Two yearly food-filled gatherings will hit downtown St. Pete next month within a week of each other.
The first, happening 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, invites diners to chow down al fresco at WUSF's Longest Table event along Bayshore Drive, starting from the Museum of Fine Arts and extending to the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club.
Alongside views of the waterfront around sunset, food and wine from neighborhood spots will be offered, including Caribbean chorizo-stuffed pork by Orange Blossom Catering and 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House's cinnamon roll bread pudding.
Tickets, which start at $85 and vary depending on which restaurant's meal diners choose, come with access to the Museum of Fine Arts' after party. They may be purchased online or by phone, and the last day to reserve a seat is April 5.
The following week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 18, USF St. Petersburg's second annual Florida Food Conference, highlighting community and culture topics at the campus' University Student Center this year, will feature Locale Market's Don Pintabona as its keynote speaker.
While Pintabona, a USF and Culinary Institute of America alum, will talk about Locale's connection to area farmers and other food-makers, locals like Thuy Le of La V and Studio@620's Bob Devin Jones will discuss rice's cultural meaning alongside other small-group lectures on sustainable seafood, DIY cookbooks and videography tips.
Access to all the conference sessions, lunch (there's a vegetarian option) and free parking come with the $75 tickets, which must be bought online in advance.
An early-bird breakfast from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. costs $10, and the event's closing $15 reception from 4 to 5:30 p.m. will showcase small bites, wine and locally made craft beer.
This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2015.
