The Man Behind The Knife at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood

Photo courtesy of  Chip Weiner – Creative Loafing You may be wondering what it takes to run a butcher shop that is known for its attention to detail and premium cuts of meat. We’ve got the juicy details on the man behind the knife and the cuts of meat at Tampa’s premiere butcher shop. We caught up with Vlad Vergilov, resident butcher of Council Oak Steaks & Seafood as he

10 Things to Know About 2014 Hard Rock Girl Miss September

As we start to say goodbye to September, we introduce to you one of the hottest things to happen to this month, Jessica Welch. You can see Jessica’s friendly face in the 2014 and 2015 Hard Rock Girl Calendar’s or you can stop in to dine with her at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood. Here are 10 fun facts to help you get to know Jessica: She is a Florida-native

Meet Council Oak Steaks & Seafood’s New Wine Sommelier & Manager

Douglas Scagliola, dedicated food and beverage professional with a unique combination of service and wine experience recently joined Council Oak Steaks & Seafood as the new assistant manager and resident wine sommelier. Douglas started his career at Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House in Las Vegas, Nevada. He then became Delmonico Restaurant’s Sommelier/Cellar Master. Prior to his employment at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Douglas was the General Manager for O’Brady’s

The Various Cuts Inside Council Oak Steaks & Seafood Butcher Shop

Step foot inside Council Oak Steaks & Seafood and you’ll be greeted by a smiling face and a colorful butcher shop decorated with various cuts of meat. Council Oak offers USDA Prime and Choice Steaks that are either dry or wet aged. You may ask, what’s the difference? USDA Prime is the superior grade that offers a juicy, tender and flavorful texture. This steak has the highest degree of fat

Chef Brings New Flavors to Council Oak at Hard Rock Tampa

Michael Balles, newly appointed head chef for Council Oak Steaks and Seafood brings his culinary expertise to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. Having graduated from the Academy of Culinary Arts, Chef Mike started his career in the same city that he was born, Atlantic City. He held a crucial role in the opening of Bobby Flay Steak house in the Borgata Hotel & Casino. He later became the

Seminole Hard Rock Introduces Hard Rock Energy Drink Cocktails

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is now offering exclusive Hard Rock Energy drinks in cocktail form. These rockin’ beverages will certainly give you the boost that you need to have a winning experience! All Nighter Ingredients 1.25oz Stoli Vodka 1oz Dekuyper Blue Curacao 2oz Pineapple juice Mountain Dew Hard Rock Original Energy Drink Directions Add vodka and Blue Curacao into a mixing glass with ice. Shake and

Council Oak Steaks & Seafood Wins Prestigious Wine Award

For the seventh year in a row, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood has been awarded the prestigious Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine for its impressive menu of 278 fine wines and staff trained in all of the exacting nuances of proper wine service. The Award of Excellence recognizes wine lists that offer interesting selections and are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine

A Father’s Day Secret You Won’t Want to Miss Out On

Fresh Harvest In addition to the extensive variety of fresh offerings prepared in our seven live-action kitchens, the culinary team will feature Father’s Day favorites throughout the day, including: Buffet Smokey chicken and cheese stuffed jalapeños Seafood macaroni and cheese Sweet and spicy chicken wings Raspberry barbequed salmon Grilled marinated mini rib eye steaks Smothered catfish in peppers and onions Sweet heat glazed pork chops Spaghetti and meatballs Fresh Italian

Where to Bring Your Special Lady for Mother’s Day 2014

It’s not too late to treat the woman in your life to a wonderful meal this weekend for Mother’s Day. You’re probably struggling to find the perfect place to bring her. There are likely three major questions running through your head as you plan for the weekend. What kind of food does she want? Is it a nice place? What are we going to do after? We have all of

Food and Wine Pairings with Council Oak Steak & Seafood General Manager

Candace Quinones, newly appointed general manager at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa’s (SHRT) Council Oak Steaks & Seafood is ready to take the culinary hot spot to another level. Candace is no rookie to the food and beverage industry. Her hospitality career started her senior year in high school, where she participated in a co-op program at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino. During her experience there she