At this point, every day is some kind of food holiday. National Blueberry Muffin Day? Yep. National Junk Food Day? Of course. National Hot Fudge Sundae Day and Wine and Cheese Day on the same day? That’s a dairy double-whammy. July is an absolute parade of oddly specific food celebrations, all to ruin your summer beach bod.
Tampa is a hub of varied cuisine, so here’s a guide to honoring July’s quirkiest, tastiest food holidays featuring a lineup of local restaurants and bars that know how to play their part.
July 4: National Barbecue Day
What’s more American than fireworks and barbeque? Big John’s Alabama BBQ, a family-run Tampa landmark since 1968, delivers smoky, pit-cooked meats and traditional BBQ sides. If you like your brisket with a rich backstory and soul, this is the place to celebrate.
July 6: National Fried Chicken Day
Crispy, juicy and just plain comforting, fried chicken has more than earned its own day of celebration. King of the Coop, located on Nebraska Avenue, serves up Nashville-style chicken alongside hearty sides. If you’re looking for a mix of sweet and savory, look no further than their chicken and waffle dish.
July 7: World Chocolate Day
To celebrate World Chocolate Day, visit Toffee to Go & More, a local chocolate shop on Bay to Bay Boulevard with the only toffee and decadent chocolate treats you’ll ever need. The shop’s small batches deliver big flavor.
July 14: National Mac and Cheese Day
Celebrate this holiday at the long-running Tampa staple of Trip’s Diner, located in Seminole Heights. While simple, their mac dish warps you back to your childhood, pairing nostalgia with the classic diner feel. Combine this mac and cheese with their renowned steak tips, and you’ll head home happier than a pig in mud.
July 17: National Hot Dog Day
It’s impossible to discuss summer food and not bring up hot dogs. Whether you’re at a Rays game, on the beach or dining for a gourmet glizzy, hot dogs have forever permeated the American food zeitgeist. Mel’s Hot Dogs is an unmissable name in the Tampa dog scene. Founded in 1973, Mel’s offers traditional and Chicago dogs that snap until the last bite.
July 20: National Ice Cream Day (and all month long!)
If your stomach can fit in something sweet after barbecue, mac and hot dogs, July is Ice Cream Month. Visit Bo’s Ice Cream in Seminole Heights for new and traditional flavors at incredibly affordable prices. Bo’s offers both shakes and scoops, and if you’re feeling up to the task enjoy their “thick-n’-chunky” variety, which kicks DQ blizzards to the curb.
July 24: National Tequila Day
Nueva Cantina has all you need to enjoy National Tequila Day. Located in downtown Tampa, value and flavor intersect to provide pitchers upon pitchers of margaritas. Sweet rims and salt rims are more than welcome. Nueva Cantina has the marg for you.
Whether you’re digging into ribs and ice cream or throwing back your third (or was it fourth?) margarita, July’s food holidays give us every excuse to eat local and support Tampa’s culinary creatives.