Live In St. Pete

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!

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!

Cantina Fireworks

Met with friends last night for happy hour drinks & nibbles at the Red Mesa Cantina downtown. Much of the decor remains from the space’s previous incarnation as DeSanto, which I’m glad for because my friend Frank Fraze was the architect and did a great job on the design! The building, part of the old McNulty Station, has great character with lots of brick, and the indoor space flows out into the lush courtyard. Last night, as it was Thursday, there was great Latin music outside, and the place was really filling up for dinner.
I’ll definitely be back to try more of the food offerings, as everything looked quite appealing. I’ve heard great reviews about the food – except from folks who are expecting it to be an exact copy of the menu from the original Red Mesa up on 4th Street.
As we see media reports of restaurants in trouble in this economy, I always appreciate how vibrant our foodie scene is in downtown St. Pete. If you haven’t tried the Cantina yet, make a point to do it soon. Ole!

Cafe Alma

Got together with a friend last evening for cocktails & tapas at Cafe Alma on 1st Avenue S in downtown St. Pete. Despite the pouring rain, the atmosphere was warm & comfortable. And the food was spectacular!!!!! It’s been too long since I visited Cafe Alma, but I doubt it’ll take me long to get back there. Definite gold stars for the pulled duck quesadilla (be careful; the sauce packs a punch!) and the baked goat cheese with crusty warm bread. All the tapas prices were reasonable, and 2-for-1 well drinks at the bar helped keep the tab under control. Check out their web site at http://www.cafealma.com.