Latin-Influenced Dining in St. Petersburg/Clearwater

St. Pete/Clearwater is steeped in the culinary, cultural and architectural influences of Spain, the Caribbean and Latin and South America. Here’s a taste of inspired restaurants that offer Spanish-influenced cuisine.

Cali-Mex Fare and Killer Beer

Folks flock to Peg's Cantina and Brew Pub in Gulfport for its awesome selection of artisanal beers (a few brewed especially for Peg’s), wholesome Cali-Mexican fare (chef tony Dodson and owner Peg Wesselink stick to fresh, local ingredients) and funky, indoor/outdoor ambiance. There’s occasional live music, and a covered deck for casual sipping and supping. Start with a tortilla-crust pizza (the roasted red pepper and goat cheese is my favorite) and follow with the shrimp burrito drenched in Peg’s homemade salsa fuega.

Ole!

A quest for authentic tapas and Flamenco music brought us to Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant in downtown St. Pete. The passionate sounds of Spanish guitar and a menu offering more than 100 tapas told us we’d come to the right place. We started with the “Ceviche de la Casa” (shrimp, scallops, squid and fish), washed down with a bottle of cava, champagne’s sparkling Spanish cousin. Next, with the sultry flamenco beat rising around us, we feasted on tapas and topped it off with “Crema Catalana” (akin to crème brulee).

Romance Español

Ingredients: Two people in love, a table at the Columbia Restaurant on Clearwater Beach’s Sand Key, and a romantic view of the luminous Intracoastal Waterway. Add a bottle of sparkling Spanish cava, a plate of crab croquettes to share, Columbia’s classic “Paella a la Valencia” for two and a bottle of hearty Roja wine. Turn up the heat, share pointed looks and let simmer. Finish with the decadently sweet “Moros y Cristianos,” a rich chocolate mousse with Spanish custard. Al amor! (A second location, also waterfront, is at The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg.)

Nuevo Latino Cuisine

At Gulfport’s Habana Cafe, culinary wizard and author Josefa Gonzalez-Hastings celebrates her Cuban heritage with nuevo Latino recipes from her award-winning The Habana Café Cookbook. Try the “Camarones Borracho,” a piquant treat of shrimp sautéed in olive oil, white wine, fresh garlic and heavenly mojo sauce (ask for plenty of fresh Cuban bread to soak it up). The sweet, tender fried plantains make a perfect sidekick to the shrimp. The cream cheese flan won Southern Living’s “Best Signature Dessert,” so don’t leave without a heaping forkful.

Creative Mexican

Husband-and-wife team Tina and Javier Avila have put their heart, soul and creative culinary expertise into Dunedin’s Casa Tina Mexican Grill. Their menu is an inventive mix of traditional and nuevo Mexican fare. Entrees like the chayote relleno (steamed squash packed with breadcrumbs, garlic and almonds) will please vegetarians. The mango quesadillas burst with jalapeno cheese, shrimp and mango, ginger and cilantro. On weekends, families pack the place to watch aerial acrobats work their magic.