Marchand's Farm to Fork at the Vinoy Renaissance Hotel #VinoyF2F

The Renaissance Vinoy Hotel is a St. Petersburg landmark. The history and the ambiance of the Vinoy provide charm that you can’t find anywhere else. Since the grand opening in 1925, the historic hotel has played host to countless guests, including Presidents, professional athletes, and A-list Hollywood stars.

I was recently invited to wine and dine my way through the main dining room at the hotel – Marchand’s Bar and Grill. Lucky for us, Marchand’s is open to the public - not just hotel guests.

The six course tasting dinner at Marchand’s featured locally sourced ingredients. Chef Mark Heimann and Chef de Cuisine Ross Clingman turned these locally sourced ingredients into pure food magic. At the presentation of each course, we marveled at the dish presented to us. Each course built upon the last to create a memorable dining experience that I won’t soon forget. Not only did every course look fabulous, they tasted even more fabulous.

The start of a perfect meal

Here is a look at the dishes we tried:

Florida avocado, crisp prosciutto, pickled radish, duck egg, rocket greens, buttermilk dressing

Not your mama’s typical lettuce and tomato salad! This salad was a great way to start the meal, and a tasty preview of the meal ahead.

Spiny lobster cake, celery seed, chipotle-lemon grass remoulade

Before the dinner, I saw a tweet hinting at this glorious spiny lobster cake. I was looking forward to this because I love lobster. What could be better than a bunch of lobster meat stuffed together to form this tasty cake? Mmm. And see those little black squid-ink croutons? They were unique and so tasty. A return trip to Marchand’s would be in order based on this dish alone.

Braised veal cheeks with cabernet linguini, escarole, bronzed sweet onion, pecorino

Lots of firsts for me on this dish. Veal cheeks? Cabernet linguini? They both sound intimidating but were both super delicious. The veal cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth tender. The cabernet linguini was fresh and not too bold or too heavy.

Lake meadow’s game hen, orange-honey crust, charred cabbage, saison beignets

I’m not sure if the best part of this dish was the orange-honey glaze or the saison beignets. I could have easily had a few spoonfuls of the orange-honey glaze and a few saison beignets and been happy. Together, this dish was spectacular. And then…

Fried flounder, corn spoon bread, Andouille stuffed peppers, jalapeño butter

Save the best for last! Just when we thought the meal couldn’t get any better, out came this stunningly delicious (and adorable) plate. The flounder was fried to crispy perfection with a light batter. The corn spoon bread tasted like a spoonful of Southern happiness. Then I tried the Andouille stuffed peppers - a mini bite of sweet heat and the perfect way to wrap up the savory portion of the meal.

Plant City strawberry cannoli and banana cream pie duo

Dessert is always a requirement for me. Marchand’s dehydrated local strawberries and turned them into this cannoli shell and stuffed it with a smooth creamy filling. This duo also contained a deconstructed banana cream pie. Both mini desserts were refreshing and light. This was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Along with every course we had a pairing from Marchand’s in-house sommelier. As if the food wasn’t enough, here’s what we enjoyed sipping on throughout the evening:

Chardonnay – Hahn SLH Estate, California

Sauvignon Blanc – Starmont, California

Malbec – Trivento Amado Sur, Mendoza Argentina

Jai Alai IPA – Cigar City Brewing, Tampa

Key West Sunset Ale – Florida Brewing, Melbourne

Prosecco – Mionetto, Italy (does this place know the way to my heart or what?!)

You can have your own Chef's Surprise Tasting dinner at Marchand's (with or without wine pairings) or try these dishes a la carte. There are lots of other dishes on the current menu I'd love to try, like the Lobster and Oxtail Ravioli Duo and the Sea Scallops. 

Another awesome feature of Marchand’s is the new tabletop sommelier. This iPad feature has the full bar/wine menu, suggested pairings, and other nifty features. You’ll even be able to save and send yourself notes on the drinks you enjoyed so you’ll be able ask for them again at a return visit or purchase them to enjoy at home.

After this exquisite dinner, Marchand’s is moving up to the top of my list for go-to special occasion dining. There’s no need to spend lots of money on a chain steakhouse when you can have locally sourced gourmet fare for practically the same price. To top it all off, you can’t beat the charm of The Vinoy for any celebration. And even when not celebrating special occasions, Marchand’s is perfect for your next date night, girls night out, or whenever you’re in the mood for a delicious meal.

PS: Marchand’s also has weekend brunch, sushi on select nights, and a special prix fixe menu. I can’t wait to try these soon.

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Tampa Bay Speed Boat Adventures

I recently hit the jackpot when I came across the website for Tampa Bay Speed Boat Adventures. The website reads "Be your own captain as you tour Tampa Bay driving your own speed boat." Once I saw "no experience necessary" and all of the 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor I knew I was sold. (And to know me is to know I love a good tour!)

The 3pm tour coming back to land

I was able to book a 5pm tour on a Saturday. They do have earlier afternoon tours available, but I wanted a time that wouldn't be so hot. We met our captain near the Tierra Verde Marina. After a brief safety orientation and overview of the boats, we were stepping into our temporary home on the water.

Idle speed as we left the dock

There are a few periods in the tour where you have to go "idle" speed. This speed allows you to take in the scenery - waterfront homes and other boats out on the water. After a few minutes of getting used to the steering and the boat, you soon reach the regular speed zone. Then, it's party time! You can go full throttle throughout the Bay. The majority of the tour is at full speed. We did have some choppy water for short periods, but it adds to the experience. (Tip: you may want to bring a towel to put on the seat to ease some of the hit you will take if you have choppy water.)

nice house, eh?

We were lucky enough to have a clear day with ZERO percent chance of rain! Since it was a 5pm tour in October, the temperature was in the mid-80s, and there was not a cloud in the sky. We saw a handful of other boats out on the water, but it felt like we had the bay all to ourselves. Our captain took us all the way out to the Skyway Bridge. Let me tell you, the bridge is much nicer when you're looking up at it from a boat instead of driving over it. Unfortunately no dolphins came out to visit us while we were on the water.

oh how I love where I live

The speed boat tour was leisurely and FUN. We weren't rushed at all and before we knew it the sun was starting to set and we were heading back to dry land. I HIGHLY recommend this tour to anyone who is up for an adventure. It's an amazing way to unplug, unwind, and enjoy the sweet beauty of Tampa Bay.

a-ma-zing

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Sailing away on the Norwegian Epic {part 3}

We're onboard the Norwegian Epic, and ready to hit the open waters. Catch up on part 1 of my review here, and part 2 here.

Some people choose a cruise based on the ports of call they'll be visiting. I prefer to choose based on the ship and onboard amenities, but our ports of call on the Epic were pretty, well, Epic. We were on an Eastern Caribbean itinerary which sailed out of Miami to St. Martaan, St. Thomas, and Nassau. This was a 7 day cruise, so we had 3 sea days as well.

Here are some of the highlights of our excursions:

St. Martaan (or St. Martin depending on which side of the island you're on)
We chose the Ultimate Island Tour & Explorer Cruise excursion offered by NCL. This was a relaxing way to see both the Dutch and French sides of the island, and learn a lot of history about the island. Our tour guide on the bus ride was Cecilia. She had a heavy accent and I felt like I was comprehending her in slow motion. I had to really slow down and listen to everything she said so I could understand her. She was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor.

View from where our ship was docked

Bus tour

After about 20 minutes on the bus with Cecilia, we boarded our Explorer cruise. As soon as we stepped foot on the boat, the dark skies welcomed us with heavy rain and wind. What a nightmare! We were able to grab chairs on the top deck, which was covered, and rum punch to warm us up. Did I mention that the boat has unlimited rum punch? I think I might have had 3 glasses before we reached Marigot.

The sun came out shortly after the Explorer left the dock. Whew!

Gorgeous Marigot area

We were dropped off for an hour in Marigot. This was a marina shopping area on the French side of the island. Well if I can't be in Paris this year, I was going to soak up being in a French territory! The merchants accepted Euros and all spoke perfect French. Even the handwriting was very French - I loved looking at all of the menu boards.

French handwriting, French cuisine = I'm in France! 

We opted to eat lunch instead of shopping. We ended up with a crepe and a pizza. Even after 3 days of all you can eat pizza onboard the Epic, I was craving pizza for some reason. Both dishes were good, but a little pricey after factoring in the Euro to US Dollar conversion.

Jambon, fromage, and oeuf crepe

Margherita pizza

After our hour flew by, we were back on the bus with Cecilia to return back to our ship. We had the option of being dropped off in the shopping area, but we chose to return to our home away from home on the Epic.

St. Thomas

St. Thomas was pretty darn close to paradise. You know those images with the crystal blue water and the palm trees? Yep, that's where we were. We chose the St. John Champagne Catamaran Sail and Snorkel offered by NCL. This was the highest rated excursion offered for our itinerary and all of the reviews I found online were good as well. Plus, it had "champagne" in the name, so I knew it had to be good!

We had a short ride to the dock where we were greeted by our catamaran crew. We saw a boat docked in the marina that was from St. Petersburg, Florida. What a small world! I had to get a picture of that!

When we were leaving we actually saw Mr. and Mrs. Mango Man on their boat. We told them we were also from St. Petersburg. The Mango's had been docked in St. Thomas for 3 months and they were getting ready to head out to the British Virgin Islands. This is where I almost had my Chris Gardner moment, "What do you do and how do you do it?"

The scenery on the ride to our near private island, St. John, was beautiful. We arrived at the snorkeling destination and had an hour or two to explore. I am not a snorkeler, so we headed to the beach and enjoyed the water. You could almost see your feet through the water, it was that clear.

Before we knew it, we headed back onboard our catamaran for some drinks and snacks. Being bummed about leaving the island was made better with unlimited champagne and rum punch. How many rum punches could we drink before we headed back onboard the Epic? Not enough :)

Bye bye St. John! 

Fueling up

Nassau
We actually decided to stay onboard the Epic instead of doing an excursion in Nassau. I've been to Nassau 3 times on cruises and never gotten off of the boat there. Either I am really missing out or I'm not missing much at all.

Stay tuned for part 4 of my vacation recap - featuring all of the onboard features of the Epic!

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St. Petersburg Pier - the final days

I am proud to be born and raised in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. The colorful inverted pyramid that sits on our gorgeous downtown waterfront has been a source of many memories for me and millions of others - tourists and residents alike. This May, the St. Petersburg Pier as we know it will be closed forever. It is a bittersweet feeling for me and my peers who have known nothing else in that spot.

1973-2013

I am making a big push to remind everyone to get out to the Pier and see it one last time before it's gone. What better way to do that than to make a toast to the St. Pete Pier! While almost all of the food at the Pier is forgettable, the sights of our beautiful city are not. Each of the 3 main restaurants at the Pier have a gorgeous view. I encourage you to get out there, grab a drink, make a toast, and enjoy the view!

The 3 dining destinations at the Pier:

Jonny Reno's is a surf themed restaurant on the first floor, with indoor and outdoor seating, and a full bar outside. Sit outside and watch the bikers, rollerbladers, and couples strolling hand in hand around the perimeter of the Pier. This is a good place to grab a drink with friends.

The Columbia, St. Pete's branch of the famous Florida chain, is located on the 4th floor and features 360 degrees views. Day or night, grab a seat by the window and enjoy the view. The Columbia features Cuban food, sangria, and the famous 1905 Salad.

Cha Cha Coconuts is on the top floor (#5) of the Pier, which is also the observation deck. They have indoor and outdoor seating with one of the best views in the 'Burg. Cha Cha Coconuts serves casual Caribbean style food.

As many times as I have been to the Pier, I had never tried Cha Cha Coconuts. I can now say that I was not missing too much! The food was ok and the scenery was amazing, but for the same price I could have had a better lunch at The Columbia. I will certainly miss my local connection to 1905 Salad between now and the opening of the Lens in 2015!

Dining outdoors at Cha-Cha's

Observation deck on the top floor

What a view!

Grilled grouper sandwich 

Smothered chicken sandwich

Fish spread

The current St. Petersburg Pier will open and close for the last time on Friday May 31st. Whether you have never been to the Pier, or you've been a thousand times, everyone owes the Pier a final farewell visit. While it will be strange to no longer have our famous Pier, we can only hope that the Pier of the future, The Lens, will make us proud in the years to come!

Walking away from the Pier one last time

Cheers to the future of downtown St. Petersburg!

What is your favorite memory of the St. Petersburg Pier?

Check out the Pier restaurants on UrbanSpoon: 

Jonny Reno's

The Columbia

Cha-Cha Coconuts

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Conch Republic Grill

Last Memorial Day, on a beach trip to Indian Shores, we kept hearing about the famous Conch Republic. We decided to stop by one day for lunch to check it out. We shared a seafood platter with shrimp, scallops, and grouper. We loved it so much, we went back the same night for dinner, and we have been going back ever since.

The Conch Republic Grill is located at 16699 Gulf Boulevard on North Redington Beach. If you visit during peak hours, the parking lot will be full, but street parking is available. There is a small outside bar with a few outside tables. If you want the full Key West effect, venture inside.

Conch Republic has a fun and casual atmosphere. Key West pictures and fun memorable surround you as island crooners like Jimmy Buffett serenade you through the overhead speakers. Grab a strawberry daiquiri or pina colada from the bar, and embark on your temporary island vacation.

The stars of the menu at Conch are obviously the fresh seafood. Near the hostess stand you will see a cooler proudly displaying fresh fish on ice. You will also see a chalkboard filled with the daily specials. While seafood draws the people in, the menu is abundant for those who prefer their protein to come from land (or no meat at all). Enjoy a greek salad, a Cuban sandwich, a hamburger, or a juicy steak.

I am a "carbivore", so I judge a place highly on the bread served before a meal. The rolls at Conch are always fresh out of the oven, and served with real butter packets on the side. Order an appetizer of conch fritters, fish spread, cracker shrimp (think "Bang Bang"), calamari, or oysters, and you are off to a fabulous start! We typically opt for the potato skins since they are harder and harder to find at restaurants. Thick cut potatoes, fried and topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, and scallions. Need I say more?

On my most recent visit, we tried the fried group sandwich and ribeye steak. The grouper was fresh and crispy. This is served on an onion roll, and I got the "secret sauce" on the side. I always pick the black beans and rice for my side item at Conch - this is topped with fresh diced tomatoes and white onions. The ribeye was grilled well, and served with a loaded baked potato.

As you are eating, I am sure you will smell the aroma of cinnamon at some point, wafting from the Bananas Foster preparation at a nearby table. If you have any room left for dessert, try the Bananas Foster, daily cheesecake special (Butterfinger on this visit), or Key Lime Pie.

Conch Republic also has a wide variety of rums available. Flights are available at a reasonable price. Hey, you're on vacation, or at least pretending to be!

On your way out, pick up some Mussels Diablo sauce and a souvenir t-shirt. When you're reminiscing about your beach vacation, put on your shirt and recreate your visit to Conch Republic.

See what others are saying about Conch Republic Grill on Urbanspoon:

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