On today's post I am discussing some really serious issues below so I urge you all to read the entire post.
When blogging from home during quarantine I am always tasked with what to wear for a post because I am really not going anywhere and would rather be comfortable. So, I found this cute floral dress during a memorial day sale. One thing that I like about it is that it looks more like a kimono dress than a regular button up shirt dress. Its so cute and comfortable and I actually wore it all night until I was done and ready for bed. In "real life" my hair is always covered. I bought these turbans years ago when I was in the TWA stage and I still love wearing them.
I Got You Ivory Floral Print Dress: Red Dress Boutique
Bow Turban: Makeup By Rose, not recent
Necklace: C/O Ettika
Lipstick: C/O Avon
Its come to light on June 2nd, 2020 that the restaurant I partnered with to participate in my virtual Yelp event #YelpsbigNightIn is embroiled in a major scandal involving one of the owners LanFranco Pescante II. There are a few things I want you to know:
You can find the news article here detailing what was said by him. He was caught posting racial and anti LGBTQ statements in private text messages using the N word and F word as well as saying he wanted to shoot protestors during the George Floyd protests in downtown Tampa. Since then, the company has had him "step down" as co-owner (the Nocturnalhospitalitygroup) and everything is being run by Fabio Viviani Hospitality Venus.
There is no indication that he, Lanfranco Pescante II is not still a co-owner etc basically still making money off of the five businesses Osteria, Mole Y Abuela, Franklin Manor, Shibui, and the event space at Mission Lago Estates.
I have met him many times, but only for a few minutes each time at dinners at the restaurants and at some media events. What I can say is that I don't condone this behavior or rhetoric AT ALL that I guess has been leaked in personal group messages or chats texts whatever involving him using the N word and F word. Since then other major allegations have been made by women.
I do stand up for what's right! So while I am posting this post, I won't be dining at any establishment that he or anyone runs where this kind of rhetoric is tolerated or where he is employed. I had 1 contact at Mole Y Abuela and he is very nice, he sent over three additional meals for me to share with my paid order and that pretty much is the gist of everything I have to say.
Yelp is in no way affiliated with this. I am a Yelp Elite and I RSVP'd for a virtual event for takeout. It was all before any of this happened and I don't want it to overshadow the fact that Yelp is working with locals to brining people together virtually during the pandemic. I had a really great time working with my fellow Yelpers. I regret that this all happened, but glad it came to light, but I wanted to be clear this was not sponsored by Yelp.
But I want you all to keep up with this news, keep checking the local news because the allegations made are serious! And to make it very very clear, I do not condone this and wont be a customer anymore of any of the establishments that are affiliated run by NocturnalHospilityGroup.
As for the food goes, I have written many posts about Mole Y Abuela and their plethora of gluten free foods. I was sent three additional dishes to try that are new to the menu as seen below. All three items were really good, but very "heavy" food wise, meat wise, and fried wise. Its a lot to handle in one night in even over the course of three days of eating everything it caused a bit of gastro upset. I don't cook any fried food so we just are not used to it. I would say just 1 of these dishes is enough for 2 to share. The nachos did taste like a Cuban Sandwich to both of us.
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| Cuban Sandwich inspired nachos Gluten Free |
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| Stuffed Arepas Gluten free |
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| Pork Tostones Gluten free |
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| Al Pastor Chicken with seasoned rice and beans I am unsure if this one is 100% gluten free because I did not ask, it was my husbands. The rice did look like it had ground meat in it also. |
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| Gluten free Chicken and potato empanadas |
In retrospect, I feel like a lot of employees may not have known what all what was going on with the co-owner and right now they are taking a lot of heat also because of decisions LanFranco Pescante made. I hope the good employees can turn it all around and earn back the public's trust and ensure that everyone who had anything to do with his decisions is removed. I thank the Chef for sending over the food. This concludes my business with the restaurant chain. I will be keeping up with what develops over the Summer.
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| Gluten Free stuffed peppers |
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