Food and Resto Updates (08.02.11)

Wine Madonna Soft Opens

If you love the atmosphere of the courtyard at Ale and The Witch but want to try a little vino once in a while, Wine Madonna is here. A partnership between Madonna Metcalf and Kris Radish, Wine Madonna asks you to “seek happiness” with the hopes of bringing a new level of wine appreciation and fun to downtown St. Pete. But, of course, there is more to the story than that.

Turns out that Radish is a former journalist and current best selling author who has, among other things, covered the war in Bosnia, been shot at, was once nominated for a Pulitzer and picked worms for beer money. Having just finished her ninth novel through Random House publishing, Radish likes to think she’s created her own genre of “broads who have been there” where the characters do “drink a lot of wine.”

Madonna Metcalf, who is one of about 2,800 sommelier’s certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers, has dabbled in acting and once hosted a radio show, but considers the wine lounge a lifelong dream.

Wine Madonna currently carries over 35 wines priced from low to high, which will grow and change all the time and is open from mid-afternoon till the last open bottle is empty. They expect to do wine flights, special tastings, host yoga and book clubs and is even working with an organic chef to create freshly packaged specialty foods that will match the wines.

While they work things out in soft open mode, we can expect a grand opening in late summer. Wine Madonna is located beside Ale and the Witch at 111 2nd Ave NE Suite 102 in downtown St. Pete.

BellaBrava Spot’s Hidden Message

The Beach Drive resto’s new spot hit the airwaves and Facebook with much buzz. But has anyone noticed and deciphered the new spot’s hidden message. Hint, it has something to do with making “The Longest” even longer…Visit BellaBrava’s Facebook page to learn more.

BellaBrava is located at 204 Beach Drive NE.

Watch the spot on BellaBrava’s page to find out what the "secret message" is.

Morean Seeks Burg’s Best Cupcake

August 18th is National Cupcake Day. If you’ve got mad baking skills, bring your best for area celebrity judges to try from 4-5pm. The winner will receive a one-of-a-kind glass cupcake trophy. Audience members welcome for free, $10 entry for cupcakes. iLovetheBurg’s Brian Bailey will be a guest judge and likes red velvet a lot (hint, hint).

TIPS! Are you in the know around the ‘Burg? Got a tip to share with our editors? Email us your tip at info@iLovetheBurg.com and if we use it for a story, we’ll send you a certificate to a local restaurant including Parkshore Grill, 400 Beach Seafood and Taphouse, The Hangar Restaurant,The Dairy Inn and Café Alma. The only conditions are that we have to use the tip, you have to be the first to deliver the tip to us, and the tip has not been reported anywhere else yet.