Gulfport Afternoon

View of the beach from Gulfport Pier

We haven't been back to Gulfport since our first year in St. Pete Beach, when we must have visited a rather depressed part of town, and didn't stay long. Today Bob wanted to go back after his conversation with yesterday's bar companions at Woody's, who highly recommended the area.

We drove toward the water on one of the major through streets (Beach Avenue?), past stalls of new age type products, as well as fruits, vegetables, seafood, arts and crafts. We were lucky and found a parking spot right in front of O'Maddy's, one of the many eating establishments looking on the bay.

O'Maddy's for lunch

We walked out on the pier to wash the fishing and were almost surprised to see Don Cesar's across the water, and by straining a little, we saw our own condo complex.  It was already after 1:00 p.m., and O'Maddy's seemed inviting, so we stopped for lunch. Bob had the corned beef and cabbage that went unsold because of yesterday's weather, and I ordered the lobster risotto.

Both were good but much too salty. I've been spoiled by Jim Kohler's perfect risotto at Luci Ancora in St. Paul, so I was a little critical of what seemed like lumpy rice, served with chunks of asparagus, bacon and large slivers of parmesan. Worth ordering, though.

The two-dollar beers were cold and good. I'm acquiring a taste for Yuengling, though I think I'd prefer the Black & Tan to the lighter tap beer I've been drinking. I got a little too much soon today and am relaxing in the cool apartment as the day begins to fade.