Bern's Steak House Tampa

Let me preface this by saying how important Bern's is to my family and me. My parents had their wedding rehearsal dinner there in the early 80s and every milestone birthday my brother and I have celebrated has taken place at Bern's. It is more than a restaurant and much like a tradition. Can you imagine a staple restaurant in your town that is first class, traditional and slightly fancy? Do you have a place where you only dine occasionally because you know what a special experience you will share? Bern's is that place for me. The inside reminds me of a midieval castle lit by dim chandeliers and each dining room carries its own story.

Last Tuesday my family and some dear friends dined at Bern's to celebrate the Christmas season. Aside from the highest quality meats, seafood and fish, they also pride themselves in growing their own organic vegetables in a garden near the restaurant. How cool is that!

We definitely ate with our eyes and before I knew it our table was scattered with fresh salad, french onion soup, roasted shrimp, escargot, 2 lb. lobsters, chateau briand, filet mignon, fried onion strings, sweet carrots, green and yellow wax beans, and pumpernickel toasts!

I personally ordered the vegetarian dinner: roasted acorn squash stuffed with wild mushrooms(!), goat cheese, and spinach topped with whole cranberries bathing in their own syrup. It was so fresh and delicious and perfectly seasonal and still left me room to taste lobster dunked in butter, tender melt in your mouth filet, and all those yummy veggies bursting with flavor!

For first class service, food, and atmosphere, Bern's is the Tampa staple.

http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/

Below is a recipe for my favorite roasted winter veggies!

2 garnet yams

2 zucchini

bunch of carrots

1 red onion

1 fennel bulb

Pre-heat the over to 400 degrees. Chop all of the veggies about the same size so they cook evenly. Place them on a large cookie sheet or roasting tray (this recipe makes two trays). Season liberally with salt and pepper. Drizzle a light olive oil and finish with pure maple syrup. Toss with your hands and roast for 20 minutes.

They can be used as a side dish, in a sandwich, or by themselves as a sweet and savory snack!