Central Florida is not shy of water. There are dozens of lakes all around. Recently I visited Lake Shipp in the Winter Haven area. Unfortunately when I got there one of Florida’s famous pop-up rain showers started. So since hanging outside was out of the question I decided to check out a restaurant right along the lake called Harborside. They had a great view of the water. As soon as I looked at the menu the red sangria called out to me. It was very classic with oranges and maraschino cherries added in. The only thing I would have changed…
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Going out to dinner with friends is a wonderful experience. When friends of mine learned I write a food blog, they made sure to pick a new restaurant for us to try. That is one of the reasons we went to 400 Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida. The other reason is because it was my birthday. It was a beautiful place with seating both inside and outside. Since it was way to hot to eat outside, we sat inside to stay nice and cool. There were tropical decorations everywhere. We kicked off my birthday with cocktails. I ordered the…
Leave a CommentI was visiting Jacksonville Beach, Florida and a good friend told me I had to visit her favorite Mexican restaurant, Taco Lu. This family owned establishment has been serving up homemade tacos and Mexican specialties since 2008. I was reading about how they started and it is an awesome story about taking risks and being an entrepreneur. The décor is very colorful. There are sugar skulls everywhere. There is beautiful artwork hanging on the walls. It is a cheerful and fun environment that makes eating there a positive experience. I had to start off with chips, salsa,…
Leave a CommentThere is a restaurant in Treasure Island, Florida, not far from Tampa, that has been serving up Cuban sandwiches since 1993. They have won several awards including being voted “Best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa Bay”. At the suggestion of some great friends, we went to The Floridian to see what they were all about. It is a small place that has a few tables inside and a large patio so customers can eat outside. That is where we ended up sitting. Ordering is simple, just go up to the counter and tell them what you want. They make everything right…
Leave a CommentBefore spending the day at the beach it is important to start off with a good breakfast. Beverly’s has been serving up hearty breakfasts since 1989. It is a simple place that had people lined up outside waiting for a table, including myself. They serve all the classic diner dishes. I went for a simple breakfast, eggs, grits, bacon, and toast. I got my eggs scrambled and mixed in the crunchy bacon. The grits were ok but I needed to add butter to them to make them a little creamier and saltier. I did not get the homefries but I…
Leave a CommentOne of my favorite things to do on the weekend is have brunch. It is a great way to relax with family and friends plus enjoy some creative foods and cocktails. It was suggested that I try Kafe Kokopelli for brunch. They are located in a building that is over 100 years old. What I learned was the building was originally owned by Ford Motors to see their Model T. I thought it was amazing they were able to restore this location and repurpose it to something for the whole community. They have some pictures of the old building in…
Leave a CommentWinter haven is a small town in Central Florida. They have a cute little downtown area that is having a restaurant boom. Fire is one of those hot spots. They are pretty big inside. There is an area where bands play. They have an outside patio area, with a full bar. This is also where you can go with your dog. I was pretty hungry when I arrived because I had worked through lunch that day. I started off with the bacon wrapped scallops with an Asian slaw. The scallops were large in size and wrapped tightly with crunchy…
Leave a CommentThere is a stupendous Japanese steakhouse call Robata located in Clermont, Florida. I have been to this restaurant multiple times over the year. I have tweeted about them before but after another big family dinner there, I decided I needed to finally write about them on my blog. With all my visits, Robata is always consistent in their flavor and quality of the food they serve. Their hibachi chefs always prepare flavorful entrees with a fun show. So it was the perfect option to take the family to celebrate my grandmother’s 90th birthday. Since this was a celebration, I went…
Leave a CommentOne 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. 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…
Leave a CommentWhen 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. 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. 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. …
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