Month: February 2019

Coney Island Drive-Inn – Brooksville, FL

While on a drive coming back from the Gulf Coast of Florida, I came across a local restaurant along the side of the road called Coney Island Drive-Inn.

     

The parking lot was packed with cars, trucks, and motorcycles. I figured it had to be good considering how many people were visiting.

It had a cute roadside attraction feel inside. There were old signs on the wall, licenses plates from all over the country. It was fun to see where they were from.

     

There were a lot of items on the menu. But since the place was called Coney Island I felt that I needed to get a hot dog. They had a variety topping that you could get on their foot long dogs. I got a plain cheese dog and a chili dog. I actually shared the hot dogs because I knew there was no way that I could eat them by myself.

The cheese dog reminded me of how my mom would make them when I was a kid. A soft, squishy bun with a grilled hot dog nestled inside was covered with slices of melted American cheese. The cheese was creamy and coated the entire hot dog.

The chili dog was the same grilled hot dog on the soft bun. It was loaded with a meaty chili that was full of beans. And a chili dog would not be complete with out fresh chopped onion on top.

A hot dog would not be complete without french fries. They had these great shoe-string fries. I could not order just plain fries. I had to try the chili cheese fries. That same yummy chili from the hot dog was put on top of the fries. Then liquid cheese was drizzled on top. It was messy to eat with a fork but they are worth the mess. It was a salty, meaty treat.

They also offered Poutine on the menu. I was so excited to see this. It is a Canadian dish that is hard to find in the states. I knew I needed to order this too.

The french fries were covered in a brown gravy and chunks of cheese curd was tossed throughout. The gravy added the saltiness to the fries and as the cheese curd melted it added creaminess.

Coney Island was a fun place to check out. Naturally everything I ate was salty so I made sure to wash it down with a fountain soda. If you are driving near the Gulf Coast, you should go out of your way to check out Coney Island Drive-Inn. They are totally worth the stop.

www.famousfootlongs.com

Enjoy!

T

Grove Roots Brewing Company – Winter Haven, FL

Breweries are popping up everywhere in the United States, sometimes in the most unexpected places. Winter Haven, Florida is no exception. Not far off the main road I came across Grove Roots Brewing Company. I actually passed by it and took a double take, not sure what the building was.

The place was busy both inside and outside. They make all their beers on the premises. They have so many to choose from it was hard to narrow it down. Luckily they do offer tastings. That is what I did.

     

I tasted Pineapple Hula. This was a cider and it was the only tap that belonged to a “Guest” – Cider Boys. This cider had a slight sweet taste, with strong pineapple overtones. It was good but I did not think I could drink a whole pint.

The next beer I sampled was called Hopwarts Express. It caught my attention because I thought it read Hogwarts Express. This was a lighter beer that did have a hoppy aftertaste. It was refreshing to me so I ended up ordering a pint.

While enjoying the company I was with, I noticed a sign that was advertising a local business called A Cow Named Moo. They made homemade ice cream sandwiches. They had a deep freezer set up in the brewery, selling a few of their flavors.

I went for the Peanut Butter Cup. This ice cream sandwich was amazing. The ice cream was super creamy and full of peanut butter flavor. The cookie part of the sandwich was a dark chocolate cookie. It was soft and sweet. The chocolate flavor complemented the peanut butter. The cookie made the dessert absolutely perfect.

     

Grove Roots Brewing Company is a fun place to hang out and drink some local beers. You can also enjoy some local treats and place giant Jenga.

Check them out at www.groveroots.com

Enjoy!

T

Tsukuro – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Walking up and down A1A in Ft. Lauderdale there is the beach on one side and a ton of restaurants on the other. There are so many choices; it all depends on what you are in the mood for. All the restaurants have their menus blown up and on display right there on the sidewalk. It helps you make a decision by glancing over their offerings.

When I passed Tsukuro and looked over their menu I got instantly hungry for sushi and fried rice. This was the place I was going to spend my evening.

     

As soon as I sat down I had to order the edamame. They were steamed perfectly and covered in sea salt. It was a huge bowl so it was perfect for sharing.

They were running a drink special on their jumbo 45oz. cocktails. Since they were basically half price I had to order one. I went for the Miami Vice which is a blend of a pina colada and strawberry daiquiri. The drink was naturally sweet and super cold. I got a brain freeze a few times. This drink really was too big. I would recommend if you order this, share it with someone.

     

The fried rice came as a side dish so the portion was a little smaller than I expected. It was not good for sharing if you order just one bowl. This rice had a perfect combination of ingredients that included scrambled egg, ginger, garlic, cabbage, and scallions. The flavor was fantastic. That salty taste from the soy sauce and the smokiness from the wok it was cook in pulled the entire dish together.

Rather than order more traditional sushi, I wanted to try something a little more unique. The Spicy Tuna Tower fit what I was looking for. The chunks of fresh tuna pieces were blended with avocado, wasabi, and a little soy sauce. Then this tuna mixture was spread on fried wonton wrappers. Then each wonton was stacked on top of each other.

It was a fun presentation. The only way to really eat it was to take the layers apart. This made it perfect for sharing. The tuna was so fresh it melted in my mouth. It was not that spicy which was a tad disappointing but the flavor was so good it ended up being ok. The creamy avocado paired so well with the tuna. The wonton added a contrasting crunchiness. I was definitely glad I tried this dish.

Tsukuro was a great beach front restaurant. It was great to feel the breeze off the Atlantic Ocean and people watch everyone walking up and down.

     

Check them out at http://itsbetteronthebeach.com/tsukuro/

Enjoy!

T

Sprinkles – Las Vegas, NV

Sprinkles cupcakes was one of the first cupcake shops to open at the start of the cupcake boom. They first opened in California and became a favorite among Hollywood elite. Now they have locations in 10 different states across the country.

Las Vegas is one of their newest locations. The shop is located by The LINQ. If you get there too early (or too late) they have a cupcake ATM to allow for that sugar craving to be satisfied.

They make all the cupcakes right there in the shop. It smelled wonderful as soon as I walked in. It was really hard to make a choice of which flavor to try.

To allow me to taste more than one flavor I ended up ordering their mini cupcake sampler. It came with three flavors of cupcakes:

  • Red Velvet – this was my favorite; it was extremely moist and the cream cheese icing was amazing.
  • Vanilla – this was a classic, sweet cupcake.
  • Chocolate – it included a cherry cordial ring and there were little chocolate chips throughout the cake.

This cupcake trio was the perfect way to try a few of their offerings. Plus it was a great value.

Check out www.sprinkles.com  to see if there is a Sprinkles location near you. There is a reason the original cupcake company is still around. They are delicious.

Enjoy!

T

Naked City Pizza – Las Vegas, NV

I visited Naked City Pizza in Las Vegas many years ago. I remember enjoying their pizza and the atmosphere. On a recent trip to Vegas I learned they opened another location. This one is off Paradise which is not that far from the strip.

      

Since they make pizzas to order as soon as my waiter came to the table I placed my order. I got a quarter sheet pie with pepperoni and sausage.

While I waited for my pizza, I ordered the poutine. I was surprised to see this on the menu. I did not remember this from my visit to the other location. This bowl was perfect to share. The French fries were natural cut with the skin still on. They were fried up till extra crispy.

They tossed the fries with fresh ricotta cheese. Then they smothered it all in brown gravy. The gravy had oregano cooked in, which gave it an herby, savory flavor. The gravy went extremely well with the ricotta cheese. This combination made the poutine have an Italian flare. This was a great bowl of comfort food.

Before I could completely fill up on the poutine, my pizza came out. Since their pizzas are cooked on sheets there is not crust. This style of pizza reminds me what I would get in grade school for lunch.

The dough was slightly sweet and a medium thickness. They used a generous amount of sauce and cheese. The sausage was crumbled nicely all over the pizza. It was loaded with Italian seasonings. The pepperonis were small slices and were cooked till extra crispy. I could not help but pull some of the slices off the pizza. It was a great “slice” of pizza even though it was a square.

I really enjoyed what I ordered at Naked City Pizza. There were a few tables that ordered some chicken wings that looked good. I would want to go back and try some.

Check out their menu at www.nakedcityLV.com

Visit one of their locations the next time you are out in Las Vegas.

Enjoy!

T

Sunset Grille – St. Augustine, FL

Driving along the coast in St. Augustine, Florida is beautiful. The tranquil sound of the waves is extremely relaxing. After spending some time on the beach, you can easily work up an appetite.

Just across A1A (the main road that follows the coastline) is Sunset Grille. The place was extremely busy so I figured the food had to be pretty good.

  

  

As always I started off with a tropical drink – The Captain’s Coconut. They blended Captain Morgan Rum, Malibu Rum, pineapple juice, and blue curacao. They accented the glass with a fresh orange. This truly was a tropical drink. It was the perfect drink to enjoy at the beach. The rum was strong but the pineapple juice calmed down the flavor.

It was time to order a few things off the menu. I ordered a cup of the Minorcan Conch Chowder. It was a great vegetable based broth that was full of flavor. The fresh conch was cut up into smaller pieces and as very tender. I just love fresh seafood.

 

I also tried a little of the clam chowder. Someone else in the group ordered a bowl and I got to have a taste (actually a few spoonful’s). It was very creamy. There was a nice amount of fresh clams throughout. I really liked the chunks of potatoes.

I ordered the appetizer size of the coconut shrimp. I love coconut shrimp so I always like ordering it when I see them on a menu. They are so much more interesting than just plain fried shrimp. The breading was not overly sweet because of the coconut. It was very crispy too. They tasted wonderful with the pina colada dipping sauce. It added an extra tropical taste.

One of the last things that I ordered was the chowder fries. The waitress recommended these. She says they are extremely popular, plus they are perfect for sharing. These French fries were covered in their homemade  clam chowder. Then they were topped with bacon and cheddar cheese. The cheese was a nice accent to the chowder. The bacon added a crispy element to the dish. I have never had chowder on top of fries before but it was a delicious adventure.

Sunset Grille was a fun place. It was an extremely busy, popular place. I would definitely want to go back and try something else from their menu. And to remember where they are located, just remember the sign they had on the wall “Somewhere on A1A”.

Check out their website at http://www.sunsetgrillea1a.com/

Enjoy!

T

Ice Plant – St. Augustine, FL

St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest city in the United States. It is extremely fascinating to think about the generations of people that have walked the shores and streets. It was cool to see a stone fort along the inlet that has protected Florida since before it was a state. Traveling this beautiful country is amazing.

St. Augustine is a magical city filled with the old and the new. Part of that new is the St. Augustine Distillery. There they make vodka, bourbon, gin, and rum. If you get there early enough you can take a tour of the distillery.

  

I did not make it there in time for the tour but luckily for me they also have a bar / restaurant located inside called Ice Plant.

Inside is a beautiful, industrial feeling place. There are beams on the ceiling and walls. The bar was a tall wooden, decorative piece that reminded me of something out of a 1920s bar.

  

The bar staff was an entertaining group. When they made cocktails, they put a lot of care into each ingredient they used. Watching them shake cocktails in unison was funny.

  

The drink menu alone had six different options for ice. Each one was used in a different cocktail. The coolest thing I watched the bartender do was make an ice ball. A cube of ice is put into an aluminum press that melts the ice and molds it into a ball. I took a video to show the process. You can check it out on my Twitter page (@GatorGirl_Swamp).

Because I missed the opportunity to tour the distillery my bartender let me sample each one of their homemade liquors. They all tasted wonderful and were smooth. My favorite was the vodka.

  

They did have a menu with a few small bites to try. While they sounded wonderful, I had already eaten so I was not very hungry. However, the few items I saw looked delicious.

I wanted to try one of their hand crafted cocktails. I ordered the Florida Mule. It used St. Augustine Distillery vodka, ginger, lime, and soda. The bartender took a sprig of mint, slapped it on the bar, and then added that to my cup.

  

This was a great tasting mule that was extra cold because of the copper mug. The vodka was smooth and paired well with the tanginess of the ginger.

Ice Plant is a fun environment to enjoy food, drinks, and friends. I would definitely want to go back to experience the food and another crafted cocktail. If you are visiting St. Augustine I would recommend you stop by. I plan on going back so I can take the distillery tour.

http://iceplantbar.com/

Enjoy!

T

Central Tavern – Winter Haven, FL

There is a quaint local bar on the main street in Winter Haven, Florida called Central Tavern. While visiting them one evening I got to talking with the manager and he mentioned that the first Sunday of every month they do a special brunch. They offer a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar along with some homemade food. It sounded like a fun time so I made sure to put it on my calendar for the next month.

     

So Sunday rolled around and I made sure to get to Central Tavern when they opened up. There was already a line when I arrived. It turns out that the brunch buffet is actually free. I was shocked. It was an assortment of homemade breakfast dishes and fresh fruit prepared by the management team. It is all first come first serve, so when they are out, they are out. It allows customers to enjoy a bite to eat while ordering a few custom made cocktails.

Naturally the menu of food items changes each month. This visit I got to enjoy:

     

  • Veggie quiche – The fluffy eggs were filled with fresh vegetables.
  • Sausage Balls – Spicy ground sausage was loaded with cheddar cheese.
  • Sausage & Cheese Hash Browns – The crunchy potatoes were topped with a ton of cheese. This was my favorite dish.
  • Shrimp & Grits – This was both creamy and cheesy. The shrimp were fresh and tender.

They also offered up some fresh fruit. It was the perfect blend of peaches, pineapple, and mango. I even put a few pieces in the mimosas I ordered.

The star of this Sunday brunch is the Mimosa and Bloody Mary Bar. They give you a menu and you get to select every aspect of your drink.

For the Bloody Mary, I picked spicy Old Bay on the rim for a little kick. For the ingredients I went for the classic – Worcestershire, celery salt, horseradish, and Tabasco. When it came to the garnish, I went a little safe – celery, bacon, bleu cheese olives, and pepperoni. I could have gone wild and add a pork rib but I passed. The flavor was just the way I like it with a hint of spicy.

The mimosas were a lot of fun to get to put together. Since they were not huge I was able to try three different versions.

The first I ordered was Peach. The peach juice came with fresh peach garnish. This was my favorite because it had such a fresh taste.

Up next was the Raspberry Lemonade. There was fresh raspberry garnish that gave this a great sour taste that made my lips pucker a little.

Finally I tried the Blackberry. The blackberry juice was accented with fresh blueberries. There was a slight tang from the juice but the blueberries were sweet.

Central Tavern was a really fun place to hang out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Check them out on Facebook at www.linksterstaproom.com

Enjoy!

T

The Red Top Pit Stop – Lakeland, FL

When people think of Florida usually what comes to mind is South Beach, Disney World, and Daytona Beach for a NASCAR race. But there is more to Florida than these places. Florida is loaded with lakes, state parks, nature preserves, and wild animals that you would not expect. Located in Lakeland, Florida is the Colt Creek State Park that sits inside the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. Here you can enjoy miles of walking and bike trails and hopefully spot a bald eagle or white tail deer.

Just on the outskirts of the park you will find a little restaurant called The Red Top Pit Stop. This is the perfect spot to stop for breakfast before spending the day with nature.

The restaurant was packed when I got there. I was lucky to get the last table. The breakfast menu was huge and had all the usual breakfast essentials. I was wanting to try something unique and that is when I saw the pulled pork omelet. They smoke their own meat in the BBQ smoker out front, so I knew this was a great choice.

The omelet was big. I started out by tasting just the pork. The meat had a wonderful smoky flavor. The Red Top makes a homemade BBQ sauce, which is sweet and pairs well with the smoky meat.

My second bite was the combination of the egg, cheese, and pork. Prior to eating this combination, I would not have thought egg and pulled pork would work. I was completely wrong. It was an amazing taste.

The egg had a neutral flavor but added tons of texture to each bite. The cheese added a creaminess, the pork had the moisture and smokiness, and the drizzle of BBQ sauce on top added the sweetness. It all worked together and each flavor was balanced out. If you like bacon in an omelet, having pulled pork is similar. It added the saltiness but offers less crunch. It really made the omelet heartier. Keep in mind they give you a large portion so you can fill up rather quickly.

Each breakfast comes with a side. They have a homemade hash brown potato that looked good. However, I knew that would be way to filling to pair with the omelet. I went for the buttery grits. They were cooked perfectly, creamy and salty. A great breakfast staple.

There is more to The Red Top Pit Stop than breakfast. They have a large selection of sandwiches and burgers. I definitely plan on heading back to try one of their burgers topped with their BBQ.

Whether you are heading out to the park for a bike ride or coming back from a sunrise nature walk, you are certainly going to work up an appetite. The Red Top Pit Stop is a must visit along the way. Check them out their Facebook page at facebook.com/The-Red-Top-Pit-Stop

Enjoy!

T