Category: Florida

Taco Bus – Lakeland, FL

It has been a few years since I have written about Taco Bus. Since that time they have opened a few more locations across Florida. I went back to the Lakeland location in the downtown area. For readers who might not be familiar, Taco Bus started as a food truck out of an old yellow school bus.  Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives visited them for an episode and they exploded from there.

When you walk in you are greeted by a yellow school bus to keep with the tradition. I ordered a few things off the menu since I was pretty hungry.

I started off with the Mexican Street Corn. This is a messy dish, so make sure you grab lots of napkins. They roast the corn on the cob and then coat it with a smoky chipotle sauce. Then it is topped with crumbled cotija cheese and fresh cilantro. The corn itself is sweet. I feel that there is something in the roasting process that brings out the sweetness. The chipotle sauce adds just a little spice, but nothing too hot. There is also a slight tanginess from the sauce and the cotija cheese. The cilantro did not seem to add anything to me except for a little color.

I also ordered a Taco. I went for the hard corn shell with ground beef. I love the freshness of their shells and how well they hold up when you bite into them. They topped the flavorful meat with cheese, purple cabbage, and fresh pico de galo. The cabbage is a unique addition to their tacos. It adds crunch without adding an overly cabbage taste. Their homemade pico goes wonderfully with the seasoning on the beef. It is so juicy it will drip down your hand when you eat. So make sure you grab more napkins.

The last thing I ordered was an Empanada. The dough shell was fried up until it was puffy and crispy. I got ground beef and cheese. They used the same beef as was in the tacos but by putting the cheese inside to melt, it made the meat immensely creamy. The empanada was a little pocket of heaven. Each bite stayed warm because of the shell.

While all of these dishes sounded like a lot of food, the size proportions are perfect. They are not oversized so you can order a few things which allows for more experimentation with menu combinations.

The experience I had at Taco Bus was exceptional. I enjoyed everything. I would recommend checking out their Lakeland location, or any other one in the area. You can find them at www.taco-bus.com

Enjoy!

T

Simone’s – St. Augustine, FL

There is an Italian restaurant that I found in St. Augustine that has a wood-fire oven that they do their cooking in. The thought of some wood-fire pizza really made me hungry, so I made a reservation for Simone’s.

When I looked over the menu, I was pleasantly surprised about how many things they offered.

I did get the wood-fire pizza that I was craving. I got it with fresh Italian sausage and anchovies. The pizza was cooked exceptionally well. There was the right amount of char on the crust. The dough was sweet and paired great with the salty cheese and pizza sauce. The sausage got crispy in the oven which I enjoyed. There was a nice fennel taste in the sausage. The anchovies, which are not everyone’s thing, added additional saltiness to the pizza.

Another dish I ordered was the homemade meatballs. The meatballs were a blend of veal, pork, and beef. They were covered in a Pomodoro sauce. They were placed in the wood-fire oven to get a little crispy on the outside. The parmesan cheese that was shredded on top melted and melted right away from the heat.  The meatballs were very moist, light, and fluffy with a great savory flavor.

They had arancini on the menu too. This was a pleasant surprise because not all Italian restaurants have these. These were smaller in size and there was no meat and peas on the inside. But they were really cheesy and were the perfect size for dipping in the Pomodoro sauce.

Finally, the other item I tried was their soup on the day. It was a corn chowder. It sounded good and to my surprise the waitress offered to give us a sample to make sure it was something that we wanted to order. I have never seen this at a restaurant before and I really appreciated it.

The sample did the trick, I loved it. I ordered a bowl of the chowder. It was a simple chowder but still full of complex flavors. The corn was sweet and was a perfect match for the savory nature of the broth.

Simone’s is not a large restaurant, so they fill up fast. Even if you have to wait for a table, it is well worth it. There were several pasta dishes on the menu that looked delicious. The next time I visit St. Augustine, I would go back to try something new.

Check out their website at www.simoneswoodfiredwgv.com

Enjoy!

T

Stonewood Grill – Daytona Beach, FL

It was a beautiful morning in Daytona Beach, and I felt like getting some brunch. When I searched around the area Stonewood Grill popped up, so I made a reservation.

We got a great seat by the window to over look their pretty water fountain.

We started off with two appetizers for the table. The first thing that came out was the Blue Cheese Chips. These were homemade, baked potato chips tossed with fresh Rosemary and thyme. They spread a blue cheese aioli all over the chips. Then a balsamic glaze was drizzled all over. The tanginess of the blue cheese was a true complement to the sweetness of the balsamic. The crunch of the chips were spectacular.

The Bruschetta was the other appetizer that was ordered. The crispy crostini’s were topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic. There was fresh grated parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. They used the same balsamic dressing and served it in a bowl. This way whatever level of saturation was wanted, it could be achieved. The tomatoes were juicy and had a slight sweet taste to them. The garlic added a nice pop. The balsamic dressing that I sprinkled on top of the tomatoes soaked into the crostini. It made it a little easier to bite in to.

I enjoyed the bruschetta so much that I ordered the Bruschetta Chicken Sandwich. The chicken was seasoned well and grilled to still hold in the juices. A slice of cheese was melted on top of the chicken before it was topped off with the bruschetta and lettuce. They toasted a hoagie roll, which added some crunch when I took a bite. The lettuce added additional texture. This all paired well with the chicken.

On the side was a tomato cucumber salad. There were red onions that were chopped up that added a little kick. An Italian dressing coated the tomatoes and cucumbers and added great flavor.

Another dish that was ordered was the Steak Bowl. The size of the bowl was perfect for brunch. The tender steak was cooked to a medium and sliced up. In the bowl they served a corn and black bean salsa. There was a slight hint of spice but the coolness of the corn and the creaminess of the beans disguised the spice pretty well.

The poblano rice was a great surprise. There was a slight heat but such a creaminess to the rice that it was almost savory. They also put their homemade pico do gallo on the side. It was fresh and tasty on its own but also tasted great mixed in with the corn and bean salsa.

The final dish that was ordered was the Grilled Chicken Sandwich. I did not get to try the sandwich however, it seemed like a classic grilled chicken. It was simple but perfect for anyone wanting something familiar. Their was a generous amount of Caesar salad served on the side. It was the perfect brunch combo.

Brunch was great at Stonewood Grill. They have a nice selection of dishes for anyone’s tastebuds. Check them out at www.stonewoodgrill.com

Enjoy!

T

Grampa’s Café – Dania Beach, FL

Over 10 years ago I was on vacation in Ft. Lauderdale, and I visited a breakfast joint that I had seen on the Food Network. That place was Grampa’s Café. It was an old-school diner that had a fresh bakery, where they made all kinds of sweets.

Now all these years later I was back in town and was happy to see that Grampa’s was still open. It is under new management and the entire restaurant has been remodeled. While the look is new, they still make the homemade pastries and their classic diner menu items.

I ordered a breakfast sandwich. It was bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel. I got the hashbrowns on the side. The bagel was amazing because it was so fresh. It was crispy on the outside from being toasted but still soft in the middle. The flavors coming from the everything seasoning went so well with the egg and cheese. The bacon added extra crunch and saltiness.

The other dish that was ordered was the Tuna Melt. This was a classic diner dish. The fresh tuna salad had a slice of melted cheese in between two slices of fresh bread, which was grilled on each side. The tuna salad was very creamy. It was a great comfort food. They also served French fries on the side.

I was so glad that I got to go back to Grampa’s Café. It was just as good as I remembered. They are a great place to grab a meal if you are in town. Check them out, they do get really busy at breakfast.

Visit their website at www.grampascafe.com

Enjoy!

T

National Coffee Day

Today is National Coffee Day. I decided to celebrate at my favorite Bucee’s. You can make your own coffee there with your choice of flavors, creams, and topping. I love my coffee with Cold Stone Creamery coffee cream and a little whipped cream.

If you have never been to a Bucee’s then you must make time to visit. You will not be disappointed in all they have to offer.

www.buc-ees.com

Enjoy!

T

Mr. & Mrs. Crab – Lakeland, FL

I had seen a sign for a new seafood restaurant that opened up that I knew I wanted to try. It’s called Mr. and Mrs. Crab. They have cute statues that welcome you to the restaurant. They were just calling me to take a picture.

The inside of the restaurant is filled with different ocean creatures.

The place was packed. It seemed like everyone in town had the same idea. When I first got there I was planning on getting crab for dinner. But after looking over the menu I had my sights set on crawfish. It had been a while since I had a good crawfish boil.

My giant bag came out loaded with a pound of crawfish, corn on the cob, and potatoes.

It was so hot I had to untie the bag to let some of the heat out before I could put it on my tray.

I got my crawfish with a medium spice level. For my seasoning I went with the Mr. and Mrs. Crab special. It is a blend of all three of their seasonings: Cajun, lemon pepper, and garlic butter. I also ordered an extra ear of corn because I figured it would taste great with all the seasoning.

I put on my gloves and bib and dove in. The seasoning was amazing. The butter made it have a creamy texture, the garlic was savory, and the Cajun seasoning was salty and a little hot. The crawfish were great in size. They offered up a lot of tail meat. It was pretty easy to crack them open. Several if the claws had a lot of meat too. The potato helped soak up the extra sauce on the tray. The corn was sweet and was a great combination with the salty taste from the seasoning.

I also tried the New England Clam Chowder. It had some Old Bay sprinkled on top. It had a nice creamy texture. There was the perfect ratio of clams to potatoes.

We ordered the Cajun fries for the table to share. The seasoning they put on added extra interest rather than just plain salt.

The Fish and Chips were also ordered. They brought out two large pieces of fish. The batter was fried up to be really crispy. The fish was light and flakey. There was also a nice crunch as you bite into the fish because of the batter. On the side there were waffle sweet potato fries. These were a nice sweet complement to the saltiness from the battered fish. It was a lot of food.

Mr. and Mrs. Crab had great seafood dishes. I really enjoyed my crawfish. I look forward to going back and trying one of their other dishes.

Check out their different locations at www.mmcseafood.com

Enjoy!

T

Truluck’s – Miami Beach, FL

I was back visiting Miami. The city was electric as usual. The traffic did seem to be a lot heavier than the last time. It is probably all of the people moving to Florida. While there I decided to head back to Truluck’s and share the experience with another group of people.

The restaurant is still dimly lit but now they have menus that light up. This definitely helps. We ordered a bottle of Piattelli – Malbec for the table. This was a rich wine that had a smoothness to it.

The wine went marvelously with the meatball appetizer that was ordered. The meatballs were a blend of three meats: prime chuck, brisket, and short rib. There is a subtle BBQ sauce on top of the meatballs. The meats were blended together wonderfully and were juicy. The BBQ sauce added a great, tangy taste.

We ordered some Parmesan Yeast Rolls for the table. These are made fresh when ordered. They sprinkle a little Maldon Sea salt on top. The bread was sweet, and that sweetness was accentuated by the sea salt. When butter melted on the inside it created a creamy texture.

Another great appetizer was the calamari. These were fried up along with some vegetables that included carrots and peppers. They were sprinkled with salt and pepper. They served two dipping sauces on the side: a mustard and a sweet Vietnamese chili sauce. I loved the chili sauce. It had a slight amount of heat and the sweet taste was exceptional. I did not even bother trying the mustard sauce.

For my dinner I ordered the Norwegian Salmon. The salmon was seared perfectly with great seasoning that accented the flavor of the salmon. The salmon was flakey and moist. It came with fresh asparagus that was cooked till the stalks were nice and tender.

I was able to try the Sesame Seared Tuna. The tuna was rare on the inside with just a light layer being seared. It was the best way to serve this beautiful piece of fish. They served parmesan mashed potatoes on the side. They were extremely creamy. There was a Tamari reduction on the plate that added extra flavor to the tuna.

The New England Sea Scallops were colossal in size. There was an amazing piccata sauce over the scallops and the parmesan mashed potatoes. The sauce is what made this dish so delicious.

The last dish that was ordered at the table was the 7oz filet. It was barrel cut and cooked perfectly to lock in the juices. They served a clove of roasted garlic on the side. It was so creamy when pulled out and enhanced the flavor of the steak.

For dessert we ordered the Key Lime Pie. This is the perfect Florida dessert. The graham cracker crust was filled with the tart key lime filling. They topped it off with a sweet, whipped cream. It was an excellent blend of sweet and sour.

The meal was amazing at Truluck’s. I would recommend everyone check them out. Check out their locations at www.trulucks.com

Enjoy!

T

Trade Winds Lounge – St. Augustine, FL

It is National Rum Day.  I decided to celebrate it with some fresh made rum runners at Trade Winds Lounge in St. Augustine, Florida.

It is one of the oldest bars in the city. It is full of character. He bartenders are friendly. They have live music to keep you entertained.

My favorite part of this bar is their popcorn machine. You can help yourself to as much popcorn as you want. I was so excited because I love popcorn.

This is a perfect spot to grab a drink. Come on over and celebrate National Rum Day.

www.tradewindslounge.com

Enjoy!

T

National Pina Colada Day

It is National Pina Colada Day and I knew that Hula Bay Club in Tampa would be a great place to celebrate.  Whether sitting inside or on the deck looking at the water, that fresh, Florida air is totally relaxing. And with a cold Pina Colada in my hand, I was in a happy place.

If you are in the area stop by Hula Bay for a drink and some of their great Hawaiian inspired dishes.

Check them out at:

https://hulabayclub.com

Enjoy!

T

Bonefish Grill – Lakeland, FL

Bonefish Grill can be found in 30 states across the US. However, they got their roots in Florida when they opened their first location in St. Petersburg. I visited their location in Lakeland, Florida. It was a beautiful restaurant and was already loaded with patrons when we got there.

We were greeted right away by our server. Since I was there with several friends, we ordered some starters to share. We started with the calamari. The tender calamari were breaded and fried with peppers. The peppers added additional texture and flavor to the dish. They served a sweet and spicy Asian sauce on the side. It was like a Thai chili sauce. I loved how the tanginess paired perfectly with the calamari.

The Tempura Crunch Sashimi Tuna came out next. This was an awesome dish. I could have eaten all the tuna myself but I had to share with the table. The tuna was seared rare and sliced thin. They added a sashimi sauce and tempura crumbles. I liked the texture of the crumbles, and the sashimi sauce was creamy. There was a sriracha drizzle on the plate that added a little heat to the tuna when dipped in. There was wasabi and soy sauce on the side so that I could make the tuna a little spicier. If you like fresh, tender tuna, this is a dish for you.

Since there were several of us enjoying lunch, each of us ended up ordering something different. I was excited to get to try a bite of everything.

The dish I ordered for myself was the Mahi-Mahi. Mahi-Mahi is also known as Dorado. They cooked the fish on a wood fire grill. This added a nice smoky taste to the flakey, white fish. They put a fresh made mango salsa on top. The sweetness from the salsa accented the fish and gave it a real tropical taste. They served fresh broccoli and jasmine rice on the side. Each item on the plate was light so I did not feel like I ate too much. That is what I love about eating fresh fish that is not fried, it is filling but not heavy.

Another dish ordered was the Mahi-Mahi with Shrimp. The Mahi-Mahi was wood grilled like my fish. There was great seasoning on top that brought out the flavor of the fish. They also grilled the shrimp in a citrus herb marinade. Th citrus flavor paired well with the sweetness of the shrimp. To accompany the Mahi and shrimp was fresh grilled asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. The potatoes were rally creamy and the garlic was a nice touch.

The Cod Imperial was an elegant, classic dish. The fresh cod was stuffed with a blend of seafood, mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. It was a nice blend of saltiness and creaminess. They topped the fish in a lemon-caper butter sauce. The butter sauce is what made this dish pop. It was creamy in texture but rich in flavor. That sauce was also great on the fresh broccoli.

On the lighter side was the Tuna Poke Bowl. The fresh tuna, chopped up into smaller pieces, were blended with red onions, peppers, cucumber slices, sesame seeds and cilantro. All the ingredients were then tossed in a Hawaiian poke sauce. Then it was placed on a bed of Jasmine rice. The rice helped soak up the extra poke sauce. The sauce was amazing and made this dish extremely flavorful. The cucumber added a great crunch that I liked.

For dessert we all shared the Molten Lava Cake that was topped with whipped cream. When we cut into the cake the creamy, warm center just poured out. The fluffy whipped cream melted as soon as the heat was released. This added a creamy sweetness to the cake. It was a rich dessert but perfect for sharing.

The lunch was amazing at Bonefish Grill. All the dishes I tired were fresh and amazing. The service was great too. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Check out their different locations at www.bonefishgrill.com

Enjoy!

T