Give Thanks by Peter Roos
Paradise News readers may recall the cover story about The Centre of St. Pete Beach and its mission as a medical marijuana-centric event and educational facility with: a yoga room, a kitchen, a classroom, a doctor’s office and an amazing 20-foot Christmas tree dominating the largest open space. In that story in January 2020, we talked about a demonstration of the use of the “Magical Butter Machine.”
Following the outpouring of local interest generated by that feature, The Centre has continued communicating with Paradise NEWS readers through a monthly newsletter on page 7 of each issue since. In June, as classes with adequate spacing began again, they began inserting a class and event schedule in each issue.
In this, the November “Attitude of Gratitude” issue of Paradise NEWS, Michael Moses Jr., and his and Dr. Luis Ycaza’s company, Triverde Health, which facilitates patients’ access to medicinal cannabis, and The Centre of St. Pete Beach want to say a heartfelt “Thank You” to everyone who has contributed to their amazing first year.
In under a year, almost 700 clients have applied for or renewed their Florida Medical Marijuana ID Card through Triverde Health. Patients have come looking for, and say they have found, relief from anxiety, asthma, chronic pain like fibromyalgia, arthritis, insomnia and more. Some even claim cancerous tumors have shrunk or disappeared entirely.
The Centre is recording patients who wish to share their testimony on such subjects, so other sufferers have hope for themselves. If you have an issue, ask if there is a video testimony from another sufferer that you can watch. If you have not been in the building lately, you are in for a treat. The new massage room is amazing. Over the summer, a classroom has transformed into the Island’s newest food and beverage venue, [kū´bå] en la playa, which is scheduled to open early in December. That corner of the building looks, inside and out, like a venue in Havana.
Around the first of December, you will also see involvement from The Centre and [kū´bå] en la playa, at the Corey Sunday Market, just a block away from the restaurant.
Our cover photo this month is Felicia Lacalle, owner of [kū´bå] and [kū´bå] en la playa, posing between Michael Moses Jr. (left) and Dr. Luis Ycaza, in front of St. Pete Beach’s newest public art, a mural of La Doña, artistically adorning the northwest corner of The Centre.
When you have a chance, stop by and enjoy the beach’s best coffee and welcome Felicia Lacalle to the beach. Tell her you read about her in Paradise NEWS.
The Centre has a newsletter on page 7, again in this issue, detailing some of the kinds of patients that have benefitted from access to medicinal marijuana through The Centre.
[kū´bå] en la playa
[kū´bå] en la playa joins some of the area’s favorite food and beverage purveyors in the greater Corey Area Business District. Within a five block area, Nori Thai, Vito & Michael’s, Mastry’s Brewery, Verducci, Tuttorosso, PJ’s Oyster Bar, The Frog Pond, La Croisette, Chill, The Blue Parrot, Willy’s, Woody’s,
Oyster Shucker, Buoy’s and The Toasted Monkey form a kind of a gourmet food court, the heaviest concentration of dining and refreshment venues on the beach. That plus the watering holes like the Undertow, Swigwam, Buoy 32, The Shaded Keg, and Kim Fowler’s Twisted Tiki, the newest until this month, make the Corey area a true dining and entertainment center.
Chef and owner Felicia Lacalle brought the bold colors and vibrant flavors of Cuban cuisine to the heart of St. Pete Beach with the opening of her brand new location of [kū´bå] en la playa, at The Centre of St. Pete Beach. This is an exciting expansion for [kū´bå], Felicia’s restaurant at the popular Armature Works, not far from Ybor City in Tampa. She says Cuban cooking is “in her blood.” Inspired by her mother’s training she perfected her signature spin as executive sous and regional pastry chef for Roy’s. Then, she was executive chef at Samba Room and others. A few people we have shared details of the new restaurant with have said [kū´bå], Felicia’s restaurant at Armature Works is the best thing there, and the only reason they went farther into Tampa than the airport. They are more than thrilled with the prospect of this food being here at the beach. There’s a walk-up door and “to go” window, located just north of Lenny’s bike and surf shop; parking is available on three sides of The Centre.
The Art of Making Café con Leche
It starts with the very best Cuban coffee beans, roasted just so. The right water at the right temperature plays a major part. [kū´bå] uses steamed milk and evaporated milk in their famous café con leche. It also doesn’t hurt if you happen to have a high-end Espresso and Cafe con leche maker like the beautiful copper and brass Elite Equila Deluxe you can see at The Centre and [kū´bå] en la playa.