Hanging Around By Caron Schwartz
Anani Bistro!
Even in a pandemic life goes on, so recently I dared to go out with someone I met online. He seemed fairly harmless and he must have thought I seemed fairly harmless, so we agreed to meet in a pandemic-appropriate way. But where?
“How about we check out that new coffee shop in Gulfport?” I suggested.
Anani looked a bit daunting from the street: the entrance was up a staircase, which to us – persons of a certain age – could be challenging. (We later found out there’s a lift out back.) But once inside we were charmed by the ambiance: clean, simple and bright, well-spaced tables and chairs, a big, white counter with a few cheerful young baristas behind it.
The menu was vast and healthy: salads, wraps, juices and smoothies, and the ubiquitous avocado toast. But we stuck to caffeine and ordered cortados.
On our way in we had noticed a street-side veranda, so we carried our beverages to its long wooden counter and seated ourselves 6 feet apart on metal stools. There we enjoyed our bold drinks and chatted amiably, watching the world stroll by.
Alas, the relationship didn’t go much further than Facebook friendliness, but that’s OK. Who wants to take a chance on a romance that could turn out to be infectious, in a bad way?
Anani’s veranda, however, has become my go-to hangout. Just today my laptop and I spent a few hours up there, doing more people watching than writing. It feels safe hovering above street level, where you can see and be seen without having to ask anyone to back off.
Anani Bistro
3062 Beach Blvd., Gulfport, FL 33707
www.ananibistro.com
@ananibistro • 727.498.8116
