DINING VisitSPC.com/Dining BEANS & BARLOUR WILLIAM DEAN CHOCOLATES VALHALLA BAKERY SWEETS BEANS & BARLOUR • St. Petersburg; $ • Part-ice cream parlor and part-craft coffee bar, this unique St. Pete hybrid features sweet treats and boozy concoctions like piña colada Dole Whip floats and White Claw Mangonadas. If you’re looking to take your ice cream on the road, the spot also serves a number of their most popular flavors (Whiskey Bacon Pecan) in pint-size containers to-go. STRACHAN'S ICE CREAM AND DESSERTS • Dunedin; $ • With locations in Dunedin, Clearwater and Palm Harbor, this ice cream parlor has become a must-go for locals looking for a sweet fix. With flavors like Birthday Cake Batter, Almond Joy and Red Velvet Cake, there is no shortage of creativity. People rave about the carrot cake, and for good reason: Chock-full of pecans, shredded carrots and thick cream cheese frosting, it’s the buttery “special sauce” that keeps the layers so incredibly moist and delicious. VALHALLA BAKERY • St. Petersburg; $ • It’s hard to believe everything in this gem of a bakery is vegan (but trust us, it is). It’s impossible to go wrong with the Nanaimo bars, made with a base of dark chocolate coconut crust filled with custard. The peach and strawberry lemon bars are like lemon squares crossed with a peach crisp, while cake slices all feature a dreamy vegan buttercream frosting. WILLIAM DEAN CHOCOLATES • Belleair; $ • Since 2007, this Belleair Bluffs chocolatier has racked up international acclaim, garnering widespread accolades and multiple awards along the way. The proof isn’t in the pudding — it’s in the tiny, intricately hand-painted and airbrushed chocolate truffles. From the white chocolate Key lime ganache-filled treats to the rum-tinged bananas Foster versions shaped like a little fleur-de-lis, these aren’t your everyday chocolates — these are miniature works of art. 90 AMERICA’S BEST BEACHES
Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL Gulf To Bay 2023: Page 90
