Photography by Misha Pokusa and Emily Will
When we brought together the community’s most talented individuals and celebrated businesses for an evening honoring the best of everything, we knew we’d need help from our culinary friends to deliver a taste of the area that was as memorable as it was flavorful. Several honorees and event sponsors answered the call.
Power Design set the tone with its signature “Power Punch,” a playful twist on the classic French 75 crafted with McQueen and The Violet Fog hibiscus berry gin by the expert bar staff at The Floridian Social.
As for the food, the Best Bites Showcase was designed to offer a literal taste of the community—its diversity, creativity and spirit. Whether you call it an amuse-bouche, a morsel or simply a bite, each offering was a delicious reminder of why these chefs and restaurants stand out—and they did not disappoint.
“The food was truly a highlight of an already wonderful evening,” says De Bowles, a Real Estate Advisor with Engel & Völkers. “It was such a treat to sample these extraordinary dishes and chat with the chefs and restaurateurs who created them.”
Culinary Canvas
IL Ritorno Executive Chef David Benstock and his team, who won top honors in our fine dining category and are known for introducing distinctively diverse flavor combinations using global inspiration and diverse cooking techniques, created a custom bite specifically for the event. General Manager Joe Adams and Sous Chef Dani Demarzo delighted guests with their Truffle Hamachi Tartare with Crispy Nori and Caviar. The indulgent offering was carefully crafted by Benstock and his team to deliver a quintessential taste of the restaurant’s signature style.
“The big thing in a situation like this is balance of flavor,” he offers. “You have one bite to get everything on there.”
He explains that the balance of flavors and textures was designed to delight the palate and pack a punch, making the experience fulfilling and memorable.
Visit ilritornodowntown.com to learn more.
Conscious Cuisine
Our winner for Best Prepared Meal Service, A Good Human, brought bites with benefits. The company is popular with clients for its focus on the three pillars of health: gut health, anti-inflammatory support and hormone balance.
“We know that getting this right is the cornerstone of feeling good, inside and out,” explains CEO and Founder Kate Harvey. “Too often, convenience food means bland, processed meals that leave you feeling sluggish and unsatisfied. We’re here to change that. Our mission is to show people that eating well doesn’t have to be a sacrifice—it can be delicious, satisfying and genuinely good for you.”
For the event, they offered Organic Honey & Miso Chicken Balls, Hot Honey Halloumi and Peach Kabobs, Nutty Baja Sea Salt Electrolyte Bars, and Organic Turmeric, Ginger, Black Pepper, Cardamom Shot Bombs.
“We picked these because they truly reflect what we stand for, with no compromises on taste or quality. For instance, the chicken balls are a perfect blend of natural ingredients. The miso adds a rich umami flavor while promoting gut health through its fermentation. Honey provides a natural sweetness and, together with ginger and garlic, the combination offers an anti-inflammatory and digestive-supporting effect that also boosts immunity,” Harvey explains. “The shot bombs combine potent organic ingredients renowned for their anti-inflammatory and gut-healing properties. We’re about making healthy eating simple, convenient and delicious—especially for people who don’t have hours to cook but still want to feel great.”
At press time, the company confirmed it will combine its meal prep and wholesale food businesses and rebrand as Goodness Co. Use code GOODNESS to receive 10% off meal delivery.
Visit goodnessco.co to learn more.
Vibrant Harmony
Our winner for best Asian restaurant, La V - Vietnamese Fusion, located at 441 Central Avenue, is renowned for its vibrant blend of traditional Vietnamese flavors and modern culinary twists. This popular eatery offers a chic, contemporary dining experience with a focus on fresh ingredients.
Owner Thuy Le was on hand and personally treated guests to two specialties from their menu. The first was Sesame Beef Vermicelli, a rice noodle dish with tender beef, crunchy vegetables and a bright, zesty sesame dressing, which was savory, full of freshness, flavor and texture. The second item was Fusion Fried Rice, featuring wok-tossed jasmine rice infused with garlic, shallots, savory-sweet soy and fresh herbs, providing a fragrant, sweet and salty flavor profile in every bite.
Le says that Vietnamese cuisine is all about harmony—balancing sweet, salty, spicy and umami in a way that feels light yet deeply satisfying.
From September 15th through the 30th, they will be featuring a Mid-Autumn Festival special and Pho-tober Fest in October, with $4 off any pho on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Visit lavfusion.com to learn more.
Savory Selections
A recent addition to the St. Pete restaurant scene, The Blu Halo brings a refined yet approachable dining experience in the heart of the Carillon area. The menu showcases classic American dishes with a modern twist, crafted from the freshest ingredients. For the event, owner Andy Donato and Executive Chef David Smith offered guests a chance to sample their Scallop Caprese from the eatery’s current menu.
Smith explains that the classic pairing of heirloom tomatoes, aged balsamic and extra virgin olive oil beautifully complements the delicate sweetness of the seared scallops and the addition of shaved 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano brings the whole dish together.
“Our guests who come to dine with us frequently order from our dishes like this one that represents our fresh market seafood and prime steaks, as well as staples like our Ahi Tuna Poke and our Bone-in Pork Chop served with a blueberry Chèvre and blueberry chutney.
In the coming months, guests can look forward to curated wine pairings, seasonal menu items and festive holiday specials.
Visit thebluhalostpete.com to learn more.
Signature Scoops
On the sweet side, Paciugo Gelato & Caffe brought one of their adorable mobile catering carts and served award-winning artisanal gelato. Their gelato is always in high demand at their wildly popular shop at 300 Beach Drive NE, where they also offer specialty coffees and custom-made cakes.
“We make all our gelato fresh in-house daily, with no preservatives or additives,” explains owner Debbie Safko. “We use a proprietary blend of milk with about 8 to 9 percent fat with no butter.”
The use of such fresh, high-quality and natural ingredients results in a traditional Italian treat with a distinctive creamy texture and intense flavors that showcase the true essence of their source ingredients. Paciugo's gelato is also known for being lower in fat than traditional ice cream, with milk-based flavors typically having 70% less fat.
The flavors served at the event were among the most popular of the 36 they offer in the store and included the Texas Pecan Sea Salt Caramel (featuring authentic dulce de leche, roasted pecans and a pinch of sea salt), Coffee Toffee Cafe Caramel (a delicate blend of coffee and caramel with chocolate chips and Heath Bar pieces swirled throughout), Strawberry Sorbet (one of the nine vegan flavors) and Fondente (rich dark chocolate).
Visit paciugostpete.com to learn more.
