By Nanette Wiser
Downtown St. Pete’s visibility is soaring in national magazines. American Bungalow Magazine featured Historic Kenwood and The Craftsman House. A great way to explore Kenwood is to start with breakfast at café/bakery Sammy + Paco’s, from Lolita’s Wine Market owners. Order the Egg Sammy, gently pressed with bacon, fried egg, grilled onions, heirloom tomatoes, avo mash, ancho-pimento on Cuban bread. Hungry for more DTSP adventure? Start here.
DINE
Chef Jeffery Jew, alumnus of Bravo’s Top Chef and winner of Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, will be opening the Nordic and Asian-inspired Lingr this summer with a beautiful outdoor patio and farm to fork cuisine. Delectable DalMoros St. Pete is now serving fresh pastas and homemade sauces with each meal served in to-go boxes and ready within minutes. Celebrity chef Robert Hesse and chef Craig Munroe hope to open the 2nd Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz this June on 3rd St. N.
I’m digging the Warehouse District’s Chelsea St. Pete’s for savory java, matcha, chai, and baked goods (stuffed croissant sandwich, coffee cake) and gift shop with hip jewelry, kitchen fixins’ and décor. Sip sustainably at Paradeco Coffee Roasters steps from Beach Dr., serving freshly roasted whole bean coffee, healthy snacks, smoothies, juice, healthy food options (gluten free and vegan bakery bites). Beautifully decorated with live plants, murals, and a pink sofa, the exquisite style and curated drinks from sustainable sources light up the Plaza Tower 1st floor.
Gluten, vegan and allergy friendly HaleLife Bakery’s new location in downtown St. Pete features elegant pastries and a custom-to-order menu bakery goods with national delivery including cupcakes, donuts, cinnamon rolls, cakes, breads and more. I love the blueberry lavender donut and cookie dough bites. Pure Martini Bar will open this summer in the 16th St. North Vantage whipping up imaginative hand-crafted cocktails (Lavender Fizz, Banana Old-Fashioned) and tempting dishes such as orange-marinated olives, pesto-baked chicken thighs and Angus sliders.
Chilling with grilling? Check out St. Pete Meat & Provisions’ expanded offerings from the clever owners of Il Ritorno with standouts such as the pecan-smoked bacon, Colorado rack of lamb and chimichurri marinated skirt steak. Bring home Chef David Benstock’s seasonings, dressings and oils for your next BBQ.
Ciccio Restaurant Group is partnering with Forbici Modern Italian’s Jason Brunetti on Italian concepts. First up is Jay & Luigi fast-casual pizzeria opening in July on 4th St. Other great eats from Ciccio include Fresh Kitchen, St. Pete’s Fly Food Hall (Taco Dirty, Sweet Soul, Better Byrd), Green Lemon, Daily Eats and Ciccio Cali in Tampa Bay.
DRINKS
St. Petersburg Distillery won multiple awards at the 12th Annual New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC), including
Florida Distillery of the Year and a double gold medal for Old St. Pete Tropical Gin and gold medal for Old St. Pete Artisanal Vodka; silver medals for Tipplers Orange Liqueur and Old St. Pete Sunshine Whiskey; and bronze medals for Oak and Palm Coconut Rum, Old St. Pete Righteous Rum and Banyan Reserve Vodka.
New to Central Ave. on Jannus’ 2nd floor is the long-awaited Sauvignon Wine Locker American Trattoria with seasonal fare from the former Annata chef Chris Ciarcia. Enter via 5 Bucks Drinkery to an enophile’s charcuterie heaven with happy hour daily 4-6pm with 50% of all wines and bubbly served by the glass. I’m digging the Roasted Heirloom Beets with baby arugula, chèvre, candied pecans, pickled shallot, lemon vinaigrette.
FUN
22nd & Central is home to Coastal Creative, booking great comedy shows including Jenny Zigrino June 24th; you’ve seen her on Comedy Central, Conan, MTV, TruTV, FOX, and many more. She stars as Belinda in the upcoming movie Too Late!
The event space and digital media studio is a gang of content and creative producers offering cinematography, professional photography, graphics, animation, podcast production, social media management and audio engineering. Green Light Cinema’s indie film screenings and hula/yoga at St. Pete Pier may be two of my favorite pastimes this summer.