As a local restaurant, positive attention from a major, national cable station like the Travel Channel might just be one of the best things you could ask for, especially when it comes to staying afloat in this rough economic climate.
Not one, but two Tampa restaurants - Aguila Sandwich Shop and Skipper's Smokehouse - are about to get blessed with their second helping when Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America premiers on the Travel Channel this Wednesday, June 6 at 9:30 p.m.
Both highlighted on the Tampa episode of Man vs. Food last year, Skipper's and Aguila will bring a featured sandwich to the table and compete alongside other restaurants across the nation for the grand title. Skipper's prize fighter is their blackened grouper Reuben while Aguila is touting their Media Noche, a pressed sandwich similar to a Cuban, but with sweeter bread.
On Wednesday night's episode, Skippers Smokehouse and Aguila Sandwich shop will compete in a Gulf Coast face-off against Domilise's Po-Boy and Bar in New Orleans and their contender, the classic shrimp po' boy.
Throughout the course of the season, Adam Richman will visit a total of 10 regions across the country, each with three different featured restaurants. In a college basketball bracket-style elimination process, Richman will eventually deem one the best sandwich in America.
We wish both of our home teams the best of luck, but with attention like this, they've both already won. According to Mark Warren, owner of Skipper's Smokehouse, food business has gone up "at least 50 percent" since their Man vs. Food episode aired last summer.
