Besta One News
St. Petersburg Times
Published May 18, 2007
by Logan Neill ~ Times Staff Writer
Besta One Italian Grille is casual, yet elegant.
Italian Grace in a Strip Mall
Specialty pastas and salads, gourmet pizzas, a casually elegant vibe: that's Besta One.
The key to our love of Italian cooking is not always just the food. Yes, we find comfort in the mellowness of a hearty tomato sauce. We get a warm vibe from biting into fresh, homemade garlic bread. But there's something about the atmosphere of an Italian establishment that can be as delicious as the cuisine.
Walk into Besta One Italian Grille, between Sears and Circuit City in the Coastal Way Shopping Plaza on Cortez Boulevard, and you'll be immediately struck by the hospitality that comes from a business where serving wonderful food seems more a calling than a vocation.
Thanks to Leslie and Jeff Jackson, the little hangout for late-night teens and occasional shoppers from Sears next door has been rescued. In the three years they've owned it, the restaurant has evolved into a first-rate bistro that offers a level of elegance and culinary sophistication beyond what you might expect, especially if you knew the place before the Jacksons took over.
No plastic checkered tablecloths and chianti-bottle candles here. Rather, tables are linen-clad and sport shiny stemware. Prompt and knowledgabe servers complete an atmosphere that is casual and comfortable. Though the Jacksons admit they know their way around the kitchen, they prefer to turn the show over to true culinary talent. They hired long time Hernando County chef Antonio Velasquez to let loose his Le Cordon Bleu credentials on the traditional flavors of Italy and the Mediterrean.
Velesquez knows that there's more to Italian cooking than tomatoes, oregano and garlic (not that there's anything wrong with those) and isn't afraid to give even traditional recipes a respectful nudge here and there.
With more than a dozen specialties on the menu, pasta lovers will have a field day. Worth checking out are the Chicken Francese ($14.95) and Rigontini and Shrimp Alla Vodka ($15.95), both of which show what innovative culinary talent can do with quality fresh meat and seafood.
On a lighter note, Besta One has a masterful salad selection that is uncommon in our neck of the woods.
If you're only in the mood for pizza, that's okay. Besta One is still one of the bright spots in the county for handmade pies.
Pizza chef Glenn Flammia proudly reels off recipes for two dozen or more gourmet pizzas, and probably that many more combinations of customer favorites. A favorite with seafood lovers is the Shrimp Scampi Pizza ($16.95 and $18.95), a thick-crust pie with shrimp and garlic cooked in a buttery lemon and white wine sauce and generously topped with mozzarella.
Located in an area that is just beginning to feel the sway of incoming restaurant chains, Besta One has the kind of spirit and love of food that makes you want to cheer for it's survival. At least it's the place newcommers should want to emulate.
Logan Neill is a Staff Writer for the St. Petersburg Times
Our Boy Scotty
Our very own Scott Bishop joined us early in March of 2006. When Scotty (as we affectionately call him) walked in to apply for his very first job, ever, at the ripe old age of 16, we did not even have an opening for him!
But Scotty, a fresh faced, polite young man, presented himself with such a polished appearance, with close cropped hair, crisp, clean, white dress shirt, black dress pants and black, spit-shined dress shoes & a 'Yes ma'am & no ma'am' attitude, and went on to reveal to us that he was an Honor's Student & an active member of ROTC!, well, it was a done deal. We felt so strongly that we had a very special young man on our hands, here, that we created a position of buss boy for him right on the spot. We are very glad we did. We are lucky to have such a fine young man who honors and cherishes Mother & Country.
Now Scott is being honored by his High School, Central High, by being recognized as one of a very few select individuals to participate in a very special program known as Boy's State.
Boy's State is a once in a lifetime opportunity that only a few select Juniors from each High School earn the opportunity in which to participate. Boy's State is a trip that very few young men are chosen for, and then only upon recommendation from their teachers.
All junior's that are chosen must complete several rounds of qualifications. The first of which is to successfully complete a daunting packet of essay questions. The second qualifying round is to pass an interview by someone from an American Legion Post. Having survived all of that, only six teens are choosen from each County, two of which are alternates.
During this week long trip, the boys are charged with the task of setting up their very own State Government! They hold elections to elect a State Governer and all the other elected State Officials, as well as all the State Appointments required to run a State Government.
Scott is very proud to be amoung the State of Florida's elite teens to be chosen for such a special opportunity, and highly recommends the program to all upcoming High School Juniors.
We are so proud of Scott and very glad to have him as one of our top productive and contributing Team Members. Scott is a shining example of what American teens can be. We salute you, Scotty Bishop! God's Speed.
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***Update on Mr. Bishop: In March of 2008, Scotty finally turned 18 years of age (he couldn't wait, like all teenaged boys!), and in June of 2008, completed his Central High School studies & is now a successful high school graduate & college bound in the fall. It is also noteworthy that in March of 2008, Scott made the prestigious graduation from buss boy to full time Server here at Besta One Italian Grille. An well earned honour, indeed. You'll be pleased to know he is doing very well at his new position.
Update: Jonathan Patton is Stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. and is doing very well!
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Pizza & Calzones New England Style Fried Seafood
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