Chris Fernandez moved to Tampa Bay from Oaxaca, Mexico, when he was 15. His favorite part of living here, besides the weather, is being able to share the food from his culture with the diverse population in Tampa Bay through Red Mesa’s three distinctive eateries: Red Mesa Restaurant, Red Mesa Cantina and Red Mesa Mercado.
ABOUT ME
While I was going to school, one of my first job opportunities was a dishwasher position in a restaurant. I began to learn the different jobs within a restaurant and found myself working up the ranks. As I moved up, I began to feel more passionate about what I was doing. I found a job that gave me great satisfaction at the end of the day.
I enjoy the process of planning a dish, finding the ingredients and watching it all come together. The spark happened for me when I was able to share the food from my home with everyone in Tampa Bay.
MY LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
When the kids were younger we would take them to Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and other parks. Now we take them to try new restaurants. A place my family has been to over the years is Kissin’ Cuzzins on 34th Street. They’re a local business that’s been open for over 40 years and has some of the best grits in town.
We like to take our out-of-town guests to Downtown St. Pete to check out all the breweries, shops and restaurants. I enjoy walking in the Edge District and enjoying the murals that have been created by different artists from all over the world.
For a casual lunch, a favorite place of mine for years has been Siam Garden. They have the best Thai cuisine in St. Pete. I love their Tom Ka Gai soup and Panang Curry. Sola Bistro is my go-to for special occasions. Tigran and Chef Artem have a great selection of wines and their food is always well-delivered.
When we have a date night, we go to IL Ritorno for some delicious fresh hand-made pasta or Brick & Mortar for a great steak with some truffle fries and a nice glass of wine.
For a night on the town, every third Friday in downtown Safety Harbor, they close Main Street, turning it into a walkable area with live music and vendors—always a good time to enjoy with our friends and family.
It’s well-known, but Mazzaro’s Italian Market is always a good spot for a wide range of food, wine and other products that are only found there. It’s a good idea to go right when they open because they fill up quickly.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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