Category: Florida

Hollywood Brewing Company – Hollywood, FL

There is a brewery right on the beach in Hollywood, Florida called Hollywood Brewing Company. What better way to enjoy beer than at the beach.

They have a great painting on the wall that explains the beer making process. It is simple but gets the key points across.

I sampled a few of their beers but they were a little too hoppy and bitter for my liking. But if you are a fan of German style beer then they will be perfect for you.

 I went for one of their cocktails. The Victoria’s Lemonade sounded great. It was vodka, Sprite, and a splash of pomegranate juice. It was a refreshing taste that was not too sweet.

Naturally I had the munchies while I was enjoying my cocktail. I saw a pretzel on the menu. This freshly baked pretzel was covered in salt. It also came with a side of mustard. The mustard had a wonderful sweet taste. I enjoyed the pretzel but it was a little over cooked, so as it cooled down it got slightly harder.

There were these dumplings on the menu that caught my attention. There was not much of a description so I asked my bartender about them.

These were Russian style dumplings. The bite size pasta was stuffed with ground beef and lamb. They were boiled in a chicken broth. The broth added a salty taste to the pasta itself. The meat was tender and full of flavor. I was very surprised that these little dumplings were so savory.

Hollywood Brewing Company was a fun, little surprise along the beach. If you need to get out of the sun or work up an appetite after swimming, check them out. http://hollywood.beer/

Enjoy!

T

Fire – Winter Haven, FL

I have written about Fire Restaurant before. I was back in town and I wanted to stop by again.

To my surprise the entire restaurant had been remodeled and the menu had been slightly updated. What I remembered about the restaurant before was it was dark with rich wood beams and wood paneling on the wall. Now it has been brightened up with trendy gray paint, fresh decor on the walls, and cool updated light fixtures. It really was a transformation.

     

I was excited to try some of the new menu items. I started with the chicken noodle soup. The soup was a little thick; it reminded me of chicken and dumplings. The broth had a great savory taste. They include lots of fresh vegetables and noodles. Plus there are large pieces of fresh roasted chicken.

I also ordered the grilled shrimp skewers. My waitress mentioned that this was one of her favorite dishes. The shrimp had a sweet teriyaki glaze. It paired really well with the grilled taste of the shrimp.

The shrimp rested on top of a slaw salad made with cucumbers, red onion, and feta cheese. It was tossed in a Vidalia onion like dressing. The flavor was amazing. It was sweet overall and the feta cheese added a subtle tang. The cucumbers soaked up the sweet taste and added crunch.

They had a few flatbreads on the menu. The fig, prosciutto, and Gorgonzola cheese pizza sounded like an interesting combination. The fig added a sweetness, the prosciutto added the saltiness and the Gorgonzola added tanginess. When eaten all together it was a trifecta of flavor. They all worked off each other. The crust was super thin. It was a cracker like crust but still sweet. Because it was so thin, the pizza toppings took center stage without the crust taking over.

The changes at Fire are well worth another visit. Their new dishes were great. Check them out at www.thefirerestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

Two Henry’s Brewing Company – Plant City, FL

So inside Keel & Curley Winery, which I had previously written about, is a brewery called Two Henry’s Brewing Company.

They offer beer flight as well as cider flights. I went for a cider flight that allowed me to select five of their homemade ciders.

     

  • Elderberry – this was almost like a light fruit punch. It was sweet and full of flavor.
  • Mango – I could smell the mango as soon as I put the glass up to my nose. There was a sweetness that was throughout. It was very tropical in nature.
  • Pineapple – Since I love pineapple so much I knew I needed to try this. Overall it was slightly bubblier than the other ciders. This too was sweet and the pineapple taste was strong.
  • Strawberry – I could smell the strawberry. When I tasted it however, there was only an essence of strawberry. It was as if the apple cider was trying to push through.
  • Strawberry-Lime – This had a subtle sweet smell to it. The strawberry did not stand out. I actually thought I tasted banana, which is weird since there was no banana in the cider.

I also ordered the conch fritters to enjoy while sipping my cider flight.

They had a great crispy crust on the outside and soft and moist inside. There were large pieces of the actual conch mixed throughout the filling. It was a great complement to the cider.

If you like beer tastings or even interested in trying a cider flight, head over to Two Henry’s Brewing Company. Check out their menu at www.twohenrysbrewing.com

Enjoy!

T

Keel & Curley Winery – Plant City, FL

Florida has several wineries around the state. There is one not far off Interstate 4 as you are heading toward Tampa called Keel & Curley. I was excited to get to visit along with my sister.

They are much larger on the inside than what I was expecting. They have a full restaurant along with two large bars. We grabbed seats at the bar for more personal attention.

     

We both decided to do a wine tasting. This allowed us to try four of their homemade wines. We both decided to make two of our four choices different each other, that way we could each taste something different, basically six different wines.  We were just trying to maximize our experience.

My selections included:

     

  • Strawberry Riesling – this was sweet with a slight essence of strawberry, not overwhelming.
  • Tangerine Tango – I could taste the citrus when I first took a sip but there was a bitter aftertaste.
  • Key West Key Lime – This was the perfect name for a Florida wine. There were hints of coconut in the taste and scent. It was great for sipping. It almost had a tropical cocktail feel.
  • Black Raspberry – This had a sweet flavor with a slightly dry aftertaste.

There were two wines that my sister ordered that she let me try.

  • Sweet Blueberry – I could really taste the actual blueberries that they used in the wine. There was a slight tangy aftertaste.
  • Wildberry Pinot Noir – There was a sweetness to the wine but it did not linger. It was an interesting flavor.

While we were sampling all this wine, we did order something to munch on. The pretzels with beer cheese hit the spot. Three large pretzels came out with a little salt on top. There was a sweet taste to the dough. It almost seemed like they deep fried them to make the outside crispy. The cheese was creamy and there was only a hint of beer flavor.

We had a blast during our visit to Keel and Curley. It is a fun place to go for wine, food, and music. They also offer tours of the winery every hour. I did not get a chance to do that bu I plan on going back. Check them out at www.keelandcurleywinery.com

     

Enjoy!

T

Café Charlotte – Miami Beach, FL

I found a really cute Argentinian restaurant on a recent visit to Miami Beach. Café Charlotte offered up fresh made, authentic Argentinian dishes.

     

Since I wanted to try a few things on the menu the best option was their mixed platter. This allowed me to have four different things that were the perfect size.

First were the croquettes. These were ham and cheese. These were very similar to what I have had at tapas restaurants. The chopped up pieces of ham were blended in creamy potatoes and cheese.

The ham and cheese empanada was like a grilled ham and cheese sandwich wrapped up in dough. They used generous slices of ham and lots of creamy cheese. When the dough was fried up it melted the cheese so when I took a bite it oozed out.

The beef empanada was really interesting. They use steak that was chopped up and mixed with onions, potatoes, and chopped up hard boil eggs. It was not a combination I was expecting but I was pleasantly surprised. The fried dough that formed the empanada kept the savory juices locked inside.

The final item on the plate was a tequenos. This was actually a Venezuelan specialty. It is basically their version of a fried cheese stick. A dough (which reminded me of a wonton wrapper) was wrapped around a chunk of creamy cheese and then deep fried. The dough added a nice crunch to the cheese that you do not get with a traditional cheese stick. There was no dipping sauce but I did sprinkle a little hot sauce on it to add a little kick.

Café Charlotte is a nice little spot to get a bite to eat. While walking up and down the street they are a great stop to get out of the heat and enjoy some homemade dishes. Check them out at http://www.cafecharlottesouthbeach.com/

Enjoy!

T

Bangkok Tokyo – Bradenton, FL

There was this little whole in the wall place I found that served up a combination of Chinese, Japanese, and Thai dishes – Bangkok Tokyo Restaurant.

It was the perfect place to pop in to grab some lunch with a group of people. We were greeted right away when we walked in. The staff was extremely attentive, always making sure we had everything we needed.

     

I started off with the ginger salad. It has become a staple when I go to an Asian restaurant. This salad was huge compared to the typical salad. Their ginger dressing was great, full of minced ginger that gave both a sweet and tart taste.

We got the pan fried dumplings to share with the table. The dumplings were prepared perfectly with the outside crispy but still soft enough to bite in to. The meaty filling was tender and full of savory flavor. The dumplings tasted great on their own and they were even better when I dipped them into the soy sauce that came with it. The soy sauce had a slight sweet taste.

For my main dish I ordered the Pad Kee Muo (Drunken Noodles). These were a wide, flat rice noodle, scrambled egg, onion, carrots, and bell pepper. I also got it with chicken. It was cooked in a Thai chili sauce.

The sauce was not too spicy, it added a subtle kick. The vegetables added crunch to the dish. The chicken was tender and cut into perfect size pieces. The rice noodles took on the full flavor of the sauce. This is one of the reasons I love rice noodles in Asian dishes.

The table also ordered a shrimp and crab fried rice. The rice was great, full of salty flavors. The shrimp and crab were great add-ons to the rice but not as good as with beef or pork.

When beef and pork are cooked in fried rice, they help add additional flavor, probably from the oils that come out during cooking.

I really enjoyed everything I ate at Bangkok Tokyo. Not only was the food good, it was reasonably priced and came out fast. I would definitely make another visit.  You should check them out at www.bangkoktokyoonline.com

Enjoy!

T

Wheat + Water – Bradenton, FL

I was getting together with my cousin in Florida for dinner. She left it up to me to pick the place. I found an Italian restaurant called Wheat + Water. It was tucked away in a shopping center in Bradenton.

We were greeted so warmly when we walked in. It was like walking into a family home. As soon as we sat down the waiter brought over some fresh made bread. It was hot which was perfect because I could add butter and it melted into every inch of the bread. There was a crunchy crust and the inside was soft. It was ideal to snack on as I looked over the menu.

I ordered a sangria because they make it homemade. It was red wine based. There were several spices mixed in with the fresh fruit. The flavor reminded me of a mulled wine, just chilled.

We started off with two appetizers for the table. The first were the Risotto Bites. They blended risotto with Italian sausage, sweet peppers, and Pomodoro sauce. Then they are breaded and fried up. They were presented in a paper cone which was fun. It made passing them around the table much easier.

They were very crispy on the outside but when I cut into them the cheese oozed out. The sausage added a savory element. The peppers did add a slight sweetness that balanced out the saltiness from the cheese.

The other appetizer we ordered was the meatballs. This plate was huge. Unless you were making this dish your entire meal, it was definitely meant to be shared. These homemade meatballs were a blend of ground beef, veal, and Italian sausage. They were covered in a Pomodoro sauce. They included huge slices of garlic bread and enormous dollops of fresh Ricotta cheese.

The meatballs were full of flavor. Even with their size the meat was moist and tender. The bite was great just with the sauce however, when I added a little of the creamy Ricotta cheese it took the taste and texture to a new level. The garlic bread was perfect for scooping up the extra sauce and cheese. I could not let anything go to waste.

For my dinner I ordered the Sacchetti all’ Vodka. These were little dumpling like pasta that were filled with Ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano cheese. They were then tossed with a vodka tomato cream sauce. There was crispy pancetta mixed throughout the sauce.

The salty cheese blend poured out of the pasta as I cut in. Since the sauce was slightly sweet it helped tone down the overall saltiness. Because of all the cheese in the pasta and the creamy sauce, this dish was rich. Had I not ordered any appetizers I probably would have been able to eat more. Nevertheless the food would not go to waste; I got a to-go-box so I could enjoy for lunch the next day.

My cousin ordered a small pizza. It was a thin crust with tons of pepperoni and sausage. I made sure to at least have a small slice so I could write about it. The pizza dough was slightly sweet. I could taste the smoky flavor because of the wood fire oven. The pepperoni was crispy and the sausage was full of herbs.

I am glad I got to pick the place for dinner since I got to try something new. You should check them out at http://wheatpluswater.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

 

 

Soong Thai – Ocoee, FL

If you like Thai food, I have found an amazing place called Soong Thai in the Florida town of Ocoee. It is a family run restaurant located in a small shopping center.

I was greeted right away when I walked in. I could not wait to sit down and get started. There were wonderful accents of the Thai culture all around the restaurant.

     

I started off with a salad. It was a simple iceberg lettuce salad. There was a wonderful peanut dressing drizzled on top. The dressing was sweet and something very unique.

The chicken noodle soup was classic comfort food. It was loaded with tender rice noodles, crunchy bean sprouts, and roasted garlic. The garlic really added a robust flavor.

It was suggested to me to try the fried wonton. These crispy wrappers were stuffed with ground pork, carrots, chopped up water chestnuts (which added even more crunch) and potato.

The potato was an unexpected treat. It added more texture. These morsels had a great savory taste. They came with a Thai chili sauce that was sweet. It was the perfect blend of flavors.

One of the dishes for the table was the Siam Tofu. The pieces of tofu were lightly fried and then sautéed with a chili sauce that had garlic added. The tofu was then mixed with fresh vegetables. The tofu was cooked perfectly; the outside was crispy while the inside was soft. The tofu also soaked up all the flavor from the sauce.

The other dish was Lad Nah. This was soft rice noodles mixed with carrots, broccoli and chicken. The chicken was cut up into bite size pieces and still remained juicy. The noodles were amazing. These also soaked up the gravy from the dish. I thought these were the best part of the dish.

I enjoyed my meal and would love to go back to try something else. Check them out if you are in the area. www.soongthai.com

Enjoy!

T

Graffiti Junktion – Clermont, FL

I was visiting my sister and she was excited to take me to Graffiti Junktion. She said they had amazing burgers. She also knew I would want to write about them too.

The first thing I noticed when walking to the restaurant was their beautiful view. They overlook the town since they are on a pretty big hill (Yes, there are parts of central Florida that have hills).

The inside of the restaurant is wild and fun. They definitely stuck to the graffiti theme. There were great works of art on the walls and tables.

     

If you are a Pokémon fan, they have a table for you.

Since my sister has Graffiti Junktion before, I took her recommendation of what to order. Since we got there in time for happy hour, we made sure to order something to kick off our visit.

They have zucchini fries on the menu that my sister says are a must have. These zucchini were sliced thin and covered in seasoned breadcrumbs. They were fried till extra crispy. All I needed to do was sprinkle a little salt on top and these beauties were ready to eat.

The zucchini was tender and not too soft. The crunch from the breading was perfect. The seasoning they use was delicious. It was a great starter to share.

There were a dozen different burgers to choose from on the menu. Plus you can build your own. I went for the Graffiti Double.

This was two of their all beef patties that are made fresh to order. The burger was extremely juicy. The meat was so tender too, it’s like it melted in my mouth when I took a bite.

The burger also came with creamy slices of American cheese (you can choose a different option if desired) and crispy pieces of bacon. The bacon added great crunch to the burger. It also came with a side of fries that were fresh cut.  No burger would be complete without fries.

The burgers at Graffiti Junktion were amazing. My sister was right, plus they were also voted Orlando’s Best Burgers. You should definitely check them out. www.GraffitiJunktion.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Columbia – Tampa, FL

I have found myself writing about the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor Coty again. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Tampa and every time I visit I try to have one meal there.

As with all my previous visits I made sure to order a pitcher of sangria. This time I got the Blanco Sangria that was made table side.

  

It was made with CR Generations Sauvignon Blanco (this is wine specially made for Columbia), brandy, and fresh citrus juices. This visit the sangria was put in a beautifully decorated pitcher.

The sangria was sweet but not overly sweet. It just tastes so fresh to me. Maybe because I get to watch all the ingredients come together. I wanted to share a video I took, so check it out on my twitter account (@GatorGirl_swamp).

Like my other visit I made sure I ordered the famous 1905 salad. The tangy dressing that is on this salad is extremely addicting. When it combines with the cheese, ham, olives, and tomatoes I feel like I am in heaven.

I love the fact they make this table side too, especially when I can tell my waiter to add extra cheese. Check out the video  I took on twitter (@GatorGirl_swamp).

The last time I visited I order the Queso Fundido. I enjoyed the cheese, olives, and tomato sauce so much I ordered it again. I loved that it came with toasted Cuban bread slices. They added crunch to the soft cheese mixture.

Now up to this point I have written about all of the items that I had before. I loved them all so much I wanted to share them again. I did order two other items that I never tried before.

The first dish was the Cakes de Cangrejo. These are large crab cakes that are loaded with fresh blue crabmeat and grilled. The crabmeat was extremely sweet. They drizzled a passion fruit aioli sauce over the crab cakes. This added a little extra sweetness to the crab.

For the first time ever I left room for some desserts. I tried a little homemade flan. Their flan was a milky custard with a dark caramel sauce. It was a delicious cross between custard and cheesecake.

The other dessert I ordered was the white chocolate bread pudding. This was the perfect choice after the saltiness of the 1905 salad. They use their fresh Cuban bread, white chocolate, and it is covered with a rum sauce.

It came with 2 slices so it was perfect for sharing. The bread pudding was super sweet but still slightly creamy. I think it was the rum sauce that kept me going back for more bites. I would recommend that everyone try this dessert.

I love Columbia Restaurant. I have written about them two other times and think I will continue to write about them every time I visit. I encourage everyone to check them out at http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/

Enjoy!

T