Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

The Oyster Pub – Daytona Beach, FL

The Oyster Pub has been serving up fresh oysters and seafood to the Daytona Beach community for over 30 years. They are also a great spot to watch your favorite sporting event on one of their many tv’s.

Whether you are waiting for a table or grabbing a seat at the bar – start your visit with a handful of fresh peanuts from their barrel. But please do not throw the shells on the floor; they provide containers for those.

After eating some salty peanuts, I grabbed a cocktail off their extensive drink menu. I went for The Beach Babe. It was loaded with fresh pineapple and orange juice, grenadine, and two rums – coconut and mango. This was the perfect drink for being at the beach.

  

The main reason I made a stop to The Oyster Pub was because of their chargrilled oysters. They are freshly shucked oysters that are placed on an open flame grill. Then as they are cooking, they are covered in their “secret sauce”.

I absolutely loved watching these oysters being cooked. Watching the flames get larger and higher as they cooked was memorizing.

  

When they poured on the “secret sauce” the flames grew even higher.

  

When the oysters were delivered they were still sizzling. I tried capturing this in the photos but it really did not do it justice.

  

The oysters were huge in size but they were extremely tender. The sauce added a salty taste and creamy texture to the sweet tasting meat. I could tell there was garlic and parmesan cheese on them, however there was still an element that I could not identify. It almost tasted like an Italian dressing. I tried finding it out from my waitress but I was not successful. I guess the “secret” in the sauce is still safe.

  

These are delicious oysters and I would recommend them to everyone. They also have several other options for oysters including raw and steamed. But if oysters are not your thing that is perfectly ok because they have a ton of other seafood options. So if you are in Daytona Beach, stop by The Oyster Pub and see why they have been around for 30 years.

Check out their menu at http://www.oysterpub.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

The Red Top Pit Stop – Lakeland, FL

I have written about The Red Top Pit Stop before. The last time I visited I was there for breakfast. This second visit I was there for lunch. As soon as I got out of the car I could smell their BBQ smoker and it made me so hungry.

Because of that smoker I knew I wanted to try some BBQ. I ventured out of my normal routine. Normally I would order pulled pork if it is on a menu, but this time I went for the chopped beef brisket.

The brisket was chopped up extremely fine. It was piled high onto the bun. When it came out there was no sauce on the meat. I liked this because I got to taste what the beef is like when it comes out of the smoker. The bark from cooking was chopped up with the rest of the meat. That bark carried extra smoky flavor throughout the brisket.

After eating a little of the brisket plain, I put the homemade BBQ sauce on my sandwich. The sauce added a sweetness to the meat. It was a great complement to the smokiness.

I got two of their homemade sides that I knew paired well with BBQ. The first was the mac and cheese. This was great, cheesy goodness. There was a crispy cheese layer. I just needed to add a little extra salt to taste.

The other side was the green beans. They cooked the beans with bacon. This added extra flavor to the beans. This side too needed just an extra pinch of salt for my taste.

I am glad I got to go back to The Red Top Pit Stop. It was just as crowded as my first visit. They are an awesome hidden gem in Lakeland that serves amazing comfort food.

Follow them on Facebook at The Red Top Pit Stop

Enjoy!

T

Happy 4th of July 2019

I hope everyone has a wonderful day with friends and family.

Enjoy!

T

Sloppy Joe’s – Key West, FL

If there was one place I needed to visit when I was in Key West, it was Sloppy Joe’s.

This place is an institution on Duval Street since 1937. They say Ernest Hemingway use to frequent this establishment. The place was packed with people. It was hard to get a spot at their bar. They had some great bands entertaining the crowds.

Since I had been eating all day at other places I just ordered a cocktail. I went for the Hemingway Mojito. What makes this mojito special is that they use Papa’s Pilar Rum. Pilar rum is made right there in Key West. You can go on a tour and do a tasting of the rums. It is just a few blocks away from the restaurant.

This mojito was sweet and full of fresh mint. Plus, I got a souvenir cup.

While I was enjoying the live music, I ordered another cocktail. This time I went for the Sloppy Rita. This was tequila, Gran Gala, sour mix, orange juice, and a splash of club soda. This was not as sweet as the last drink. It had a nice kick to it because of the tart taste.

This was a fun, lively place. I would want to come back on an empty stomach so that I could try their actual sloppy joe.

Check them out at www.sloppyjoes.com They have live cameras at the bar so you can check out what is going on.

If you are interested in the rum distillery head to www.papaspilar.com

Enjoy!

T

Key Lime Pie Co. – Key West, FL

Key lime pie is synonymous with Key West. When I was walking the streets, I counted at least three key lime pie shops. Plus, every restaurant has the pie on their dessert menus. However, I was on a mission to find a specific shop, the Key Lime Pie Co. I had seen this shop on the television show, The Profit.

When I walked in I was greeted by a huge glass window that allowed me to watch them prepare the pies. It all started with them filling the pie pans with the graham cracker crust. They moved so fast. They clearly go through dozens of pies each day.

They offered two kinds of key lime pies – regular or extra tangy. The friendly woman behind the counter allowed me to taste a sample of each. I was planning on buying an entire pie to take home, so I wanted to make sure I got the perfect flavor. I really liked the extra tangy one. It had a great tart kick that made my lips pucker up. It was then calmed down with the fresh, smooth whipped cream that they put on top.

Since I was taking the pie home and was not going to eat it right away, I was able to get a frozen pie. This way it could stay fresh till I got home and could share it with my friends. The bad part is I forgot to take a picture of the pie before we dove into it.

So you need to check them out for yourself. Visit their website at www.keylimepieco.com

Enjoy!

T

The Conch Shack – Key West, FL

Located on Duval Street is a small little place called The Conch Shack. A friend of mine recommended that I check them out because they have awesome conch fritters.

There was a long line when I got there. I waited my turn patiently, smelling the fresh fritters being cooked. When I finally got to the window I quickly ordered my conch fritters so that they could be made quickly too. I was hungry!

It would take a few minutes to get my order because they make them once you order; this allows them to be nice and hot. Luckily, I was able to grab a seat at their little bar. There are not many seats.  While I waited I was able to do some great people watching on Duval Street.

When I got my fritters, they were piping hot. I could not touch them for a while. Once they cooled off I was able to open them up and see all the pieces of fresh conch. They were very generous with the amount. The seasoning they used in the batter was subtle and did not overpower the briny flavor of the conch.

They served a fresh made tarter sauce on the side. I tired a few bites with the sauce, but I preferred the fritters plain.

This was a fun little place. It’s perfect to get a quick bite to eat. Make sure you have cash because that is all they take.  Check them out at www.myconchshack.com

Enjoy!

T

Island Dog Bar – Key West, FL

Walking around Duval Street in Key West really worked up my appetite and made me thirsty. I passed a bar called Island Dog that looked popular, so I stopped in.

What better way to celebrate being in Key West than with a cocktail called a Key Lime Colada. They blended a Pina Colada mix with Don Q coconut rum and Keke’s key lime liqueur. They “salted” the rim of the glass with crushed cookies to be reminiscent of the graham cracker crust of a key lime pie. It was extremely clever. I could taste the coconut flavor from the Pina Colada with a hint of the key lime. It was almost like a dessert.

One of the things that the Key’s are known for in conch. Conch is a mollusk that live in those beautiful seashells you find at souvenir shops. I wanted to make sure that I tried a few conch items that were on the menu.

I started with their white conch “chowdah”. They had tons of conch in the creamy white broth that was loaded with potatoes, bacon, and fresh herbs. It reminded me of a clam chowder.

The conch was tender and cut into small pieces which made it easy to eat. They used a ton of fresh potatoes that were tender as well. The bacon added a little crunch and smoky flavor. It was a great creamy soup.

I also wanted to try the conch fritters. These are most certainly a Key West tradition. Tender pieces of conch were mixed with a batter that reminded me of hush puppies. They deep fried the fritters until they were extra crispy on the outside.

When I opened the fritter, steam just poured out. The seasoning they added to the batter was savory and sweet. It paired well with the conch that was slightly salty. The fritters were also really good when dipped in the fresh cocktail sauce. It added a little zip to each bite.

I did make a second visit to Island Dogs Bar during my trip to Key West. When I went back I ordered the chargrilled oysters. I was excited to see these on the menu which is why I went back.

These delicious oysters came out sizzling on the tray. I could not wait to dig in, but I needed to wait a few minutes to allow them to cool down. They were too hot to pick up.

The oyster meat was extremely tender. The garlic butter that they were cooked in was full of flavor. The parmesan cheese that was sprinkled on top added a great salty taste that accented the briny taste of the oyster.

I was so glad that I went to Island Dogs Bar twice. It allowed me to really experience what they had to offer. I highly recommend checking them out in Key West. Check out their website at www.islanddogsbar.com

Enjoy!

T

Islamorada Fish Company – Islamorada, FL

Driving down to Key West you pass through a few different island towns. About an hour outside of Key West is Islamorada, Florida. It was the perfect area to stop and get something for lunch. What better place to stop then the World Famous Islamorada Fish Company.

There is inside seating but with the restaurant being on the water, the best seats are outside on the deck. The deck was huge, and the views were absolutely breathtaking. It really makes you feel like you are in paradise.

I started off with conch fritters for the table. These are a staple for the Keys so I could not wait to try them. The breading was nice and crispy on the outside and it helped keep the inside hot. The filling had a great taste, almost like a hush puppy.

There were big pieces of conch throughout each bite. I liked the flavor of the fritter by itself but dipping it in some tarter sauce helped add a zesty taste.

All their sandwiches came with a side salad. It was a simple salad that had a nice Italian dressing. It was a fresh starter and was great to enjoy it with the breeze coming off the water.

I got the crab cake sandwich for my lunch. It was a big crab cake. The sweet crab meat was mixed with seasoned breadcrumbs and deep fried. It was good on the soft bun but after a few bites the bread was filling me up too fast, so I took the crab cake off. It was nice and crispy on the outside and soft and moist inside.

I was also able to taste the grilled grouper sandwich. The fresh grouper was flakey and had a great grilled taste. They melted a generous amount of cheese on top of the fish. I had never had cheese on grilled fish before. It was actually really good; the creaminess of the cheese paired well with the flakey grouper.

Visiting Islamorada Fish Company was the best way to kick off my vacation to the Keys. The view was perfect, and the food was great. They have a couple of locations across the country. If you can’t make it to the southern most point of the United States, you can always visit somewhere else.

Visit their website at www.islamoradafishco.com

Enjoy!

T

Woven + Bound – Chicago, IL

I was visiting Chicago on one of the coldest weekends of the year. I really did not want to venture out in that weather. Luckily for me there was a great restaurant inside the Marriott Marquis that I was able to get in to called Woven + Bound.

They had a lot of fresh farm to table dishes on the menu. I started with the bacon wrapped dates. These were a lot smaller on the plate than I expected. However, they still packed a flavor punch.

The dates were filled with creamy goat cheese. The bacon was crispy on the outside. It was the perfect bland of sweetness from the cheese and salty from the bacon. They drizzled a pear balsamic reduction on top that added a little kick in taste.

I ordered a cheese and meat board for the table. There was an assortment of cheeses but I enjoyed the blue cheese the most. It was not tangy like other blue cheeses I have had. There was also an assortment of meats that went great with the cheeses. They included capicola, rillettes, and prosciutto.

For my dinner I was looking forward to trying their version of chicken and dumplings. They served a quarter chicken still on the bone. The chicken was juicy and had a smoky taste that was wonderful with the savory gravy that was poured on top. They also had carrots, kale, and baby turnips on the plate. Those vegetables were also drenched in the gravy which helped them taste amazing.  There were only two small dumplings on my plate. They were good, however I really wished I had a few more to enjoy.

For dessert we ordered two options to share. The pretzel doughnut came out warm on the plate. The doughnut was covered in cinnamon and sugar. Inside was a creamy bourbon mascarpone cheese filling. It was so creamy and was great with the pretzel dough that was slightly sour.

The other dessert was the chocolate mousse cake. This warm chocolate cake had a layer of chocolate ganache on top. It came with a glass of milk on the side. I was not sure what to do with the milk at first. After I took my first bite of the cake I realized how heavy and thick it was. I ended up pouring the milk over the cake. After a few minutes the cake absorbed all the milk and made it much easier to cut in to. The milk also make the cake moist. It was an interesting dessert.

For a hotel restaurant, Woven + Bound was good. They offered some unique takes on classic dishes. Check them out at the hotel website www.marriott.com

Enjoy!

T

Catch 35 – Chicago, IL

I ventured out on an extremely cold evening in Chicago to visit Catch 35. I was told that this restaurant was really good, so I was not going to let a little weather hold me back.

I arrived a little early for my reservation so I enjoyed a glass of Processco at the bar.

Looking over the menu there were so many seafood options to choose from. I originally wanted to get the Yellowfin tuna but that was a popular fish that night because they were sold out. I went for my second choice of the Atlantic salmon.

I ordered the salmon grilled. It came out with a cucumber, shallot and lemon dill sauce poured on top. The salmon was cooked perfectly. It was flaky and moist. It tasted amazing with the dill sauce that offered a slight sour flavor. The cucumber pieces added a fresh element as well as a crunch. This sauce and cucumbers would be perfect over a salad.

The table got a side of Brussels sprouts to share. They were roasted so that they had nice crispy leaves. I dipped some bites into the dill sauce. I really liked that sauce!

I also ordered a cup of their shrimp and crab bisque. It was a nice creamy base with pieces fo fresh and chopped up shrimp and pieces of lump crab meat. I wish there was a little more of that in the bisque.

For dessert we shared the carrot cake bread pudding. This was an interesting blend of two desserts that I really like. The carrot cake was used as the bread in the dessert. It was sweet but very dense. There were fresh pieces of pineapple mixed throughout. The cream cheese icing was used as a glaze that was drizzled over the bread pudding. I enjoyed the spice flavor that was in the cake and the sweet icing complemented the cake.

My dinner was great at Catch 35. It was definitely worth going out in the Chicago cold. Check them out at www.catch35.com

Enjoy!

T