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Prima Cantina’s So-Cal Roots Bring Elevated Cal-Mex Flavors to the Beach

Pescado, Shrimp, and Carnitas Tacos

People that know me personally, when they associate me with food they usually think of Asian cuisine, or pizza because I make a lot of it at home and post it on the socials. What many don’t know is that Mexican fare was my first love. In my early career when I was in sales, I would travel the country … Continue Reading

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Gulfport Just Got a Little Tastier with Julio’s Empanadas

Traditional Beef Empanada

Chef Julio Pagan Jr. has been slinging Latin favorites for years with his food truck, and recently went all in by opening two brick & mortar locations in 2023. The latest, Julio’s Empanadas, is at 2201 49th St S., Gulfport, FL 33707 at the corner of 22 Ave S. & 49 St S. in a former gas station. The parking … Continue Reading

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Fortu Restaurant is a Welcome Addition To Downtown St. Pete

Carrara Farms Australian Wagyu Bavette Steak

As a lover of all types of Asian food—I’ve taken Asian culinary courses (including a sushi masterclass), cook it at home several times a week, and have eaten it since I was a kid growing up in New Jersey back in the 1970s—you might be surprised to know I was actually a bit apprehensive when I saw the announcement on … Continue Reading

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Best Upscale-Casual Restaurants in St. Petersburg FL 2023

Grilled Black Grouper - Beluga Lentils, Colossal Crab Meat, Coconut Curry

Being in Florida, the land of vacations, fun and casualness, the term “Fine Dining” is not a favorite of some restaurateurs here as they are concerned it might make their establishment unapproachable to some potential customers. There was one restaurant where I described the food as “gourmet”, and was asked by the owner to not use that word for the … Continue Reading

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Best Taco Places in St. Petersburg FL 2023

Taquitos Tacos - Chorizo, Carnitas, Barbacoa

As I sat down to write this, the first thoughts that popped into my head were 1) Everybody loves tacos, 2) There sure are a lot of different types of tacos these days, and 3) what is the actual origin of the taco—is it really Mexican, and how close to the original are they to what we eat today?

So, … Continue Reading

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10 Best Mexican Restaurants in St. Petersburg FL 2023

Chicken Taquitos
Must Eat Mexican Treats in St. Pete

If you search this site for “Mexican”, you may notice that I do all of the Mexican restaurant reviews. Why? It’s because I love Mexican food so much that I could literally eat it every day for a week straight. (I actually have done that before.) Two and a half decades ago when … Continue Reading

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10 Best St. Petersburg Brunch Spots 2023

Noble Crust Fried Green Tomatoes

It’s the weekend and time to treat yourself to a terrific brunch, but where should you go? We have compiled a list of the best brunches in St. Pete to help with your decision. The difference in this year’s list is that The Mill came off as they closed, and Good Fortune has been added as we absolutely love their … Continue Reading

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Best Wings in St. Petersburg FL 2023

Wheelhouse Ma Brown's Extra Hot

There area a TON of places offering chicken wings in St. Pete, and this year our list has expanded from 10 to 18. They are not ranked, but are listed in random order.

First, A Little “Wingstory”

I’ve been bingeing on food history, and gorging myself on culinary education for the past few years, and the more I learn and … Continue Reading

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Best Places for Sushi in St. Petersburg FL 2023

Ora Salmon from New Zealand

Having recently completed my Foundations of Sushi Masterclass with the Master of Japanese Cuisine Academy, I thought it would be a good time to create the list for the best sushi in St. Pete. Technically, sushi means sour rice that is served with raw fish. Even though this is a sushi list, we also took sashimi into consideration. Sashimi is … Continue Reading

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Best Burgers in St. Petersburg, FL 2023

V9 Eats Double Smashburger
Best Hamburgers / Cheeseburgers in St. Petersburg FL 2023

Hamburgers! Who doesn’t get excited by hamburgers? I used to wonder why they were named this when there was no ham involved. It’s because they get they their name from Hamburg, Germany, home of a dish called the Hamburg steak that eventually evolved into what we now consider hamburgers.

“The Hamburg … Continue Reading

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New Chef and New Menu Takes Sea Salt to New Heights

Diver Scallops
Sea Salt St. Pete’s New Chef Margaret LaVetty’s Enthusiasm Shines in Her Personality and the Food

If you’re unfamiliar with Sea Salt, the restaurant is the baby of Chef Fabrizio Aielli and his wife, Ingrid Aielli. Opening in 2015 in the Sundial shopping complex in downtown St. Pete, it is a fine-dining restaurant, featuring an 80-foot long raw bar, 20-foot-tall … Continue Reading

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Best Pizza Places in St. Petersburg, FL 2023

Noble Crust The Works Pizza
Best Pizza Joints in St. Pete

For the past few years we’ve been able to make a top ten pizza list. Last year we expanded the list to 13, and this year it is still 13, but with a few changes. Two came off, and two new ones were added. The Ohio Pizza Parlor came off as they closed. Toby’s … Continue Reading

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The Foodie Labs Making Its Debut Connecting Food, Art and Science

foodie-labs-logo-with-chef
Ghost Kitchens, Commissary, and Test Kitchens Coming to St. Pete + Event Space

The Foodie Labs, a brand new culinary center, connects the world of food with art while providing a creative showcase for chefs, virtual restaurants, caterers and foodies.

The lab, located in the Warehouse Arts District on the ArtsXChange campus, contains eight commercial cook stations, a main baking … Continue Reading

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St. Petersburg Wins 2023 Tampa Bay Food Fight

Tampa Bay Food Fight 2023
Social Roost’s Chef Susan Burdian Captains St. Pete for the Win

Via Press Release from Social Roost –

This past Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023, Social Roost participated in the Tampa Bay Food Fight (TBFF), a charity benefiting Metropolitan Ministries.

TBFF is an annual event hosted at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa; with Battle of the Chefs as the … Continue Reading

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Ray Lampe on the Closing of Dr. BBQ and What the Future Holds – St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast Episode 157

This is a special edition one-time show where we talk to Ray Lampe on the closing of Dr. BBQ the Restaurant, what the future may hold for him in the restaurant business and other projects he is working on. You’ll get the real story on why the restaurant closed, and find out that Ray is quite the unstoppable entrepreneur with … Continue Reading

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