Living in Tampa Bay. Loving it!

Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. members of Wat Mongolratanaram of Florida serve up a delicious and authentic Thai feast.

As you walk along the porch, you see people preparing noodle bowls, a variety of curries, coconut custards, papaya salad, deserts, and more. The hard part is deciding what to have! Each item costs between $3 and $5; signs are posted at each station letting you know the cost. Water, sodas, Thai tea and a variety of juices/waters are only $1 each. There is also a small market where you can buy fresh herbs, produce, and plants.

Although you are in downtown Tampa, you would never know it as you enjoy your food at one of the many picnic benches on the shady riverfront property. Boats and jet skis may cruise by, and an occasional train passes over the river as you eat. Kids and dogs run around the grounds as families and friends mingle. It truly has the feel of a family get-together.

The newly-built, authentic Thai temple resides next to the community building where the market is held. The food market, open to the public, is a fundraiser for the temple. See more pictures of the temple at http://www.yelp.com/biz/wat-mongkolratanaram-of-florida-tampa-2.

If You Go ...

Wat Mongolratanaram of Florida is located at 5306 Palm River Rd., Tampa, FL 33619. I suggest you get their early; once the crowds arrive, you will find yourself waiting for some of the more popular items like the coconut custards and fried fruit, and lines can get long for noodle bowls and curries. There is ample parking across the street from the temple once the lot on the property fills up.

Blog penned by: Nicole Doyle

A.J.'s Assistant, Meet me at http://www.ajsellstampa.com/MeetMyAssistant