Category: Florida

Ave Bar – Winter Haven, FL

There is a cute bar I found in Winter Haven, Florida called Ave Bar. It is located between Arabella’s and Bistro Pizza.

Inside you can either sit at the bar or enjoy a seat in one of their leather chairs. It is a great place to go with friends to enjoy drinks and conversation.

     

The other thing I learned about Ave Bar is that it is owned by the same company that owns Arabella’s and Bistro Pizza. So patrons can actually order food from either of those restaurants and have it delivered to the bar.

I started off my visit with a cucumber martini. This drink had an extraordinary fresh taste.  I could taste the cucumber throughout each sip. I saved the fresh slice of cucumber to eat at the end.

     

I wanted to make sure I tried something from each of the restaurants. From Arabella’s I ordered their Zuppa del Giorno (Soup of the Day). The day I was there the soup was a fresh made minestrone soup.

The vegetable broth had a great savory taste. It was loaded with fresh vegetables, including tender cannelloni beans. They also used a generous amount of pasta which ends up being my favorite part of the soup. This was a great starter to the meal.

From Bistro Pizza I ordered the Pizza alla Boscaiola. This this crust pizza was covered with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, olives, mushrooms, pepperoni, and artichokes.

The crust was nice a crispy. The combination of veggies paired well together. The olives added saltiness, the mushrooms added an earthy taste, and the artichokes added a little crunch plus additional saltiness. The cheese added a smooth, creaminess that helped cut out some of the salt taste as well as the sweetness of the sauce. The pepperoni also added additional salt taste but it did not last long because I have a habit of picking off all the pepperoni and eating it separately.

Ave Bar was the perfect hang out spot for a Saturday night. The drinks were perfect and the food tasted wonderful. I would definitely go back again to hang out.

Check out what they are all about at www.arabellas.us/ave-bar

Enjoy!

T

Columbia Restaurant – Tampa, FL

Florida has a rich history that many visitors do not realize. Back at the turn of the 20th century, Ybor City was thriving with Cuban cigar factories. With all those factories, there was a need for restaurants to feed all those workers. The Columbia Restaurant was one of those places. It is officially known as the oldest restaurant in Florida, founded in 1905.

They have a few locations around Florida now, but I was thrilled to be getting to go to the original location in Ybor City.

The restaurant takes up an entire block (if not more). They also have a shop where you can buy everything from sauces to Spanish painted plates. You can take a little piece of Columbia home.

The restaurant inside was beautiful. It was extremely crowded but luckily I did not have to wait too long for a table.

 

While I was waiting I walked around and noticed they were decorating one of the main dining rooms for what looked like a wedding.

  

A meal at Columbia had to start off with a pitcher of homemade sangria that they make right at the table.

I took a few videos of them making the sangria, I posted those videos on my Twitter page (@GatorGirl_swamp).

  

 

Their sangrias are delicious. Theirs was the first sangria I ever tried years ago and it made me fall in love with them. I ordered the Sangria de Cava. It is their sparkling sangria.

They use Jaume Serra Cristalino Spanish Cava, brandy, and orange liquor. Plus they squeeze fresh juices in and top it with maraschino cherries.

This sangria is slightly sweet and extremely refreshing.

To accompany my sangria I ordered the Queso Fundido. It was Tetilla cheese from Galicia, Spain. It is baked in Rioja tomato sauce. In the cheese and sauce mixture were olives and capers. I was not expecting those. They were a nice salty surprise. To eat this dip they included toasted Cuban bread.

This is not your typical queso. The flavor was amazing. It was salty and creamy. It reminded me of an Italian type sauce that you could eat with pasta. The salty taste helped balance the sweetness of the sangria.

There is another item that is a must order when visiting Columbia. It is their 1905 salad. The legendary, award winning salad is made tableside just like the sangria. You can check out my videos of the salad being made on Twitter (@GatorGirl_swamp).

 

This salad has chopped up iceberg lettuce mixed with thinly sliced ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese, olives, tomatoes, and tons of Romano cheese. Then it is tossed with their famous dressing that includes Worcestershire sauce and fresh lemon juice.

  

This salad definitely needs to be shared. However, even sharing it, I still got a giant plateful. It is a filling salad. The dressing adds a sour taste but that is mellowed because of all the cheese. I love the fact that every element in this salad is chopped up. It makes it so much easier to eat.

Once you have tried this salad you will find yourself starting to crave it. I tried my best but the salad kicked my butt. I was not able to finish it. I felt so disappointed in myself.

  

There is one more part to a meal at Columbia that is a must try, their fresh Cuban bread. They make this fresh and it come to the table warm and wrapped up. Each person gets one. It has a crispy crust and a soft, sweet inside. Put butter in the bread as soon as it comes to the table. This way it has a chance to melt. Then take a bite – it’s heavenly.

Now if you tend to avoid carbs, let me just suggest that you use this visit to Columbia as your cheat day because you MUST try this bread.

I am hoping I made you hungry reading about Columbia Restaurant. They are a must visit when you are in the Tampa area. Check out their website to find all of their different locations http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/

And if you cannot make it to one of those locations, they do have a restaurant at the Tampa airport so you can get some food to go.

Enjoy!

T

Dough – Tampa, FL

Located in the building next door to Datz is a wonderful sweets shop called Dough. They are both owned by the same company.

     

When I walked into this brightly colored and playful shop, I was greeted by the sweet smell of sugar.

Their cases are loaded with homemade treats from donuts, cupcakes, and cookies. They have a machine on the counter where they will make 12 fresh mini donuts right in front of you.

   

If you are not in the mood for donuts, then you can try one of their many homemade ice creams flavors. They are perfect for a hot Florida afternoon.

Since I had just finished a big breakfast I was not hungry for a donut just yet, so I grabbed one to go. Which donut to try was a hard choice but I went for their vanilla cake donut topped with chocolate frosting.

When I ate it later in the afternoon it was heavenly. The cake dough was sweet and moist. The chocolate icing was smooth and creamy. When the cake and the icing combined together it was a dream come true. This was the perfect donut. They put the perfect amount of icing on top so that each bite had both icing and cake.

If you have a sweet tooth then a stop at Dough would be a must. Check them out at: http://bestdoughnuts.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

 

Datz – Tampa, FL

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Having breakfast at Datz proves that statement to be absolutely true. Based on the crowd of customers that I saw, they all felt the same way.

  

While looking over the menu of creative breakfast dishes, I ordered a Prickly Pear Mimosa. This was a unique take on a mimosa. They used mandarin-tangerine puree, prickly pear, and champagne. On top it is garnished with candied prickly pear. I enjoyed the sweetness of this mimosa. But be warned the candied prickly pear is extremely sweet.

For breakfast I ordered the Biscuits and Crazy. It is their take on the southern classic. They make a homemade cheddar biscuit and cover it with a creamy sausage gravy. It also comes with a side of bacon, eggs, and tri-colored potatoes.

The biscuit was very crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. I could taste all the cheddar that was mixed throughout. The gravy was creamy and had some heat. It was from the sausage as well as the red pepper that was chopped up in the gravy. It paired perfectly with the cheesy biscuit.

I got my eggs scrambled and they were pretty standard; however, I elevated the taste when I broke up some of the bacon and mixed it in with my eggs. The bacon was on the sweet side compared to a typical salty bacon. They were also thick meaty slices which was great.

I wanted to make sure I gave a call out to makers of a few ingredients to this delicious breakfast.

  • The sausage that is used in the gravy comes from a company is Kuttawa, Kentucky called Broadbent. Upon researching them I uncovered that they have been in business for almost 50 years. You can order your own sausage to be delivered at home through their website: http://www.broadbenthams.com/
  • The bacon is from a company called Nueskes in Wittenberg, Wisconsin. After researching them, I found that they have been smoking bacon for 3 generations. You can order bacon for yourself at: www.nueskes.com

The potatoes were unique. They were a combination of Yukon potatoes, purple potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The entire side ended up being sweet because of the sweet potatoes. It was a nice change from a typical sautéed potato that you get with a breakfast.

Datz is more than just a breakfast place. They have a full menu of burgers, salads, and sandwiches. Plus you need to save room for dessert. They have a large assortment of rainbow macaroon, cupcakes, and huge cakes. You can eat them there or take them to go.

   

I had a fun visit and plan on going back to try one of their cheeseburgers. Take a look at their complete menu at http://www.datztampa.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

TooJay’s – Lake Mary, FL

I love deli’s that offer a variety of soups and sandwiches. I have visited so many throughout all of my travels. I had never heard of TooJay’s before but a friend highly recommended them. Sure enough they had all the classics on the menu from potato knishes to pastrami sandwiches.

     

I started with a cup of the homemade matzo ball soup. It was raining outside so I thought this would be perfect comfort food. The matzo ball was light and fluffy. It had herbs mixed throughout which is not normally something I see. It added an extra savory flavor. The fresh chicken broth was loaded with carrots and onions. It was the best way to start the meal on this dreary day.

For my lunch I ordered the ultimate comfort food — Shepherd’s Pie. This delicious dish came out in a personal size casserole dish. They used fresh ground beef that was tossed in a great savory brown gravy. It was loaded with corn, peas, and carrots.

Naturally it was topped with creamy mashed potatoes. What made this Shepherd’s Pie stand out was that they melted Muenster cheese on top of the potatoes. It added extra creaminess. It was filling and amazing.

Now a visit to a deli would not be complete without a stop at the dessert counter. They had two cases full of fresh baked goods. There was everything from cakes and pastries to cookies.

     

Since I was full from my lunch I could not eat any dessert right there. But I did make sure to buy something for later. They had just brought out a whole tray of fresh black and white cookies.

I decided to but a whole container to take home. These were soft cake like cookies that were loaded with a sweet, hard coasting of white icing and a soft layer of creamy chocolate icing. They were perfect and you cannot eat just one.

     

I really enjoyed TooJay’s and glad I was introduced to them. They have a few other things I wanted to try on the menu including the stuffed cabbage. They have a couple of other locations around Florida so check them out at www.toojays.com

Enjoy!

T

Stonewood Grill – Ormond Beach, FL

When visiting the beach on the East Coast of Florida, fresh seafood is a must have. I was recently there with some friends from work and we decided to check out Stonewood Grill in Ormond Beach.

They are in a perfect location, just across the street from the beach. When I got out of the car I could feel the ocean breeze. They have great outside seating. It would have been perfect if it was not raining that day.

Since I was there with a group, we all decided that we would order a few appetizers to share. While we were all trying to agree on what to order, our waitress brought out a basket of fresh breads. This basket was not filled with ordinary bread, they had cranberry rolls and fresh baked pretzel bread.

As soon as I laid eyes on the pretzel bread I knew I needed to grab it quickly while it was still hot. It was lightly covered in salt. The pretzel dough was super soft and very sweet. I could have eaten an entire basket of just this. The only other item that would have made this outstanding would have been beer cheese for dipping.

The first appetizer to come out were the Bleu Cheese Chips.  These were homemade, fresh cut potato chips. These were just like the ones my dad would make when I was younger. On top of these chips were bleu cheese crumbles; a balsamic vinegar reduction that drizzled across the chips. There was also a bleu cheese aioli that was poured on top.

There were a few accents of Rosemary and Thyme. Those were just for appearances because it did not add anything to the taste.  The tanginess of the balsamic and the bleu cheese kind of canceled each other out. Not one overpowered the other. The bleu cheese aioli kept everything calm. The chips added great crunch.

The other appetizer we got was the BLT & E Crab Stack. This was basically a salad that was piled up into cylindrical layers of color.

There were layers of lettuce, ripe tomato slices, hard boiled egg slices, chopped up bacon, and topped off with layers of tender lump crab meat. Drizzled all over the layers was a homemade remoulade, basil pesto, and a balsamic vinegar reduction.  This was an amazing salad. It ended up being a little harder to share. We had to cut the lettuce and tomato in order for everyone to have a little. This would have been perfect for one person to order as a salad prior to their meal. There was no need to have to share it.

For my main dish I ordered the Ginger Lime Salmon. This fresh filet of salmon was covered in a ginger lime marinade and then grilled over oak wood. The salmon was placed on top of a fresh Asian slaw.

The crispy slaw was made up of cabbage, carrots, and snap peas and then covered in a sesame ginger dressing. The dressing was full of flavor and I just wish they added more to the plate.

The salmon was cooked perfectly. The skin was crispy and took on the flavor from the grill. The fish was flaky and moist. It tasted great with the bite from the ginger.

It was time for dessert. We all agreed to get a few to share around the table. The Pumpkin Cheesecake was a sleeper. I did not expect this to taste so good. I figured it would be overly seasoned like other pumpkin items out there. The cheesecake was super creamy and the pumpkin added a flavor just like pumpkin pie.

The Lemoncello Cake was another amazing choice. The white cake was fluffy and soft. There was sweet cream in between each layer of the cake. On the top was a layer of lemon pudding. The lemon added the right amount of tartness that was calmed by the sweetness of the cream.

The last dessert we ordered was the Chocolate Bread Pudding. Chocolate was mixed throughout to create a chocolate bread. Then it was baked and covered with an amazing vanilla sauce. It was served with a deliciously creamy vanilla ice cream. They also accented it with a chocolate wafer-like cookie.

All of these desserts were amazing. Actually everything about the meal was amazing. They have 9 locations across the State of Florida, so I would recommend seeing if there is one near you. See their menu at www.stonewoodgrill.com

Enjoy!

T

Agave – Ormond Beach, FL

For over 12 years Agave has been serving up authentic Mexican dishes for the Ormond Beach area. While visiting the area I was able to check them out for lunch.

Stepping inside the restaurant the first thing I noticed was how colorful and cheerful everything was. I figured that the feeling should easily translate into an enjoyable.

     

They had a pretty large selection on the menu. I enjoyed the chips and fresh made salsa as I decided what to order.

I ended up ordering a bowl of the Sopa Maya. This was not a typical tortilla soup that I normally find on Mexican menus. This great salty broth was loaded with shredded chicken that was seasoned with what I thought was a mole sauce.

Along with the chicken, this soup was filled with rice, zucchini, yellow squash, avocado, and pico de gallo. They even included some red onion for added sweetness. The soup was extremely hearty but it did not overly fill me up. Towards the end of the bowl I caught a little of the spice that must have settled at the bottom of the bowl.

I also ordered a side of the Mexican rice. I was not sure if the soup would be enough to eat. I love Mexican rice and I knew this would be a good pairing with the soup. It had a savory taste with a slight amount of heat from the little red pepper that was mixed throughout.

Agave was a quick place to grab lunch and enjoy some great food. Check out their menu at www.agavefreshmexormond.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Oma’s Pizza – Bradenton Beach, FL

I recently found an amazing family owned Italian restaurant in Bradenton Beach called Oma’s Pizza.

It is a small place right across the street from the beach. I was excited to check them out with my parents.

There were so many wonderful items on the menu that we wanted to try. I was afraid our eyes would be bigger than our stomachs. So we ordered everything in stages to make sure we still had room and did not waste food.

We started off with the cheese garlic bread. This was a step above regular garlic bread. The fresh made loaf of bread was sliced in half and smothered with garlic butter. Then layers of mozzarella cheese were placed on top. They ran it through the oven to melt the cheese. It looked so delicious.

When I took a piece, the cheese was still so hit it created those cheese strings that I had to scoop up with my fingers. The combination of garlic, butter, and cheese were a perfect marriage.

I also dipped a few bites in the homemade pasta sauce that came on the side. The sauce was sweet and balanced the saltiness from the cheese. This was the perfect starter, but make sure to share it because it can easily fill up one person.

The other dish that was perfect for sharing was the fried eggplant. The eggplant was thinly sliced and breaded with Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. It was deep fried until the breading was nice and crispy. Then their homemade marinara sauce was poured on top of the slices.

Everything about this dish was perfect. The eggplant was cooked perfectly. It was tender on the inside and the right amount if crispy on the outside. They also used the right amount of sauce so that it did not make the eggplant soggy. This sauce also was slightly sweet that paired well with the saltiness of the eggplant. This sauce was also different from the pasta sauce with the garlic bread because it had chunks of tomatoes mixed in.

We ordered a Sicilian pizza to share. Their Sicilian is a thick crust and only comes in a 16″x 16″ size. It is a lot of pizza. For those not familiar with Sicilian pizza, it is cooked in a square or rectangular baking pan, rather than a round pizza pan.

We went simple and just ordered cheese. The dough was sweet and fluffy. It really soaked in the sweetness from the red sauce they used. The cheese added creaminess but not the typical saltiness. A slice of this pizza will fill you up fast.

I did order one last thing for myself. Whenever I go to Italian restaurants I always make sure I order the house-made meatballs. I kept that tradition alive at Oma’s as well. They offered a small side of meatballs (it came with two).

The meatballs were seasoned perfectly. They were tender and moist. The meat just melted in my mouth when I took a bite. These meatballs were served in the same pasta sauce that came with the bread. This sauce was so versatile. The sweet taste went so well with the seasoned meat.

We were so full after everything we ordered that we did not leave room for dessert. I would definitely go back to try one of their ice cream truffles.

I highly recommend Oma’s Pizza. The food is amazing. The staff is extremely friendly and they make you feel like you are family. Check out their menu at www.omaspizza.com

Enjoy!

T

Sandbar – Anna Maria, FL

Nothing makes me feel like I am on vacation like hanging at the beach. What is even better is enjoying dinner at the beach. Sandbar on Anna Maria Island in Florida offered the perfect beach dining experience.

     

I got there at the perfect time because the sun was just beginning to set.

     

I even got to see a lovely beach wedding.

As I sat at my table enjoying the sounds of the crashing waves, my waiter brought over some fresh made focaccia bread.

They served this along with fresh made pesto and olive oil. The oil was light on taste which allowed the herbs in the pesto to shine through.

I ordered a few starters for the table to enjoy. The Backyard Cornbread came out first. This was a classic Southern style cornbread. They served it with a whipped honey butter. The bread was soft and crumbled when cut. The taste was sweet even before I put on the butter.

The cheese grits came out next. These were stone-ground grits that were a little thicker than typical grits that are served with breakfast. The grits were loaded with cheddar and pepper jack cheese. They were cooked in a cast iron skillet so they came out piping hot. The cheese layer on top was nice and crispy. The two different cheeses made the grits extra creamy. The cheeses also blended really well together. The pepper jack did not add any heat.

For my dinner I ordered the American Red Snapper. It can be prepared multiple ways including grilled, blackened, or fried. I went for it grilled.

I could taste the flavor from the grill through out the fish. It was light and flaky. It had a subtle sweet taste.

The snapper was accompanied by some Spanish rice. This rice had a little kick to it from the red and green peppers that were chopped up within.

There were also some fresh grilled vegetables. The cauliflower was my favorite. They still had a crunch to them and the grill taste was wonderful.

By the time I was done with dinner the sun had almost set. It was a beautiful and tranquil scene. My meal at Sandbar was fresh and delicious. You should check them out at www.islanddining.com

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Fred’s Market Restaurant – Lakeland, FL

There is a great family restaurant that is always busy every time I drive by – Fred’s Market Restaurant. This family owned place has a rich history that all started at a restaurant attached to a gas station in Plant City.

     

The restaurant is huge inside, and almost every table was full. What I did not realize until I walked in is that Fred’s is a buffet, a HUGE buffet. They had a salad station, a large meat and sides station, and of course a dessert station.

The buffet does change a few of the meats and sides each day but there are several standards that will always be included – like fried chicken. What would a southern buffet be without fried chicken.

I made sure to try a little bit of everything. This way I did not over stuff myself and did not waste food. My first plate I made sure to get:

  • Fried chicken – The fried chicken was extremely crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
  • Mashed potatoes – The mashed potatoes were super creamy and the savory brown gravy added a touch of saltiness.
  • Spanish pulled pork – The pulled pork was amazing. The pork was tender and pulled apart just with a fork. It was juicy and also had a savory taste

I tried a few things on the salad bar:

  • Broccoli salad – The tangy and sweet dressing covered fresh pieces of broccoli and shredded cheddar cheese. There was a crunch from the crispy, fresh bacon. The raisins added an extra sweetness.
  • Pasta Salad – The bow tie pasta was tossed in an Italian dressing with feta cheese and chopped up bell peppers.

I had to get another plate to try a few more things:

  • Dinner Roll – They had just put fresh ones out so I had to grab one. They are yeast rolls that were sweet and soft. The butter that they brushed on top added a slight saltiness.
  • Prime Sirloin – The sirloin was sliced into thin slices and marinated in an ajus sauce. The meat was extremely tender. The sauce helped keep the meat moist.
  • Spanish Rice – They used some great seasoning in this rice to transform it into a savory dish.
  • Plantains – I love sweet plantains. These were soft and cooked perfectly. It is almost like these could be a dessert.
  • Grits – These were cheddar grits and they were creamy and salty. They are the perfect kind that I usually enjoy at breakfast.
  • Mac & Cheese – I had one small scoop of the homemade mac and cheese. There was a crispy layer of cheese on top that covered the creamy pasta.

I did save a little room for dessert. They had everything from cake, banana pudding, and ice cream sundaes. I went for a Southern classic – pecan pie. The gooey filling was super sweet. The pecans were sweet and crunchy. It was a really sweet dessert but it paired well with a fresh cup of coffee.

Fred’s Market Restaurant was a great place. It is perfect for families to get together and enjoy a meal. Just make sure you go with an appetite. They also have a really popular breakfast buffet. I need to make sure I bring my family the back the next time we are in town.

Check out their family history and their menu at www.fredsmarket.com

Enjoy!

T