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By CHRIS SHERMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 31, 2001
The Taste of Pinellas enters its 15th year this weekend, and, like a good restaurant, it keeps updating its menu.
Crabby Bill's, Leverock's and the Wine Cellar will serve tastes of favorite dishes just as they did in 1987 when 40 local restaurateurs first pitched a big tent beside the bay to help raise money for All Children's Hospital.
But a lot has changed in the Taste, St. Petersburg's downtown and local restauranting since then, and you'll find some of that reflected in this year's lineup.
What was once an afternoon in the park now spills out into a panoply of tents, lasts into the night and spreads over three days.
Many restaurants among the 60 participating didn't exist 15 years ago, including Scrumpy's on the beach, Cody's, Cha Cha Coconuts, Fred Fleming's Famous Bar-B-Que and Guppy's on the Beach.
Certainly, foods like Red Mesa's nuevo Southwestern, Haiku's sushi or Redwood's Pacific Rim fare weren't around.
Several participating restaurants weren't even here last year, including Blue Diamond from Gulfport, Asado Cafe on St. Pete Beach or downtown's new Perch, or Dish and Adobo Grill from BayWalk.
And while it's still first-of-June hot, over the years organizers have added misting stations, more shade and later hours to provide some relief. Smart restaurateurs, who suffer the heat worse than patrons, have wisely expanded their cold offerings, including fruit, ice cream and salad. Plus, there's an endless supply of Zephyrhills water.
This year's taste starts with a Taste of the Taste from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, catered by the Pinellas chapter of the Florida Restaurant Association, and continues with a full selection of all 60 participants' menus Saturday and Sunday.
Adobo Grill at BayWalk
Alessi Concessions
Anna's Ravioli & Pasta Co.
Asado Cafe
Beachside Grille
Blue Diamond Restaurant
Bob Evans Restaurants
Cafe Beignet
Cary's Soft Pretzel Company
Cha Cha Coconuts
Cody's Original Roadhouse
Columbia Restaurant
Cookie Farm
Crabby Bill's Seafood
Dairy Inn
Dal' Italia Pizza & Restaurant
Dish at BayWalk
Dog & Ears
E&E Stakeout Grill
Florida Restaurant Association
Fred Fleming's Famous Bar-B-Que
Friendly Fisherman Seafood Restaurant
The Garden
Guppy's on the Beach
Haiku Sushi
Harvey's Fourth Street Grill
Hilton St. Petersburg
Hungry Howie's Pizza
Italian Pavilion Ristorante
Jillian's Bistro Fine Food & Spirits
Johnny Leverock's Seafood House
Le Cheesecake
Mario's Ristorante
Nadia's Restaurant & Bar
Perch and Ten Beach Drive Piano Bar & Grill
Polar Cup
Red Mesa
Redwoods
St. Pete's Famous Italian Ice
Sara Lee Coffee & Tea
Scrumpy's Shells Seafood Restaurant
Smart and Final
Snapper's Sea Grill
Southern Wine & Spirits
The Sports Bar & Grill
Urban Ciao
The Wine Cellar Restaurant and Fine Catering
Friday
5-5:50 p.m. -- Shawn Brown Band with Liz Hollister-Gordon
6:10-7 -- Ace Factor
7:20-8:20 -- Rhythm Revue
8:40-10 -- Hunks of Funk
Noon-1 p.m. -- Wendy & the Soul Shakers
1:30-2:30 -- Briar Hill Band
3-4 -- Josh Magwood & the Underestimated Band
4:30-5:30 -- Rebel Pride
6:30-7:45 -- Poco
8:45-10 -- Pure Prairie League
1-1:45 p.m. -- The Swinging Johnsons
2-3 -- B.J. Thomas and the Generals
3:30-4:30 -- Stormbringer
5:30-7 -- Clarence Clemons
Taste of Pinellas, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Fri., noon-10 p.m. Sat. and noon-7 p.m. Sun. Free admission and music. Food samples $1-$4. Vinoy Park, downtown St. Petersburg waterfront. Not all of the 60 participating restaurants will be serving Friday. Free parking is available at the Echelon McNulty Station parking lot, First Avenue S and Second Street. Free shuttle service every 15 minutes from First Avenue S. For information: (727) 892-4193.