These are very exciting times for eating out in the Tampa Bay area! Our cuisine is getting better and more varied, and it's starting to draw national attention. 

Host Robin Sussingham recently moderated a panel on international dining at the St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs, held at USF St. Pete,  where she was joined by Laura Reiley, restaurant critic for the Tampa Bay Times; Janet Keeler, who teaches journalism at USF St. Pete and is the former food editor at the Tampa Bay Times;  and Emmanuel Roux, who has owned several restaurants in St. Petersburg and now owns Gateau O Chocolat, a  flourless chocolate cake bakery. Roux also runs the 15th St Agrihood, an organic educational farm in downtown St. Petersburg.