By Stephen Rafferty
Living in our beautiful cities of St. Pete Beach or St. Petersburg, it is easy to forget just how much we have available to us: the stunning natural surroundings, the nearly unlimited activities, a warm and richly diverse community, and of course a bounty of wonderful restaurants and cafés. So this month, I thought we could take an entire day traveling around our neighborhoods, eating some delectable food from a few of our fabulous and unique culinary outlets.
LA CROISETTE
One of the joys of living near the Gulf is of course being able to take a brisk morning stroll on the beach. After this energizing walk, you’ll have probably built up a healthy appetite and there’s no better place on the beach to satisfy your craving than La Croisette on Gulf Boulevard. As noted in a previous column by our editor Peter in 2021, La Croisette is a family owned breakfast and lunch destination which reaches back to the 80s. They have everything you need – a multitude of great egg and potato classics, all the eggs Benedict varieties you could think of plus so many tasty breakfast sandwiches that will satisfy your hunger on any morning. But La Croisette also has their unique Gallic twist with omelet croissant sandwiches, a perfectly cooked Croque Madame and then there are the crepes and French toast! The Crêpe Delight is a favorite of my mother’s, stuffed with honeydew, cantaloupe, blueberries, grapes, and topped off with fresh cream and chocolate sauce. Is their French Crêpe with Nutella, banana, whipped cream and chocolate sauce good? Well, I most certainly think you should try it, I know my answer!
So, whether you’re up early and desiring to fulfill your energy or you’re just out of your slumber and need something to get your day going, La Croisette couldn’t hit the spot any closer.
Breakfast & Brunch Daily 7am-2pm | Lunch Service Daily 11am-2pm
www.lacroisettestpetebeach.com
EAT ART LOVE
After your forays on the beach side, head to the Warehouse Art District, a mainstay of St. Pete’s renowned creative makeup. Though not as well known to the public, this neighborhood has always been a haven for the art community and is now a bustling and thriving hotspot of its own. Nestled in this pocket of refinement is the exquisite breakfast and lunch destination Eat Art Love. The brainchild of Chef Mario Brugnoli (formerly of Michelin starred Rocca in Tampa), this exquisite destination brings out artistry of its own. Combining aspects of breakfast and lunch, Chef Mario serves up delicacies such as Duck & Grits, an exceptional buffalo fried chicken sandwich plus many homemade seasonal jams and sauces.
Eat Art Love is a gallery in its own, so as you relax and enjoy the tasty treats or one of the enticing coffee offerings like Banana Bread Cold Brew; they have taken our love of the coffee bean and made their own art of it. You could feel adventurous and try the surprise of Chef Mario‘s “trust the chef” salad; I will soon. While savoring all of this you can peruse works by local artists. I truly love this area of our city, which is now a feast for the taste buds as well as the eyes.
Wed.-Fri. 8am-2pm | Sat. and Sun. 9am-2pm
LUMA
Once you’ve immersed yourself in all the wonderful artistic areas of the city, it will be time to watch the sunset in one of the many relaxing and delightful restaurants available to us. Newly opened in the southside Vera Manor District, Luma at the SkyBeach resort offers such a breezy yet classy destination. Luma is one of those classic Florida restaurants, as it offers a high-end menu but in a casual setting. If you’re in a group, I suggest taking advantage of the shareables on their menu; the smoky baba ghanoush, a really lovely golden, whipped feta dish, fire kissed peppers and my personal favorite, their golden cauliflower basted in a Chinese honey mustard glaze.
As the sun slips away and you desire something heartier, Luma has you covered. With plenty of seafood and land options, they also entice you with a few extraordinary delights: a four-hour slow-braised short rib kebab, Mediterranean roasted whole fish, plus a standout in a spiced salmon kebab with Moroccan couscous.
Clink glasses with loved ones, filled with the many wines and great beer selection Luma provides, as day slips into night.
Sun. 5pm-10pm | Mon.-Tues. Closed
Wed./Thu. 5pm-10pm | Fri./Sat. 5pm-11pm
PACIUGO GELATO & CAFÉ
At the end of a long day enjoying our unique community, I suggest ending with the ever-popular downtown St. Pete area, especially along the water. After a stroll on The Pier, around the marina, or even a walk through the parks peppered throughout this delightful neck of the woods, it’s time to end the day on a sweet note.
Paciugo Gelato & Café on Beach Drive is the perfect spot. Inside, the sumptuous smells and sights of every flavor of gelato you could think of will have your sweet tooth screaming. Chocolate fan? What about an Amaretto chocolate chip or the new Dubai chocolate flavor? If you’re feeling a little more extravagant, why not dive into the Red Velvet or Dulce de Leche? Paciugo has dozens of more flavors and each one can be tried in cups, waffle cones, milkshakes or even smoothies. My favorite though has to be their Affogato.
Take a few flavors of gelato you like or even one that you really love, put it in a large coffee cup and pour silky espresso over it. Sure, some caffeine in the evening might not be the best choice, but it means you are alert to see the beautiful lights of Straub Park, the kids looking in wonderment at our stunning Banyan trees and our neighbors and visitors enjoying the enticing St. Pete air just like you!
Mon.-Thur. 12pm-10pm | Fri. 12pm-12pm
Sat. 11am-11pm | Sun. 11am-10pm