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While many think that Florida is for snowbirds and vacationing families, St.Petersburg is slowly becoming one of the America’s most popular cities to live and visit.
By Ayngelina Brogan http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ayngelina-brogan/5-st-petersburg
Once considered God’s Waiting Room with an aging population, the new generation of millenials is sticking around and there’s a flood of young professionals moving to St.Petersburg. With an average of 361 days of sunshine each year, St.Petersburg is nicknamed the Sunshine City. The city is surrounded by water on three sides making it a great vacation for sailing, fishing or relaxing on the beach.
While St.Petersburg charms vacationers to come back year after year, many are choosing it as a permanent home. Here’s why:
Vibrant Arts and Culture
There is no shortage of traditional exhibitions to visit with the glass sculptures at the Chihuly Collection, Salvador Dali Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.
However, art is also found on the street with a thriving street mural scene that sends a signal to visitors that St.Petersburg isn’t like other cities in Florida. The city is so committed to its outdoor artwork that each September local volunteers host the Shine Festival, which celebrates local artists and welcomes outside artists to participate and engage with the community.
No State Tax
Florida is one of several states with no income tax, which attracts entrepreneurs from all over America. With strong growth and healthy employment opportunities, the younger generation is no longer leaving but staying to work, often in tourism.
Craft Beer
Considered to be one of the best cities in America for craft beer. There’s an established craft beer trail with 27 breweries and proud locals are quick to choose their favorite local brew over a Budweiser.
A progressive city hall changed zoning limitations to allow craft breweries to open. Established breweries like Cycle Brewing are welcoming new entries, choosing community over competition, understanding that St.Petersburg could be recognized as one of the best destinations for craft beer.
LGBT Friendly Community
St.Petersburg actively promotes LGBT tourism and has one of the largest Pride Festivals in Florida. The city has a dedicated LGBT Welcome Centre, with a café for tourists as well as a space for LGBT youth to feel comfortable being themselves.
By Ayngelina Brogan http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ayngelina-brogan/5-st-petersburg
When my youngest daughter was here visiting in January, I took her around to see all the cool murals that had arrived since her last visit. We were lucky to witness some of them being painted. I love them. How cool is this?!? A couple of years ago I started taking pictures of them but now there are so many new ones that I NEED to photograph. I told my daughter then that I wanted to write a post about the mural of St Pete as soon as I had time. Obviously, it was a good idea because someone has beaten me to the punch!! Read below & come see them in person.
St. Pete is slowly becoming known for its street art. The Huffington Post recently touted the Burg as one of the Top 15 Street Art Cities in America. Local businesses, neighborhoods and members of the city council have recognized how imperative a thriving arts culture is to the growth and development of the city at large.
Whether exploring the alley behind the 600 Block or Baum Avenue in the EDGE District, literary, mythological and locally inspired designs burst from the brick walls of galleries and shops downtown. Designs have made their way to 4th Street, Uptown, the Grand Central District and Deuces Live. Bar like The Amsterdam have attracted appreciators with their ever rotating gallery of murals.
A few new designs have popped up recently that you need to see for yourself.
This mural by artist David Rothman can be found on the side of the Bay Food Mart between 6th and 7th Avenues North on 4th Street.
Artist Chad Mize adds more than a splash to color to the Historic Uptown area of St. Pete. The neighborhoods new insignia can be found by the Laundromat at 499 7th Avenue North. The mural also features a hex block design inspired by the sidewalks in the neighborhood.
Want to see the process of creating an entirely new vibe in this neighborhood on the rise? Chad Mize created an excellent time lapse showcasing the work that went into the mural.
The 801 Conway has certainly left its mark on the EDGE District and the entire St. Pete community thanks to the skilled hands and minds of the Vitale Brothers. This mural can be found on the side of the former Cafe Adagio building at 1111 Central Avenue.
*Photo via @paintthatuglything on Instagram
PizzaBox has made its prescence felt since opening. With a wood-fired oven they built themselves and a striking mural the owners painted, this new restaurant has quickly become a part of the regular St. Pete diet. P.S. Their gluten-free pizza, made with BoBs Red Mill gluten free dough, is amazing. The mural is in the alley behind the restaurant. Their address is 923 Central Avenue.
A muralist by the name of Christy recently added a bit of magic to the 600 Block alley with an enchanted mural. Stephanie Byrne Photography was able to capture this magical design perpendicular to the famous Twiggy Mural by Chad Mize.
A new mural is currently in the works by Deplane Studios and Manmade Murals on the side of Urban Provisions in the Grand Central District. If it’s anything like Urban Brew and BBQ’s historical design, we’re sure it will be a magnificent site to behold. The project is in partnership with Small Town Brewery. Urban Provisions is located at 2410 Central Avenue.
A new mural has been added to the Deuces District by painter/sculptor Patrick Noze. You can view his piece titled “Art Reflecting History” on the side of the Advantage Training Systems building at 833 22nd Street. South.
Sarah Sheppard completed this gorgeous Alice in Wonderland mural back in February. We hadn’t gotten to see it in person until recently. Gazing at it is trully a transformative experience. You can check it out on the side of China Finders located at 2823 Central Avenue.
Sarah Sheppard isn’t done leaving her mark on the Burg. She also recently completed a mural on the exterior of the new St. Pete Makers facility. For those looking to take what’s brewing in their imagination and make it a reality, this spot is a must visit. St. Pete Makers is located at 429 22nd Street South.
– See more at: http://www.ilovetheburg.com
A weekend with some of the best blues music. Aaron Neville, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and JJ Grey (along with many others) will perform live at the waterfront Vinoy Park at one of the finest musical festivals in Florida. Listen to great blues while enjoying views of downtown St Petersburg and the Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Blues Fest began in 1995 and in 2011, it was given the prestigious “Keeping the Blues Alive” award as the best blues festival in America by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee. Proceeds from the event benefit their charity partner, Pinellas Association for Retarded Children.
Music until 10 p.m. each evening! General Admission Tickets –
Friday – $35 gates open at noon
Saturday – $40
Sunday – $30
Three Day Pass – $95
Weather this weekend-Sunny, mid 70’s, low humidity & a slight breeze. Come spend the day or the whole weekend!
Click HERE for a full schedule of events and to purchase tickets. Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Drive Northeast, St Pete, FL
Yippee! It’s here! That time of year when our downtown & waterfront become a major race car track. Actually, there are 6 different kinds of Racing Series that take place during the 3 day event. The drivers & audience come from all over the world. Oh, I can hear them practicing from my house as I write this blog!
The Verizon IndyCar Series is the premier open-wheel racing series in the United States. It offers one of the most diverse and challenging schedules in motorsports with races held on ovals, permanent road courses and temporary street courses. IndyCar Series has been here since 2005.
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires is the top step of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system for drivers and teams striving to compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Nineteen of the 33 starters in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 were Indy Lights graduates.
The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires is the second step on the Mazda Road to Indy, bridging the gap between the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. The series’ champion is awarded a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Indy Lights competition the following year. Graduates include Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe and Graham Rahal.
All of these photos are ones that I took last year in 2015. 
The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda is the first step on the Mazda Road to Indy. In addition to providing a vital training ground for rising stars, the series champion will earn a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Drivers who have honed their skills in the series include Indy 500 winners Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish Jr. and Buddy Rice.
The Pirelli World Challenge Championships is North America’s top production car-based championship. World Challenge is separated into three classes: GT, GTS and Touring Car.
Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks are high-powered off-road trucks that race side-by-side on challenging dirt and asphalt tracks with challenges that include huge jumps, crossovers, whoop sections and many tight corners.
From the 2015 brochure, you can see that the track is right downtown St Pete & then goes along the waterfront in front of the Dali Museum, Old Lang Stadium & the Mahaffey Theater before heading onto the Albert Whitted Airport runway.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is not only among the most respected motorsports events in North America and some of the fastest racing series on the planet, you have a chance to see drivers, celebrity athletes, live entertainment and interactive activities. These activities include the
- Bright House Speed Zone
- Verizon IndyCar Series Fan Village
- Beer Gardens
- Driver Autograph Sessions
- Interactive games & exhibits
- Music
So come on down to St Pete & have some great fun! There are shuttles that will take you from the parking lots to the race. Gates open on Friday, March 11 & Saturday, March 12th 7:30am-6pm and on Sunday, March 13th 8am-5pm.
I mean, how awesome is this to have this only 5 minutes from my house? I’m so excited, as I am every year.
Here are just a few different things to do and see in downtown St Petersburg, Florida. Nice day so get out and have some fun!
Tampa Bay Home Show presented and produced by Tampa Bay Times
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
Meet the home improvement experts at the Tampa Bay Home Show. Plan to spend the day discovering great exhibits, giveaways, door prizes, seminars, and so much more. See the latest trends in home remodeling: from kitchen and baths to flooring, to windows and home protection. NOVEMBER 7 Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., NOVEMBER 8 Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday 11/7
METRO Presents Gala Rouge
METRO’s Third Annual Gala takes place at the Historic Train Station. METRO is proud to be entering their 22nd year of providing services and support to those infected by HIV/AIDS, as well as a hub of activity for the LGBT community. This event will feature pop-up burlesque performances! Tickets to the event benefit METRO LGBT Centers and the NEW METRO Health Centers. Begins at 7pm. Historic Train Station, 420 22nd Street South.
FREE Saturday Morning Market
More than 100 local vendors including farmers, growers with fresh produce and gourmet foods. Also, crafts, prepared foods, live entertainment, flowers and plants The mission of the market is to be the ‘heart’ of St. Petersburg – the place, more than anywhere else, that people feel a strong sense of joyful connectedness and creative community. While actual farmers, great food, interesting crafts and lively music are all wonderful elements of the market, this spirit of community is what really defines the market experience. The market is held every Saturday from October 2-and runs through May. The market is open from 9am-2pm. Al Lang Parking Lot, 230 1st Street Southeast.
St. Pete Indie Market Street Festival
Artists, makers and crafters will line up the sidewalk outside The Bends this Saturday for one of the best local shopping events of the season! Runs from 12-6pm. The Bends, 919 1st Avenue North.
FREE Brocante Market (Saturday & Sunday)
Brocanteurs (vendors) spend their days hunting, picking, and salvaging the most unique finds available in the entire Southeast. Each month, for only two days, they open our doors to the public. This limited engagement creates an air of excitement as items are claimed and treasures find their new home. Born from a love for all things vintage, Brocante represents an idea and a love and a love for the used, the past, the re-imagined, and the re-inspired. St. Petersburg area….a place where people are just as creative and unique as the items displayed. The event runs Saturday and Sunday. 9am-7pm Saturday; 9am-5pm Sunday. Brocante Market, 2200 2nd Avenue South.
FREE Crafty Fest @ ARTpool Gallery (Saturday & Sunday)
ARTpool’s monthly crafty fest. The event runs from 11am-5pm Saturday AND Sunday. ARTpool, 2030 Central Avenue.
Folkfest St. Pete (Saturday & Sunday)
The festival attracts artists from around the region and continuous live music from local and national musicians throughout the two-day event. Confirmed musical acts to date include Have Gun Will Travel on Saturday and Miami Indie/Folk/Americana performer Keith Johns on Sunday. Also performing are Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets, and The Coteries. In addition to live music and artist vendors selling original folk art, jewelry and home décor items, the festival includes a family area sponsored by Great Explorations Children’s Museum, free parking at Tropicana Field Lot 6, food vendors and craft beer selections. Saturday 10am-9pm. Sunday 10am-7pm. $5 suggested donation. Baum Avenue between 11th and 13th Avenue in the EDGE District.
Bungalow Fest 2015 Tour of Homes
BungalowFest celebrates Historic Kenwood’s recent and past history with a unique home tour. The tour features homes that are completely restored and sometimes ones that are actually under renovation. BungalowFest 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association. for more information about the tour of homes or e-mail 37tudor@tampabay.rr.com.
Sunday, November 8th, 2015
Vintage Motor Classic @ South Straub Park
The Vintage Motor Classic is considered one of the premium vintage car, boat, and motorcycle collector shows in the Southeastern United States. The presentation of over 300, pre-1980, show vehicles is under the trees, on the lawn, and on the beautiful waterfront of South Straub Park. 10am-4pm. South Straub Park, 198 Bayshore Drive Northeast.
America Remembers: A Veterans Day Salute
The St. Petersburg College Concert Chorus and Madrigalians, under the direction of Dr. Vernon Taranto, Jr. presents its annual Veterans Day gala concert. The performance pays tribute to our armed forces for sacrifices made for liberty and freedom and includes songs including This is My Country, An Armed Forces Salute, Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, Mr. Franklin Proffers Thanks, Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever, and God Bless the U.S.A. 3pm. Free and open to the public. Palladium Theater, 253 5th Avenue North.
Gallery Talks: Reading Women @ Museum Of Fine Arts
Contemporary artist Carrie Schneider’s video projection and photographs in the Helen and Dick Minck Gallery spotlight her women friends and acquaintances in the process of reading. They are captured in domestic spaces and are all reading books by talented women. This exhibition complements Marks Made, which Ms. Pill curated. 3-4pm. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive Northeast.
Clockwork Knotwork and Three Birds Tavern are hosting a traditional Steampunk Masquerade Ball!
This Halloween Night, come and dance under the stars and beautiful oaks of the Tavern to the beautiful and haunting music of Clockwork Knotwork. Elixir Mandragora will be performed in it’s entirety as well as many other grand dances tunes.
Part of the floor will remain open, for the people who wish to dance, and anyone seen waltzing will receive a free Clockwork Knotwork pin. There’s no place better to celebrate All Hallows Eve than with Clockwork Knotwork on the majestic patio of Three Birds Tavern. (7:30-8, meet & greet. 8-11 Clockwork Knotwork medicine show. ALL AGES & FREE EVENT!)
41st Annual St. Pete International Folk Fair @ Vinoy Park (Saturday & Sunday)
SPIFF returns to Vinoy Park this weekend. Enjoy food, music and art from all around the world all weekend long! The event takes place from 10am-9pm on Saturday, noon-6pm on Sunday. Adult tickets are $10, Students are $6, Children 6 and under are FREE! Vinoy Park, 500 Bayshore Drive Northeast.
This Halloween weekend, America’s fastest growing and newest Olympic sport is coming to the Sunshine City. AR7s and Bill Edwards Presents Inc. in association with St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission and Al Lang Stadium will host the inaugural Halloween Rugby 7s Elite Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1. The premier, two-day event along the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg is officially sanctioned by USA Rugby, the National Governing Body for the sport of rugby in the United States, and supported by American Rugby 7s, a new professional rugby sevens organization. Games begin at 1pm both days! Tickets start at $20. Al Lang Stadium, 230 1st Street South.
Circus McGurkis – The Peoples’ Fair @ Lake Vista Park
This amazing event has been taking place since 1971. Circus McGurkis features arts, crafts, music, games and ideas with a special focus on activities for children and families of all ages. 9am-4pm. Lake Vista Park, 1401 62nd Avenue South (corner of 16th Street and and 62nd Avenue South).
Generation Food Truck: The World’s Largest Food Truck Rally on Halloween
The world’s largest food truck rally (close to 80) arrives in the Burg on October 31st. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit CASA. The event runs from 11am-6pm, rain or shine. Kids 14 years and younger get FREE admission. Tickets are $10 general admission, VIP tickets are $50. Event takes place at 480 Beach Drive Northeast.
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs New York Cosmos Watch Party @ Rowdies Den
The Rowdies face the Cosmos in New York this Saturday. We’re hosting the best watch party in the Burg to celebrate their wild season. Be a part of St. Pete history this weekend and join Rowdies Den for the official watch party. Game begins at 7pm. Rowdies Den 200 1st Avenue South.
It’s Jailaiween with UNRB @ The Ale and The Witch
Enjoy live music by UNRB and Danfield. Cigar City’s Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin will be on tap starting at 6pm. The Ale and The Witch opens at 2pm and the BBQ Den will be featuring some ghoulishly good smoked specials all day long. No cover. The Ale and The Witch, 111 2nd Avenue Northeast.
Zappaween 20 with Bogus Pomp @ State Theatre
It’s the 20th Anniversary of Zappaween! Celebrate with Bogus Pomp at State Theatre. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are $20. State Theatre, 687 Central Avenue.
Halloween Monster Mash @ The Local 662
The Local 662 has an amazing show lined up for you on Halloween night. Brough to you by : NIGHT OF THE LIVING SOUND and THE LOCAL 662 .The bar will have SPOOKY cocktails of all sorts , also the local 662 will be getting dark and evil with awesome horror decorations. Event runs from 7pm-3am on October 31. The Local 662, 662 Central Avenue.
7th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Party @ Red Mesa Cantina
Ready for one of the rowdiest Halloween events in the Burg? Red Mesa Cantina hosts their 7th Annual Dia de Los Muertos party on Saturday. The event will feature over $2,000 in prizes! There will be a Costume Contest (with multiple categories), live music, food, drinks and more! The event begins at 9pm. No cost to enter. Red Mesa Cantina, 128 3rd Street South.
Happy Halloween to you all !! May you only receive treats.
The Scandinavian Trade Association held its 2015 Viking Fest on this last Saturday, October 10, 2015. The Scandinavian Trade Association is a non-profit organization established in 1992 to foster the growth of Scandinavian business & cultural exchange in the Tampa Bay Area. Their mission is serve the Tampa Bay area as a professional organization for Scandinavians living in the area, for cultural & professional networking and relocation to the bay area or Scandinavia. Ivar Fiskaa is once again the President. He always makes everyone feel so welcomed & comfortable immediately. I first met him about 8 years ago & he is just as vibrant as ever. Thank you for letting us join Saturday’s event. 
Tara Morgan & I had a Coastal Properties Group International / Christie’s International Real Estate booth at the Tampa Garden Club. It was a beautiful day and we had fun meeting so many wonderful new people and Viking descendants-from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland & Iceland. Not only did we meet new friends, conduct some business, learn so much more about the real Vikings but also had a lot of fun. For me it was extremely important & I know that my grandmother would have been so happy that I attended. She was so proud of her Norwegian heritage. I attended many a Sons & Daughters of Norway events with her in Portland, Oregon.
Ms. Ritta G. (see image below) was the winner of our Gift Basket drawing and she gave us permission to share with everyone that she was the lucky winner. If Tara or Annalisa can be of any assistance to you (or anyone you know) with your real estate needs in the future in Florida, Costa Rica or around the world, please feel free to contact us. Til vi møtes i Valhalla.
St Pete is such a happening place that I can’t begin to list all things that are going on this weekend. Here are just a few things that you might want to add to your schedule.
Get Downtown For First Friday!
On the first Friday of every month, downtown becomes St. Pete’s biggest block party. First Friday St. Pete is a showcase for great bands, great drinks, and great food that make St Petersburg Florida’s most exciting city .First Friday St. Pete is organized by the Breakfast Optimist Club of St. Petersburg who donates net proceeds to charitable efforts, with a focus on youth education and children’s health. Featuring The Tempests, with their eclectic mix of Pop, Rock, Blues and Motown. The party starts at 5:30pm and goes until 10pm. Your admission is FREE and vendors and restaurants offer a wide variety of food and drink. Get dressed in red, white and blue and join the St. Pete community for live music, great drinks and food. Takes place between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Central Avenue.
FREE First Friday Show @ Jannus Live
Join Jeremy Thomas Band Friday night for a free First Friday. Begins at 8pm. FREE. Jannus Live, 200 1st Avenue North.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays – Zombie Night
The Rays face the Blue Jays this weekend. Friday night is Zombie Night. Password: 1ZOMBIE. The Tampa Bay Rays invite you to takeover Tropicana Field for Zombie Night when the Rays take on the Toronto Blue Jays! For just $25 ($35 value) this special ticket package includes a seat in the tbt* Party Deck and a Zombie Night T-shirt! Groups of 10 or more will receive an additional discount and preferred seating. For more information or to place a group order call 727-825-3406. Game begins at 7:10pm. Visit raysbaseball.org for tickets. Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive.
OPENING DAY: Saturday Morning Market
More than 100 local vendors including farmers, growers with fresh produce and gourmet foods. Also, crafts, prepared foods, live entertainment, flowers and plants The mission of the market is to be the ‘heart’ of St. Petersburg – the place, more than anywhere else, that people feel a strong sense of joyful connectedness and creative community. While actual farmers, great food, interesting crafts and lively music are all wonderful elements of the market, this spirit of community is what really defines the market experience. The market is held every Saturday from October 2-and runs through May. The market is open from 9am-2pm. Al Lang Parking Lot, 230 1st Street Southeast.
FREE 12th Annual Pumpkin Palooza Family Fall Festival
This event will offer a pumpkin patch, kids’ games, crafts, face & hair painting, inflatables, food & treats, arts & crafts vendors, live performances, opportunity drawing baskets, and a community awareness zone. This is the Junior Woman’s Club’s 12th annual event. 11am-5pm. FREE admission. Northside Baptist Church, 6000 38th Avenue North.
Public Walking Mural Tour
Florida Craftsmen, Inc. along with the City Of St. Pete host PUBLIC walking mural tours of the Burg every Saturday. Tour begins at 10am and goes until 11:30am. Tours will be held every Saturday at 10am except for the second Saturday of each month when tours will be held at 4pm. $19 for adults, $11 for children and FREE for kids ages 5 and under. Tour begins at Florida Craftsmen located at 501 Central Avenue.
Adult Horticultural Programs and Workshops: Urban Gardening Series: Introduction to Hydroponic Gardening
Need strategies for gardening in small spaces? Intrigued by the hydroponic approach to gardening? Come and learn about the basics of hydroponic growing systems and creating a small space garden with a bountiful harvest. 11:30am. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors (62+) $4 for children (2-11). Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th Street North.
Susan G Komen Race for the Cure
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series is the world’s largest and most successful education and fundraising event for breast cancer ever created. The event raises significant funds and awareness for the breast cancer movement, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. Begins at 6pm. Visit komensuncoast.org for more information and to register for the race. Albert Whitted Park, 480 Bayshore Drive Southeast.
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Minnesota United FC WATCH PARTY @ Rowdies Den
The Rowdies face the Minnesota United FC Saturday night. The Rowdies are surging at the end of the season and have high hopes of a playoff run. Be a part of St. Pete history this weekend and watch them play at Rowdies Den. The match begins at 8pm. Rowdies Den 200 1st Avenue South.
Florida Orchestra Opening Night: Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3
Music Director Michael Francis leading The Florida Orchestra in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring pianist Valentina Lisitsa. The program also includes Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3, hailed by many as the “Great American Symphony,” with its musical climax being the theme from Copland’s own Fanfare for the Common Man as a statement on the country’s post-war optimism. 8pm. Tickets $15-$45. The Mahaffey, 400 1st Street South.
Corey Smith @ Jannus Live
Corey Smith will light up Jannus on Saturday night. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets from $22-$27. Jannus Live, 200 1st Avenue North.
TIGLFF Presents: Lea Delaria @ Palladium Theater
Lea DeLaria of Orange is the New Black fame as special guest to TIGLFF 26! DeLaria will entertain with her hilarious sense of humor and delight with her beautiful singing voice. DeLaria was the featured vocalist at the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, and has performed in some of the most prestigious houses in the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Chicago Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Show starts at 6pm. Tickets are $25 for GA, $50 for preferred seating, $75 for premium experience. Visit tiglff.com for tickets. Palladium Theatre, 253 5th Avenue North.
Luxury Lifestyle
Some chefs serve food, others create works of art that delight the eyes
and tantalize the palate. Meet the new culinary stars pushing the limits of possibility
The image of a chef poring over a plate at the pass, fastidiously pimping the presentation of a dish, is, in reality, less than 50 years old. Like most things in today’s gastronomically ambitious restaurant, you can blame it on nouvelle cuisine. A famously influential movement in French cooking, it was championed by the restaurant critics Henri Gault and Christian Millau via the eponymous guide they started publishing in 1965, the former coining the term before defining it in a manifesto in a 1973 article.
Leaving aside its widely berated signatures – microscopic portions and pretentiousness the usual charges – it gave traditional haute cuisine a much-needed makeover. The emphasis was on healthier, lighter sauces, and more natural flavors, with creativity encouraged through new recipes, ingredients, and techniques to move beyond the established culinary canon famously codified by Auguste Escoffier.
But another, less-noted legacy of nouvelle cuisine was that for the first time in the history of haute cuisine, it was the chefs who plated the food. Before then, the established style of service – service à la française – involved the dish being finished tableside by the chef de rang (the head waiter), who would mix, sauté, carve, or even make a sauce, before plating the food up with a garnish, and presenting it to the guests.
I see this restaurant as a canvas and I’m painting it with food
André Chiang at Restaurant André, Singapore
With chefs of nouvelle cuisine in complete control of their plates, dishes were entirely assembled in the kitchen and increasingly artistic presentation followed. The plate had become a canvas: an expression of the chef’s creativity delivered directly to the diner.
All of which, of course, is to look at things through Western eyes. This kind of thinking in terms of food presentation had already been part of Japanese culture for centuries, notably in the beauty of multi-course kaiseki menus. Lyon’s legendary Paul Bocuse, an early advocate of nouvelle cuisine, first traveled to Japan in 1970 and it’s entirely possible that it had an impact on him, the Troisgros brothers (fellow Gault et Millau poster boys), and early Nipponophiles.
So now that Ferran Adrià’s legendary El Bulli has shut its doors for good, and once-cutting-edge Heston Blumenthal (of bacon-and-eggs ice-cream fame) is producing food on an industrial scale for an upmarket British supermarket, who are the next generation of chefs creating edible works of art, and where should we go to sample their wares?
René Redzepi at Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark
Since opening Noma in 2003, René Redzepi has moved beyond being cast as the figurehead for the “New Nordic” movement, via topping “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants,” to influencing haute cuisine worldwide. Drawing on classical French training and spells at El Bulli in Catalonia and The French Laundry in California, he combines strict seasonality, wild and foraged ingredients, and innovative techniques.
Typical dishes: Fried Finnish reindeer moss with pulverized cep mushrooms; Lacto-fermented gooseberries with lemon verbena oil and lavender.
In his own words: “We need to surprise people through cooking. We do this by distilling our landscape onto a plate. We try to give our diners a sense of time and place and celebrate deliciousness in a modern way.”
http://www.noma.dk, http://www.madfeed.co
Hélène Darroze at Restaurant Hélène Darroze & Connaught, Paris, France & London, UK
The fourth generation in her family to cook for a living, Hélène Darroze only decided to become a chef in her mid-20s. It was at Le Louis XV in Monte-Carlo, where she worked as an administrator after finishing a business degree, that Alain Ducasse convinced her to enter the kitchen.
The Frenchwoman – recently named the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef for 2015 – now divides her time between the two restaurants where, in staying loyal to her roots, her elegant, intensely personal menus always feature foie gras and champion her favorite growers, farmers, and fishermen.
Typical dishes: Foie gras, beetroot, blood orange, pistachio, traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena; Lobster, asparagus, botargo, seaweed; Rhubarb, sarawak pepper, Greek yoghurt.
In her own words: “The smallest details on a plate can recollect and represent who I am, what I have experienced, and furthermore, evoke feelings, memories, aromas, and even a trip.”
http://www.helenedarroze.com
Ben Shewry at Attica, Melbourne, Australia
Hailing from North Taranaki, on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, Ben Shewry was raised on his family’s coastal farm and fed on wild, foraged ingredients throughout his childhood. Later, he moved to Melbourne to work under Michael Lambie and Andrew McConnell, before working his way around the US, eventually ending up at the London outpost of David Thompson’s haute-Thai, Nahm.
Typical dishes: Wallaby blood pikelet; Salted red kangaroo and bunya bunya; Potato cooked in the earth it was grown in.
In his own words: “It was obvious for me to pick things from the wild or from along the coast where I lived because they were fresh; I like using the ingredients I pick on the day for dishes we serve on that day.”
http://www.attica.com.au
André Chiang at Restaurant André, Singapore
Born in Taiwan, André Chiang grew up working in his mother’s Chinese restaurant in Tokyo before building up an impressive culinary CV, including stints at London’s L’Atelier de Jöel Robuchon and Maison Troisgros in Roanne.
Typical dishes: Cockscomb and duck tongue terrine with smoked eggplant, caviar, and sesame salt; Warm foie gras jelly with black-truffle coulis; Chlorophyll capsules on fresh moss.
In his own words: “Sometimes when we see the produce we think it would make a perfect ‘Artisan’ or ‘Pure’ dish, but you can work the other way, like when I’m inspired by a painting or a movie and want to portray the message through a dish. I see this restaurant as a canvas and I’m painting it with food.”
http://www.restaurantandre.com
Massimo Bottura at Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy
Born and raised in Modena, northern Italy, Massimo Bottura was two semesters into a law degree when he decided to follow his passion for cooking by buying a roadside trattoria in 1986, opening it a week later as Trattoria del Campazzo. He went on to cook under Georges Coigny in Piacenza, who showed him how to apply French techniques to Italian regional ingredients and traditions.
Typical dishes: “Bread is gold”; “An eel swimming up the Po River”; “Oops! I dropped the lemon tart.”
In his own words: “Italy is a country in which culinary identities are formed at a young age. It was absolutely necessary for me to take a step back to move forward. A little irreverence, self-mockery, and irony helped me find the critical distance I needed to see things from another point of view.”
http://www.osteriafrancescana.it
Grant Achatz, at Alinea, Chicago, USA
From his parents’ restaurant to Charlie Trotter’s famously intense kitchen, via Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry, Grant Achatz was arguably influenced most by his time at Ferran Adrià’s experimental El Bulli. On returning to the US, he joined Trio in Evanston, Illinois, where his daring new direction gained national attention.
Typical dishes: Wagyu, parsnip, black trumpet, kombu; Scallop, citrus aroma, fourteen textures; Balloon, helium, green apple.
In his own words: “What makes the food that we do so interesting on the outside is that we really don’t let ourselves say no to an idea.”
http://www.alinearestaurant.com
GOURMET TRAVEL: A TASTER OF ITALIAN LIFE
Nestled in the Umbrian hills, the Castello di Reschio is a collection of ancient farmhouses – set among 3,000 acres of woodland, olive groves, and vineyards – six of which are available to rent as vacation homes. Purchased in 1994 by Count Antonio Bolza, the Reschio estate has been restored to its former glory and beyond, with each farmhouse boasting a swimming pool within its gardens.
For culture with your cuisine, visit the estate’s old tobacco drying shed, now beautifully restored to house a creative hub. Artworks by Nic Fiddian-Green are on display this summer/fall (July 4-September 30) – a fitting setting for the master of equestrian sculpture, as Reschio has exquisite stables where some of the world’s best dressage horses are bred and trained.
http://www.reschio.com
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