Live In St. Pete

Entree-Selections

Since my family moved here in 1986, the Lobster Pot restaurant in Redington Shores has been one of our favorite special occasion venues. We’ve celebrated birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and milestones there, enjoying the best lobster in town and arguing over whether the lobster bisque or the escargot were better (we usually opted for both, or at least shared among ourselves). Over the last few years, though, we didn’t find the same level of quality, and we went less and less. We were heartbroken to lose a place that we could count on for consistency.
But last night, the new owners of the Lobster Pot (about a year now) hosted the Bay Area Concierge Association, of which I am delighted to be a member. I was impressed – with the makeover of the space, the quality of the service, and the quality of the food. We were treated to the perfect sized samplings of a variety of dishes, including jerk shrimp, escargot (of course), medallion of beef tenderloin, salmon, sea bass and even a little lobster tail. To cap it off was a layered tower of key lime dessert that was perfectly flavored and light. The service was outstanding, and I was pleased to recognize some familiar faces from over the years.
The new lounge offers a nice area if you’re waiting for a table, or to enjoy a meal if you’re solo. I highly recommend that you try it if you’ve never been, or that you give it another try if you haven’t been in a while. Check out their web site, and have a look at my photos (it seems I like to photograph food more than anything else).

OmeletCafeAlma

This morning marked the debut of weekday breakfast hours at Cafe Alma in downtown St. Petersburg! I’ve long been a fan of their Saturday & Sunday brunch menu, but I’m thrilled to have another choice (and a more upscale one) for regular breakfasts on other days.
Tuesday mornings are when my Mom and I take time away from the office to have breakfast (we’re determined to try all the places that offer breakfast in the ‘Burg). So, we were delighted that Alma’s debut was on a Tuesday!
The menu includes some of the favorites from the weekend, but some more basic breakfast fare as well. I get stuck in a rut with the chorizo & cheese omelet most times, but the “ham & cheese omelet” caught my eye this morning – not your ordinary ham & cheese, it’s made with Canadian bacon and white cheddar (one of my favorites). It was cooked perfectly and so delicious! Mom had the traditional eggs benedict, which she gave high marks to – the hollandaise sauce was right on, the eggs were cooked perfectly, and they even found an English muffin to exchange for the Southern biscuit (she’s a Yankee, after all!).
It was a dreary, rainy day outside, but the atmosphere inside was warm and welcoming, as usual. Give them a try for breakfast, or anytime!

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Sometimes we forget what we have already. Last night was one of those reminders. The Bay Area Concierge Association was hosted by Jo Jo’s in Citta, a mainstay for comfortable Southern Italian food since 1991 in downtown St. Petersburg. As we are inundated with exciting new restaurants that grab all the attention, we need to remember those great places that have been around.
Jo Jo’s sits at the base of Bank of America Tower, with its main entrance on Central Avenue. It’s a warm, casual environment with an excellent menu.
Last night, we were treated to meatballs & sausages, a Penne alla Vodka that was to die for, a beautiful salad that looked like it should have been a postcard, bruschetta and sinful garlic knots. (Take a look at the pictures if you like.)
The best part, though, was when the owner & chef (Jo Jo’s nephew) sat down and joined us – he’s Italian, after all. I have fond memories of Jo Jo from when I was in college. He cooked a meal at his home for my roommate and I – more food than you could imagine, and all of it amazing.
So, as we celebrate all of the wonderful new cuisine options we have, don’t forget about old favorites that you can always count on. Check out Jo Jo’s menu and see if there isn’t something you’ve been meaning to enjoy.

Parkshore3rdAnnv

It’s hard to believe that it’s been three years since Steve Westphal and Chef Tyson Grant opened the Parkshore Grill at 300 Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg. I had the pleasure of joining the anniversary festivities last evening, including complimentary wine and hors d’ouevres. Ironically, I was with the same friend who I shared the grand opening event with! There were plenty of folks enjoying the balmy evening, strolling between Parkshore and its sister restaurant, 400 Beach Drive Seafood & Tap House, which was also sharing in the celebration.
We stayed for dinner at Parkshore, where the bar and dining room were packed and lively. I decided on the Beef Wellington, which is truly authentic and rich, in my humble opinion. I wasn’t disappointed! I love having such a great restaurant just a half block away from my office. I’ve always felt that their menu offers a great deal of variety, in a great variety of price ranges, too.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Steve’s next venture comes together, The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge at Albert Whitted Municipal Airport. If you haven’t dined at either Parkshore or 400 Beach, I encourage you to do so, especially on a day when you can sit outside and enjoy our beautiful downtown waterfront parks.

Bloody Mary Bar

I’ve been really enjoying more options for Sunday brunch in downtown St. Pete, especially at Cafe Alma, where they have a build-your-own bloody mary bar. Fond memories of lazy Sundays in New Orleans come to mind with the selection of garnishes, especially the pickled okra and green beans. There’s every flavor of hot sauce imaginable so you can heat up your mary to your liking.
The brunch specials are always appealing, with unique omelets, benedicts and pancakes each Sunday. Somehow I tend to always get the chorizo & cheese omelet despite how creative the specials sound. I enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant, and the service is always great.
It’s best to go with friends, of course, but I’ve also found it a comfortable spot to sit at the bar if I’m by myself. Next time you’re looking for a brunch spot, try Cafe Alma.

Mahi Stack

So it’s understood that I love taking pictures of my food, right? Well, today I had a special at the Red Mesa Cantina in downtown St. Petersburg that was absolutely photo worthy! It was a dramatic combination of colors and flavors that tasted as artistic as it looked. See a close-up picture of this Mahi Stack, which was on a bed of fried yucca logs, with ripe red tomatoes, fresh avocado slices, mango strips and shaved red onions, all topped with a spicy aioli. It was delicious.
I had been to the Cantina for drinks and a few of their yummy soft tacos and appetizers, but this was the first time I went for a sit-down meal, and it was great. There was a decent crowd for lunch, mostly downtown businessfolk, but in today’s economy, it’s good to see people out and about.
I’m a great fan of the location, part of the historic McNulty Station. The brickwork and courtyard design of the building has always appealed to me, and is home to a variety of businesses, retail and restaurants. Cantina itself is in a space that was designed by my architect friend Frank Fraze, of Fraze Design, and it’s quirky and fun without taking away from the traditional origins of the building.
Cantina is owned by the Red Mesa folks, and you’ll hear mixed reviews on the streets. The most important thing to remember is not to expect Red Mesa’s menu at Cantina, nor Cantina’s menu at the original Red Mesa restaurant at 49th Ave & 4th Street N. I love the creative dishes, and you really make your own meal. My problem is getting through all the choices.
Get downtown and give the Cantina a try!

400 Beach Seafood & Tap House

Just had lunch at downtown St. Petersburg’s newest restaurant, the highly anticipated 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House that opened officially this past Friday night. Mom and I opted for a table in the room that feels more like sidewalk dining (without the heat), overlooking North Straub Park and the Vinoy Basin, a beautiful scene. We shared the clam chowder, which was quite nice – tasty, with lots of clams, not too thick and not too thin. Moving on to the main course, we shared a Cod Basket (i.e. fish & chips) and an interesting tuna melt on pumpernickel. The cod was definitely a winner, and the steak fries were perfect – golden brown and crisp on the outside, and tender on the inside. It’ll be great fun to try all the intriguing things on the menu, especially the dinner menu.

I had the pleasure of attending the gala pre-opening event on Thursday night, where there was wine and champagne a-plenty, and butler service with samples of their menu items. I thought I must have been in Hollywood – this was the hottest ticket in town. It seemed like hundreds of people milling about despite the fact they couldn’t get inside if they arrived too late. It was definitely a see-and-be-seen-scene, with lots of familiar faces and personalities. From the looks of it, it was a grand success! But, after all, it seems as though everything that Steve Westphal touches turns to gold (can’t wait to see what happens at the terminal at the Albert Whitted Municipal Airport).

From the balcony of the Parkshore Plaza condo where I’m house and dog-sitting for a few weeks, it was fun to look down on Friday evening and see the beacons flashing and folks enjoying the new restaurant tucked under the 400 Beach condo building. Downtown was definitely bustling this Labor Day weekend, and it made me smile. We’ve come a long way.

Z Grille

Joined a friend for lunch today at Z Grille, a hip, urban restaurant that calls the new Signature Place building home. Chef Zack and Jennifer Gross took their Central Avenue success to the next level with this awesome restaurant that offers a unique, fresh menu in a very cool environment.
It was a light crowd for lunch, meaning that it wasn’t noisy, but a sure sign that we need the word of mouth to travel a little south of Central at lunchtime. The ambience is unique, too, with cool shiny surfaces, even a bamboo halfpipe overhead and artwork from a well-known local tattoo artist (on the walls and on Zack, Jenny & some of the staff for good measure). Read more about the restaurant and see their menus at http://www.zgrille.net.
Lunch was great, starting with the special wild mushroom soup (it seems like a popular soup theme around town, and I have yet to meet one I didn’t like). I had the turkey, brie & bacon sandwich, which was delicious. My friend from the eastern shore decided to try their spin on crab cakes, with a tortilla crusting and a totally different taste sensation than you’ll find in Maryland – but it was a hit nonetheless. The wait staff was attentive and pleasant, and we had a very nice, enjoyable lunch. See more pictures on Flickr.
There are a lot of things on the menu I like – deviled eggs, for example. Why wait until somebody hosts a house party to have them? The B.L.A.S.T. appetizer with its sea scallop anchor is out of this world. And I can’t wait to try the legendary fried Dr. Pepper ribs. Guess I’ll just have to make a point to go back, and often!

BuonaVita2

Downtown St. Petersburg has several great options for Italian dining. You’ve got white tablecloth at Grattzi’s at BayWalk, casual and reliable at Jo Jo’s in Citta in the Bank of America Tower on Central Ave, the trendy urban Bella Brava a few blocks west on Central, and several others, but the newest on the block is Buona Vita. Today was my second time there, and I’ve been equally impressed with the classics done superbly in massive proportions.
On my first visit, I opted for the Bolognese. I’m a fan of the rich, meaty sauce, and this was excellent. “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!” Today I got to try another favorite, the Carbonara – rich, creamy and delicious, with perfectly firm peas, earthy mushrooms and crispy pancetta. It was delicious!

Buona Vita is in the 300 block of 1st Avenue S., a little tucked away from most of the foot traffic. So word of mouth is crucial to keeping them in business. Each time I’ve been there the crowd has been healthy but not so many that it was loud. Previously a coffee shop, Buona Vita offers great classic dishes, super pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and – of course, great Italian desserts. Stop in and give them a try if you haven’t already! Check them out on Facebook.

437-scallops

OK, so I’m a fan of Diner 437, that’s no secret. But I have to say that one of the reasons I go there so frequently is because they use Facebook so well. Chef Domenica frequently posts on her personal profile, but every day or two the Diner’s page posts what the special is, or is going to be.
Last week, about Wednesday, Chef posted that the Friday special was going to be seared sea scallops with bacon brittle. Bacon brittle? What the heck? I was intrigued and had to see for myself. I mentioned the upcoming special to my Mom, and she caught the fever, too. Well, Friday I got crazy busy, and told Mom I couldn’t spare time for a decadent lunch. One of my appointments for mid-day cancelled, so Mom piped up again, asking if I could use that time to go – she was really insistent!
So off we went and sidled up to the counter to witness Chef in action. The meal was spectacular, as we expected. So – bacon brittle really is like peanut brittle made with bacon instead. It was incredible! We even had the dessert special after seeing a counter “neighbor” order it – homemade chocolate banana bread pudding with some luscious creamy sauce. We don’t do dessert often, but this was way up there on the “worth-it-meter.”
But back to the point. Diner 437 is an excellent example of how to use Facebook to promote your business. Staying in front of your “fans” and reminding them why they want to do business with you, without trying to “sell” them can have awesome results. I can say for sure I wouldn’t be there nearly as often if I weren’t “teased” by knowing whatever the Chef’s coming up with.
I think it’s said best when, after only a month and change, Chef posts that they ran out of the daily special at lunch, or that there was a wait for dinner seatings. In this economy? Yeah, I think word-of-mouth has taken on a new level with social media, and I think Diner 437’s doing a great job of utilizing it.