By Stephen Rafferty
As summer settles over our coastal communities, dining tends to take on a lighter, more leisurely rhythm. For the days when a full meal feels like too much – or when only something sweet, flaky or indulgent will do – we’re lucky to have a delicious variety of pastry options close to home.
ST. PETE BAKERY CAFÉ
Bringing the delicacies of her native Kurdistan to St. Pete, Chef Tanya has been serving up a delightful mix of sweet and savory since arriving here over 20 years ago. Centered on healthy, high-quality ingredients and the use of organic food, St. Pete Bakery Café has a unique flavor and ambience to it. You can start simply with the exceptional creamy plain or red hummus. There are classics like the stuffed vine leaves and falafel, the latter a joy of taste with its Tahini (sesame) sauce. The Kibbeh (bulgar wheat with spices, fruit and vegetables cooked into croquettes) come with either meat or vegan fillings. On the sweeter side you can find a yummy homemade baklava and remarkable coconut & cocoa date balls that somehow have zero added sugar but have a rich, sweet zest to them. The Turkish Delight and nougats had me tapping my fingers, in the end I tried both. All of these morsels can be washed down with the many hand-crafted teas including a steeped Persian tea, lemon mint or my favorite the Rosebud made with real rosewater. Original and delicious? Chef Tanya and St. Pete Bakery Café have that covered.
Mon. 10am-7pm | Tues. Closed | Wed.-Sat. 10am-7pm
Sun. 11am-7pm | stpetebakeryinc.com | 727-666-1032
LE CLEMENTINE BAKESHOP
Just inside the marina-facing side of the Museum of Fine Arts downtown, Café Clementine with its Le Clementine Bakeshop bakery is a hidden gem. The brainchild of husband and wife Vince and Paulina, the café produces some of the most exquisite pastries in the city. You can start your day with blueberry almond coffee cake or a cardamom cinnamon roll and afterward indulge in a cheesy zucchini scone and a country sourdough loaf. Their specialty is unique delectables like “cruffins,” muffins filled with all the goodies you could want, such as coffee custard with vanilla mascarpone cream! Chocolate chip cookies come infused with sea salt and adorned with rose petals. Last year for Halloween I even got to enjoy pumpkin Basque cheesecake! This is boutique level food and are just a few of the treasures awaiting you at this must-visit spot.
Tues.-Sun. 9am-3pm | Mon. Closed
hello@leclementinebakeshop.com | Leclementinebakeshop.com
CAFÉ SOLEIL
Nestled on Gulf Blvd. across from Island Grand Trade Winds, Café Soleil is a Parisian-style bakery as its name suggests. Open for breakfast thru lunch, you can find an abundance of freshly baked treats for all of their different dishes. Light crust quiches such as the Oh La La with bacon, caramelized onions and cheese or baguettes with varied fillings like smoked salmon, roast chicken and grilled zucchini or sundried tomatoes and mozzarella pesto. Yes, they are all as good as they sound. But what Café Soleil are known for, in fact they have received national and international recognition for, are their legitimately world class toasted croissants. To say I enjoy these flakey treasures would be an understatement, and Café Soleil’s are the best I’ve ever eaten. Crisp outside and so soft inside, these are offered with various fillings from breakfast fare of eggs, cheese and meat or veg to the more exotic appeal of prosciutto, fig jam, brie, pears, walnuts and sun-dried tomatoes in different mixtures. Of course, these delicate slices of heaven have sweet options also with banana and Nutella, peanut butter and jelly or simple but still scrumptious chocolate or almond. Also on the mouth-watering menu are the likes of a Crème Brulé donut, beignets, tarts and a sensational chocolate hazelnut pait. If you need a taste of Paris, Café Soleil should be your immediate destination.
Thurs.-Tues. 8am-3pm | Wed. Closed
cafesoleilbakery.com | 727-800-2970
CASSIS MARKET
Situated next to its big sister restaurant on Beach Drive downtown, Cassis Market is known for pizzas and sandwiches but it is their exceptional bakery that draws me to them again and again. Simple but delicious, the sweet items on show have never let me down. Having a smaller menu, it seems like extra care goes into crafting their cakes, tarts, and other choices. You can stay with classics like chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies, both big enough to satiate your sweet craving, or almond and chocolate croissants. If you’re feeling more adventurous they have what appears to be a rotating menu with goodies like a juicy strawberry tart, premium cookies with different flavors, and assorted macarons. But my absolute favorite is the Crème Brulé cheesecake, a “reward” I give myself far too often. With coffees, teas and lemonade refreshers to quench these down, it would be almost negligent not to drop in if you’re walking around downtown.
Mon.-Thurs. 7:30am-10pm | Fri.-Sat. 7:30am-11:30pm | Sun. 7:30am-10pm
Cassisstpete.com | 727-827-2927
