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Michelle Stark - Assistant Editor, Life & Culture

Assistant Editor, Life & Culture

My reputation is Lady With Snacks in Her Purse at All Times. I’m constantly thinking about my next meal, sometimes while eating my current meal. So it’s fitting that I became the Tampa Bay Times food editor in 2015, taking on the role of sharing culinary joy with you through recipes and stories about our community. I cook almost daily, mostly simple dinners and lots of carbs (I’ve mastered homemade pizza dough) - all of it from scratch. I grew up in Florida, graduating from the University of South Florida in 2010 and joining the Times that same year. I own far too many pairs of boots for someone who has never lived in a state with seasons.

  1. New brunch restaurant Melting Pot Social opens May 22 in downtown Tampa.
  2. Lolita's Wine Market opened in June 2017 in St. Petersburg. The restaurant will be relocating to 420 22nd St. S, where the Morean Center for Clay is located.
  3. Noble Crust offers a brunch featuring menu items such as fried chicken and waffles.
  4. Pianist Sergei Kossenko and violinist Olga Ferroni perform as a duet during the Candlelight: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac concert on Friday, May 5, 2023, at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg.
  5. The Disney Skyliner, which began carrying guests high above Walt Disney World in 2019, glides through the air, transporting guests between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot and resort hotels.
  6. Harlow Graham of Tampa takes a ride on Rosita's Djembe Fly-Away at Busch Gardens in Tampa in 2020.
  7. Noble Crust locations around Tampa Bay offer happy hour daily.
  8. Taylor Swift fan Annabella Siegel, 12, of Orlando, is happy with her haul at the tour merchandise truck on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at Raymond James Stadium.
  9. Guests attend American Stage in the Park's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" in 2013. American Stage in the park returns to Demens Landing with "Ragtime" in St. Petersburg April 12-May 14, 2023.
  10. Strawberry shortcake, made from scratch
  11. The “O.G. Bowl” from Pacific Counter, with tuna, greens, edamame and more.
  12. Bruce Springsteen performed during Super Bowl XLIII, held at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium in 2009. He performs in Tampa tonight.
  13. Learn how to enter local events into our database on tampabay.com.
  14. Layer dry ingredients for soup in a jar for a simple, affordable DIY gift.
  15. ZooTampa at Lowry Park's Christmas in the Wild event runs 16 select nights in 2022.
  16. Ghosts and ghouls of all ages line a festively fall-decorated Main Street, U.S.A for “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade" during the first night of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on Aug. 12 at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Exclusive to the limited-capacity event, the parade features floats filled with Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best, Disney villains and the Haunted Mansion hitchhiking ghosts and graveyard diggers.
  17. Panca chili chimichurri with grilled octopus from Mise en Place in downtown Tampa.
  18. Christmas cookie illustration
  19. A Thanksgiving plate
  20. Burt Drake, owner of Bright Ice, St. Petersburg, scoops up some ice cream for an order.
  21. Times (2009)
All kinds of freshly prepared chili will be served Saturday at E.G. Simmons Park, where a dozen or so cooks will vie for $500 in cash prizes.   ORG XMIT: T0902251039588071
  22. Pasta fagioli soup
  23. Classic lasagna, with tomato and beef sauce