Site plans were recently approved for a new cafe, Side Street Marche & Boulangerie, located in what was formerly office space at 1144 12th St in Palm Harbor, according to owner Patti King, who’s hoping to open within the next month or two.
King tells What Now Tampa that the cafe is largely inspired by her and her husband Joe Caruso’s travels through Europe.
“We just got back from France in May, and then we went to Italy for the summer, and we’re going back to Paris in December. We’re just gathering different concepts and ideas and we’re going to bring them and incorporate them into something fun and new in the Palm Harbor historic downtown area,” says King.
The highlight of Side Street Marche & Boulangerie – or market and bakery in French – will be its baked goods such as fresh croissants and King’s signature floral-arranged cupcake bouquets made in-house. Meanwhile, the market portion will carry handcrafted charcuterie boards to-go and various local provisions, as well as artisan meats and cheeses. For a taste that hits slightly closer to home, Side Street will also be importing authentic New York bagels from up north.
The overall European inspiration doesn’t stop at the food, however. King and Caruso brought French bistro aesthetics to the building as well, complete with round marble tabletops, parlor chairs, and a black and white striped awning.
Before launching Side Street, Caruso traveled extensively around the world, having visited 100 countries while honing his culinary skills and growing into a “phenomenal cook who should be a chef by trade,” as King puts it.
Meanwhile, King herself comes from a family of restaurateurs, including her sister who runs the local shared commercial kitchen space, Kitchen 24, which is responsible for launching the career of many a chef and restaurant in the area.
