By Nanette Wiser
Diners are fickle fellows. Today’s charcuterie fan is tomorrow’s Korean bbq, Filipino fare and Israeli cuisine enthusiasts. African spices will flavor more food in 2020 than Asian. Global cuisine is coming to downtown St. Pete, and bubble tea, soup dumplings, chicken katsu sandwiches and healthy options will pop up in local and new restaurants. Wine and cocktails continue to dominate with COPA opening in the Edge, the newest wine/cocktail mashup downtown.
FOOD FESTS: Albert Whitted hosts many of the food truck fests on Friday and on Nov. 22, you can go full Italian with St. Pete Italian Food and Wine Festivalwith fare from Impasto, Engine 53, The Cheesesteak Truck, Pasta di Guy, Mr. C’s Grilled Cheese, Williamsburg Cucina, Maggie on the Move, Bacon Boss, Floribbean Fusion, I Wanna Wok, Pamz Pizza Conez, Slammer Shop, Vamos Fiesta Bowls, Wich Press, Taco Bus, Lyv Coffee and dolce desserts from Churroland, Sweet Island Snow, Dohlish, Chief’s Chill Out, Pineapple Shack, Glorious Pies, YoYo Juice, Skoops and Craving Donuts. There will be vendors, family fun and live music by Screamin’ Donkey.
FOOD NEWS: Florida-based Maple Street Biscuit Co. was sold to Cracker Barrel for $36 million in October, a rousing tribute to the scrumptious breakfast treats at downtown St. Pete and Seminole locations. New on the horizon are Book and Bottle, Sauvignon wine locker and trattoria and Il Ritorno’s new salad concept restaurant, Greenstock.
TROPEZ HOORAY: We cried when Asie closed, but happily the nail bar and restaurant owner Thuy and Tryst’s owner have collaborated to open a cocktail lounge and restaurant, redolent with velvet banquettes and a glow in the dark bar. The international menu serves Indonesian, samosas, deconstructed French onion soup, Cuban fritas and pork arepas.
TASTING MENU: In a whirl of nibbling, we discovered some new faves. We love the cheeseburgers at the legendary Chattaway, but who knew you could be served British Afternoon Tea by Lady Chattaway? We adore the soul food at Lil Net’s Home Style Cooking (curry chicken) and the $5.99 breakfast burritos Sat. and Sun. at Salty J’s. Check out the bison bacon burger and chicken cracklins’ at the Bier Boutique and healthy fare at Toss Salads & Wraps or Brass Bowl Kitchen & Juicery.
SIP-SATIONAL: Adjacent to The Galley in DTSP, The Ship’s Hold boasts the largest portfolio of fine rums throughout Central Florida. From dozens of varieties to the finest, top-shelf selections, you can discover flavor details beyond Sailor Jerry and the Captain.
DEALS & STEALS: We like to eat out. A lot. Most of our favorite restaurants serve happy hour drinks but it’s the food specials that we lust after. Check out Sea Salt (don’t miss the deviled eggs), now serving a Sunday brunch as well. Steak a bet on Beau & Mo’s $5 menu Tues.-Thurs. bar only 4:30-6pm and Bella Brava’s ó priced specials which were pizza/pasta in October rotate monthly. Lots of the DTSP restaurants celebrate Taco Tuesday, with Nueva Cantina best of show. Cassis American Brasserie offers a bar bites menu 4pm to close daily available at bar and café tables only, and $20 bubbly/$10/dozen oysters Sunday. In Gulfport, Neptune Grille serves a $5.99 Build A Burger Tuesday and 2 Taco Wednesday with rice and beans.
SUGAR & SPICE: Just in time for the holidays is Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, perfect for doctoring popcorn and artichoke spread.
MARKET MAVENS: Saturday Morning Market celebrates its 18th season from 9am to 2pm Saturday in Al Lang Stadium’s parking lot. Next to Intermezzo is the Royal Palm Market Thursdays, perfect for catching an aperol spritz at Intermezzo and a bite at Baum Market. On 1st Saturday, browse the Indie Flea at Green Bench Brewing Co. from noon to 4pm The once/month Brocante Vintage Market across the street from 3 Daughters is the 1st Sat./Sun. of the month 12/1-12/2. Shopapalooza Festival is 12/1 in Vinoy Park.
THE NIGHT OWL: Fergs Sports Bar and Entertainment Complex continues to showcase rocking shows, so don’t miss the Rock and Ribs Fest with Blue Oyster Cult
Nov. 16. Central Ave’s Hideaway Café serves up dinner and drinks every 2nd & 4th Tuesday – Kirk Adams Band; every Wednesday – Blues Night (1st – Kid Royal; 3rd – TC Carr; 2nd & 4th – Betty Fox); every Thursday “Living Room Live” Open Mic and rotating indie and notable acts Fri./Sat. Like the Craftsman Gallery and Palladium, the talent you see here is inspired.
LOCAL AIRBNB GOES GLOBAL: FabStayz aims to connect LGBTQ+ travelers with welcoming communities through an AirBnB-style travel platform. Developed by a former Airbnb Superhost, FabStayz removes the “coming out” conundrum for LGBTQ+ travelers when booking accommodations through 10+ million listings across major short-term rental platforms including Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and HomeAway.
CAFÉ AU LAIT OLE: In January 2019, Kahwa moved into a 20,000-square-foot production facility in St. Petersburg and now has 15 retail locations and 750 wholesale accounts. You can NOW drink Kahwa in Publix Super Market cafes or buy it in Publix, Whole Foods and Lucky’s Market. Next up could be Fresh Market.
TECHIE TALK DTSP: In addition to the Coaster Bike Program, you will be able to reduce your transportation carbon footprint downtown when St. Pete debuts an e-scooter pilot program in 2020.
A new “smart-gym” fitness studio will open that relies on artificial intelligence instead of dumbbells, treadmills, etc. When new members join the gym, they are given a code that is unique to them. When they use the proprietary machines, they plug in their code. The machines then adjust their workout to their strengths and weaknesses in real time, thereby helping the person get the most out of their workout and avoid injury. The brainchild of Dunedin residents, Nicole and Jak Plihal, The Exercise Coach opened in October downtown (5409 16th Street North St.)