When Trader Joe’s first came to town, I was blown away. “If only,” I thought, “we could have a cocktail hour with our grocery shopping — things would be perfect.” You know where I’m going with this. Hello, Lucky’s Market. This grocer is cheaper than Publix (well, really, who isn’t?), and you can also buy loose veggies (buh-bye, plastic-wrapped foam trays). Best of all, if you bring your own bags, you can take the measly dime back or donate it to one of three local charities. Sure, to us, it’s a dime, but when we all donate those dimes, it adds up for places like CASA and St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Plus, yeah, you can get a two-buck wine (not named Chuck, either) to make shopping more relaxing. 6765 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-302-9018, luckysmarket.com. —Cathy Salustri
Food & Drink: Feast on this massive celebration of local comestibles and imbibables.
- Runner Up: Ulele
- Runner Up: Columbia Restaurant
Eastern minimalist Asian desserts are usually too simple and underwhelming for a Western culinary sensibility. Happily, Pin Wok & Bowl’s choice to combine Banana Coins with coconut ice cream is an inspired mashup. Slices of banana are wrapped in little phyllo packets, fried till crisp and golden, then drizzled with honey and topped with a light sprinkle of white-and-black sesame seeds. House-made coconut ice cream is creamily scrumptious, drizzled with lightly caramelized condensed milk and paired with some fresh whipped cream. I urge you to try them together as we did by serendipity. It’s a match made in heaven, or at least downtown St. Pete’s version of Bangkok. 445 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-575-7167. —Jon Palmer Claridge
Thuy Le’s kitchen produces nuanced plates are often revelatory, and same goes for the edamame appetizer. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had plenty of these soybean pods over the years — and they’re mostly the same: steamed, sprinkled with salt and pleasant, yet notmemorable. Asie’s version knocks me on my ass. They’re simply superlative. The spicy pods are slightly charred and in a viscous soy-garlic sauce that’s as surprising as it is delicious. As if that weren’t enough, they’re garnished with tiny bits of crispy pork belly. Don’t miss ’em. 437 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-898-4300, asiepanasian.com. —JPC
- Runner Up: Clearwater Bagels
- Runner Up: Dunedin Bagels & Deli
- Runner Up: La Segunda Central Bakery
- Runner Up: Publix
- Runner Up: Bad Santa Bar Crawl - St. Pete
- Runner Up: Tampa Noles Pub Crawl - Ybor
- Runner Up: Engine No. 9
- Runner Up: Clear Sky Draught Haus
