Category: Florida

Skipper’s Smokehouse – Tampa, FL

After a long day of traveling to get to Tampa, I was looking forward to dinner. I was excited to get seafood. I always try to eat seafood when I am in Florida. Skipper’s Smokehouse topped the selection for this evening. They have been around for over 30 years, so I know they would be a good choice.

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I started off with their Cajun popcorn, which was a fun way to say fried crawfish tails. The crawfish was incredibly tender and sweet. They were lightly breaded so the crawfish took center stage. They came with a homemade tartar sauce that reminded me of a thousand island dressing. These bite size morsels were fun and easy to eat.

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I ordered a bowl of their conch chowder. It was a classic style vegetable soup with conch all mixed in. It was a wonderful tomato based broth and it was loaded with fresh vegetables.

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To wash down all the great flavors, I ordered a fun drink – “Swamp Juice”. I thought it was fitting on so many levels. The swamp juice was pretty much like a rum punch made with fresh juices. All that was missing was a cherry on top.

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While I was there I got to enjoy some live music from a local band. They have an outside stage area where you can grab a drink and listen. They have music almost every night so you can check out their website for a complete listing.

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If you are looking for a fun place for food and entertainment then Skipper’s Smokehouse is where you have to go. Visit their menu at www.skipperssmokehouse.com

Enjoy!

T

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Datz – Tampa, FL – Visit #2

Earlier this year I had written about the brunch I had at Datz. I was fortunate enough to get to go back for a second visit. This time I got to try something off their dinner menu.

I had forgotten that their menu was printed like a newspaper. My waiter said they had just changed a few things around. There were several things that sounded good. He recommended I try their Music City Chicken Tacos. They apparently are really popular.

I was very surprised when 3 tacos came out on the plate. It was a lot of food. The chicken was grilled not fried. It had some nice heat but if they were going for a “Nashville Hot Chicken” idea the chicken really needed to be fried. There was a fresh cole slaw on the top of the chicken that added crunch and creaminess. If the spice of the chicken was too much, this slaw calms that down.

Mexican rice and Mexican street corn accompanied the tacos. The rice was simple, nothing out of the ordinary. The corn was great. It was off the cob so it was easy to eat. The taste was sweet and really creamy from the cheese they sprinkled in. It was a perfect compliment to the tacos.

To wash this all down I enjoyed a strawberry mule. It was a subtle strawberry taste. It was sweet compared to a traditional mule. I loved the fresh strawberry they added on top. I saved that for the very end.

One of the things I remembered from my first visit to Datz was their assortment of desserts. I knew I wanted to try something but a slice of their cakes were way too big for me. I opted to go for a cupcake since it was slightly smaller. I went for the chocolate bourbon cupcake.

It was so pretty when it came out.

What I did not realize till I picked it up was that the chocolate on the top was a hard chocolate shell. I had to break it open to reveal the moose like cream icing.

It was layers and layers of chocolate. If you love chocolate this cupcake is for you. The cake was super moist. It was also quite light in texture. The icing was really sweet and there was a lot of it. I ended up scraping some of it off because it was so sweet. Having the cupcake was the perfect way to end the meal.

I was so glad I got to visit Datz again. I still recommend them for anyone visiting Tampa. Check them out at http://www.datztampa.com/

Enjoy!

T

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

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

Mojo’s – Lakeland, FL

Watching football on Sunday’s is a tradition across America. Having a fun place where you can watch the game and have great food is a must. I found that place in Lakeland, Florida called Mojo’s.

They were founded in 2008 and are known for their ice cold beer. I was very excited to see that their wings have won tons of awards.

Their menu is cute and creative. It’s a newspaper!

I was thrilled to try their red raspberry sangria. It can be ordered by the glass or the pitcher. Naturally, since it was game day I ordered the pitcher. They use raspberry liquor, cherry juice, and cranberry juice and mix that with Merlot and fresh squeezed oranges. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and great for a warm Florida afternoon.

For an appetizer, I ordered their potato chips and queso. It’s a unique combination. They make homemade potato chips that are really addicting. The queso has a chili mixed in that has a little bit of spice. I enjoyed how the spicy queso and the sweetness of the sangria complemented each other.

Since their wings have won awards I knew I needed to try these. There are several sauces to choose from so it’s good they can be ordered in increments of 5. I was able to try different flavors:

  • Hot
  • Garlic Parmesan
  • Sweet & Spicy Plum

The Hot is a traditional Buffalo wing sauce. It was not too spicy; it was the right amount of heat. The kick came from the vinegar in the sauce after I was done eating the wing.

The Garlic Parmesan was a creamy sauce with minced garlic mixed in. It was a little salty but the creamy sauce added a buttery flavor that balanced out the salt. I imagine this sauce would be amazing on pasta.

The Sweet & Spicy Plum is their take on an Asian sauce. The spice was not to hot and the sweet came from the plum sauce that was mixed it. I could really taste the plum. This sauce was my favorite. I liked how unique the flavor was. It was great on the crispy skin of the wings.

I had a great time at Mojo’s and I definitely want to visit again because their burgers looked really good. Plus the staff was fantastic. My waitress, Tiffany, was great!

For a fun time watching football or playing pool on the patio – Mojo’s is a must visit. Check out their website at: http://www.getmojod.com/

Enjoy!

T