Nature's Finest Foods

6651 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL. Tel. 727-347-5682

Nature's Finest, in layman's terms, is a healthfood store that specializes in organic and natural foods. This small chain has stores throughout Florida and Maryland. Maybe you've already purchased their vitamins, special juices, natural soaps, and nutritional supplements. Items that allow us to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Maybe you've passed the long salad bar on your way to the deli counter where they offer freshly made hot and cold dishes. Just next to the deli is the bakery and it's hard to decide which treat to pick. Some of these items are gluten free, by the way, and very tasty. There's also a refrigerator case with fresh wraps and salads in plastic containers. All of these delicacies can be packaged to go or eaten at the store in their small dining area at the front of the store. Like the rest of the store it's very clean and employees are very friendly. If you're at all familiar with healthfood stores you know that the pricing is not cheap, but you're paying for quality.

You might even make this a weekly lunchtime stop.

Check out their website for low fat and vegetarian recipes and live healthy!

Familiarity Breeds -- Repeat Customers

I was in Virginia Beach this week for a family get together and stayed at the bustling Town Center complex surrounded by upscale chain restaurants. In my quest for discovering new dining experiences however, I didn't want to dine somewhere I'd eaten before. Even though my experiences with all the chains at the Town Center were positive, we set our sites on a chain that was new to us. My husband is a beer brewer and rarely gets to choose where we eat, so I suggested the brew pub chain around the corner from our hotel called, Gordon Biersch. We braved the cold, blustery night to get there and sans our son we embarked on "date night." He ordered the Winterbock beer and enjoyed it very much. Not being a big beer drinker, I ordered an appetizer to share. The calimari arrived cooked just right (no rubber bands) but the seasoning was minimal and the sauces not that good. I took the waitress's advice and ordered the chicken pot pie and my husband ordered the meatloaf. The thought of yummy comfort food allowed me to excuse the less than stellar appetizer. The waitress said our entree choices were very good. Even made a point of saying there were only 3 pot pies left. In this case, the urgency for warm food drove my decision. When the food arrived though, I was disappointed. I found the pie filling flat and lack luster and could easily describe the pastry crust as such too. My husband liked his choice and I agreed it was ok. I wished for a do over at one of the chains I knew. The next morning, I spotted a Panera Bread across the street and immediately thought, "hazelnut coffee." Even though I've been trying to break the chain habit and there was an interesting chain called the "Daily Grind" (new to me) close in proximity to our hotel, I made my way to familiar flavors. The minute I walked in the door, it just felt right. The warm earthy colors welcomed me on that cold morning and I knew immediately what to order. People looked a little different with all the trappings of a cold day in tow, but the coffee was delicious and most everything else felt like home. Writing this blog sometimes feels daunting because I'm obligated to try new things regularly. In the last two months I've learned that sometimes it's best to go with what you know.

Harvey's 4th Street Grill

3121 4th Street. North, St. Petersburg, FL. Tel. 727-821-6516

Harvey's is one of those old neighborhood hangouts that has become an icon. A family restaurant/bar that's on every local's radar but definitely not the place to go if you're dieting. The menu has too many very tempting high carb dishes to choose from. On the other hand if you're looking for a homey environment, this is a fun place. Did I mention the long saloon style bar and what they call the 'Full Moon Party'? It's an evening that features Maine lobster and entertainment. I haven't experienced it but I know people who have and they've told me it's a blast.

Their specialties are grouper, shell fish and fresh steak from Iowa which, they claim, is never frozen. I've always kept my orders simple and have tried their salads and burgers, all very fresh and ranging in cost from $6 to $8. To be honest, to me thishas a diner-like feel to it with Platters, a Kid's Menu and desserts like Mud and Key Lime Pies and Cheesecake. Entrees come with garlic bread, cole slaw, etc. Prices range between $8 and $17. There's even an inexpensive Late Night Menu. Their ambience is a little different from the other places we've written about so maybe try their Sunday brunch, it looks like family fun.

Fortunato's Italian Market

Tyrone Mall
6901 22 Avenue North Ste. 780, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Tel: 727-381-4888

In my quest for the perfect pizza crust, which for me is thin and crispy, I happened into pizza heaven at the mall. It may have been my Black Friday hunger or the desire not to lose an excellent parking spot, but I think I had one of the best slices at Fortunato's since I've been to NYC. My slice had sundried tomatoes in addition to other veggies and a creamy ricotto cheese. The slice my friend had was sicilian style, chock full of veggies and sausage. The crust is heated in a small oven that crisps the bottom very nicely. A satisfying crunch preceeds the lively flavors of the toppings. It may not be Ray's, but it certainly hit the spot after a long day of bargain hunting. To think I turned my nose up at this fare on my many trips to Dillards. Not too smart on my part. Slices ranges from $2.59 to $3.39, with additional toppings at $.35. A whole pie, which is what I'm now dreaming of, costs between $8.99 and $21.99 (the high end price is for stuffed crust.) This place is worth a try.

Guppy's on the Beach Grill and Bar

1701 Gulf Blvd. Indian Rocks Beach, FL. 33785 Tel. 727-593-2032

Since Dune has decided to review restaurants in North Pinellas let me chime in with Guppy's Grill. First, don't get your hopes up. They are NOT on the beach, rather across the street. Like so many restaurants in Florida, they would LOVE to be ON the beach, but alas.....

Now, about the atmosphere, very nice. I like to sit outside in their very casual and pleasant environment. White plastic tables and chairs, nothing fancy. I've spent many a lunch hour on Guppy's patio over the years and never once disappointed.

If you're into shellfish this is the place for you. Shrimp every which way, lobster, escargot AND lobster, cape cod sea scallops. It's all here and we're just talking appetizers. Moving down to entrees you'll find salmon, grouper, tuna, crab cakes and more. Cost is not prohibitive but very reasonable. Appetizer and entree together will cost between $17 and $30. There are also salads and sandwiches to choose from for just $9.

The food is very fresh and tasty, the staff is always welcoming and if you get there at the right time of year, sitting on the patio is the best. You can smell that sea air and feel the breeze, even if you can't quite see it.

Frenchy's Rockaway Grill

7 Rockaway Street, Clearwater Beach, FL
Tel: 727-446-4844

Having grown up in St. Petersburg, I always thought the Hurricane was the best place to eat a grouper sandwich. A recent trip to Clearwater Beach with a friend, who guaranteed my satisfaction, changed my mind completely. Frenchy's Rockaway Grill is perched directly on the beach, making a fantastic view for diners. I did a little asking around before the trek out there and heard more than once that I should order the She Crab Soup and either the grouper bites or the grouper sandwich. The soup was beyond my expectations and if I make it out there again will definitely be my first course. An appetizer not to be missed are the conch fritters. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and just a slight bite from something spicy in the mix. The grouper is available a myriad of ways. The one I tasted had delicious caribbean spices and was cooked to perfection. My side salad was fresh and dressed well. The atmosphere is as you would expect it to be with a casual, with a fun and flirty flair. We got there early and were seated right away, but by the time we left the lunch crowd was waiting in a winding line outside the door. Prices were reasonable for a seafood joint, starting around $5 and ending at $21. Now I feel like going out to Pass a Grille Beach for a comparison taste test.

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

303 Red River St., Austin, TX.
Tel.- 512-236-9599

You guessed it...I spent Thanksgiving in Austin, TX. Never been there before but sure hope to go again The people are friendly and the food is delicious. We dined out several times in our four day visit, but Moonshine outshone them all. This lovely multi-room restaurant is located on a dry river bed in the middle of the city in what used to be, in the olden days, a general store. They claim that their cooking is, 'an innovative take on Classic American comfort food that satisfies even big city tastes.' That's a good description.

My friends and I had already had our Margaritas earlier at a saloon so we just set right in to ordering the 'chow'. I had the Broiled Rainbow Trout with cornbread stuffing and chile sage butter served with Seasonal vegetables and Grilled Polenta with parmesan and fresh herbs that melted in your mouth. The cost was $19, but that was higher than most of the 'suppers'. Two of my friends chose the Green Chile Macaroni and loved it. The four of us shared a huge portion of the White Chocolate Bread Pudding with raisins, pecans and bourbon sauce. Fantastic! We were all so stuffed. Good thing we weren't tempted earlier by the 'Starters'; Homemade Potato Chips with warm sour cream and scallion dip, or the Beer Battered Asparagus with Buttermilk Ranch....or the Crispy Calamari with spicy marinara, and on and on. This place is a must next time you're in Austin. It's popular so you may want to make a reservation.