Category: Florida

Columbia Restaurant – Clearwater Beach, FL

One of my favorite restaurants in Clearwater, Florida is Columbia Restaurant. They have multiple locations now but I have been visiting their Clearwater location for years. This Spanish-Cuban restaurant has been serving customers for over 100 years, and it is still family owned which is wonderful! They are rooted in family tradition and you can see that in the consistency of their famous dishes and drinks.

img_3703   img_3735

One of the reasons I love their Clearwater location is I can sit outside on their deck that overlooks the bay. Watching the boats go by reminds me why Florida is a perfect vacation spot.

img_3706

On a hot summer afternoon, a pitcher of Columbia’s famous sangria is a must. They have red or white, I went for the white. What adds to the enjoyment of this sangria is they make it for you right at your table.

img_3708      img_3711

I love getting to watch every ingredient that goes into it, plus the care that the server puts into making it just right.

img_3709     img_3714

They use a Sauvignon Blanco that is made just for the restaurant. They mix in fresh citrus juices and a touch of brandy. This is the BEST sangria I have ever had. I measure all others I try based on this one.

img_3723

For an appetizer I got the Ybor City Devil Crab Croquette. It’s made with fresh blue crab, paprika, and garlic. It’s rolled and covered in Cuban breadcrumbs then deep fried. There was a little spice to it but it balanced out with a sip of sangria.

img_3732     img_3734

The show stopper that is a must have for anyone visiting Columbia Restaurant is the “1905 Salad”. This salad is tossed right at your table. The chopped lettuce is mixed with julienne ham, Swiss cheese, turkey (if you want to add that), tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and their homemade garlic dressing. It’s the dressing that makes this salad irresistible.

img_3720    img_3718

img_3716

You can get a smaller version of the salad, but I recommend the full size that they table can share. This is one of the only salads that I have ever been able to eat as my meal. It’s refreshing on a summer afternoon overlooking the water.

img_3727

Whether you are there on vacation or just having a quick lunch, being at Columbia helps you forget your troubles. Check out their website at www.columbiarestaurant.com  to find a location near you. You can always stop by their Tampa airport location before you get on your plane back home.

img_3737

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Donut King – Clermont, FL

When visiting my sister in Florida we have made it a new family tradition to stop by Donut King. There is always a line out the door and they offer fresh made donuts 24 hours a day.

IMG_1615

As soon as you walk through the door you are greeted with the sweet smell of glaze and yeast. My mouth started watering just looking at the assortment of donuts.

IMG_1611

We always get a dozen – but the tough part is deciding what flavors to get. They have chocolate, different flavor frostings, jelly and cream filled, bear claws, cinnamon rolls, sprinkles, and much, much more.

IMG_1612     IMG_1610

We make sure to get everyone’s favorite.  I got the double chocolate. I could not wait to eat it so rather than waiting till I got to the house I just ate it in the car!

IMG_1622

If you are within driving distance, make a short detour onto Highway 50 and check out the king of donuts! www.thedonutking.com

Enjoy!

T

Taco Bus – Tampa, FL

When in Tampa, a stop at the Taco Bus (which is actually a converted school bus) for authentic Mexican food is a must.  What started out as just a food truck has grown into 5 different locations around the Tampa area.

DSC00200

Their menu is quiet large and includes gluten -free and vegan options. You can choose from classics like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas or  try a torta (which is beans, filling, veggies, and cheese on fresh bread) or a tostada (a crunchy flat tortilla loaded with beans, filling, veggies, and cheese).

DSC00203

When you know what you want, just walk up to the window and order.

DSC00205

I wanted to try something different, instead of just getting tacos. I went for the tostada. It was almost like a taco salad, just on the flat tortillas instead of a shell bowl. The fresh fried tortillas were very light and would be wonderful on their own with just a little cinnamon and sugar. I also made sure I got a side of their refried beans and Mexican rice.

DSC00215

While many customers get their food to go, there are plenty of seats for you to sit and enjoy your food while it is still nice and hot. I wanted to make sure I had the full Taco Bus experience so I stayed to eat.

If you want great Mexican food that is prepared fast and well then you need to stop by the Taco Bus.  taco-bus.com

Enjoy!

T

Whale’s Rib – Deerfield Beach, FL

Nothing tastes better than fresh seafood, and what better place to enjoy it than within walking distance to the beach. This is where Whale’s Rib is located. I had driven by this restaurant for years and never stopped in. What a mistake that was. When I finally went in I realized I had been missing out on some great dishes for years.

RES=HIR,ACCT_OID=55327735,PATH=http://sf1-hrc28-vp1.hob3.sfo1.snapfish.com:7080/dfs?Path=/hr/0339/991/842/0339991842002.jpg?StorageCellName=ldm5417

 

Let’s start with the lobster bisque; most places I’ve had bisque at only offer a slight presence of lobster – but not here. This bisque had large chunks of lobster meat mixed in the creamy broth. I was only disappointed that I ordered just a cup.

RES=HIR,ACCT_OID=55327735,PATH=http://sf1-hrc28-vp1.hob3.sfo1.snapfish.com:7080/dfs?Path=/hr/0339/994/506/0339994506002.jpg?StorageCellName=ldm5417

My server recommended I order the “Whale Fries” which are their homemade potato chips. They were thinly sliced and fried to a perfect crisp. They came with a dipping sauce called “Whale Juice”. This was an awesome sauce that is there secret recipe. It was so good I really wanted to know what was in so I could try making it at home but I was not able to convince my server to tell me.

The sauce was so good I got extra and added it to my lobster salad. If you love lobster then this salad is for you. Much like the bisque, there were large chucks of lobster meat that was sweet tasting. I swear I had to have an entire lobster worth of meat on this salad.

GetImageCAWIJROB

So if you’ve worked up an appetite after swimming in the Atlantic, stop by Whale’s Rib for a great lunch. www.whalesrib.com

Enjoy!

T

Metro Diner – Jacksonville, FL

Before heading south to Gainesville, I stopped off for breakfast at Metro Diner. It was another restaurant that was featured on The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

DSC06021

It’s a great local place that is tucked away in a neighborhood. It was packed for a Friday morning – with a line all the way out the door, spilling onto the sidewalk.

I was hungry for French toast and they offered several options to choose from, it was a difficult decision:

  • Cinnamon Raisin Pecan French toast
  • Croissant French toast
  • Pound Cake French toast
  • Yo Hala on the Square French toast (challah bread stuffed with bananas, cream cheese, hazel nut syrup  topped with blueberries & strawberries)

I went for the Cinnamon Raisin Pecan. It was a great twist on a classic. If you love sweets this is the breakfast for you.

DSC06025

They have many daily breakfast and lunch specials so there is always something new to try. Check out the menu at: www.metrodiner.com

Enjoy!
T

DSC06022

Homecoming Tailgate – Gainesville, Fl

Homecoming is always a special event during the fall. To be able to enjoy it with my sisters is even better.

DSC09122

Rather than going out to eat, we decided to tailgate and cook up some hotdogs on the grill. Plus we got to enjoy it with chips and queso, macaroni salad, and of course beer.

DSC09128

Sometimes taking it easy and just relaxing is the best thing.

DSC09127

Enjoy!

T

Tailgating – Gainesville, FL

So there I was walking down University Avenue and I smell of BBQ was in the air. Across the street in a parking lot, I saw the jumbo smoker. They were serving freshly smoked pulled pork.

DSC06194

I knew I had to get some before they ran out. They started so early in the morning in order to get the bark on the pork just perfect. I wish I could have just had the pieces of bark. The sandwich I got was great and went so well with my beer before the game.

DSC06195

Enjoy!

T

The Swamp Restaurant – Gainesville, FL

Tailgating the a fun thing to do during college football season. But every now and then it’s fun to go out and have someone else do the cooking.  When I am visiting Gainesville for a football game at my alma-mater I always have fun when I got to The Swamp Restaurant.

Getting there early is a must in order to get a table, otherwise it is standing room only. This applies to before the game as well as after. While you are waiting to go over to the stadium, you can catch up on all the other college football games going on around the country.

I really enjoy their wings when I visit. They have a few different flavors to try so you are not stuck with just one. They have a full bar, but it wouldn’t feel like college unless you get a bucket of beer.

If you are in town for a football game or just passing through check them out. Visit their website at: www.swamprestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

DSC09030       DSC09029

Culhane’s Irish Pub – Atlantic Beach, FL

I was passing through Jacksonville, Florida and wanted to check out Culhane’s Irish Pub. I had heard about them on the Food Network’s show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

One of my favorite Irish foods is Scotch Eggs, which is a hard boiled egg wrapped in a thin layer of sausage and then fried. It’s a great appetizer and not all Irish pubs have them on the menu. So when I heard that Culhane’s did have it on the menu, I knew I had to go try them.

I was not disappointed – the sausage had great flavor and was just the right portion to go with the size of the egg. Since this was just an appetizer I had to try the classic Sheppard’s Pie. It was great, especially since they honored my request to make sure the potatoes were nice and crispy on top.

To add to the fun of the evening, it was trivia night. Fun entertainment and good food made for a great time! Check out their website at:  www.culhanesirishpub.com

Enjoy!

T

DSC06011      DSC06013

Scalloping – Steinhatchee, Florida

As you know I love going out and trying new foods. However, I also love cooking myself.

My favorite time of year is scallop season in Florida, usually July thru September. Every year I go out with family and friends to gather up fresh scallops and have a cookout. They can be hard to find in the water, they like to hide between all the sea grass. You definitely have to work for them, but it is worth all the work when you are eating them.

They are super easy to cook – just a little butter and garlic helps brings out the sweet flavor of the scallop. Since bay scallops are small they cool in just a few minutes. If you over cook them they can get tough. And they are super easy to freeze so that you can enough them after scallop season is over.

If you are interested in more information about scalloping in Florida get all the details on the Florida Recreational Regulations at www.myfwc.com

Enjoy,

T

 

DSC00318                 DSC00331