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New Asian flavors in Westchase, new salon downtown, pizza galore in SouthShore and Brandon

 
Tin Drum Asiacaf?, at 3689 Tampa Road in Oldsmar, mixes traditional Asian fare with bold flavors.
Tin Drum Asiacaf?, at 3689 Tampa Road in Oldsmar, mixes traditional Asian fare with bold flavors.
Published May 21, 2015

Tin Drum Asiacafé recently opened its first Florida location in the Bay Arbor Plaza at 3689 Tampa Road.

The fast casual restaurant serves fresh and authentic street food inspired by the cuisines of China, India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Tin Drum Asiacafé dishes are prepared using fresh and natural ingredients, such as USDA organic tofu. All food is cooked to order in an open kitchen, and is then served tableside.

The menu features entrees that mix traditional Asian fare with bold flavors. House dishes include mango stir-fry and several curry entrees, while their Asian classics include sesame stir-fry and pad thai noodles.

Diners can also choose from salads, soups, and sides such as spring rolls and pot-stickers. Street tacos are featured on the menu as well, and are made with crispy shrimp or teriyaki chicken. Tin Drum Asiacafé offers gluten free and vegetarian menu options.

"We are excited to open our first Florida location and look forward to welcoming everyone in the Tampa Bay area to enjoy the great food, personal service and fun that Tin Drum Asiacafé has become known for," said founder and CEO Stephen Chan.

Chan opened the first Tin Drum Asiacafé in 2003, and there are now thirteen locations throughout the Atlanta metro area. Two more restaurants are planned for the Tampa Bay area within the next year.

Tin Drum Asiacafé is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. To view their full menu, or to order online, visit their website at tindrumcafe.com.

Danielle Hauser, Times correspondent

Coral Gables salon finds downtown digs

Kim Nguyen has been in the nail salon business for 17 years.

She opened her first shop at the age of 18.

Now, she is expanding her Coral Gables salon into a chain.

The first of the Pearl Salon chains will be located in downtown Tampa, in Park Tower, where guests will be welcomed by a wall of 1,000 polish colors.

"We are going to carry the biggest brands in the industry," Nguyen said.

"We collaborated with OPI and Essie. We will have every single color."

The salon will offer a blow bar, waxing, facials, massages, manicures, pedicures and eyelash extensions. "It's a one stop for everybody," Nguyen said.

Modern, yet elegant, the salon will be filled with 24 chairs to ensure lesser wait time for customers.

"Everything in the salon is top notch," Nguyen said. "I bought the chairs for the purpose of sanitary alone. We use a completely new liner every time a customer steps into the chair, so you won't touch anything from the previous client."

Nguyen also sterilizes using hospital sterilizer and spent extra money to install an exhaust fan to lower chemical fumes and ensure salon safety.

"I am the one who started the project, it's my baby," Nguyen said.

A soft opening will take place on June 15, followed by a grand opening later in the month. The first 50 clients get to pick one service for free.

Those interested in applying for a job or who want to learn more about the salon's services, visit Pearlsalontampa.com.

Arielle Waldman, Times Staff Writer

Pizza power player grows in SouthShore

Al Carapella is a pizza power player and now, he has the Brandon and SouthShore market covered with his hand-tossed, New York style pies.

Carapella opened FishHawk pizza in 2012 with business partner Lou Bevilacqua before selling his share of the restaurant approximately a year later.

Carapella announced that as of last week, he has re-purchased the eatery from Bevilacqua, who is opening another pizza restaurant near Big Bend Road.

Carapella, who has opened more than a dozen local pizza places in the past two decades, owns Bloomingdale Pizza and Brandon Pizzeria.

His signature branding is the red and white signage that wrap the windows at all three while his staple inside the restaurants is the hand-tossed dough.

The difference, he says is staying away from the convenience of automation used in larger pizza chains and spending the extra time on the crust.

The pizzeria also offers home cooked Italian food, subs, salads and wings

Of all his locations, he calls the one at 15260 FishHawk Blvd. his "Cadillac store" because of the features including the outside patio and open kitchen.

Carapella said partners Joe and Kimberly Zinero, who were part owners before, are staying on to help him.

"I've seen a lot of old friends and had a very warm welcome back," he said.

Learn more about the pizzas that range from 9-inch personal pies to 28-inch party pies at brandonpizzeria.com, bloomingdalepizza.com and fishhawkpizzeria.com.

Eric Vician, Times correspondent

If you have an item for Everybody's Business, contact Arielle Waldman at awaldman@tampabay.com.