Stella’s Modern Pantry

What a hidden gem located just off the square in Ocala.  This place so over delivers on every level of product, wine, food and ambiance.  It’s just hard to find a flaw  in Stella’s.  First you have the store as a whole.  With its upscale wine and cheese, the specialty products on the shelves.  Then the cheeses and the desserts in the cold case.  Everyone just a special as the next. 

 

The wife and I dropped in for lunch this week.  We were greeted right away by George a stple in Stella’s for quite some time. Always a smile and always making sure your experience is to your liking.  As we looked at the lunch offering a glass of Rose was in order.  We choose the Chateau Barbebelle what a great choice.  More about the wine HERE.

Our lunch choices flat-breads her the artichoke and sun dried tomato me the Chorizo sausage and egg.  As I sat there enjoying my Rose the wife made a run through the store.  Always returning with something either funny or interesting she had a blast. As did I! The flat-breads arrived.  My Chorizo piping hot and wonderful, spicy and hot with added heirloom cherry tomatoes fontina cheese and arugula on a crust so thin it almost wasn’t there, my favorite. (So sorry no pictures. I was starving) The Artichoke and Sundried tomato on the same crust fillings all the way to the edge of the flatbread Also had Greek olives and Parmesan cheese just a great combination.

The size of these flat-breads was impressive.  Neither of us could finish ours.  So we took them home and used them as Appetizers later that night and everyone enjoyed them.

I highly recommend Stella’s Modern Pantry.  It’s a great place to spend a lazy afternoon of noshing and sipping wonderful wine.  Hope to see you there soon

Bon Appetit,

Chez Bubba

 

Stella’s Modern Pantry

20 SW Broadway St, Ocala, FL 34471

(352) 622-3663

Tuesday – Saturday 9AM – 7PM

Closed Sunday and Monday

The Crazy Cucumber

 

Wanted to go on a little adventure the other day with the wife and saw this place in a Facebook post.  I’d never heard of it and looked at the menu.  Plenty of choices for the Pescatarian wife to eat so I figured why not?

We arrived a little after 11:00.  We were seated right way.  The dinner room is really cool.  Industrial modern might describe it.  Lots of cool lights in pipes surround a small dining area next to the bar. Painted walls high ceiling, concrete floors rustic bar area.  Industrial seating at nice roomy tables I the man dining room as well as large booths.  We were seated in one of the large booths.  Not as comfortable as it would have been with a padded seat but nothing to complain about either.

Nice menu full of options for any eater.  Our server came up asked us for drink orders, Spicy Bloody for the wife, iced tea for me.  We started looking at the menu there are so many options.  We finally decided.  Tuna Poke for the wife, Chicken popper wrap for me. 

The food arrived surprisingly fast.  All was prepared as ordered and tasted wonderful.  Her Tuna Poke was large pieces of fresh Tuna over rice with house made Won tons that were absolutely wonderful. Yes, I stole a bite!  My wrap was great.  Spinach wrap full of chicken breast pieces fried to perfection.  My sauce of choice was sweet chili.  The lettuce was super fresh tomato and chipotle ranch was great.  I ate every bite!

 One last thing.  This seems to be such a huge deal on socail media I feel the need for a consumer alert.  The restaurant puts a Service Fee on all tabs.  If you pay cash the 1.5% fee is removed.  So if you are not a fan of these fees please bring cash. Here is our tab so you can see how the fee is listed

I highly recommend this place it is kind of hidden in a shopping center but well worth the search.

Bon Appetit!

 

Chez Bubba

Tuna Poke 

Chicken Popper Wrap

 

The CRAZY Cucumber @ Market Street

4414 S.W. College Road, #1910,Ocala, Fl 34474

PH 352.390.6969 | FAX 352.433.2452

thecrazycucumber352@gmail.com