By Marlene Shaw
A World of Flavor in Gulfport
I have been hearing that this has been an especially challenging summer for our local businesses. Summer is traditionally a slower season, and it seems this year has brought added challenges for many of us. So, I thought it was a good time to highlight one of the things Gulfport has to offer – an amazing variety of places to eat, drink and gather.
One of the things I have long dreamed about for Gulfport is a greater variety of international cuisine. And now I find myself thinking: Here it is!
For a small community, Gulfport offers a remarkable culinary variety. From our downtown waterfront and Beach Boulevard to 49th St. S and 58th St. S, we can take a little trip around the world without going very far at all.
Italian. French. Vietnamese. Greek. Mediterranean. Moroccan. Jamaican and Caribbean. Venezuelan. Latin American. Cuban. And soon, British.
And that’s just the beginning.
What makes our dining scene especially interesting is that many restaurants don’t stay within one culinary tradition. They bring their own personality to the menu, blending flavors and influences in ways that make each place a little different. Almost every one seems to have something that makes you stop and think, I’ve never tried that before.
Take Julio’s Empanadas on 49th Street. Julio’s Puerto Rican heritage and love of Latin cuisine are at the heart of the restaurant, while the menu takes inspiration from many places. There are traditional favorites, inventive empanada combinations and a variety of other Latin-inspired dishes.
Just down 49th Street, 1Chick 1Bro Cafe Bistro brings Venezuelan flavors to Gulfport, while Island Flavors and Tings introduces us to Jamaican and Caribbean cooking, along with specialty island groceries and baked goods.
Downtown, the culinary journey continues. Pia’s brings Italian traditions; Mademoiselle Paris offers French-inspired dishes, pastries and café fare; and V-Roll serves Vietnamese rolls, bowls, banh mi and bao. Neptune Grill offers coastal dining with Greek influences, while The Pearl brings Mediterranean and Moroccan flavors to the table.
Then there are the places that don’t fit neatly into one particular culinary box.
SumitrA’s offers much more than coffee, with specialty beverages, teas, herbal and botanical offerings, pastries and healthy choices. There is even an interesting story behind the chocolate served there – another little Gulfport discovery.
Sober Bar offers its own distinctive experience with creative zero-proof cocktails, specialty beverages and an eclectic food menu.
And we’re not finished yet.
Coming to Gulfport is Moon Under Water, bringing back the British pub tradition that many St. Petersburg residents remember from its years on Beach Drive. British favorites, curry and more will add another culinary influence to our growing mix.
But international cuisine is only part of the story.
We still have our Gulfport staples – seafood, burgers, barbecue, Southern cooking, breakfast and brunch, coffee, pastries and, of course, pizza. We have three places to enjoy a good pizza in Gulfport, but Tommy’s Hideaway adds a little something extra with its gourmet pizzas and creative combinations.
Then there are the sweet surprises. Let It Be Ice Cream makes small-batch, custom flavors, while Plant Love Ice Cream offers 100% vegan, dairy-free ice cream.
That’s what I find so appealing about dining in Gulfport. You can stick with an old favorite or try something completely new. You can grab a coffee, linger over lunch, enjoy dinner, pick up a pizza, indulge in a treat or discover a beverage you’ve never tasted.
There is a lot here.
What makes this especially exciting to me is that this variety has been a dream of mine for Gulfport for a long time. I have always loved that we are a place that people come not only for our waterfront, arts, music, and shops, but also because they know they will find interesting, locally owned places to eat and gather.
So, especially during these slower summer months, take some time to explore what is here. Try someplace new. Order something you’ve never tasted. Bring a friend. Meet a neighbor. Introduce a visitor to one of your favorite spots. You can stay close to home and still taste the world.
From Tasting the World to Walking Through Time.
We’ve talked about tasting the world in Gulfport. Now how about taking a walk through time?
On Oct. 16 at 5:30pm, Gulfport Arts & Heritage will open a little piece of Gulfport history when it unearths a time capsule buried on the grounds of the Gulfport History Museum on Dec. 31, 1999.
What did Gulfport look like at the turn of the century? What did our community hope for, dream about and want future generations to remember? We’ll soon have a chance to find out.
The evening will also feature a luminary labyrinth that you can walk, marking the beginning of TimeWeaving, a season of participatory art and history experiences connecting our community’s past, present and future.
It promises to be an opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are and perhaps where we’re headed next.
FMI: gulfporthistoricalsociety.org.
Gulfport Never Really Slows Down.
Gulfport never really slows down. Between the Tuesday Fresh Market, 10am to 2pm, the First Friday and Third Saturday Night Markets, 5-9pm, and everything else happening around town, there is always a reason to get out and about.
OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS
- Oct 21: Jason Ricci & The Bad KindBarrelhouse Talent presents Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind, with Hot Tonic opening the show at the Catherine Hickman Theater. Tickets: www.barrelhousetalent.com/tickets
- Oct 22: The Library Circle of Friends presents Who Haunts Pinellas County? Explore the lore and the legends, as well as actual evidence from paranormal investigations, produced by Dr. Brandy Stark during her investigations with the SPIRITS of St. Petersburg. 1pm at the Gulfport Public Library.
- Oct 31: Everyone is invited to the Gulfport Recreation Center Halloween Bash, 4-7pm. Enjoy trunk-or-treat, games, music – and a costume contest that will begin at 8pm. FMI: 727.893.1068
ART UP CLOSE
- Brenda McMahon Gallery – First Friday opening receptions with music, plus Third Friday art events and special happenings. FMI: brendamcmahongallery.com / 727.454.0453 / Facebook
- DRV Gallery – First Friday art openings with music and Third Friday art events. FMI: drvgallery.com / 727.382.7004 / Facebook
- Third Saturday Art Openings & Reception – Hosted by the Gulfport Merchants Chamber, 4-6pm, 5317 Gulfport Blvd. S. FMI: visitgulfportflorida.com
- First Friday at the Hickman Theater Lobby – An evening of art, conversation and community featuring local artists, 6-8pm, 5501 27th Ave. S.
For live music, weekly jams and other things happening in Gulfport, follow Gulfport Matters on Facebook and stay connected.
LOOKING AHEAD – MARK YOUR CALENDAR…
- Nov 3: Election Day VOTE!
- Nov 6: First Friday Labyrinth LightsDance performance on the temporary labyrinth.
- Nov 12-22: The 39 StepsThe Gulfport Community Players presents this comedy at the Catherine Hickman Theater.