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.
Enjoy!
T
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
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
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.
Enjoy!
T
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:
Enjoy!
T
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
It’s National Martini Day so we headed over to Grill Smith in Lakeland, Florida. They offer a nice variety of martinis to choose from. We went for a traditional Dirty Martini with bleu cheese olives and a Cosmopolitan. Cheers!!!
Check them out at www.grillsmith.com/lakeland
Enjoy!
T
The celebrity chef Todd English has restaurants all over the country. Blue Zoo is one of those restaurants located inside the Dolphin Hotel at Walt Disney World. The restaurant is beautiful inside and a perfect place to go with a group of people.
They offer a wonderful menu of unique cocktails. I ordered the Smoking Sangria because the description alone made it sound so fascinating. The sangria itself was made with Riesling that was infused with fresh strawberries. Then peach liqueur and fresh lemon juice was added in. The liquid nitrogen was placed on top. When the drink came to the table it was indeed smoking. It was the coolest cocktail I have ever ordered. I was a little afraid to drink it at first, but I finally took a sip. The liquid nitrogen did not change the flavor of anything. It was just for the presentation. I did like how sweet the Riesling and strawberries were.
They brought out some fresh made bread to the table. There were sautéed, caramelized onions on top of the bread. They were not baked on; they were just placed on top. So, if you do not like onions, then you can pick them off and it will not affect the taste. But if you like onions, you will love how sweet and savory these onions are.
The Mighty Meat Flatbread is a great appetizer to share around the table. The thin crust was covered in pepperoni, house made Italian sausage, prosciutto cotto, and mozzarella cheese. The crust was crispy and the meats added a nice saltiness that was softened by the creaminess of the cheese.
The Shake and Bake Fries were another great starter to share. These crispy fries were covered with roasted garlic, rosemary, and grated parmesan cheese. The garlic and rosemary flavors paired perfectly together. It made these fries savory and really stepped them up a notch from a typical French fry. The parmesan cheese added a slight saltiness.
The Risotto Tots was an amazing appetizer that everyone at the table loved. I could have easily ordered this just for my meal because they were so delicious. These “tots” were risotto rice mixed with white truffles and cheese and formed into a ball shape. They were lightly breaded and fried to create a crispy outer coating. A creamy romesco sauce was served on the side. The truffles, with their earthy taste, accented the bold flavor of the garlic and cheese. There was no reason for me to dip these tots into the sauce because the flavor was impactful just by itself. However, I did try a little of the bold romesco sauce. It did add another layer of flavor. The risotto was tender and absorbed all the flavors from the other ingredients.
It was time for all of the dinners to start coming out. There were so many great options that everyone chose. One of the simplest dishes that was ordered was the Lobster Risotto. This was a beautifully grilled lobster tail and the creamy risotto. Normally they would have been on the same plate, but the person who ordered it did not want their food to touch. I really liked how beautifully these were prepared. I tired to risotto and it was even creamier than the risotto that came in the “tots”.
Another dish I got to try was the Seared Tuna. The tender, mouthwatering tuna was seared to perfection on the outside with a pink center. They placed the tuna on top of the creamy risotto and fresh broccoli and carrots. They served a white wine sauce in a little pot on the side. This was so you could drizzle some over the tuna and vegetables. The sauce made the tuna even more savory, where it just melted in your mouth.
For my dinner I got the Lobster Bucatini. They made homemade bucatini pasta and mixed it with chervil butter and Calabrian chili flakes. The fresh, tender lobster was tossed in and covered in the sauce. A dollop of fresh ricotta cheese was placed right in the middle. I spread it around to make the pasta even creamier. The lobster was extremely sweet. It was tender along with the tender pasta, this dish was easy to eat. It was the perfect portion size so that I did not get overly full. There is something very satisfying about homemade pasta.
It was time for dessert. I ordered their Strawberry Angel Food Cake because it was strawberry season. This dessert was presented uniquely on the plate. There was a fluffy cake in between layers of crispy tuile and some creamy vanilla ice cream. Tuile is a thin, crispy cookie. There were marinated strawberries on the side, along with a strawberry gelatin. The dessert felt like a deconstructed strawberry shortcake. It was sweet and delicious. It was a perfect dessert to share.
The food and the atmosphere were wonderful at Blue Zoo. It was a magical dining experience in a very magical place. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the area.
Check out their website at: https://swandolphin.com/dining/todd-englishs-bluezoo/
Enjoy!
T
Enjoying National Shrimp Day at Texas Cattle Company. I ordered the Dang Bang Shrimp. This is crispy shrimp in a sweet and spicy cream sauce.
Check them out at www.texascattlecompany.net
Enjoy!
T
Florida has a lot of small towns that offer unique experiences. One of those towns is Webster, Florida. They have a large farmers market and a huge flea market. I have driven through Webster many times but never stopped because I was always driving somewhere else.
This time I decided to stop and check out a little, local shop called Dough J’s Chicken and Donuts.
They open really early in the morning, which means they sell out quickly on their donuts and pastries. By the time I got there, that is what happened. They only had a few donut choices left. So, for my next visit I need to get there sooner.
So, I decided to try some of their breakfast items. The Breakfast Bowl was the perfect layering of ingredients for easy eating. They started off with creamy grits that were topped with shredded cheese. Then they layered scrambled eggs and crumbled breakfast sausage. I loved all the layers because I could take one big spoonful and get every component. The grits were my favorite because they were so creamy. My next favorite part was the sausage. It had a great savory flavor.
I also tried the Chicken Biscuit. The biscuit was freshly made. It was flakey and had a great buttery taste. The fried chicken was juicy and crispy. It was a generous piece of chicken. It actually was hard to eat this chicken biscuit because it was too big to take a bite. Nonetheless I enjoyed it. The chicken biscuit also included a side of breakfast potatoes. These were perfect bite size pieces of potato that were fried up and seasoned. They were great with a little ketchup.
I am glad I finally stopped in Webster. Dough J’s was great for breakfast and I look forward to trying one of their donuts on the next visit.
Enjoy!
T
