Food & Drink Events Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

A medium shot of two people posing and smiling at a high-top table during the 'Meet the Chefs' event at The Birchwood in St. Petersburg, Florida. On the left, an individual with curly, auburn-tinted hair wears a purple and blue patterned sleeveless top, gold necklaces, and a metallic crossbody bag strap. On the right, an individual with dark hair styled up in locs wears large, square-framed sunglasses and a sleeveless black top with ruffle detailing. Small plates of food, utensils, and smartphones sit on the black tablecloth in front of them. The background features a glass balcony railing overlooking lush green treetops under a bright, overcast evening sky.

Photos: Everyone we saw at 2026 Meet the Chefs in St. Pete

The party comes to Tampa this Thursday, June 25.

by Ray Roa and Nick Cardello June 22, 2026June 22, 2026

There are few hundred people day dreaming about The Helm’s blue crab kettle chips this week, and that’s all thanks to Meet The Chefs. The annual celebration of the Tampa Bay culinary scene—made possible this year thanks to a partnership with Visit St. Pete-Clearwater—landed at The Birchwood on downtown St. Petersburg’s Beach Drive last Thursday, […]

Exterior of Gulfport Brewery featuring its neon sign on the front deck.

Gulfport Brewery celebrates its sixth anniversary with Brewfest this weekend

Ticketholders get unlimited samples of local beer including six new collabs.

by Selene San Felice June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

A breaded chicken sandwich from Cousin Vinny's held against a red background

Cousin Vinny’s gets the Triple D treatment, Hattricks comes to South Tampa and all the top food news and events

Plus, a watermelon festival, free soft serve and the best events between June 11-17.

by CL Staff June 11, 2026June 12, 2026

Exterior of The Heights Drive-Thru featuring its green double-sided gator sign.

Heights Drive-Thru in Tampa celebrates its anniversary with free soft serve this weekend

Saturday’s anniversary bash is, of course, a drive-thru party.

by Selene San Felice June 10, 2026June 10, 2026

A medium-shot, indoor candid photograph of two attendees enjoying hors d'oeuvres at the 'Meet the Chefs' event at The Vault in Tampa, Florida. On the left, a person with shoulder-length dark hair is wearing a deep magenta, long-sleeved wrap dress and holding a small black plate of food; they have a silver clutch bag draped over their arm. On the right, a person with long, dark wavy hair is wearing a colorful, sleeveless, floral-print dress with a low neckline and a small, bright pink handbag over their shoulder. Behind them, in the softly focused background, another guest is visible standing near a bar-height counter, and a stylized, dark-colored wall sculpture of a climbing figure is mounted on the light-colored wall.

It’s Tampa Bay Restaurant Month, and two Meet The Chefs events are coming to both sides of the Bay

Some of the area’s best cooks, chefs and culinarians will meet you at the Birchwood and The Vault this month.

by Ray Roa June 10, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot portrait of Chef Yanick Destine. They are looking directly at the camera with a calm, confident expression. They have dark hair styled in an updo, secured with a prominent pearl-headed pin, and are wearing large, thick-rimmed tortoiseshell glasses. The subject is dressed in a smooth, lavender-colored satin button-down shirt. The portrait is set against a deep, textured, dark-red background, with warm, soft lighting highlighting the subject's features and creating subtle shadows.

All the Tampa Bay food scene stars coming to Meet The Chefs on June 18 & 25

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay hosts events at The Birchwood and The Vault this month.

by Leigh Wilson June 10, 2026June 12, 2026

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s big, air-conditioned beer festival returns this summer

Bolts Brew Fest comes to Benchmark International Arena in July.

by Ray Roa June 10, 2026June 10, 2026

Half a watermelon on top of a pile of whole watermelons

Brooksville Watermelon Festival returns next week

I just wanna taste it, I just wanna taste it…

By Liam OliverJune 4, 2026June 4, 2026

Food & Drink Events

Creative Loafing releases new ‘Breaking Brews’ beer to fund public records requests, launches local bar tour

All tips to CL bartenders and all proceeds from “Breaking Brews” go directly to funding locally-based public records requests.

by Colin Wolf May 26, 2026June 15, 2026

Silver bullet vibrator against a peach colored background

Arts & Entertainment

New World Tampa hosts vibrator races to support domestic violence victims next week

The Todd Couples Store is sponsoring prizes and giveaways at this certified sporting event.

by Selene San Felice May 21, 2026May 26, 2026

A hand holding a hot dog outside Mel's Hot Dogs

Tampa icon Mel’s Hot Dogs celebrates 20 years in the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame on Memorial Day

The 53-year-old hot dog shop now hosts a biweekly game night.

by Selene San Felice May 21, 2026May 21, 2026

A Portillo's Kids Meal featuring a hot dog on a poppy seed bun, crinkle-cut french fries, a bottle of Dairystar 1% low-fat milk, a themed paper meal bag, and Portillo's stickers against a solid red background.

Food & Drink Events

Portillo’s is testing a new kid’s hot dog meal in Tampa Bay right now

The new shaboing-boing meals are $7.99 and are currently available for dine-in or takeout at all Tampa Bay locations.

by Colin Wolf May 20, 2026May 20, 2026

Denis Phillips poses holding out his suspender straps in front of the weather map in the WFTS studio

Fans of Tampa Bay weatherman Denis Phillips can try his new ‘Rule #7’ beer this weekend, and get a selfie

Keep calm and beer on at Crooked Thumb Brewery in Safety Harbor.

by Selene San Felice May 20, 2026May 21, 2026

Busch Gardens Tampa announces the return of free beer

Free beer has been a Busch Gardens staple for over 50 years, all the way back to when it was owned by Anheuser-Busch.

by Colin Wolf May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

A wide-angle, daytime exterior photograph of the Supernatural Food & Wine storefront in Tampa. The building features a bright yellow scalloped awning extending over a section of wall painted vibrant teal, which displays the words 'Coffee Donuts' in large, red stylized script above a pointing arrow. Beneath the awning is a glass window with a sign reading 'ORDER INSIDE PICK-UP HERE', situated next to a framed wooden menu board and the glass entrance door. To the right of the entrance, the building's white wall is decorated with a colorful geometric mural. The sidewalk is deeply shaded by a large, leafy green tree. Two individuals are visible walking on the sidewalk to the right: one wearing a light purple dress and the other wearing a bright orange shirt and a dark hat. The reflection of street-parked cars is visible in the shop's front window.

Guy Fieri did indeed film ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ at Tampa’s Supernatural Food & Wine—and the episode will air on May 22

The Supernatural crew is holding a watch party at Mighty Fine.

by Ray Roa May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

A Mother's Day Brunch spread at Ocean Prime, featuring mimosa, Bloody Mary's, steak, eggs Benedict, french toast, caviar and coffee

New coastal Mexican spot coming to Tampa, Mother’s Day brunch events and more local food news

Plus, new Vietnamese cafe Say Coffee House comes to St. Pete, Tampa is getting a seafood spot from Bern’s and more.

by CL Staff May 7, 2026May 8, 2026

Angry Chair brewery exterior

Angry Chair selling, new gelato heads to St. Pete, and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus, Pepper Fest heads to Pinellas Park, Rialto Tea Room opens in Tampa Heights and more.

by CL Staff April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Four people pose for a photo holding spicy lollypops at Pinellas Pepper Fest

Pinellas Pepper Fest brings the heat this weekend

The festival has hundreds of spicy substances and heat eating contests.

by Kailey Aiken April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

Exterior of an Amorino Gelato with tables and chairs outside and a poster of its signature rose-shaped gelato cone

New rose-shaped gelato spot Amorino opens in St. Petersburg this week

The shop is giving away 1,000 rose-shaped gelato scoops for its grand opening celebration on Saturday.

by Kailey Aiken April 27, 2026April 28, 2026

Four competetors in the J.C. Newman Cuban Sandwich Eating Challenge outside the historic Cuesta-Rey Cigars building.

Dalmoros moves, Cuban sandwich eating competition and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus, the best food and drink events happening April 23-29.

by CL Staff April 23, 2026April 23, 2026