Meet me at Mazzaro’s

Food lover’s paradise awaits you. Covering the entire block of 22nd Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida, Mazzaro’s Italian Market is a culinary vacation destination all its own. Yes, we all think of St. Pete, Florida as a beach resort and vacation destination however, you are missing out on their best-kept secret if you haven’t been to Mazzaro’s Italian Market.

The Cuccaro family found themselves filling a gap in St. Petersburg Flordia when they moved 3 decades ago from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They missed the old Italian neighborhood they behind. They missed the smell and taste of great coffee. The aroma of hard crusty fresh-baked Italian bread and bagels cooked to perfection. Along with all the ethnic flavors a little Italy can offer.

Just like any foodie who loves something would do, they got busy and researched how to roast the perfect coffee bean, how to build the best wood-fired oven, where can I get the finest,  authentic Italian spices and freshest ingredients to create my beloved sauce and much-needed cannoli?

This hard-working trucking family took their love of food and turned it into Tampa Bay’s #1 food destination one niche at a time.

Beginning with a fresh seafood store, colorfully decorated and making a solid name in quality, they moved on to the bagel store. Any good bagel connoisseur knows it is hard to find an incredible one outside of little Itlay anywhere! They nailed it. Floridians now could lay homage to a good quality bagel.  It only makes sense that with your lox and bagels, you need coffee.

Good quality, smooth, freshly roasted, and ground coffee. The kind of stuff that stops you dead in your tracks to stop and savor. Born was the coffee shop. Ok, so breakfast is over. 

We enjoyed our coffee and bagels, the company is so pleasant you want to stay for lunch, dinner, and dessert. Well, you get the idea, people did not want to leave, and the Cuccaros are excellent hosts and keep you entertained.

From the moment you park your car, you are greeted outside with clever and colorful artwork. Walk inside, you are brought back in time to an old sausage factory. Sitting in the center is the most beautiful, welcoming, and comfortable coffee bar you have ever seen. With fresh coffee roasting and grinding, folks are lined 2 deep to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

You can smell the fresh-baked bread, gaze at the beautiful authentic Italian desserts lining the cases. You can watch them make their homemade pasta, stroll through the cheese shop, and enjoy the wine cellar. 

Don’t forget to take a number to take out food. Looking at all the fresh ingredients will make you hungry, and you will want to enjoy their prepared foods on the outside patio. 

If you are anything like me, you have a cart full of stuff, cheese, wine, cannoli cake, crackers, fresh Italian meats, to name just a few. Remember, you are on vacation and not at home. 

When you get back to your rental, you need to make up a nice sunset snack. You need a tray. Mazzaro’s has you covered. 

Stroll next door to Cassa di Mazzaro and you are welcomed into the friendliest, most complete kitchenware shop you have ever set eyes on. Don’t forget to pick up fresh tea for breakfast the next morning, and stop on your out for more of the sheep’s milk ricotta cheese for the lactose intolerant at home.