Emeril Lagasse paid a visit to our fair city a few weeks ago, eating, cooking and filming his way through some of Tampa Bay's top restaurants for his television show, Emeril's Florida. King Emeril ascended the twenty-two stairs of Tampa's Old Federal Courthouse Building, now the beautifully restored Le Méridien Tampa, and found himself in foodie heaven, otherwise known as Bizou Brasserie.
Emeril was, of course, greeted at the pearly gate with a plate of Le Méridien's famous eclairs. Who could say no to these?
Then the cooking and filming got serious as Emeril worked with Executive Chef Brian Lairby to prepare a few dishes for the Emeril's Florida shoot.
We're wacky for this inventive Watermelon Salad!
After the official shoot wrapped, the Emeril’s Florida crew returned to Bizou Brasserie for some follow up shots and we were among the privileged few invited to wine and dine with the crew for a chance to appear on the show when it premiers in 2016.
Photo Credit: Meredith Censullo
Our evening began as any evening fit for a King should, with Champagne and Cocktails of course! The Pisco Sour with Kappa, Egg White, Lemon and Lime was excellent!
We took a seat in the beautiful Bizou Brasserie dining room and were treated to our choice of a Salad and an Entree from their mouth-watering menu. Cameras were rolling for the salad course but with these stacked-high salads we didn't even notice. Can you blame us?
I loved the fresh anchovies on the crisp Caesar Salad but we were all jealous of 813area Food Columnist Anna Molina's Butter Lettuce Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette, Asian Pear and Crumble Roquefort :
Another round of Champagne and it was time for the star of the show, the entree course! I chose the Pan Roasted Grouper accompanied by artichoke hearts, cauliflower hash and a beautiful splash of basil lime pistol. It was perfection on a plate:
I also had a chance to taste Jeff Zampitella's, otherwise known as @MySkypoint, Truffle Gnocchi & Sausage and have been dreaming about it ever since! Pillows of house-made gnocchi, grilled sausage, diced tomato, zucchini and cremini mushrooms with a mouth-watering truffle cream sauce. I will definitely be back soon to order this delicious dish.
Many thanks to Le Méridien Tampa, Bizou Brasserie and to our server, Rockin Ryan, for an evening fit for a King.
We look forward to seeing you on Emeril's Live in 2016! You'll definitely be seeing our crew again soon.
