Brunch WithThe Queen

Next time you head to St Pete for a Rays game or concert at Tropicana Field, forget the over-priced stadium food and try the Queen's Head Restaurant and Eurobar on Central Avenue. It's a good 25 minute walk from the park, a 5 minute drive or a leisurely 50-cent Trolley ride. Pick up the west bound Trolley on Central Ave in front of the popular sports bar, Ferg's. (The Trolley also goes downtown for waterfront dining options.)

The Queen's Head is housed in an old gas station, made chic with South Beach style Cabana's on the front patio. Inside, the decor is a bit cheeky with busts, photos and bobble heads of the Queen Mum everywhere. The bathroom walls are plastered with bawdy headlines and clips from British Tabloids. The owners, British of course, are great hosts.

I'm a fan of Sunday Brunch at the Queen's Head and have been there several times.When we showed up a few weeks ago, DJ Craig Dirty was spinning cool tunes outside, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.; looking a bit weary from the night before.

Sparing the server from multiple trips to our table, we bypassed the $6 Mimosa's and $7 Bloody Mary's in lieu of a bottle of delicious Cava (sparkling wine from Spain) for only $22. It was a great accompaniment to the myriad of flavors that followed.

My favorite brunch dish is the Bubble & Squeak ($10); a veggie stuffed mashed potato pancake full of flavor, topped with an egg and garnished with a spicy southwestern drizzle. A close second is the Chip Butty ($11); cherywood bacon with a fried egg, English chips and red cabbage slaw in a toasted ciabatta. I asked for extra slaw.

The brunch menu changes on occasion, I did not see the Bloody Mary Eggs Benedict  this time but I remember it being delicious, especially with a Bloody Mary to wash it down with. The Beans On Toast is a fabulously filling plate. The traditional British breakfast takes on a twist with the addition of white cheddar, English sausage and scrambled eggs ($12). I think the Queen would approve.
            

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St Pete Sippin'

I actually had a free weekend and decided to take a drive to St. Petersburg Saturday and do a little exploring. When I think of St Pete the first thing that comes to mind is the Dali Museum and the Pier. The downtown area has really grown into a destination over the years and there always seems to be some event to keep the crowds coming.

We stumbled upon "Funk Fest 2011". Unfortunately we did not bring our lawn chairs, parachute pants or plan enough time to hangout with the likes of Bobby Brown and MC Hammer. You Can't Touch This! How much fun would that have been???

Instead we browsed the galleries and the waterfront before settling down for lunch outside at the Parkshore Grill. The sun was at full mast, a fresh breeze was blowing and we had a great view of the bay. Inside, the restaurant was sophisticated with a wine cellar that was calling my name.

The Parkshore has been written up a lot lately and now I see why. The chef is "green". I don't mean he's a novice, he buys food from local organic farmers, sustainably fished seafood, etc etc etc. Every dish on the menu had flair and looked appetizing.

The lunch menu was full of creative combinations; wraps, salads, panini's, sashimi and more. We opted for the "Picnic". Its a three-course feature including a salad, entree and dessert for $16. The Parkshore Salad was a bright combination of spring greens, pecans, blue cheese and dried cranberries in a creamy vinaigrette. We entertained our waiter guessing (quite successfully) the spices on the nuts. Yes, you can make spicy nut jokes now.

I had a flavorful, moist Lump Blue Crab Cake with spicy sweet tomato jam, buttermilk mashed potatoes and glass of Honig Sauvignon Blanc. I also got to try the Pecan Crusted Tilapia over sauteed spinach, simple and delicious. I wanted to stay for dinner to try more dishes. Next time.

If you're touring the Dali or attending any other events downtown St Pete, be sure to put the Parkshore on your itinerary.