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
