By Nanette Wiser
Climate change is already affecting our access to and cost of fresh food. There’s hope thanks to innovators such as Brick Farms (hydroponic gardens) and Brooklyn’s Smallhold owners with a mission to feed more Americans mushrooms now have macrofarms around the country and can be found at major grocery stores and well-known restaurants. Eat local, think global!
The restaurant business is brutal. Long hours, rising food costs, worker shortages and health issues. We sadly say aloha to Stan’s Tapas, Acropolis on Central, Zoie’s, Caddy’s Gulfport, and Black Radish. Sekushi on the Plaza has the right idea; they’ve lowered prices on 50 menu items, are open for lunch Mon.-Fri. and offer happy hour food and drink specials noon-6pm as well as new dishes such as Wagyu Sliders and Bao Buns. Also serving lunch is Clear Sky on Park with happy hour 2-6pm; the pork belly flatbread is delish.
Another budget buster Five Bucks Drinkery is expanding to Seminole, taking over the former Sea Hags/Seminole Smokehouse resto next to Brooklyn Pizza. With the original downtown and a second location in Pinellas Park (the old Pete & Shorty’s), it’s sure to be a family favorite and sports bar with $5 happy hour. I love the Buffalo Bleu Chicken Quesadillas, burgers, and Spicy Steak Wrap.
Mad Beach Craft Brewing Co. owners have opened Sesh St. Pete brewery and restaurant on Fourth St. in the former Melting Pot location. From the decadent chocolate martini to surf ‘n’ turf and my fave, Bloody Mary poached JUMBO tiger shrimp with house smoked cocktail sauce on a celery salt rimmed martini glass. (Sesh dining options pictured below.)
What’s new? In Magnolia Heights, Golden Isles Brewing Co. is turning the old gas station at 3000 Dr. MLK St. N. into a new brewery. Red Mesa Mercado brings SoCal Mex this fall in the former Two Graces location near freeFall and The Chattaway is now serving a weekend brunch buffet. Parasol has opened in The Vinoy Resort & Gulf Club, a must-drop-in for macarons at the bakery.
In Dolphin Village, Playa Bowls is sure to be a hit with beachgoers as is Julio’s Latin Twist in Tyrone, a gift from Julio Pagan, the Empanada King. Lolita’s Wine Market is open in the Warehouse Arts District inside the Historic Seaboard Train Station with an expanded menu and an alfresco garden dining area, perfect for a pre-ArtWalk rendezvous before exploring Morean Center for Clay. Tequila Daisy takes over the 3,000-square-foot space and will feature 500 mezcal and tequila choices.
Portillo’s is no longer the only hot dog destination in town; Coney Island Hot Dogs will serve John Morrell all-meat hot dogs. And if you love onion rings, roast beef sandwiches, lobster rolls and Ipswich clams, line up for Pasadena’s new Kelly’s Roast Beef, a Boston beloved transplant. For brick pizza and house made pastas, look no further than Cala Italian Kitchen at St. Petersburg Distillery in the Warehouse Arts District, of the distillery’s new shipping container village.
Carnivores rejoice! Boulevard Burgers & Tap House is a casual dining, indoor/outdoor restaurant serving American cuisine with jazz Sundays. Meat lovers rave about their burgers, especially the Mac N Cheese or Sunny Side. Take a ride to the Hard Rock for soccer star Lionel Messi’s Milanese-style Chicken Sandwich, one of his favorite Argentinian sandwiches growing up; he joins SoFla Major League Soccer team.
Two new specialty groceries are highly anticipated. Rumor is that Sprouts Farmers Market is coming to the Skyway Marina District in St. Pete while locals can’t wait for Fresh Market to open in Seminole City Center in Earth Fare’s location, hopefully by the September 1st Friday concert! Caddy’s St. Pete Beach will be replaced by Taverna by the Bay.