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Arirang brings Korean cuisine near MacDill AFB, Chocolate Pi sweenens SoHo; Five Guys closed in SkyPoint.

 
Published Feb. 6, 2014

INTERBAY — The Mundell family looks forward to serving MacDill Air Force Base employees and their families at Arirang, a casual, Korean restaurant set to open this week.

"Many of them have lived in Korea and miss the cuisine," said Sowon Mundell, explaining the choice of location, south of Gandy Boulevard. Her late father was a contractor at MacDill, so she and her mother, Misook Mundell, who previously operated restaurants in Osan, South Korea, already knew the area.

Misook will prepare her favorite recipes at the 50-seat Arirang, named for a Korean folk song.

Appetizers include egg rolls and dumplings — fried or steamed pork, beef or vegetable. There are several soups and American-style salads topped with Misook's own dressings.

Galbi, marinated and grilled short ribs, stands out among several beef, chicken, pork and fish entrees. Traditional side dishes include, of course, kimchi, as well as spinach, bean sprouts and omelet-like egg rolls.

Best bet: Misook's Specialities, a four-course meal featuring appetizer, salad or side dish, entree and dessert for $21 and up.

Arirang, 5232 S MacDill Ave., is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon to 10 p.m Saturday and 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Visit arirangintampa.com or call (813) 837-1471.

Chocolate Pi sweetens new SoHo hotel

Not to worry, Chocolate Pi will be open by Valentine's Day, if not sooner.

Popular pastry chef Kim Yelvington and her daughter Jade are putting the finishing flourishes on the sweet shop inside the Epicurean Hotel on S Howard Avenue.

Homemade marshmallows, ice cream and soda (try the strawberry jalapeno) might invoke nostalgia for a Southern granny's kitchen — a trendy, hipster grandma, that is.

French macarons, available in 14 flavors, make a chic V-Day alternative to a box of chocolates, suggests Jade. "And Hot Drinking Chocolate made with Valrhona chocolate will melt your heart."

The mother-daughter duo customize artisan wedding cakes and cupcakes for any celebration. A line of Sweet Yelvington candy bars is in the works, including a potato chip and popcorn Junk Food bar.

Afternoon tea will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with a savory and sweet selection of quiche, sandwiches and confections; reservations required.

A late-evening dessert and drink pairing is coming soon.

Chocolate Pi, 1205 S Howard Ave., will open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Visit sweetchocolatepi.com or call (813) 831-2195.

Goodbye to the guys

Five Guys in the SkyPoint condominium flipped its last batch of burgers and fries at 777 N Ashley Drive, going out with a Gasparilla bang on Jan. 25.

Calls to the corporate office were not returned to explain why the franchise decided to close the location opposite Curtis Hixon Park.

The Five Guys fix nearest downtown Tampa is now 3841 W Kennedy Blvd.

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