Well-Known Tampa Foodie Joins Patch Blogging Community

South Tampa-Hyde Park Patch is thrilled to welcome Todd Sturtz to our blogging community.

If the name sounds familiar, there's a good reason.

Sturtz is the founder of the popular blog, "Tasting Tampa," and creator of the Tampa food truck rallies.

An admitted restaurant junkie, Sturtz also is the author of "Food Lovers' Guide to Tampa Bay," a must-read for any Tampa Bay foodie. In the guide, Sturtz provides the inside scoop on the best places to find, enjoy and celebrate local culinary offerings.

The guide provides information about food festivals and culinary events; specialty food shops; farmers’ markets and farm stands; trendy restaurants and time-tested iconic landmarks; and recipes using local ingredients and traditions.

Inspired by his appreciation of good food, Sturtz began his food blog in 2011 after he was laid off from his engineering job and needed something to do to fill the hours until he landed a new position.

He began focusing on the many food trucks around the area. And, when his church, Hyde Park Presbyterian, asked him to come up with a community fundraiser, he launched Tampa's first food truck rally, attended by more than 4,000 people.

"The streets surrounding the church were swarmed with people all coming to find out what a truck rally was all about," recalled Sturtz. "Every truck sold out of food, and the church raised a few thousand dollars by selling donated water bottles."

Since then, Tasting Tampa has hosted a slew of other food truck rallies including the Mayor's Food Truck Fiesta in downtown Tampa, expanded Tasting Tampa to include restaurant consulting, food truck consulting, event promotions, catering and exclusive private dining. Sturtz' wife, Shannon, served as director of operations.

In the first of what we hope will be many Patch blogs, Sturtz names his top 10 South Tampa restaurants.

Want to know what they are? Then read his blog.

By the way, we're always looking for new bloggers -- everyday people who would like to share their opinions, expertise or advice with others in the community.

If you're interested in becoming a blogger, simply go to our Local Voices section on the homepage and click the "want to blog on Patch" button at the bottom of the column. It's a simple, free and a fun way to express your yourself.