Live In St. Pete

SatMornMarket

Among my favorite things to do is visit the Saturday Morning Market in downtown St. Petersburg. What started out small on a single block of Central Avenue has grown into a huge market, now taking up the entire parking lot of Progress Energy Park (Al Lang Stadium, for those of us who have lived here more than a few years).
It’s wonderful to see all the interesting wares, fresh produce, live music and delicious foods that the market has to offer. (I even did some of my Christmas shopping at the market this year.) Even better is to see lots of folks walking around downtown. After the market, many people meander along Beach Drive or towards Central to brunch or lunch at their favorite spots.
In the summer, the Market takes shelter in the parking lot of the Mahaffey Theater. It was remarkably cool and shady when I went last before the market returned to its primary location. I’ll look forward to that spot for a change of scenery when the weather changes.

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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.

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!