Sandbar – Anna Maria, FL

Nothing makes me feel like I am on vacation like hanging at the beach. What is even better is enjoying dinner at the beach. Sandbar on Anna Maria Island in Florida offered the perfect beach dining experience.

     

I got there at the perfect time because the sun was just beginning to set.

     

I even got to see a lovely beach wedding.

As I sat at my table enjoying the sounds of the crashing waves, my waiter brought over some fresh made focaccia bread.

They served this along with fresh made pesto and olive oil. The oil was light on taste which allowed the herbs in the pesto to shine through.

I ordered a few starters for the table to enjoy. The Backyard Cornbread came out first. This was a classic Southern style cornbread. They served it with a whipped honey butter. The bread was soft and crumbled when cut. The taste was sweet even before I put on the butter.

The cheese grits came out next. These were stone-ground grits that were a little thicker than typical grits that are served with breakfast. The grits were loaded with cheddar and pepper jack cheese. They were cooked in a cast iron skillet so they came out piping hot. The cheese layer on top was nice and crispy. The two different cheeses made the grits extra creamy. The cheeses also blended really well together. The pepper jack did not add any heat.

For my dinner I ordered the American Red Snapper. It can be prepared multiple ways including grilled, blackened, or fried. I went for it grilled.

I could taste the flavor from the grill through out the fish. It was light and flaky. It had a subtle sweet taste.

The snapper was accompanied by some Spanish rice. This rice had a little kick to it from the red and green peppers that were chopped up within.

There were also some fresh grilled vegetables. The cauliflower was my favorite. They still had a crunch to them and the grill taste was wonderful.

By the time I was done with dinner the sun had almost set. It was a beautiful and tranquil scene. My meal at Sandbar was fresh and delicious. You should check them out at www.islanddining.com

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Fred’s Market Restaurant – Lakeland, FL

There is a great family restaurant that is always busy every time I drive by – Fred’s Market Restaurant. This family owned place has a rich history that all started at a restaurant attached to a gas station in Plant City.

     

The restaurant is huge inside, and almost every table was full. What I did not realize until I walked in is that Fred’s is a buffet, a HUGE buffet. They had a salad station, a large meat and sides station, and of course a dessert station.

The buffet does change a few of the meats and sides each day but there are several standards that will always be included – like fried chicken. What would a southern buffet be without fried chicken.

I made sure to try a little bit of everything. This way I did not over stuff myself and did not waste food. My first plate I made sure to get:

  • Fried chicken – The fried chicken was extremely crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
  • Mashed potatoes – The mashed potatoes were super creamy and the savory brown gravy added a touch of saltiness.
  • Spanish pulled pork – The pulled pork was amazing. The pork was tender and pulled apart just with a fork. It was juicy and also had a savory taste

I tried a few things on the salad bar:

  • Broccoli salad – The tangy and sweet dressing covered fresh pieces of broccoli and shredded cheddar cheese. There was a crunch from the crispy, fresh bacon. The raisins added an extra sweetness.
  • Pasta Salad – The bow tie pasta was tossed in an Italian dressing with feta cheese and chopped up bell peppers.

I had to get another plate to try a few more things:

  • Dinner Roll – They had just put fresh ones out so I had to grab one. They are yeast rolls that were sweet and soft. The butter that they brushed on top added a slight saltiness.
  • Prime Sirloin – The sirloin was sliced into thin slices and marinated in an ajus sauce. The meat was extremely tender. The sauce helped keep the meat moist.
  • Spanish Rice – They used some great seasoning in this rice to transform it into a savory dish.
  • Plantains – I love sweet plantains. These were soft and cooked perfectly. It is almost like these could be a dessert.
  • Grits – These were cheddar grits and they were creamy and salty. They are the perfect kind that I usually enjoy at breakfast.
  • Mac & Cheese – I had one small scoop of the homemade mac and cheese. There was a crispy layer of cheese on top that covered the creamy pasta.

I did save a little room for dessert. They had everything from cake, banana pudding, and ice cream sundaes. I went for a Southern classic – pecan pie. The gooey filling was super sweet. The pecans were sweet and crunchy. It was a really sweet dessert but it paired well with a fresh cup of coffee.

Fred’s Market Restaurant was a great place. It is perfect for families to get together and enjoy a meal. Just make sure you go with an appetite. They also have a really popular breakfast buffet. I need to make sure I bring my family the back the next time we are in town.

Check out their family history and their menu at www.fredsmarket.com

Enjoy!

T

Slyce Pizza Kitchen – Winter Haven, FL

Driving around Winter Haven I came across a pizza place called Slyce. I had not had pizza in a long time so I thought today would be a good time to try somewhere new.

     

I was there on a Sunday so to my luck they had a special on mimosas. Only $3!!!! I knew that it probably would not pair well with pizza but I could not pass up that special.

They offer both wood fire and brick oven pizzas.

I went for the hand tossed sausage and pepperoni pizza. It was topped with arugula and a chipotle honey mustard drizzle.

The drizzle gave the crust a wonderful sweet taste. The pepperoni was bite size and they used a lot of them. The sausage was tender and full of savory seasoning. The arugula added a peppery taste to the pizza which paired perfectly with the sweetness from that chipotle honey mustard drizzle.

I am so glad I decided to pop into Slyce. The pizza hit the spot. They have so many other options on the menu so I plan on stopping by again for something else. You should check them out, either eating there or take it home. www.slycepizzakitchen.com

Enjoy!

T

Pierogi Grill – Clearwater, FL

Through a sea of Seafood and Cuban restaurants in Clearwater Beach, there is a unique spot that stands out – Pierogi Grill. I found this Polish restaurant several years ago and I am excited to see it still going strong today.

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I arrived hungry on purpose since I knew I wanted to get a big Polish meal. I started off with a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. It was a classic in every sense. The skinny noodles and chunks of chicken reminded me of the soup my mom would make when I was sick. It really is a comfort food.

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For my main meal, I went for the pierogi and stuffed cabbage. It had been so long since I had stuffed cabbage and I wanted to see how close it came to my mother’s.

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Choosing which pierogi to try was a tough decision. They have many to choose from – spinach, meat, sauerkraut, cheese, potato. I went for the potato and cheddar. They boil their pierogi and then sauté them in chopped onion. The potato and cheddar filling had a fantastic flavor and was extremely creamy. The pierogi dough was the perfect thickness – not too much and was balanced out with a generous amount of filling.

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The stuffed cabbage was covered in a wonderful tomato sauce. The cabbage was soft and tender, with a sweet taste. The filling of fresh ground meat was moist and had the right amount of rice mixed in. The blending of the sauce, cabbage, and meat mixture was perfect. These were not heavy stuffed cabbages. It was close to my mom’s recipe but not exactly the same. However, it was a great substitute.

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Another wonderful feature of the Pierogi Grill is their European market. If you want to get something to cook at home you must walk through. They sell all of their homemade pierogi by the dozen. Check out their assortment of meats – including homemade kielbasa.

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If you have a sweet tooth, check out their desserts, including nut roll, just like my mom makes at Christmas.

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Grab a container of Kolachki cookies – a shortbread cookie stuffed with a fruit jam and dusted with powdered sugar. It is perfect for the car ride home.

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If you are of Polish heritage wanting a taste of old world flavors or just wanting to try something new, check out Pierogi Grill. They do not have a website but make sure to like them on Facebook: facebook.com/pierogigrill

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Plus visit them on your birthday for a free dinner!

Enjoy!

T

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Carroll’s Sausage & Country Store – Ashburn, GA

If you have ever been traveling along Interstate 75 between Atlanta, Georgia and the Florida border you have probably passed Carroll’s Sausage and Country Store.

I had passed it many times and I finally decided to stop in. I just had to see what it was all about. The parking lot was packed with travelers just like me.

I was overwhelmed as soon as I walked in. There were candies, jerky, jams and jellies all up at the front for customers to grab. Toward the back of the shop were the deli counters. These cold cases were filled with steaks, pork chops, different styles of bacon, sausages, and a ton of meat sticks. They called the meat sticks “snack sticks”.

     

I got a few links of homemade sausages to put in the cooler I had in the car. This way I could grill them up when I got to my destination.

For the long drive I grabbed a few of the snack sticks. I figured those would be easy to munch on. I went with three different flavors.

  • Pepperoni – this was just a classic
  • Garlic Parmesan – these had a great garlic taste while the Parmesan flavor was very subtle.
  • Jalapeno with Pepper-jack Cheese – This was my favorite. The jalapeno made it slightly spicy and the cheese added even more heat but also a creamy texture. They really used a generous amount of cheese in each stick.

I also grabbed some beef jerky as a gift for a friend. I did not get to try any but my friend said it was wonderful.

Stopping at Carroll’s was the highlight of my drive. They had great snacks and surprises for you to take home. I will definitely be stopping for more snack sticks and sausage the next time I drive through. They are open 7 days a week

Check them out at www.carrollssausage.com

Enjoy!

T

Hollywood Brewing Company – Hollywood, FL

There is a brewery right on the beach in Hollywood, Florida called Hollywood Brewing Company. What better way to enjoy beer than at the beach.

They have a great painting on the wall that explains the beer making process. It is simple but gets the key points across.

I sampled a few of their beers but they were a little too hoppy and bitter for my liking. But if you are a fan of German style beer then they will be perfect for you.

 I went for one of their cocktails. The Victoria’s Lemonade sounded great. It was vodka, Sprite, and a splash of pomegranate juice. It was a refreshing taste that was not too sweet.

Naturally I had the munchies while I was enjoying my cocktail. I saw a pretzel on the menu. This freshly baked pretzel was covered in salt. It also came with a side of mustard. The mustard had a wonderful sweet taste. I enjoyed the pretzel but it was a little over cooked, so as it cooled down it got slightly harder.

There were these dumplings on the menu that caught my attention. There was not much of a description so I asked my bartender about them.

These were Russian style dumplings. The bite size pasta was stuffed with ground beef and lamb. They were boiled in a chicken broth. The broth added a salty taste to the pasta itself. The meat was tender and full of flavor. I was very surprised that these little dumplings were so savory.

Hollywood Brewing Company was a fun, little surprise along the beach. If you need to get out of the sun or work up an appetite after swimming, check them out. http://hollywood.beer/

Enjoy!

T

Fire – Winter Haven, FL

I have written about Fire Restaurant before. I was back in town and I wanted to stop by again.

To my surprise the entire restaurant had been remodeled and the menu had been slightly updated. What I remembered about the restaurant before was it was dark with rich wood beams and wood paneling on the wall. Now it has been brightened up with trendy gray paint, fresh decor on the walls, and cool updated light fixtures. It really was a transformation.

     

I was excited to try some of the new menu items. I started with the chicken noodle soup. The soup was a little thick; it reminded me of chicken and dumplings. The broth had a great savory taste. They include lots of fresh vegetables and noodles. Plus there are large pieces of fresh roasted chicken.

I also ordered the grilled shrimp skewers. My waitress mentioned that this was one of her favorite dishes. The shrimp had a sweet teriyaki glaze. It paired really well with the grilled taste of the shrimp.

The shrimp rested on top of a slaw salad made with cucumbers, red onion, and feta cheese. It was tossed in a Vidalia onion like dressing. The flavor was amazing. It was sweet overall and the feta cheese added a subtle tang. The cucumbers soaked up the sweet taste and added crunch.

They had a few flatbreads on the menu. The fig, prosciutto, and Gorgonzola cheese pizza sounded like an interesting combination. The fig added a sweetness, the prosciutto added the saltiness and the Gorgonzola added tanginess. When eaten all together it was a trifecta of flavor. They all worked off each other. The crust was super thin. It was a cracker like crust but still sweet. Because it was so thin, the pizza toppings took center stage without the crust taking over.

The changes at Fire are well worth another visit. Their new dishes were great. Check them out at www.thefirerestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

House of Blues – Anaheim, CA

There are House of Blues in many major cities in the US. I recently went to one location in Anaheim, California not far from Disneyland.

As soon as I walked in I noticed this beautiful decorated column. It was covered in different beads and it blew me away.

     

Since I was there for an event they had a few food stations set up around the restaurant. The food choices were different dishes off their main menu.

They had this amazing jalapeno cheese cornbread. The cornbread itself was moist and the cheese added saltiness. The jalapenos (which were chopped up) added a slight amount of heat. The heat was subdued when I spread the creamy honey butter on top. The butter was so sweet that it almost made the cornbread a dessert.

They served some fantastic street tacos. They used fresh flour tortillas and loaded them up with chopped smoked chicken. Then they drizzled BBQ sauce across the top. They loaded up the taco with fresh pico de gallo, crispy shredded cabbage, and sour cream. The chicken was very tender and the BBQ sauce blended well with the sour cream. The tacos were very addicting.

The other fun part of the event was the mashed potato bar. They made really creamy mashed potatoes and served them in a martini glass. I had creamy queso poured over the potatoes. On top they added BBQ pulled pork. This added a sweet and smoky taste.

Then shredded cheese, fresh chopped tomatoes, and crispy bacon all covered the top of the pork. I loved that I was able to customize this to my liking. The cheese went really well with the BBQ which I normally do not see. The bacon added great crunch and the tomatoes added a hint of freshness.

Although I was there for an event, they really went all out on the food. The cornbread and the street tacos are on their regular menu so I would encourage everyone to try them. Check out their website at www.houseofblues.com

     

Also check and see when they have entertainment. It will make your visit even more fun.

Enjoy!

T

MIX – Anaheim, CA

Sometimes when I am traveling I do not get a chance to leave the hotel that I am staying at. In most cases the hotels have wonderful restaurants that I can try. MIX was one of those restaurants found inside the Hilton Anaheim in Anaheim, California.

     

Since it was just me having dinner they were able to seat me right away. I had a wonderful waitress, who was very attentive. She actually hung around and had a conversation with me about different things to see and do in Anaheim.

To quench my thirst I ordered an Arnold Palmer. For people who are not familiar with this drink it is a blend of ice tea and lemonade and it is named after one of the most famous golfers. I had never seen one made like this. They were able to get it layered perfectly.

I started off with the French onion soup. It had been a really long time since I have had a bowl. When my waitress brought out the bowl with the melted blanket of gruyere cheese on top, I could not wait to dive in.

Underneath all that cheese were sautéed onions that were caramelized to perfection. They were tender and sweet, which complemented the saltiness of the broth. Mixed with the onions were croutons that soaked up additional flavor from the broth and the cheese. The soup base was a blend of veal and chicken broth and topped odd with an accent of sherry.

For my main dish I ordered the Halibut. It was the chef’s special for the evening and it sounded delicious. The Halibut was extremely flaky and the skin was crispy around the edges.  The fish sat on top of tender couscous. I could taste accents of saffron throughout.

Also on top of the couscous was fresh broccolini and carrots.  The carrots were tender and still a little crispy. The broccolini was salty and buttery that made the leafy flowers very tasty.

The meal was the perfect end to the day. The food was good and the perfect serving size. It was nice to not feel overly stuffed at the end. If you are in the area of the Hilton Anaheim you should check out MIX.

www.hiltonhotels.com/Anaheim

Enjoy!

T

 

Two Henry’s Brewing Company – Plant City, FL

So inside Keel & Curley Winery, which I had previously written about, is a brewery called Two Henry’s Brewing Company.

They offer beer flight as well as cider flights. I went for a cider flight that allowed me to select five of their homemade ciders.

     

  • Elderberry – this was almost like a light fruit punch. It was sweet and full of flavor.
  • Mango – I could smell the mango as soon as I put the glass up to my nose. There was a sweetness that was throughout. It was very tropical in nature.
  • Pineapple – Since I love pineapple so much I knew I needed to try this. Overall it was slightly bubblier than the other ciders. This too was sweet and the pineapple taste was strong.
  • Strawberry – I could smell the strawberry. When I tasted it however, there was only an essence of strawberry. It was as if the apple cider was trying to push through.
  • Strawberry-Lime – This had a subtle sweet smell to it. The strawberry did not stand out. I actually thought I tasted banana, which is weird since there was no banana in the cider.

I also ordered the conch fritters to enjoy while sipping my cider flight.

They had a great crispy crust on the outside and soft and moist inside. There were large pieces of the actual conch mixed throughout the filling. It was a great complement to the cider.

If you like beer tastings or even interested in trying a cider flight, head over to Two Henry’s Brewing Company. Check out their menu at www.twohenrysbrewing.com

Enjoy!

T