Urban Culinary Cuisine Is 'Ridiculously Fresh'

Food is a gift from God, and it needs to be treated as such.

At least that’s how Rose and John Saxton see it. The husband-wife team owns and runs Urban Culinary Cuisine, an eatery on Cross Creek Boulevard that specializes in Southern cuisine with a decidedly urban – and healthier – flair.

“Food isn’t about just shoving things down your mouth,” Rose Saxton said. “It’s about enhancing relationships and about health, too.”

Some people eat to live, while others live to eat. The Saxtons, who opened shop in December 2007, are clearly appealing to those in the latter category. But why offer such cuisine in New Tampa?

“My answer to that is, ‘Why not New Tampa?’” she said. “It’s urban in this area in a way. … It’s people from all different backgrounds and cultures. New Tampa is not suburban, it’s really urban in that sense.”

The bill of fare includes everything from classics like catfish (grilled, pan-seared or lightly fried) and fried chicken to other options such as chicken breast with a creamy white wine sauce, smoked salmon salad and smoothies.

Soul food traditionalists may be a bit thrown at first with the classics. That’s because the sodium and fat have been turned down a couple of notches: The fried chicken doesn’t leave a puddle of grease, the green beans are al dente to preserve nutrients and the collard greens are prepared with smoked turkey rather than artery-choking salt pork, Rose Saxton said.

“Our urban cuisine is based on a healthy cooking concept,” she added. “It’s known in the public that we don’t do chitlings. Our market is really for those who love Southern cuisine but don’t want to eat unhealthy just because it is Southern.”

Eating smarter requires an open mind, but the adjustment on the tongue is not as drastic as it may seem.

“For people who are steadfast it’s a change, but eating healthy is delicious,” said her husband, whom she refers to simply as Chef. “It’s a slight change of palate.”

The Saxtons, who also do catering, are often fine-tuning their restaurant to make it better. Menu tweaks are made, live jazz was previously offered and will perhaps be replaced by another genre, different lectures are held and hours were just expanded to include the lunch crowd.

“It’s all about constantly changing,” Rose Saxton said. “You feel the vibe. You change based on the clients’ needs."

New Tampa resident Alisha Menzies is liking what is happening. “Everything is ridiculously fresh, and it’s a really friendly atmosphere,” she said while poring over the menu one recent weekday.

Chef, who cut his teeth in New York City restaurants before coming to Tampa, is clearly passionate about food - even if the topic is a simple grilled cheese sandwich. He has a lecture series called the “Sensual Side of Foods” where folks learn to eat with all of their senses.

“Cooking and eating is like making love,” he said. “Some people do it well and some people are masters.”

More Information
Address: 10016 Cross Creek Blvd.
Phone: 813-994-3800
Website: www.urbanculinarycuisine.com

Hours

Mondays through Thursdays: Noon-9 p.m.
Fridays: Noon-10 p.m.
Saturdays: 2 p.m.-10 p.m.
Sundays: Closed