Epicurean Hotel Updates Élevage and The Lobby Bar with Innovative Menus, Expanded Space

TAMPA, Fla. (September 11, 2018) – Tampa’s popular Epicurean Hotel has completed a round of significant updates, including the introduction of an innovative new menu at its signature restaurant, Élevage, and the creation of a new space called The Lobby Bar. Élevage is now open for dinner nightly and weekend brunch, and the new Lobby Bar is open daily for breakfast, happy hour and weekend brunch. The Lobby Bar also serves an all-day menu extending into the late-night hours. The changes were directed by the hotel’s nationally recognized Executive Chef Chad Johnson, a 2012 and 2014 James Beard Foundation “Best Chef: South” semi-finalist, who has been with the Epicurean since its opening in 2013.
“We looked to Chef Chad to make these improvements to keep our offerings fresh and accommodate the changing trends and tastes of our guests and the local community,” said Kevin Scott, general manager of the Epicurean. “The new space is beautiful, but, as always, the star of the show is the food available in both outlets; it’s classic, yet modern and showcases what our award-winning chefs do best.”
Élevage has unveiled a more concise menu that is an innovative marriage between the best of Southern hospitality and French techniques. The culinary team focuses on fresh, vibrant preparations that have a sense of familiarity with a twist of the unexpected to create dishes such as the goat cheese and sweet potato agnolotti, a hand-made pasta filled with a mousse of goat cheese, roasted sweet potato, and pureed black truffles. Other dishes on the new menu include brioche crusted halibut in a modified classic Veronique sauce and the snapper crudo with crab remoulade, dried tomato, watercress and buttermilk consommé. Server uniforms have been updated to accompany the menu changes.
The newly named Lobby Bar area has been expanded to include a mix of seating featuring industrial high tops, rich leather couches and shared bar seating. Additional square footage has been added for more communal space and social engagement, along with two flat screen TVs. The large street-side window area now converts to open air doors leading to an outdoor patio area with additional seating.
The new Lobby Bar menu features chef-inspired plates and a cocktail program that showcases well-made classics, while highlighting creative signature offerings. Perfect examples include the diner burger, a fresh take on the classic with cheddar, bread and butter pickles and comeback sauce, and the moules dijonnaise with mustard, creme fraiche and parsley on a baguette. While the menus have been completely overhauled, one foodie-favorite dish remains on The Lobby Bar menu – the Homage to Bern’s pressed steak sandwich, a nod to the Epicurean’s legendary neighbor, Bern’s Steak House.
Located in the trendy Hyde Park historic district of South Tampa, Florida, the food-focused Epicurean Hotel features a state-of-the-art culinary classroom known as the Epicurean Theatre; Élevage, a restaurant where Southern hospitality meets French technique; EDGE rooftop bar; Bern’s Fine Wines & Spirits wine shop; Evangeline full-service spa; and 5,200-square feet of flexible event space. The Epicurean Hotel was developed in collaboration with Mainsail Lodging & Development and the legendary Bern’s Steak House and is the first newly constructed hotel property in the United States to join the prestigious Autograph Collection® of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR). For reservations, please call (855) U-AWAKEN (829-2536) or visit www.EpicureanHotel.com.
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About Mainsail Lodging & Development LLC
Mainsail Lodging & Development is a Tampa-based hospitality company that develops and operates lodging products in the Southeastern US and the Caribbean. Their property portfolio includes three Autograph Collection® hotels – Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina (ScrubIsland.com), a private island resort in the British Virgin Islands; the boutique food-focused Epicurean Hotel (EpicureanHotel.com) in Tampa, Florida; and Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club on Anna Maria Island, Florida; in addition to Mainsail Beach Inn (MainsailBeachInn.com), a boutique beachfront hotel on Anna Maria Island, Florida. The company also operates corporate housing throughout the Southeast, exclusively managing the Florida market for Oakwood Worldwide® under both its ExecuStay® (ExecuStay.com) and Oakwood® (Oakwood.com) brands, while also operating ExecuStay in Georgia, portions of Alabama, and The Carolinas. Two additional Florida hotels are planned for 2018 and 2020, respectively – Fenway Hotel in Dunedin and Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers. Just north of Tampa in Pasco County, Mainsail Lodging is also developing a 128-room Residence Inn in conjunction with an indoor sports complex, opening in 2019. Mainsail Lodging’s corporate charity is Feeding Tampa Bay – the largest food rescue and distribution organization in the community. Mainsail actively supports the cause through a variety of employee and guest programs ranging from packing and sorting at the warehouse to annual events including Epic Chef Showdown. MainsailHotels.com