DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF TOMBOLO BOOKS
INGREDIENTS
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2 lbs ground beef
6 cups water
1 28-oz can tomato sauce
A LOCAL LITERARY OASIS WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups chopped green peppers 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp salt
Convenience may reign supreme in an increasingly digital world, but an algorithm is no match for hand-curated selection. That’s the ethos of Tombolo Books, which has won “Best of the Bay” in the bookstore category for all four years it has been in business. A personal touch sets the store apart from its competitors on and offline. Alsace Walentine had 16 years of experience in bookselling in Asheville, North Carolina, when she decided to launch Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg. “It may surprise people, but there are a lot of cultural similarities between the two cities,” she says. “And I started thinking the one thing St. Pete is missing is a bookstore focused on bringing authors from all over the country to meet with readers.” Tombolo Books began as a pop-up store before going brick-and-mortar in 2019. The store now hosts 1–3 local or nationally known authors each week. “It builds a great community of people who get to meet their heroes and have their books signed,” Alsace says. But Alsace believes the top thing that sets Tombolo apart from other bookstores is selection. “We get input from all our booksellers and meet with sales reps who really understand the local audience and hot topics,” Alsace explains. “Sometimes, I only buy one copy of a new book because I know one regular customer will want it. Sure enough, they come in and discover it. It’s so fun to watch.” The customers are Alsace’s favorite part of her job. “At the end of every day, my wife and I always talk about our favorite customers and interactions,” she says. “People get personal with you and each other in a bookstore.” She adds, “This feels like important work. Seeing all the new books coming out, having access to new authors — it always feels like you’re on the cutting edge of new ideas.” Alsace notes that independent bookstores are making a comeback around the country, and she’s grateful for the community support. “It makes a big difference when people choose to pay full price for books rather than looking for a discount store,” she says. “They’re supporting the local economy and ensuring their money stays with their neighbors.” Alsace is currently reading “The Sentence” by Louis Erdrich. She encourages readers who want to learn more about the store to visit TomboloBooks.com or search “TomboloBooks” on Facebook or Instagram.
2 tsp beef bouillon granules
1 tsp black pepper
2 cups cooked long-grain rice Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1.
In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook beef until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add beef back to the pot and stir in all ingredients except the cooked rice. Bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until peppers are tender, about 30 minutes. 3.
Add cooked rice and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
(EASY WAY OUT)
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