featured FOODIE
Bob Glaser
What is your favorite kind of cuisine?
My favorite is Italian. There is a
heartiness to the cuisine that feels
nourishing at the end of a busy day.
A good Italian chef really knows how
to bring out the best in greens and
vegetables, either as a side dish or in
the entrée. I live in downtown St. Pete
and love to walk over to Il Ritorno for
dinner. The chef, David Benstock, takes
this simple rustic cuisine and makes it
unique and delicious. I can walk there
to meet friends or eat solo, but I always
know that I’m going to leave feeling
replenished and relaxed.
How often do you dine out?
Owning a Real Estate company with
offices in Tampa, St. Pete, Westchase
and along the Gulf Coast, I am always
on the go and traveling all over our
area for events and meetings. Lunch
out is almost daily and a healthy,
light lunch is a must. I have a few
neighborhood restaurants that I enjoy,
but my go-to’s for a fresh, healthy
meal are Fresh Kitchen and BT’s on
Henderson. I have a lot of energy, and
I don’t have time to be lethargic from
lunch, so I am always picking food that
really supports feeling healthy.
What are your favorite restaurants
in Tampa Bay? Do you have a regular
favorite?
Tampa Bay is getting national
recognition for their culinary scene,
and I only see that growing. There are
so many excellent restaurants that
it is hard to pick a favorite with new
ones opening all the time. But the
neighborhood I live in does have some
of the best. I love The Mill, Il Ritorno
and the Reading Room.
Are you familiar with any chefs in the
area? Who peaks your interest?
Not only do I sell homes in Tampa Bay,
but I also live here and do what I can
to make our area a great place to live.
With that in mind, I am involved in many
charity organizations and fundraising
events. So I know all the local chefs
and always enjoy seeing their creative
drive and energy. Top folks that
consistently do it right are Marti Blitz
(Mise en Place), Ted Dorsey (The Mill),
Jeannie Pierola (Edison: Food+Drink
Lab) and David Benstock (Il Ritorno).
Just like any great artist, these chefs
work hard and have a creativity that
shines through.
What’s your favorite ingredient and
why?
I really love Squid Ink Pasta. It
makes for a fantastic side dish or
as a main course with creative
ingredients. Whenever I see this
on the menu, I order it just to
see how each chef is going to
re-interpret their version of this
flavorful pasta dish.
Smith & Associates is a widely
recognized real estate company
in the Tampa Bay area. But did
you know that they are locally owned
and operated? Bob Glaser, President
and CEO of Smith & Associates Real
Estate, believes the company should
have global reach with local heart. His
robust real estate company is a luxury
market leader and full-service agency
with residential, commercial, developer
services as well as property management,
title and mortgage services. Currently
residing in downtown St. Petersburg,
we had to ask what he loves about the
culinary scene in his own backyard.
President and CEO,
Smith & Associates
Real Estate
LEFT: BOB ENJOYING FARMTABLE
CUCINA IN DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
8 localsDISH NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017