Craving authentic Puerto Rican food? A new restaurant in St. Petersburg could have your fix. Owned by Jean Totti, Wepa Cocina de Puerto Rico uses handwritten family recipes going back three generations. “Working with these recipes for months, we’ve selected a range of dishes that represent our culinary history,” Totti says. “The menu items are … Read more
Travel and wine lovers can sip, savor and explore vineyards from around the world at a wine festival. If your schedule doesn’t allow a trip this year to Napa, California, or Bordeaux, France, check out one of the wine festivals on Florida’s west coast. Be forewarned: tickets often sell out months in advance. SARASOTA: FLORIDA … Read more
Nestled on West Bay Drive, just before heading to the beaches on the Belleair bridge, is a steak, sushi and seafood gem. Baystar Restaurant Group owner, Frank Chivas, previously occupied this space with Marlin Darlin Key West Grill but decided to close it down in January 2018 and relaunch it with a brand-new concept known … Read more
Photos by Alyssa Rosenheck The first thing you notice when you enter The Peabody, located on the John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital campus in St. Petersburg, is the striking navy blue colors, wood panels and marble surfaces. Its aesthetics provide an instant feeling of elegance. When your food arrives and you want to order … Read more
In the space previously occupied by Cork N Brew Bistro, a sushi restaurant has moved in. Sekushi, known for its sushi, noodles and other Asian fare, is scheduled to open this month. The restaurant’s flagship location is based in Las Vegas in the Paris Casino and is owned and operated by HIG Management Group, also … Read more
MOD Pizza opened its first Tampa Bay area location in October in the Cypress Creek Town Center. The chain offers artisan-style pizza and salads, customized by the customer, using any combination of more than 30 featured toppings, or they can choose from the menu. Pizzas are hand-cooked, and salads are individually hand-tossed for each customer. … Read more
Green Bench Brewing recently announced a massive expansion to the tune of $3.4 million. Capitalizing on the convenience of an adjacent empty warehouse space, Nathan Stonecipher, co-owner of Green Bench, says the anticipated growth is a long time coming. “The plan has always been to grow deliberately, slowly and in control,” Stonecipher says. This is … Read more
Walk into Kahwa Coffee’s corporate office and the rich scent of roasting beans hits you like a tidal wave. Tucked into an unassuming strip mall in St. Petersburg, Kahwa’s small office and roasting room belie the growing reputation and reach of this beloved, locally-grown coffee company. With 12 locations between Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, … Read more
By Jo-Lynn Brown Photos by Penny Rogo Jeff Gigante is starting a new journey with his newest concept, Forbici. This transition is pivotal because Gigante is arguably one of Tampa Bay’s busiest restaurateurs, with eight restaurants under the Ciccio umbrella and a long list of philanthropic endeavors. The restaurant group employs more than 1,300 workers … Read more
