Cupcakes, cupcakes, and more cupcakes

Today the Morean Arts Center hosted their 3rd Annual Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest. This event allows amateur and professional bakers to compete for the title of the best cupcake. I was happy to participate this year by sampling as many cupcakes as I could handle. In lieu of a normal lunch, I sampled sweet cupcakes, savory cupcakes, traditional cupcakes, gourmet cupcakes, and everything in between. Here are some highlights of the event:

Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake

Blood Orange Creamsicle

Cannoli Cupcakes (Parisian raspberry to the right)

Snickerdoodle

Caramel Apple

The Elvis

Lemon and Pomegranate

My favorites were:

Red Snapping Turtle

Can't go wrong with Chocolate and Peanut Butter

I'm looking forward to next year! Go hungry and leave happy.

Read More

Girls Night Out with the Tampa Bay Rays

Grab your best girlfriends and head out to Tropicana Field. The Tampa Bay Rays are hosting a Girls Night Out on Thursday August 15th. $25 dollars will get you a lower level reserved seat, a Rays wine tumbler, and a voucher for a Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon. (Psst- Did you know the Rays started serving wine this season? Pretty cool.) Head to this link to buy your ticket and use promo code GIRL3 to get in on this deal. Hurry, because you must buy your tickets by August 14th!

This Rays wine tumbler can be all yours!

Read More

Enjoy Arts & Tastes St. Pete

Celebrity chefs are often found wondering around in Tampa Bay. Emeril Lagasse, Robert Irvine, and Wolfgang Puck have been known to dine at their favorite local eateries like Cassis and Cafe Ponte when they are in town. While I personally haven't been lucky enough to spot Emeril strolling down Beach Drive, I know others who have. Soon enough, famous chefs like Masaharu Morimoto and Ming Tsai will not only be in town, but we will all have a chance to dine on the culinary creations we've only seen on TV.

The Enjoy Arts & Tastes Festival will be happening in St. Pete this November. As a huge fan of culinary cooking shows, I am super excited to have the chance to get to see these chefs in person AND taste their dishes! All of the major chefs at the Enjoy Arts & Tastes Festival have names you'll recognize from your favorite culinary channel or TV show. This will be the largest gathering of celebrity chefs ever assembled on Florida's Gulf Coast. And, the best news is that all proceeds benefit Florida ProStart. Florida ProStart is a 501(c)(3) organization that sponsors high school students interested in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Who can you expect to see at Enjoy Arts & Tastes St. Pete? Donatella Arpaia, Scott Conant, Todd English, Lorena Garcia, Duff Goldman, Ingrid Hoffman, Masaharu Morimoto, and Ming Tsai!

I am happy to present you with the lineup of events:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15^th

SENSE IMMERSION DINNER HOSTED BY TODD ENGLISH & DUNCAN MCCLELLAN

A kick-off to the festival weekend, this dinner will combine culinary arts with fine arts through teams of celebrated chefs and artists. Teams will present a one-of-a-kind menu inspired by the sensibility and style of each artist, accompanied by fine wines and spirits. Seated dinner. Location: Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Ticket Price: $200 (includes all food & beverage)

NOCTURNAL CRAVINGS HOSTED BY DUFF GOLDMAN

A late-night dessert tasting party that celebrates Salvador Dali’s art, and plays on his delicious lithograph, Les Pios Nonoches. The evening will feature notable regional pastry chefs and chocolatiers offering an array of desserts inspired by the artist’s work. A selection of fine wines and spirits will be served. Walk-around tasting.

Location: The Dali Museum, 1 Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 10:00 pm – 1:00 am

Ticket Price: $85 (includes all food & beverage)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16^th

GRAND TASTING

The centerpiece of the festival, the Grand Tasting will feature top regional culinary talent who will present tasty portions of their signature dishes, both savory and sweet. To top off this gourmet experience, fine wine and spirits will be poured.

VIP tickets grant access to HSN’s VIP tent, where guests get a chance to mingle with celebrity chefs who will stop by throughout the day.

Location: Tented area at The Mahaffey Theater Plaza and Albert Whitted Park, Bay Shore Drive SE, St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Ticket Price: $95 General Admission/$125 VIP Access (includes all food & beverage)

CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS BY GUEST CELEBRITY CHEFS & PERSONALITIES

An exciting array of interactive culinary demonstrations led by guest celebrity chefs and personalities who will reveal their tricks of the trade. Demonstration-only, no tasting.

Location: Mahaffey Theater at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, 400 First St. S,

St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 11:00 am – 6:15 pm

Demonstration schedule will be available on the festival website

Ticket Price: $50 per demo

SIP, SAVOR & SWING HOSTED BY INGRID HOFFMANN

A Latin-inspired celebration featuring tastings from regional and guest celebrity chefs. Fine wines and spirits are not the only accompaniment - lively music will set the mood at the Vinoy Renaissance’s grand Palm Court Ballroom. Featured chefs will be on hand to present their dishes and interact with guests. Walk-around tasting.

Location: The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, 501 5th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Ticket Price: $225 (includes all food & beverage)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17^th

BATTLE OF THE ‘BURG HOSTED BY DONATELLA ARPAIA

Enjoy burgers at this afternoon poolside party, featuring St. Pete and the Bay Area’s most popular chefs and restaurants. Celebrity judges, including HSN, Inc. CEO Mindy Grossman and host Donatella Arpaia, will crown the Best ‘Burger, and attendees can cast their vote for a People’s Choice award winner. Music will make this a lively finale to a great weekend. Walk-around tasting.

Location: The Club at Treasure Island, 400 Treasure Island Causeway. Treasure Island, FL

Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Ticket Price: $75 (includes all food & beverage)

Tickets for Enjoy Arts & Tastes went on sale today! Tickets are available at http://www.enjoyartsandtastes.com/

Special shoutout to those making this event possible: Bill Edwards Presents, HSN, Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, and Florida ProStart.

Which event would you most like to attend? 

Read More