By Nanette Wiser
Comfort foods for most of us fall into the savory or sweet penchant. Sometimes you can get both (think kettle corn), but for most of us, it’s ice cream, gelato, gourmet ice pops, candy, fudge, cookies, cakes and pies…and my fave, mini cupcakes. In these uncertain times, you can get pick-up or delivery from these local confectionery paradises. Be sure to check ahead for hours and availability.
Frozen Delights: The Hyppo St. Petersburg’s gourmet ice pops are swoonable. We love the flavor mashups especially pistachio mint, maraschino blueberry, raspberry lemon chia, starfruit basil, Earl Grey lavender, and sangria pineapple. Downtown’s Paciugo Gelato serves up traditional gelato and sorbetti exquisitely flavored. Best of show are the banana cream pie, coconut, Amarena black cherry swirl, coffee mocha swirl, and Texas pecan sea salt caramel. URBAN Creamery’s homemade ice cream, dessert waffles, sundaes and milkshakes soothe the savage beach. Rita’s Mango Misto and Steak N Shake’s Strawberry Banana milkshake quench all anxiety. The Amish Creamery Company, Sugar Daddy’s Ice Cream and Kilwin’s ice cream beats Dairy Queen soft serve, but a Blizzard is always in style! Uptown Sno-Balls is one my new favorites, as is Paradise Sweets’ shaved ice and waffle cones. Larry’s Ice Cream and Gelato in St. Pete Beach is a legendary favorite for kids of all ages!
Candy Is Dandy: You can’t go wrong with the old-fashioned retro delights at The Candy Kitchen in Redington and Madeira, as well as the fudge and bags of licorice or gummy bears. For sophisticated sweeties, Kilwin’s candy counter is alluring. Local Toffee To Go and William Dean Chocolates can be ordered online. William Dean artisan confections have been featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Hunger Games. You’ll be smitten by his chocolates (passion fruit, bananas foster, pear, and ginger caramel, lavender), candied ginger, chocolate covered orange peel, pate de fruit jellies, chocolate bars and savory sweet popcorns.
Endless Dessert Delights: Cassis Bakery and Cassis American Brasserie purvey French macarons, petit fours, heavenly éclairs, cookies, apple tarts, and lemon mango cake. Frida’s Café and Bakery, has it all – donuts, cannoli, brownie, raspberry biscotti cheesecake, German chocolate torte, Swedish dream cookie or coconut cake. Nibble the menu, from gluten-free to decadent chocolate suicide, then come back for more. Swah-rey’s mini cupcakes, cake slices (red velvet), cheesecake and pie in a glass are utterly incredible.
