The Zest

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How Plant City Became the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World Oct 29, 2026

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Plant City, in Hillsborough County, has bragging rights as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. Its farms produce millions of berries each year. In fact, Hillsborough County, where Plant City is located, produces about 15 percent of the nation’s strawberries and nearly all of its winter strawberries, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. But this wasn’t always the case. Today, we’ll learn how a single event more than 100 years ago changed everything. I recently chatted with Jennifer Morgan. She’s a public relations and media representative for the Florida Strawberry Festival, which takes place March 3 to 13 in Plant City. Jennifer explains how strawberries—and the festival—became such big business.

Lamb, Baklava & Family: Going Greek in Tarpon Springs Oct 22, 2026

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Miami has Little Haiti and Little Havana. Orlando has Little Vietnam. And in Northern Pinellas County, you’ll find an ethnic enclave like no other: Tarpon Springs. In the late 1800s, Greek immigrants established the town’s sponge-diving industry. Today, visitors flock to Tarpon Springs not only to buy sponges but also to sample the authentic Greek food. Mykonos restaurant has been a Tarpon Springs institution since 1992. The Zest's Dalia Colón chats with the restaurant's founder, Andreas Salivaras, and his granddaughter, Nichole Pastis, about Greek food and being in business as a family.

Punk Rock Foodie Derrick Fox Spills Secrets of the MasterChef Kitchen Oct 15, 2026

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He’s a little bit foodie, and a little bit rock ‘n roll. This week, we’re catching up with musician-turned-MasterChef contestant Derrick Fox.

The Fort Myers native graduated from Estero High School and went on to enjoy a career as a drummer with the Naples-based rock band Later Days. After years of touring, Derrick recently put away his drumsticks in favor of his other passion: cooking. He now works as a private chef, splitting his time between Dallas, Fort Myers and Los Angeles—where he competed twice on reality cooking competition show MasterChef. In season 6, he was a runner-up. And in season 12, he tied for seventh place. While Derrick didn’t bring home the trophy, he parlayed his stint on the show into a podcast called A Bunch of Losers with Derrick Fox.

On his podcast, Derrick interviews also-rans from reality TV competitions while they all drink from mugs with a FOX emoji. At the end of each episode, he puts guests through a blind taste test—because whether he’s making music, competing on a reality show or dreaming up new creations for his dessert brand, Epic Mega Cookie Company, Derrick is a foodie at heart.

Dalia recently chatted with Derrick Fox, a.k.a., Derrick Peltz, about how his music career prepared him to be a chef, and what home cooks can learn from the MasterChef kitchen.

Amaris Castillo's 'Bodega Stories' Is a Love Letter to Her Family's St. Petersburg Convenience Store Oct 08, 2026

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Amaris Castillo grew up around bodegas, which are small, owner-operated convenience stores.

Her new book "Bodega Stories" is a portrait of the bodega her parents own in St. Pete called Orlando Latin Market. The book is part autobiography and part oral history of her Dominican-American family and the customers who frequent the store.

Talking to host Matthew Peddie on "Florida Matters Live & Local," Castillo gives insight into her upbringing and how the bodega is a home away from home not just for Dominicans, but Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Cubans, Haitians and more.

Thanks to our friends at Florida Matters Live & Local for sharing this conversation, which was recorded in September 2026.

Where Are They Now? Chef Giuliano Hazan on Italian Cooking Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

For the past few months, we've been checking in with some past Zest guests.

Giuliano Hazan is a cookbook author and culinary instructor in Sarasota. He is the only child of the late Marcella Hazan, who is credited with popularizing traditional Italian cuisine in the United States. Dalia visited Giuliano at his home in June 2024, and she returned for another conversation at his kitchen table this past summer.

Thanks to our friends at Florida Matters Live & Local for sharing this conversation.

Bites (and Beverages) Around the Bay: Our National Coffee Day Picks Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Tampa Bay has more awesome coffee shops than we can count. In honor of National Coffee Day on Sept. 29, The Zest’s brand manager, Alexandria Ebron, recommends a few places to find your next cuppa joe:

Wuz Here pop-up at Ash
Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters (Hey, Roberto Torres!)

Don’t see your fave on this list? Shout out your favorite coffee shop on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Bites Around the Bay: Buccaneers Chefs Series Returns to RayJay Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

We love classic stadium food as much as the next person. But this season at Raymond James Stadium, you might want to skip the chicken tenders and nachos in favor of some one-of-a-kind culinary creations. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chef Series returns, inviting award-winning local chefs to feature signature dishes for purchase at select home games.

In this bonus episode, The Zest’s brand manager and football foodie, Alexandria Ebron, gives us a preview.

Sept. 20 vs. Browns: Jazzy’s BBQ
Sept. 27 vs. Vikings: inbetweendays
Oct. 4 vs. Packers: Tacos Las Californias
Oct. 18 vs. Vikings: Kinjo
Nov. 1 vs. Falcons: Taco Riendo
Nov. 30 vs. Panthers: Flan Factory
Dec. 6 vs. Chargers: Columbia Restaurant (Hi, Andrea Gonzmart Williams!)
Dec. 20 vs. Saints: Cheeky’s (Hey, Nate Siegel!)
Jan. 3 vs. Rams: Louis Pappas

Which game day dish scored a touchdown with you? Let us know on Facebook and Instagram pages.

Tequila Tasting at Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval in Tampa: Mexican Independence Day Bonus Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

In honor of Mexican Independence Day, join Alexandria Ebron of The Zest for a tequila tasting at Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval inside the Tampa Marriott Water Street.

Where Are They Now? Jenn Smurr of Born & Bread Bakehouse Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

We're having a blast checking in with some past Zest guests.

As part of a 2019 series on honey, Dalia visited owner Jennifer Smurr at her wildly popular Born & Bread Bakehouse in Lakeland. The bakery uses local honey in many of its recipes. Dalia recently caught up with Jenn, and boy did she have some big updates to share.

Thanks to our friends at Florida Matters Live & Local for sharing this conversation.

Bites Around the Bay: 4 Taco Spots to Drool Over for Mexican Independence Day Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

As if we ever needed an excuse to eat tacos, Sept. 16 is Mexican Independence Day. (Thought that was Cinco de Mayo? Now you know.) In this bonus episode, The Zest’s brand manager and taco connoisseur, Alexandria Ebron, discusses her favorite local taco spots:

Don’t see your fave on this list? Shout out your go-to taquería on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

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