Food

Everyone loves the sweet, warm, cozy taste of hot cocoa on a chilly day.

I call it RV Pimento Cheese. I got it during an adventure-and-mishap-filled trip to New Orleans.

The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest diets in the world.

I’m a huge believer in the power of the chocolate chip cookie – it’s like a hug for your tummy.

It’s time to get creative and finally use the half-empty boxes of pasta and rice, cans of beans and other neglected items hiding in the back of the cabinet. Here are some simple meatless meals to make grocery trips last a little longer.

Most any Tampa Bay restaurant with a decent Cuban sandwich uses La Segunda Central Bakery’s bread, its authenticity verified with the imprint of a Palmetto leaf.

Superfoods are loaded with disease-fighting nutrients and are also super delicious to munch on:

Sophia’s Cucina and Enoteca, the much-anticipated sister restaurant to popular Lolita’s Wine Market, has opened at 2349 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg.

Pesto is a dynamic sauce that can be used for everything. From a pasta sauce to a topping for your flatbread, it is a delicious and healthy alternative to change up your favorite dishes.

When you think of museums, you probably don’t think food. But several local museums are worth a visit for good eats, along with art and artifacts:

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg returns March 8-10, and The Racers Group will have its Aston Martin V12 Vantage GTW on the St. Petersburg track. But its off-track activities caught our eye.

The Argentine asado is a centuries-old South American gathering centered around grilling every part of a cow over a fire pit in the ground. A more refined version is now offered at Renzo’s.

St. Petersburg’s Left Bank Bistro, a 1920s bungalow restaurant at 1225 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., conjures up feelings of 1920s Paris.

The holidays came, conquered and caused everyone to overeat. Just move on. Try five tips for getting on track.

Even if you aren’t up for ribs, brisket, sausage or pork belly, St. Petersburg’s newest barbecue joint, Dr. BBQ, has plenty of small plate offerings and refreshing drinks. Cornbread comes shaped like French madelines with pear butter. Caulilini, a cauliflower hybrid, is lightly coated in garlic oil. Purple cabbage is yummy with agave and rice wine vinegar.

‘Tis the season for holiday parties, and a festive beverage always livens up a gathering. This slow cooker winter sangria from The Foodie Affair is one of my all-time favorites – it’s incredibly easy, and the warm cinnamon scent that fills your home is an added bonus.

Even if you aren’t up for ribs, brisket, sausage or pork belly, St. Petersburg’s newest barbecue joint, Dr. BBQ, has plenty of small plate offerings and refreshing drinks. Cornbread comes shaped like French madelines with pear butter. Caulilini, a cauliflower hybrid, is lightly coated in garlic oil. Purple cabbage is yummy with agave and rice wine vinegar.

Rooftops bars are gaining popularity, especially in the Tampa Bay area, where we can enjoy the outdoors (almost) year-round.

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a good spot for happy hour. My new favorite? Lolita’s Wine Market on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg.

Don’t let the name fool you: Nebraska Mini-Mart is anything but ordinary.

Buzz is building around one of St. Petersburg’s newest restaurants – The Peabody, nestled in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital campus. Created by the family behind Tampa’s Oxford Exchange, The Peabody offers a variety of sit-down and takeaway options.

There’s nothing like stocking your refrigerator with fresh, local produce from a farmers market.

Cities from Seattle to St. Petersburg are banning single-use plastics like plastic straws, utensils and stirrers to limit the amount of plastic waste in the oceans.

With a James Beard-nominated chef, the Reading Room in St. Pete is certainly one to try. It’s been open for nearly two years, but the changing menu makes each visit a new experience.

Foodies rejoice! The ninth annual Clearwater Beach Restaurant Week arrives Sept. 14-23 and allows you to try the area’s restaurants at special prices.

Lavender is popular in candles, laundry detergent and perfume. And now, it’s also taking root in coffee.

More places offer sushi around town than you may realize, making it easier than ever to get your omega 3s. Here are three spots you might not have thought of that have great sushi:

The name Dough Nation initially brings to mind the trendy, sweet scoops of edible raw cookie dough. But Dough Nation in downtown Tampa offers more than just the cookie dough.

The acai bowl has become a trendy way to make your morning breakfast a fresh colorful treat packed with antioxidants and vitamins.

Don’t order a cup of coffee from Craft Kafe in downtown St. Petersburg if you’re in a hurry.