.  MOD stands for Made On Demand, because their customers order pizza to individual tastes and specifications, knowing the price remains the same regardless of the number of toppings they want.

“If you go to northern Italy, the pizzas aren’t necessarily perfectly round,” said Michael Mark, operations director for the company. “The crust is thinner and a little crispier on the bottom, and there is a slightly doughy texture between the underside and top part of the dough. Our crust is like this — it’s not your traditional New York or Chicago-style crust.”

MOD Pizza bakes its thin-crust, irregular-shaped pizza in 700-degree ovens, which turns out custom-made pizzas served in under four minutes. Every pizza is made-to-order at one convenient low price.

“The main thing about our pizza concept is that it’s one price for as many toppings as you’d like,” Mark said.  “We have over 30 toppings to choose from, so there is an incredible variety, including vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free cheeses.

In addition to pizza, the restaurant also serves salads, garlic strips, cinnamon strips, cheesy garlic bread, hand-blended milkshakes and house-made iced teas and lemonades. It carries draft and bottled beer, canned wines and bottled Boylan beverages made with cane sugar.

MOD Pizza is one of those rare businesses that you can actually feel good about patronizing. It encourages diversity and individuality in the workplace, and believes in giving back to the community.

“On the first day of business, we donate 100 percent of pizza proceeds to a local charity,” Mark said. “We partner with schools and different charities, and hold fundraisers where we give back 20 percent or more to the fundraising partner.”

So, feel good about yourself and discover a new way to enjoy pizza by dropping by MOD Pizza. You can also download their rewards application to earn points toward free pizzas, receive custom offers and skip long lines when picking up your pizza.

Daily – 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. •(813) 777-5524

227 Sun Vista Dr. • Lutz, FL 33559 • State Road 56, in front of Tampa Premium Outlets

 

Published June 5, 2019

 

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

When Shihan Wayne R. Shockness II was 7 years old, his friends dared him to sneak into a karate dojo.

“I was shocked,” Shockness said.  “I saw this guy throw a roundhouse kick directly over his head, and he literally did a split in the air, balanced on the one leg and put the other leg directly over him. I stood there and said to myself, ‘Wow—I’ve got to learn how to do that!’”

The course of his life was set that day, and soon Shockness began karate training. It has now been 50 years, and he has completed 15 world championship tournaments, placing in the top three no matter when or where he competed. Shockness’ achievements have been so significant, that in 2016 he was inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame.

Today, Shockness focuses on the achievements of his students, who have also reached great success.

“My students do well,” Shockness said. “The three top instructors here are Sensei Elvis Ramic, Sensei Sabina Ramic and Sempai Benjamin Harrison. All are on the U.S.A. National Team for kumite, and all are at the top level of competitors.”

Shockness has five dojo schools throughout the country. The newest is Shockness Shotokan Karate in Lutz on State Road 54, where he teaches a traditional Japanese style of karate that also satisfies modern desires.

“We’re a traditional school with modern ideals,” Shockness said. “We believe in honor, respect, self-development, upholding certain manners and traditions. On the modern side, we like going to competitions, and we enjoy modern styles of training and exercise to develop ourselves even further.”

At Shockness Karate, students learn physical karate, such as blocking, punching and kicking. They also learn to focus their mind, develop a strong personality and persevere in overcoming obstacles.

“Karate is life to us,” Shockness said. “We’re a ‘karate-do’ school — the ‘do’ meaning way or path. We’re not just teaching how to kick and punch, we’re also teaching the path, philosophies and ideals of karate.”

Competition is very important at Shockness Karate, but not everyone competes.

“If our students win a million trophies, it doesn’t really matter if their lives are not good as well.” said Shockness. “Our students develop everything.  They are confident, polite, well-mannered, strong, honest and respectful. They’re learning to become better people, because karate changes people in a positive way. The goal is to be better than you were the day before.”

Shockness Karate offers classes six days a week, with flexible hours to accommodate busy schedules.

(813) 406-4718 •

23600 State Road 54 (just east of Livingston)• Lutz, FL 33559

Published May 22, 2019

 

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

If you like a delicious meal with a high-quality craft beer, then BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Wesley Chapel is the place for you.

Six BJ’s breweries supply the restaurant chain with its own line of craft beers that complement any meal perfectly. From its signature Chicago-style, deep dish pizza to its extensive menu of appetizers, burgers, slow-roasted items and enLIGHTened entrees, there’s an award-winning craft beer to match.

Since opening their first brewery restaurant in 1996, BJ’s craft beers have won more than200 awards.  The restaurant is always rotating BJ’s own seasonal beers and a wide selection of local craft beers to its menu,and has even partnered with a local Florida brewer to create a new beer.

“Right now, we have a pretty successful beer called Driving Me Hazy that we collaborated on with Brew Bus, a great brewer here in Tampa,” said General Manager Dustin Wiltshire. “It’s a New England-style Hazy IPA that we brew for the entire state of Florida.”

BJ’s is a restaurant, as well as a craft brewery. It started as a California pizzeria in 1978, and has since expanded to more than 200 restaurants in 27 states.

“Deep dish pizza is a constant that’s been with us for our entire existence,” Wiltshire said. “We have 16 signature flavors of pizza, including tavern-cut, deep dish and made-to-order combinations”.

“The menu is extensive, and covers everything from prime rib, tri-tip, pasta, and handcrafted burgers to healthy low-calorie and gluten-free options, like the bison burger and Peruvian quinoa bowls.

“Our culinary team did a fantastic job creating enlightened dishes that are that are full of flavors using herbs and different vegetables that bring out a lot of flavor and keep that calorie count low,” Wiltshire said. “They even offer gluten-free pizza crust, burger buns and a gluten-free chocolate chip Pizookie®.”

No trip to BJ’s would be complete without indulging in their signature and sinful dessert, the Pizookie®— a one-of-a-kind pizza cookie served gooey-hot from the oven and topped with two scoops of creamy vanilla ice cream.

“Not only are we about great food, great beer, great cocktails and great times, but we put just as much energy and effort into building great communities through our TASC Force or Team Action to Support Communities, BJ’s Restaurants Foundation and our Cookies 4 Kids Program,” said Wiltshire.

Check out BJ’s daily and happy hour specials at BJsRestaurants.com, or better yet, drop by BJ’s on State Road 56 at Tampa Premium Outlets.

Published May 15, 2019

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

You are walking to your car in a dark parking lot, and someone jumps out from behind and places a chokehold on you. What do you do?

If you were a student at Wesley Chapel MMA, you would know exactly what to do, because you would have been trained by Ryan Deichert, the school’s head instructor.

Deichert has a third-degree Gracie Brazilian jiujitsu black belt, and he teaches jiujitsu and mixed martial arts as he learned them directly from the legendary Gracie family of Ultimate Fighting Championship fame.

“In college, I trained in jiujitsu and met Royce Gracie,” Deichert said. “Royce won the first Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993, and that’s when jiujitsu hit the world — when Royce beat bigger, stronger and faster competitors with a jiujitsu style.”

Royce’s father, Helio Gracie, learned jiujitsu when it came from Japan to Brazil, and he spread his highly innovative interpretation of the martial art throughout Brazil – like a Johnny Appleseed of jiujitsu.

“Jiujitsu is a ground-grappling martial art that takes your opponent to the ground, where most martial arts are deficient,” said Deichert.  “Nowadays, everybody trains jiujitsu who wants to do Ultimate Fighting, because they know how important it is to have a ground game.”

Wesley Chapel MMA has professional instructors and offers numerous classes in traditional Gracie Brazilian jiujitsu — muay thai, self-defense and fitness — depending on the needs and preferences of its students.

“Our philosophy here is to win the fight, but in a humane way,” said Deichert. “We use jiujitsu to teach self-confidence and bully protection. Everybody is doing this for a different reason. A parent is concerned about a bullying issue, or a person comes here to hit the gym. Most people are not here to be an MMA fighter, but to protect themselves and their families.”

Deichert stresses that martial arts is about more than just self-defense and competitions —it also improves people in many unforeseen ways.

“There are a lot of intangible benefits from martial arts, beginning with self-confidence,” said Deichert. “People with more self-confidence get better jobs. It’s also important for parents to understand that children need some sort of discipline to master, whether it’s music or basketball or jiujitsu. I see so many people transform their lives for the better with a discipline like this, because it leads them to a right path.”

(813) 951-4865 • 2477 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. • Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 • (Across from AdventHealth hospital)

Published 5/8/19

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Steve Parisi grew up on Long Island in an Italian family that loved to cook and entertain. When he relocated to Florida, he honed his culinary skills by cooking for friends at his backyard brick oven, before opening a restaurant two years ago

Located in NorthPointe Village in Lutz, christened Brick City Eatery mainly for his love for brick oven pizza. “Coincidentally, the building is made of brick so it worked out perfect,” said Parisi.

The restaurant specializes in brick-oven, wood-fired pizza, where everything is made to order.

“We have roughly 15 different pizzas to choose from and they are prepared with a thin crust and cooked well-done. Because our oven is wood fired it gives the crust a nice char look. Very different you’re your traditional pizza place,” said Parisi.

Pizza may be the center of attention at Brick City Eatery, but the menu also includes large fresh salads; sandwiches like Cuban Panini, Chicken Parm, and Philly Cheesesteak; signature dishes like Chicken Parmigiana, Baked Ziti, and Brick City Pasta; and pizza-shop staples like calzones, Stromboli and chicken wings.

“Our best kept secret is our dry-rubbed and oven baked wings, and use 12 different dry seasonings,” said Parisi. “We rub them down and let them sit in the cooler for 24 hours before baking them.  By allowing them to marinate over night, it allows the rub to absorb into the meat for a delicious flavor.”

Brick City offers an all-day breakfast menu, which includes breakfast pizzas, Avocado Toast and the famous Northern Egg Sandwich. The Northern Egg Sandwich is reminiscent of a Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a roll you would find in a NY Deli. You can add other meats like sausage, ham or pork roll to it, said Parisi.

“On the weekends, Brick City serves brunch from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. “Our brunch includes more traditional items like omelets, eggs your way and skillets. The local favorite is the breakfast quesadilla and hangover burrito,” said Parisi.  Another big attraction are the bottomless mimosas and sangrias.

Brick City Eatery is nestled in main-street themed NorthPointe Village, near the intersection of State Road 54 and the Veterans Expressway.

“We do lots of spirit nights with area schools and churches, and also donate food to local organizations. I’m happy to help in any way I can and I’ve always enjoyed feeding people.”

Brick City Eatery caters parties and special events, rents a private room that holds 40 people, and offers in-house and DoorDash delivery.

(813) 328-4169 • BrickCityEatery.com

Published 5/1/19

Can’t wait for Cinco de Mayo?  Then you must try Chuy’s in Wesley Chap

This fun restaurant specializes in Tex Mex cuisine, made fresh daily, that is served in a fun and colorful setting. Elvis Presley is its patron saint, and Happy Hour comes with a complimentary nacho bar served out of the trunk of a classic car, complete with tailfins.

“Nothing in our restaurant is frozen except for French fries and Push-Up Pops,” said John Bassett, bar manager. “Everything is fresh — the lime juice, the sugar water we use for margaritas, the chicken and beef in our fajitas that we marinate for 24 hours. We cut fresh salad and produce every day. We roast our tomatoes for the ranchero sauce. We use our own tomatillos for the tomatillo sauce. We make all of our sauces fresh every single day. Everything is fresh.”

Chuy’s especially prides itself on the freshness of its tortillas.

“We hand roll every tortilla we serve,” said Bassett. “We make the masa dough every day for our fresh flour tortillas, and shape them on a comal, which is a heated surface, right in front of our guests.”

 Happy Hour is a not-to-be-missed experience at Chuy’s, with its unique signature nacho bar set up in the trunk of a 1957 Chrysler Imperial.

“We have the back end of a car, with the trunk lid up, filled with queso, ground beef, refried beans, chips and salsa,” said Bassett. “The nacho bar is included with the Happy Hour, which is weekdays from 4 to 7.”

Chuy’s does everything with style, including its decor. Hanging above the nacho bar car in the Chihuahua Lounge is a school of wooden fish, hand-carved by a family in Mexico that supplies the fish for every Chuy’s franchise.

“Another thing that Chuy’s does is hangs pictures of our guests’ dogs on our walls,” Bassett said.  “If you bring in a framed picture of your dog, we’ll give you a free appetizer, and we’ll hang up your dog’s picture for everyone to see!”

Fans of Elvis Presley also delight in Chuy’s. Not only does Chuy’s maintain a small shrine of Presley that is adorned with candles and beads, the restaurant also keeps The King’s memory alive in its menu and calendar of events.

“Elvis was brought to us by our guests,” Basset said. “The first restaurant had an Elvis picture, and our guests just kept bringing in memorabilia. We also celebrate his birthday every year. Last year if you arrived in your best Elvis or Priscilla Presley costume, you ate for free. And, on our menu, we have an Elvis Memorial Combo that’s one of the most popular items.”

Each Chuy’s restaurant has its own charity, and the Wesley Chapel location sponsors Healing Horses in Odessa, which pairs abused and neglected horses with special-needs and at-risk children. It also is collecting donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“We put a lot of love into our food,” Bassett said. “We want to make sure you come get the best margaritas and Tex Mex food in the city, right here.”

Published 4/17/19

If you crave a tasty and healthy treat, and want to support a business based on Christian principles, then it’s time to check out Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt in Lutz, at the corner of Collier Parkway and State Road 54.

Upon entering Sweet Frog, customers known as ‘froggers’ are embraced with vibrant greens and purples that brighten the store, lift the spirit, and transport customers to a fun “Candy Land” atmosphere.

Sweet Frog carries 18 flavors of yogurt, including its combination swirls. Owner Jai Thomas says his most popular flavors are vanilla, chocolate, cake batter, cotton candy and caramel. With the yogurt comes 42 different toppings of fruit, nuts and candy, plus syrups to pour over the top

Maraschino cherries, blueberries, kiwi, peanuts, almonds are some of Sweet Frog’s healthiest options, and chocolate chips, caramel cup pieces and a wide selection of candy will sweeten any frozen yogurt creation.

“With the health benefits from frozen yogurt, you can indulge a little, with less guilt,” said Thomas.

Sweet Frog premium yogurt contains active live cultures that aid in digestion, and provides generous amounts of calcium and vitamin B2 that increase metabolism and replenish yeast levels.

Sweet Frog makes its frozen yogurt fresh daily in both low- and no-fat flavors. For those with restricted diets, it also makes yogurt with no-sugar, gluten-free and dairy-free.

“We have a suggestion box here, so I get an idea of what flavors and toppings people want,” said Thomas.

Sweet Frog prides itself on its Christian principles. The word  “FROG” in its name is an acronym for “Fully Rely On God.” To give back to the community, Sweet Frog sponsors schools, collaborates with teachers through its Leap Forward program, and offers Scouts ways to earn merit badges through its Groups and Troops program.

Sweet Frog also helps charities raise money by offering gift card fundraisers and benefit nights, allowing nonprofits to earn back up to 25 percent of sales.

“We want people to know how much Sweet Frog can do for the community,” Thomas said.  “Our staff is friendly, the store is clean, and most people come back again and again. They tell their friends, and that’s the way most people learn about us.”

Regular Sweet Frog customers join its loyalty program to receive 10 percent off their entire order. On their 10th visit, they get a free cup of yogurt up to $5 in value, as well as a free cup on their birthday.”

Sweet Frog will soon be adding catering and smoothies with optional protein.

For more information, call (813) 591-1402, visit SweetFrog.com, find them on Facebook, or hop over to the Sweet Frog near LA Fitness in the Willow Bend Towne Center for a sweet and healthy frozen treat.

Published 4/10/19

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Land O’ Lakes Pharmacy is a neighborhood pharmacy in the Wilderness Lakes plaza on U.S. 41 that offers local delivery, no long lines and a quiet environment for private consultations.

Its pharmacists are your advocate, and gladly call your doctor and health insurance company to gather information about your care.

“We have a lot of people who come in and say they’re so glad we’re local, and take the time to call their doctors and insurance company,” said Pharmacist Carrie Heinz. “They

appreciate our attentive service, especially in navigating the complicated intricacies of the medical and insurance businesses.”

Land O’ Lakes Pharmacy prides itself on taking the time to get information, and resolving a customer’s problem, the same day, or as quickly as possible.

“A lot of people just don’t understand what to ask for when they call the insurance company, so we’ll do that for them,” said Heinz.

Land O’ Lakes Pharmacy works with the same major vendors as larger pharmacies and stocks a full range of major medications, as well as some specialty items. It also performs services like adult immunizations, medication flavoring and some compounding.

“Being small does not mean we can’t get the same things for customers as large chains. Plus, we offer local delivery — something few chains do,” said Heinz.

The pharmacy has recently started carrying CBD oil made from hemp, which is often confused with a similar product made from marijuana. It buys its CBD oil from a company that only sells to pharmacies, which guarantees its quality.

“Because it is made from hemp, we are allowed to sell CBD oil in the store,” said Heinz. “It is used to help relieve pain, and also helps with stress and sleep. It can be a good alternative to using prescriptions or over-the-counter pain relievers.”

Over-the-counter medications stocked at Land O’ lakes Pharmacy include remedies for coughs and cold, stomach issues and allergies. It also carries a full line of vitamins, minerals and supplements, and stocks cold packs, blood pressure monitors, humidifiers, health and beauty aids, and some household products.

 Heinz likes her job for the personal connection she makes with her customers, and the communal feeling she receives working at a small, independent pharmacy.

 “I feel connected to this store and our customers, who really appreciate that you know them personally and remember something about them. This makes it very comfortable for customers to ask questions,” said Heinz.

Land O’ Lakes Pharmacy accepts most major insurance coverage, including coverage from companies owned by other pharmacies. For more information, call (813) 803-7303, or drop by the store and introduce yourself to a pharmacist who is part of your community.

Published 4/3/19

Special to The Laker / Lutz News

This could be you at Ukulele Brand’s restaurant and bar in Land O’ Lakes.

You’re seated on a covered outdoor deck sipping a rum runner cocktail, watching the sun set over East Lake Ellis and enjoying live local music, while waiting for your gator tail and grilled grouper to emerge fresh from the kitchen of Executive Chef Chris Boemme

“All these things make us a local favorite,” Boemmel said. “We’re one of the only places to have live entertainment four to five nights a week, a beautiful lakeside setting, and an atmosphere that is casual and fun

Boemmel has been the chef at Ukulele Brand’s for the last 13 years, and naturally brings the conversation around to his food.

“Our menu covers everything —  pasta, steaks, burgers, seafood, chicken wings,” said Boemel. “We make just about everything from scratch. We bread our own clams and chicken tenders. Our burgers are delicious and huge, like all of our portion sizes. Nobody leaves here hungry

Ukulele Brand’s has a full liquor bar and several craft beers, indoor and outdoor seating, and several large-screen televisions, to give you a unique dining experience—right down to wire sandwich baskets shaped like ukuleles.

Lunch is always busy at Ukulele’s. It has daily lunch specials, and does a good job putting food out fast so guests can enjoy their lunch break and get back to work on time.

Favorite dishes include Uke’s Jammin’ Jambalaya, Southern Fried Buffalo Chicken Salad, Uke’s Famous Seafood Chowder, and a large selection of specialty burgers, including the Uke’s burger, which is topped with blue cheese, sautéed onions and mushrooms.

But by far, it’s most popular items are grouper and gator tail.

“We get fresh grouper in almost every day from the Gulf of Mexico, and go through 80 pounds of gator tail a week,” said Boemmel.

In addition to its excellent food, the chef attributes his restaurant’s success to the longevity of its staff.

“We have servers and bartenders who have been here 12 years or more,” said Boemmel. “Our customers love seeing the same servers, and even request them by name. They know what you want to drink, your family members and are genuinely happy to see you.  In addition, we have experienced chefs who have worked here for many years, who consistently put out great food.”

Being a fixture in the community since 1995 from its iconic location on U.S. 41, Ukulele Brand’s gives back in several ways, from sponsoring local sports teams and high school events to participating in poker runs.

Check the restaurant’s calendar of events on its Facebook page, or at UkuleleBrands.com, for its live band schedule and special event of the day.

4805 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. • Land O’ Lakes

813-995-0608 • www.ukelelebrands.com

Published 4/24/19