Best Food & Drink in St. Pete!!

My husband and I snuck away to St. Pete for a few days after the holidays to relax and recharge. We had never visited the city before, and were super excited to check it out!

Like many others virtually all of our trips were canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, and we began exploring our home state more…Florida has so many beautiful places to check out! We have decided to continue this in 2021.

I would not necessarily call my husband and I “foodies” although we do enjoy great food. We love finding healthy, local, and organic food when possible…along with all the juice bars!

Here are a few of our favorite restaurants we visited and would highly recommend…

Annata

Quaint wine bar down by the water, would highly recommend for date night or happy hour!

The Naked Farmer

Our favorite food! We had this several times as well…including on our way home. More of a take out place, but incredible local and seasonal bowls.

2nd and 2nd

Best brunch!! We had brunch here twice, and loved everything we tried.

Hollander

Fun vintage vibe! Really great daily specials…heard the desserts were amazing!

Red Mesa Cantina

Great lunch spot! Yummy tacos and a cute outdoor patio.

The Lure

One of my favorites spots, we visited several times on our trip! Great outdoor dining vibe… eclectic menu of sushi and tacos…pretty much all my favorite things.

The Mill

Another favorite! Best drinks and fun menu items. A must when in St. Pete!

Cassis

Great happy hour and brunch, super cute date spot near the water.

We had the best time in St. Pete and are already planning our next trip!

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño’s

My husband absolutely loves jalapeño’s and bacon, to him these are the perfect pair!

I thought it was only fitting to create a Lean and Green Body® approved recipe that includes his perfect pair.

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño’s

Ingredients:

Organic jalapeño’s (we get our at the farmer’s market!)

Bacon (I love organic turkey bacon)

Cheese (we use vegan cheese)

So freaking simple! Only 3 ingredients and so much flavor.

Directions:

Be sure to wash the jalapeño’s, cut in half and remove the stems and the seeds.

Place your choice of cheese (softer is better…goat cheese, cream cheese..etc) inside the middle of the jalapeño.

Cut bacon in half and wrap around the jalapeño.

Use a toothpick to secure everything together.

Place on hot grill (medium grill heat) and cook for approximately 15 minutes (or until bacon is fully cooked).

Once bacon is cooked, remove and enjoy!

These are the perfect little snack for Sunday football or your next virtual haps hour!

We made ours a bit healthier by using turkey bacon and vegan cheese…but feel free to mix it up and use what works best for you! I can’t wait to see how they come out.

Roasted Chickpeas

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of chickpeas!! These little beans are packed with fiber, protein, and tons of essential vitamins and minerals. Typically I eat chickpeas in my Indian food dishes or as hummus, but lately I’ve been craving a crunch. I’ve experimented with this recipe a ton, in order to get them just right so I could share it with all of you!

Roasted chickpeas make a great snack - easy way to replace the empty calorie chips you love snacking on…and way healthier too! They are also a great protein or fiber addition to any salad or meal. The best part is you can switch up the spices in this recipe to satisfy your current cravings. Kids love them too! 

Ingredients:

1 Can of Chickpeas (soak for a minimum of 12 hours to remove lectins)

Coconut Oil Spray (or grapeseed oil)

Pink Sea Salt - to taste

Pepper - to taste

You can spice them up with garlic, crushed red pepper, or add a sprinkle of cheese 90% way through the cooking process

Directions:

Preheat convection oven to 425° (bake)

Rinse chickpeas and pat dry

Spray coconut oil on oven pan, to prevent sticking

Place chickpeas in oven pan, and spread out evenly

Spray coconut oil (or grapeseed oil) on top of chickpeas, coat them all

Sprinkle sea salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you would like to add

Allow 30-40 minutes to cook, flip halfway through cooking process

Chickpeas should be crispy, but to burned