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The Laughing Cat

Ybor City,  Tampa, Florida      2008

Waiting for Nina

Franko, the proprietor and chef of the "Laughing Cat."  Franko, from Sicily, is trained in European cuisine and creates the most eccellente meals.  He sat down and took the time to chat with us as it was late in the afternoon after the lunch crowd had left. He happily gave us a dissertation on how lousy the food is in all the chain restaurants. And after eating his delicious lunch buffet, we had to agree.   Franko named his establishment after one of his favorite places in Venice, Italy.

COMMENTS
Andre. said at 10:45 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
Kinda simple and so very cool. I would never think of this. Great job, Linda
Maz2001 said at 10:51 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
Nicely done. Great images.
Oldbogus said at 10:56 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
My kinda Tabblo! On site reporting! Good job but maybe we couldn't seen more of the food? :)
Wopmusic said at 10:58 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
got to like anyone with a name like franko, especially someone from sicily! it's a shame i don't get up to ybor that much anymore.
Leftofcenter said at 11:00 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
Vorrei la lista dei vini per favore!
I like this meegs, the arrival of Nina, the yellow walls, the half faces, the repetition of photos, you captured the hip feel of the place. What did you eat????
Lifequest22 said at 11:03 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
Thanks Andre. I thought it was just a simple, fun Tabblo of my afternoon in Ybor. Thanks, Jane.

Oldbogus--I was too hungry to stop and take photos of the food, but it would have been a good idea.

Yeah, Franko, Franko,Franko,Franko, if you ever get to Ybor City, you have got to check out the Laughing Cat and check out the food and meet the other Franko.
Lifequest22 said at 11:08 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
Thanks Annelies. It's in an old brick building and very simple. We had a buffet with several different salads, fresh salmon, swordfish, pasta, meatballs, and veggies. All delicious.
Leftofcenter said at 11:18 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
buonanotte la mia amica.
Lifequest22 said at 11:22 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
domani
Leftofcenter said at 11:28 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
si
Debdog said at 11:32 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
simple,,,,,fun an looks cool
Jamesbrian200257 said at 11:54 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
Wow.I enjoyed this on so many Levels. One,I lived in Tampa in 1976-1978. I learned Karate in Ybor city. At that time , my fellow students and I were sometimes mugged or beaten up on the way to the Karate class,very embarassing !!! Ybor was pretty rough back them.Now apparently Ybor is Yuppie City,LOL.Also, I am in wholesale food distribution today. My parents owned four small independent chinese restaurants. I grew up working in them. I love independent small restaurants. To be fair, there is some very good food out there in some national chains,Cheesecake Factory,Macaroni Grill for example. Anyway , very nice and unique Tabblo !!!
21-gramm said at 11:58 p.m. on Aug 11, 2008:
Great moment of yous tab, Linda is 'Waiting Nina'! look so elegant!
this restaurant is very nice place!
but, i waiting to look another Franko - Wopmusic! ha-ha!
Marcif said at 12:09 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Oh this is cool. The way you've framed the shots adds an edge to it that makes it more interesting than a traditional framing.
Lifequest22 said at 12:13 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
James, thanks. Ybor has changed quite a bit since then. It has a real mixed crowd. I went to school and then taught at the HCC ybor campus in the 80's so Ybor was my stomping ground. Then in the ninties they started to develop it somewhat. Lots of club activity at night. But during the day it's very mellow and just pleasant to stroll the cobblestone streets and visit the shops. And the artists are coming back. Franko's not too impressed with the chains, but i do enjoy Macaroni Grill.

Thanks, Den. Yes, Nina is elegant. And Franko is the wop-wop-wop-music man.
Lifequest22 said at 12:17 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Thanks for noticing the framing, Marcie. I was shooting for a look that wouldn't be too static.
Mirella said at 1:52 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Very nice Tabblo. It looks like a movie. Original layout. Ciao, and ciao also to Il gatto che ride !
Hollyridger said at 2:40 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
This is such a COOL tabblo. Linda! You are really raising the standards for presentation! I am having problems with uploading and creating tabblos at the moment so am having a rest lest I give up altogether. Very well done...
Tishfish said at 6:06 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Very n ice tabblo Linda ! ! ! !
Emmabro said at 7:33 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
great tabblo Linda !!! love the layout and the style the photo's are taken :-)
PhotoPop said at 8:42 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
The tabblo feels very personal and impressionistic. Franko looks like quite the character. Well done.
Shenresi said at 9:18 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
lovely place and wonderful shots, evan the first ones with the woman who`s coming down the street!!!
YorkJodi said at 9:32 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
This is really fun... waiting for your friend... and the inside of the little Laughing Cat reminds me of a tiny little cafe Matt & I ate at in Chicago... so fun & quaint... nothing like that near here...
Snooway said at 10:20 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
cool place:)
Moabjeeper said at 11:42 a.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Kool
Lifequest22 said at 12:01 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
As "Fast Eddie" would say, Thank you good people.

John--You nailed it-Franko is a character.

Noreen--you flatter me. Thank you.

Jodi--Ybor City is a section of Tampa that was settled by the Cuban immigrants who started the cigar industry here. It has many of these small restaurants and shops. It's one of my favorite places to spend time with my camera. The photo ops are endless. Had become a haven for artists. For a while it was getting run down, but was revitalized in the late 80s early 90's. I've made several other Tabblos about Ybor City.

Again, thank you all. I really appreciate your encouraging comments.
AliDar said at 1:40 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Love the sets of Nina walking towards you and of Franko; the first showing her progression and the later showing yours as the photographer, very cool! Franko seems quite the character, and having him visit you at your table makes the place seem more neighbourly too me. ... I'm thinking there wasn't any burgers on the menu either. <Grin>
Candlepower said at 2:14 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Would like to eat there. Great Tabblo!
Lifequest22 said at 2:28 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Thanks Dar and Pat. That's what i like about these small restaurants, there much more personal. The food is excellent, Pat.
Tigerdba74 said at 4:28 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Nice...I loved the Creativity!
Karsten said at 6:39 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
looks like the kind of restaurants i like to go to ...hehe..good homemade food (how did franko sirved the fresh salmon???), nice people and a warm atmosphere ! thanks for sharing Linda!
YonderCreature said at 8:01 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Love how you capture the atmosphere and mood with your series of images and the framing of the shots---has a cinematic feel to it. I really like the ambience of the first shot!
Lifequest22 said at 9:29 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Hey--Kim, Karsten and Yonder--appreciate your comments. As Nina was walking towards me, i started shooting and she said, i'm not stopping and posing. I told her to just keep walking. No posed shots. I perfer candid. Karsten--The salmon was served cold and with a wonderful tomato, onion and herb dressing. Just delightful.
Memotions said at 9:59 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Love your layout. The first set of 4 (#2-5) is nicely executed. Cool concept.
Lifequest22 said at 10:25 p.m. on Aug 12, 2008:
Thanks, Patty. good to see you again at Tabblo.
Karsten said at 10:54 a.m. on Aug 13, 2008:
that sounds simple and very tasty - i just love salmon - i´ll try to make it that way the next time ;-)) Thanks Linda!
Babooshka said at 1:16 p.m. on Aug 14, 2008:
VEry nice done, also with the big picture and smaller ones beneath
Lifequest22 said at 4:46 p.m. on Aug 14, 2008:
Thanks, Danitsja.

Karsten--I wish i had the actual recipe to give you. I think he said that he broiled the salmon.
AliDar said at 5:29 p.m. on Aug 14, 2008:
all this talk about the salmon and now I have to put it on the grocery list! :)
Pkeener said at 9:08 p.m. on Aug 14, 2008:
I really like the framing of this! It gives the feeling of being in the restuarant and surrounded by the energy and movement of the place. Its like a short movie, the way you put it together, with Nina walking up. love it! Its always so cool when the chef sits down with you.
Lifequest22 said at 12:01 p.m. on Aug 15, 2008:
Thanks, Pam.
JuDeck said at 12:10 p.m. on Aug 15, 2008:
Very artisitic tabblo....had me on the first shot, the lighting and it being out of focus made it mysterious enough for me to want more and you came through...love all the pieces and the flow of the pics and story.
Lifequest22 said at 3:32 p.m. on Aug 15, 2008:
Thanks, Jude.
jusween@***.com said at 6:31 p.m. on Aug 15, 2008:
I love it! I must admit I feel a little like a celebrity...The lighting and the way you have framed the shots are really impressive. Maybe you should approach Franco with it. You could end up with free meals forever!
Lifequest22 said at 6:37 p.m. on Aug 15, 2008:
Nina--you finally showed up. Thanks. I'm glad you like it. You are the star of this tab.Well, maybe Franco too. Free meals forever. Sounds heavenly.
Lifequest22 said at 6:38 p.m. on Aug 15, 2008:
Always waiting for NINA.
Keeli said at 4:10 p.m. on Aug 16, 2008:
Very interesting perspective of an afternoon get together! Very well done ;-)
Jantass said at 7:19 p.m. on Aug 16, 2008:
beautiful images..great shots !!
Sirnicolay said at 7:45 a.m. on Aug 17, 2008:
So cool :)
Nina1960 said at 4:32 p.m. on Aug 17, 2008:
Linda,....I agree with all is said above...when i'm in florida I know now where to eat..thanks:)
Lifequest22 said at 4:38 p.m. on Aug 17, 2008:
Thanks Keeli, Jantass and James. Marian, when you're in Florida, I'll take you to Ybor City and the Laughing Cat..
Nina1960 said at 4:59 p.m. on Aug 17, 2008:
That's a deal,Linda....and when I come you take the pictures...waiting for Nina again:))
Lifequest22 said at 5:02 p.m. on Aug 17, 2008:
Sounds good to me, Nina1960.... I guess I'm destined to spend my life waiting for Nina's. :)
Nina1960 said at 5:14 p.m. on Aug 17, 2008:
:)
GeorgePL said at 12:04 a.m. on Aug 18, 2008:
I like the story. Nicely told.
Msisongkram said at 9:00 a.m. on Aug 18, 2008:
Great and very interesting. Wished you show us some of the food and I believed they must be yummy!
Welshchick said at 5:06 a.m. on Aug 20, 2008:
So cool Linda! You've preserved your wonderful afternoon with a friend and we all get in on it too! Thanks!
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