The Brief
- El Campo, meaning “the countryside,” brings the rich, diverse flavors of the Caribbean diaspora together in a unique fusion concept inside Foodie Labs in St. Petersburg.
- Chef-owner LaVante Pope is a one-man show, handling all aspects of the restaurant, from prep and cooking to cleaning.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Chef-owner LaVante Pope has been an integral part of the St. Petersburg food scene for the past five or six years, managing restaurants and building connections. Observing St. Pete’s recent explosion in culinary reputation—from an unknown city to a recognized food destination—he felt it was the perfect time to branch out and launch his own concept, El Campo.
The restaurant is born out of a lifelong love for his cultural food, particularly his Jamaican-Indian heritage, which instilled in him a deep appreciation for curries and traditional dishes. Pope emphasizes that what sets El Campo apart is its approach to Caribbean cuisine:
The backstory:…