A collaboration between some of Tampa's most passionate food and culture folks is coming together this weekend in Ybor City for "Flavors of Ybor," a four-course dinner at Sky Puppy Brewing on Sunday, August 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event brings together chef John LoScalzo of LOKO Cuisine, BeyLoved Pairings founder and certified cicerone Joanne Mumbey, and Tampa tour guide Max Herman, who will weave local storytelling throughout the meal. A portion of proceeds benefits Ybor Misfits Micro Sanctuary, which has been caring for the historic district's beloved neighborhood chickens since around 2016.
The menu leans into Tampa's deep culinary heritage, opening with a mojo port pâté on a La Segunda crostini and moving through a ropa vieja before landing on a dulce de leche flan with chocolate cookie crumb and espresso cigarillo. The dish drawing the most attention, though, is LoScalzo's crispy deviled crab croquette, served chilau-style in a sofrito with his signature dry-hopped hot sauce — a nod to the blue crab traditions that fed Tampa's immigrant communities in the late 1800s. Guests with dietary restrictions won't be left out: vegan and shellfish-free alternatives use mojo roasted jackfruit, hearts of palm, and shredded mushrooms.
The specific beer and wine pairings — sourced from award-winning brewery Matthew McKinnon — will be revealed the night of the event, adding a fun element of surprise to the evening. Sky Puppy Brewing is located at 1313 E 8th Ave. in Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood.
Tickets for the August 30 dinner are sold out, but a waitlist is available for those hoping to snag a spot. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, which originally reported on the event, also has a full roundup of additional food and drink happenings across the Tampa Bay area through September 3.
