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By Melinda Tam Orlando
Columbia Restaurant’s Red Sangria 1 bottle Spanish red wine 1/4 cup Spanish brandy 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon sugar 1 cup club soda 1 sliced lemon 1 sliced orange 2-3 whole cherries Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher. Stir with a wooden spoon until well mixed. Pour into large wine glasses. Garnish with orange slices and cherries. Add ice to pitcher. Serves 4.
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hen you’re in the mood for a light, refreshing adult beverage, sangria should be the top choice on your list. Consisting normally of wine, chopped fruit and a sweetener, sangria can be the perfect accompaniment to most meals or enjoyed purely on its own. And the Tampa Bay community seems to agree. duPont REGISTRY™ polled some of our most loyal readers to find out where they sip their favorite sangria. We hope their recommendations will inspire you to partake in a beverage outside your normal comfort zone. Frank De Lucia, president and CEO of Abilities Foundation, loves the sangria at Red Mesa in St. Petersburg, saying, “Two words: Chris Fernandez. The executive chef extraordinaire makes his own sangria from scratch.” Jim Henning, realtor with Florida Executive Realty, boasts, “I thoroughly enjoy the sangria at Cheap in Tampa. Their handcrafted sangrias are a perfect blend of old-world tradition with a modern twist. And the atmosphere puts you in a perfect place to enjoy it!" Ryan Nece, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player and founder of the Ryan Nece Foundation explains, “I enjoy the sangria at Ceviche because it’s refreshing, not super sweet and always has a lot of fruit pieces inside. Their red sangria is a recipe worth purchasing.” Ellen Fiss, public relations manager for Tampa General Hospital, feels nostalgic when she sips on sangria. “I usually don’t drink at all, but on the two or three occasions a year that I do, I like the sangria at CDB’s Southside Italian Restaurant on West Shore. It reminds me of when I first met my husband more than 20 years ago, when we both worked in downtown Tampa and went on dates to CDB’s Uptown. It brings back good memories, and it’s a refreshing drink for a lightweight like me.” Lee Mezrah, president of Mezrah Financial, recommends the sangria at Michael’s 717 South. “His sangria is homemade with top-shelf wine. The premium wine with crushed fruit makes the difference.” Travis Claytor, the communications manager at Tampa Bay & Company, suggests the Columbia Restaurant. “Whether you are
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at the original location in historic Ybor City or overlooking the channel at the Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center, you’ll find one of the best glasses of white or red sangria in Tampa Bay. Mixed tableside, one sip of the Columbia Restaurant’s sangria, and you’ll soon be asking yourself, “Where did the pitcher go?” dR