I have visited Caddy’s many times. It is one of my go-to restaurants in Madeira Beach. I love the view of the Gulf. The second floor of the restaurant is the best spot. It was a hot afternoon, so grabbing some frozen drinks was a must. The Frose blended vodka, Moscato, sour mix, peach purée, and pear syrup. This combination was both sweet and sour, almost like a piece of candy. The Rocky Margarita was a nice take on a classic. It blended Silver tequila, triple sec, sour mix, orange juice, and lime juice. It was a very fresh tasting…
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If you want a southern restaurant with a modern twist, check out Fresco’s in Lakeland, Florida. Grab a seat at the bar and start enjoying some of the great cocktails they have to offer. The Blackberry Basil Cooler is sweet and refreshing. It blends vodka, basil, blackberry syrup, lemon, and orange bitters. An Aperol Spritz is a classic cocktail that Fresco’s does well. It includes Aperol, lemon, simple syrup, Prosecco and a splash of soda for bubbles. If you want something that is not overly sweet, this is the cocktail for you. Their Old-Fashion keeps with tradition, smooth and your…
Leave a CommentIf you’re looking for an Italian restaurant in Midtown Tampa, check out BellaBrava. Sitting at the bar is the perfect place to order cocktails and have fast service. We had an Old-Fashion and a Strawberry Balsamic Martini. The martini was sweet with a little sourness. It included vodka, strawberries, sweet balsamic, simple syrup, and lemon. They brought out homemade Focaccia bread. It was slightly dense but melted in my mouth once it was mixed with the creamy olive oil and roasted garlic. If you like gnocchi, then you must order the Stuffed Gnocchi al la Vodka. The gnocchi were like…
Leave a CommentDid you know that Tampa has a bakery that is over 100 years old? La Segunda Bakery has been baking fresh breads, pastries, and sandwiches for generations. Expect a line when you walk in. But don’t worry, you can make use of that wait by looking over their menu and gazing at all the beautiful desserts. There’s nowhere to sit so you’re getting your food to go. If you are like me, you will dig into your food as soon as you get in the car. Check them out if you’re in the area. www.lasegundabakery.com Enjoy! T
Leave a CommentIf you are in downtown Melbourne, Florida, and looking for a great Irish pub, head to Meg O’Malley’s. They offer all the traditional Irish dishes, plus a few extra if you’re there for St. Patrick’s Day. Start with their famous Irish Parliament Bean Soup. This homemade soup is the same recipe that is served in the Irish parliament, and they keep the price at $0.18. The soup is very savory and has a creamy texture. If you like cabbage, then definitely order the Cabbage Wraps. They take ground corned beef and wrap it in tender cabbage. It’s served with fresh…
Leave a CommentIf you were in the Tampa area and want a great place to go for brunch, then American Social is the place for you. It is right there on the water, the perfect place for fresh air and a cool breeze. Brunch calls for cocktails. This brunch we went for mimosas, cosmos, and martinis. We decided to get a few small dishes to share. The Soft Baked Pretzels were perfect. They were hot when they came out. They had a light salty taste on the outside. I love dipping them in beer cheese. They also served a honey mustard on…
Leave a CommentWhetstone Chocolates in Saint Augustine, Florida has been making chocolates for decades. When you walk in, there’s a display set up to look like the I Love Lucy candy wrapper episode. There is Whetstone history all along the walls from it’s start in 1967 as a home kitchen. Henry and Esther Whetstone started with 13 fudges and hand dipped chocolates. In 1991 Hershey asked them to make melt resistant chocolate for the military. The result was the Desert Bar used in Desert Storm. They also started producing Hershey kisses with almonds. In 1995 Nestlé asked them to make Nestlé’s…
Leave a CommentIf you are interested in heading to Disney Springs, go on an empty stomach because they have so many great restaurants to choose from. We went to Jaleo by Jose Andres, a Spanish restaurant that offers unique dishes from Spain. Ordering a pitcher of Sangria is a must. They have several options to select from, we just went with the traditional red. It had a hint of spice to it. All the dishes come out tapas style, so it’s easy to share around the table. The Croquetas de Pollo came out first. These had chicken that was puréed until creamy…
Leave a CommentThere is a wonderful Italian restaurant in Lakeland, Florida that is only open for dinner. And it is a small place, so it is impossible to show up without a reservation. It had been many years since I had been there, so I decided to check them out. We had a reservation for a Monday, it made it a little easier to get a table. As soon as you walk in you must check out the chalkboard. This is where they list all their specials for the day. We were one of the first groups to be seated so the…
Leave a CommentIf you are in downtown Lakeland and looking for a wonderful Spanish influence restaurant then Nineteen Sixty-One is the place to visit. There are many great starters that are perfect for sharing around the table. The Brussel Sprouts were one of those dishes. They were flash fried and tossed in a maple balsamic vinaigrette. Then they were topped with raisin caramel and Manchego cheese. These were the sweetest Brussel sprouts that I have ever had. The maple vinaigrette and raisin caramel were a flawless combination of flavors that mellowed out the bitterness of the Brussel sprouts. The Peruvian Ceviche was…
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