The Cupcake Spot provides a one-of-a-kind indulgence for your sweet tooth.
Photo above:The Cuppy, one of the favorites at The Cupcake Spot, 405 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. It’s a strawberry cupcake with vanilla bean buttercream icing and topped off with a sour cherry ball. - LEIGH BUTTNER |SNN
The Cupcake Spot
By SHANIECE MATHEW and MAE PEMBERTON
SNN Staff Writers
With a variety of 18 cupcakes, you’re sure to get what you want at this sweet shop. The Cupcake Spot, 405 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg, opened its doors to the public in January 2009.
The Cupcake Spot has all kinds of cupcakes from the Chocolate Elvis, which is the most unique flavor, to the Red Velvet, which is the most popular flavor. The store also has seasonal cupcakes, and the Key Lime cupcake is out now for the summer.
Two workers, Zach Harter and Spencer DeHaven, bake all the cupcakes every morning.
“I’ve always enjoyed cooking. I’ve had worse jobs, but we love baking,” said DeHaven. Harter’s favorite cupcake is the Berry Squared cupcake, and DeHaven’s favorite is the Better Thans.
The media spotlight was on the Cupcake Spot several times because of its tasty treats, especially for the Better Thans cupcake, which is a chocolate chip cupcake with either chocolate ganache or cream cheese and chocolate chip icing.
We had several favorites when we visited, including the S’mores cupcake, the Buckeye cupcake, which is a chocolate cake covered in peanut butter buttercream and topped with a dollop of chocolate ganache, and of course the famous Better Thans cupcake, but with chocolate ganache. The cupcakes were very moist, but the icing was a bit too sweet, depending on your liking of sweetness, but still very tasty. They were also well decorated and looked like they were just baked.
So, if you’d like a one-of-a-kind sweet indulgence, head on over to the Cupcake Spot.
An employee at Paciugo’s scoops cappuccino-flavored gelato in a cone. Paciugo’s has about 250 flavors available. - MARSELA SULKU|SNN
Paciugo’s Gelato and Cafe
By MARSELA SULKU and NASTASSJA SIELCHAN
SNN Staff Writers
I scream, you scream, we all scream for … gelato?
Paciugo’s Gelato and Café is one of the most popular gelato places in town. Out of 44 franchises in the country, Paciugo’s, at 300 Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg, is the number one store in the whole country, said store manager Brad Augustine.
Paciugo’s is a cozy café with friendly people. Thirty-two unique flavors of gelato are served each day, the most popular flavor being fondente, a rich chocolate flavor. Gelato, an Italian-style ice cream, is a healthier alternative because it has less fat and calories.
“We don’t change out the flavors,” said Augustine. “I changed two today and that’s about all I can get away with ‘cause people will come from Tampa over, and if their flavor isn’t here they get a little upset.”
Paciugo’s Gelato gets numerous visits and sells more than 18,000 cups of gelato each month. Gelato prices range from $3.99-$5.55. Gelato costs a little more than ice cream, but it’s definitely worth it.
“Paciugo’s is an amazing, family friendly café. I love coming here,” said a long-time customer Kathryn Snow.
It’s open every day. In addition to gelato, sundaes, coffee, pastries and soft drinks are also served.
An employee at Paciugo’s scoops cappuccino-flavored gelato in a cone. Paciugo’s has about 250 flavors available. - MARSELA SULKU|SNN
Paciugo’s Gelato and Cafe
By MARSELA SULKU and NASTASSJA SIELCHAN
SNN Staff Writers
I scream, you scream, we all scream for … gelato?
Paciugo’s Gelato and Café is one of the most popular gelato places in town. Out of 44 franchises in the country, Paciugo’s, at 300 Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg, is the number one store in the whole country, said store manager Brad Augustine.
Paciugo’s is a cozy café with friendly people. Thirty-two unique flavors of gelato are served each day, the most popular flavor being fondente, a rich chocolate flavor. Gelato, an Italian-style ice cream, is a healthier alternative because it has less fat and calories.
“We don’t change out the flavors,” said Augustine. “I changed two today and that’s about all I can get away with ‘cause people will come from Tampa over, and if their flavor isn’t here they get a little upset.”
Paciugo’s Gelato gets numerous visits and sells more than 18,000 cups of gelato each month. Gelato prices range from $3.99-$5.55. Gelato costs a little more than ice cream, but it’s definitely worth it.
“Paciugo’s is an amazing, family friendly café. I love coming here,” said a long-time customer Kathryn Snow.
It’s open every day. In addition to gelato, sundaes, coffee, pastries and soft drinks are also served.
MAE PEMBERTON | SNN
Candy Kitchen
By SHANIECE MATHEW
and MAE PEMBERTON
SNN Staff Writers
If you’re in the mood for a variety of sweet indulgences, or want to try candies from back in the day, then this small, candy wonderland is the place for you. Candy Kitchen, 13711 Gulf Blvd. on Madeira Beach, originally opened in 1950 and is still standing in that same spot today. Although the store sells all kinds of candies, it is best known for its homemade fudge, ice cream and nostalgic candies.
Even though the store is tiny, there’s a lot that fits in it. From the ceiling to the floor, and wall to wall, this candy market has every kind of candy, ice cream and chocolate you want.
Employee Jenny Leigh has been working at candy kitchen for six years now, and says she loves every bit of it.
“It’s family oriented, and fits my schedule,” says Leigh. One interesting part of the shop is all the signatures on the ceiling. Candy Kitchen started a tradition that for the “new millennium” they would allow customers to sign the ceiling. Customers also get involved by donating their Pez sticks for display on the shelves.
Aside from the enormous amount of candy, the ice cream there is quite delightful and interesting. They have everything from traditional popular chocolate and vanilla, to exotic coconut, cherry vanilla, black raspberry and caramel apple cheese cake.
We tried the ice cream and we must say, it’s the creamiest and smoothest ice cream we’ve ever eaten. Not too sweet, just perfect. Once you come out of the shop, you must visit the bathroom, which is covered in candy wrappers form floor to ceiling.
So the next time you’re seeking an exciting candy experience, give Candy Kitchen on Madeira Beach a try.
