Tag: Lakeland

Hole in One Donuts – Lakeland, FL

I love freshly made donuts. There is something special about biting into a warm don’t and having it just melt in your mouth. These are the types of donuts that Hole in One Donuts makes daily. They open super early each day, before the sun even rises. They do close early in the afternoon, so it is important to get there early so they do not run out.

I got there a few hours after they opened. They will had a decent amount of donuts to choose from. Plus, they had a few other items too.

I tired one of their sausage rolls. These are very similar to kolaches that I get in Texas. Their yeast roll was so sweet. The sausage on the inside was not spicy but had a great flavor from the seasoning. The saltiness from the sausage complemented the sweetness from the roll.

Now the reason I came to Hole in One Donuts was for donuts. I did get a classic glaze. It was larger in size than what you would get from one of those national chains. There was a nice amount of sweet glaze on the donut. When I took a bite, I noticed right away how soft and gooey the dough was. The glaze did not crack and fall off as I continued eating the donut. It stayed attached to the dough. It showed just how well this donut was made.

The second donut I got was the éclair. I shred this one because it was so big. The soft donut was topped with a sweet, creamy chocolate icing. It was a nice, thick layer of icing. On the inside was a creamy vanilla pudding. There was a generous amount that was piped through the entire éclair. Every bite had the perfect ratio of dough, filling, and icing.

The donuts were amazing. The sausage roll was a great, warm breakfast item. I cannot wait to go back and get a dozen of each.

Check them out of Facebook at www.facebook.com/holeinonelakeland

Enjoy!

T

Chef T’s Garden Grill – Lakeland, FL

There is a cute old house in Lakeland that has been converted into a restaurant called Chef T’s Garden Grill.

When you walk in, each room of the house has tables set up for an intimate dining experience. I was there with a small group of friends, and we had a room all to ourselves.

We had a special dinner that was set up with a wine paring. Each wine was selected to go with the foods we were eating. It was a great combination of reds and whites, along with some sweet wines for dessert.

The menu that was put together for the winy pairing was delicious. It started off with the Beef & Barley Soup. This soup was amazing. The broth was thick and savory. It was almost the texture of gravy. The pieces of beef were extremely tender. The potatoes captured the flavor of the broth. The small cup was not enough; I could have eaten a big bowl.

For my dinner, I got the Shrimp Scampi. These fresh shrimp were sauteed in garlic, white wine, butter, lemon, and red pepper flakes. They sprinkled fresh parsley on top. All of this was served on top of fresh linguini.

The sauce was amazing. It was light but still had a creamy texture to it. The lemon gave it a slight tangy flavor that helped enhance the flavor of the garlic and white wine. They used a generous amount of sauce, so it coated the pasta perfectly. They included a side of vegetables that included cauliflower and carrots. They were delicious with the garlic butter sauce as well.

Meatloaf was the other option on the menu for dinner. I did get to try it. The meatloaf was moist and light. It was not dense at all. The herb seasonings they mixed in with the meat created a savory taste. The gravy was also fantastic on the mashed potatoes.

For dessert we got a slice of homemade Chocolate Cake.  It was a double layer of moist chocolate cake. In between the layers of cake was a creamy custard. On the outside was a rich and creamy chocolate ganache.

This dessert was spectacular. The chocolate flavor of course paired well with the red dessert wine that was served. The custard in the layers was light and fluffy. It was not overly sweet. The ganache was rich but also not overly sweet. It was the perfect dessert to end the meal. It helped tie the whole experience together.

The food was amazing at Chef T’s. The intimate setting was nice and helped me enjoy what I was eating even more. I would love to get to go back to try something else on the menu. It does change based on what ingredients are available.

If you are in Lakeland, check them out. Visit their website at www.cheftsgardengrill.com

Enjoy!

T

Crafty Crab – Lakeland, FL

Throughout my travels I have noticed crab restaurants starting to pop up. There was one that opened in Lakeland, Florida called Crafty Crab. I thought I would check them out.

As soon as I walked in, I was transported to the beach. There was fishing décor everywhere. It reminded me of the seafood restaurants I visited as a kid on vacation.

I ordered a few appetizers to try. The fried calamari were the first to come out. These were thick rings that were extremely tender. The breading was very crispy. They served a marinara sauce on the side. The sauce was slightly salty. The calamari go perfectly with this sauce. It gives the dish a savory feel.

I also tired the crab bites. These were basically mini crab cakes. The breading had a slight hint of sweetness, like a hush puppy. It came with a tarter like sauce, but I did not try it. I really was enjoying the flavor from the crab bite itself.

I saw crawfish on the menu and decided to order that for my lunch. They serve all their seafood in boil bags. So, I got this giant bag filled with crawfish, red potatoes, and corn on the cob. There is a choice of seasoning for all the seafood ordered. I got the Crafty Cajun original seasoning.

When the bag came to the table I started laughing because it was so big.

I opened it carefully and put everything onto the metal tray. Naturally I was wearing a white skirt, so I had to be very careful not to get sauce on everything.

I made sure to wear the bib and gloves. It is messy to eat crawfish. The gloves helped prevent my fingers from smelling like the sauce all day.

The crawfish were jumbo in size. They were full of meat. I really got the hang of opening them up. I just kept repeating the phrase “Pinch, Twist, Suck”. The seasoning was perfect, it had a hint of Old Bay. It is amazing how well that seasoning goes with seafood. The crawfish was tender and sweet. That was a great complement to the saltiness of the sauce.

The red potatoes were tender and sweet as well. I made sure to soak them up in the sauce as well. The corn was the last thing I ate. It had all the spices mixed in between all the kernels. By this time the sauce started to get a little spicier to me.  It paired well with the sweetness of the corn.

I really enjoyed the food I tried at Crafty Crab. I am looking forward to going back and trying another one of their seafood boils.

Check out their menu at www.craftycrabrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

Tropico Latino – Lakeland, FL

There is a little hole in the wall Latin restaurant in Lakeland, Florida that is nestled in the back of a small shopping center. Tropico Latino had lots of customers coming and going. I thought I would check them out.

There were empanadas on the menu that I wanted to try. They had the traditional kind as well as a Columbian version. The Columbian version used a shell made of potato verses the traditional flour shell.

The traditional empanadas were filled with seasoned ground meat. The shell was thick and crispy that locked in the heat. They served it with a homemade pico de gallo that was full of flavor. The tomatoes, onions, and cilantro added additional flavor to the meat. It really helped make the empanada stand out.

The Empanadoas Colombianas also came out crispy. These shells kind of puffed up when they were fired. The shell did not taste like potato. These were also filled with ground meat and onion. I used the pico de gallo on this empanada too. It just added so much additional flavor.

Another South American dish they had on the menu were Arepas. Arepas are a corn cake made from ground maize dough.

The first one I tried was the Arepa Con Queso. This was a warm corn cake stuffed with shredded cheese. It was like a Latin grilled cheese. The corn cake was crispy on the outside from the grill. It has a sweet, buttery taste. Not all the cheese melted right away. So, there was a nice contrast between hot and cold.

I also tried the Arepa Con Todo. This was the same corn cakes, but these were stuffed with shredded meat and cheese. The meat was tender and had an amazing savory taste. The cheese melted from the heat and created a nice creaminess that married well with the savory meat.

I really enjoyed this little gem. They are worth a stop in. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tropicolatinorest

Enjoy!

T

Texas Cattle Company – Lakeland, FL

I have written about Texas Cattle Company previously. It is a fantastic steakhouse, and I was looking forward to going back for another visit. The restaurant was very crowded, so I was glad I had a reservation.

We wasted no time ordering. We started with bleu cheese potato chips to munch on. These homemade chips were extra crispy. They were covered in a bleu cheese sauce. There were also big chunks of actual bleu cheese. I oved the tangy flavor from the cheese.

All meals come with their chopped salad. There is a homemade dressing, that is like an Italian dressing, that the salad is tossed in. I love that they chopped up the lettuce. It makes it much easier to eat. It is extremely fresh, and you can get as many refills as you want. It easily could be a meal.

The other item they bring to all the tables are homemade cheese bread. These are fluffy dinner rolls that are topped with a ton of cheddar cheese. Then they are baked, and the cheese gets melted and crispy. They are delicious. You cannot eat just one. It is very easy to fill up on these rolls.

For dinner I ordered the bone in pork chop. This pork chop was extremely thick. The chef was able to cook it perfectly. It was very juicy. The savory flavor was spectacular. Although the pork chop was thick, the meat was tender. It was so big I was not able to finish all the meat, so I got a to-go box to enjoy it for lunch the next day.

I got the mashed potatoes as my side. These were sweet, red potatoes. They were extremely creamy with a few chunks of potatoes throughout. It was the perfect accompaniment to the pork chop.

The food lived up to the expectations I had from my last visit. I still recommend a visit to Texas Cattle Company. Visit their website at www.TexasCattleCompany.net

Enjoy!

T

Fancy Q Sushi – Lakeland, FL

I love sushi and it had been a whole since I had some. I wanted to try a different restaurant. There was a little place that had gotten great reviews that I decided to try, called Fancy Q Sushi in Lakeland, Florida.

It is not very big inside, so I am glad I got there when I did. Otherwise, I would have been waiting for a table. When I got seated at the table, the waitress brought over a fried sushi roll as a welcome appetizer. It was a nice surprise. It was really tasty. It was a crab and shrimp roll that was tempura fried. They drizzled a yum-yum sauce and soy sauce on top.  The sauce was sweet and creamy. The soy sauce was not overpowering and added a slight salty taste.

The miso soup came out next. This was a simple broth that helped cleanse the palate before the sushi came out.

I ordered the sushi plater that is perfect for sharing. It offers up a little bit of everything to try. This platter had a spicy tuna roll, a California roll, and fresh cuts of fish – mackerel, tuna, salmon, and white fish.

The spicy tuna roll had the seaweed wrap on the outside. There was a nice amount of wasabi on the inside, which gave it a kick.

The California roll is the simplest roll that actually is simple in taste as well. I like to add a little wasabi to make it spicy. They also have extra yum-yum sauce at the table, so I made sure to drizzle that on top of the roll. It helps give extra sweetness.

The tuna and salmon were extremely fresh. They were tender and melted in my mouth. The white fish was interesting, it is not something I would have ordered on its own. It was light and had a mild taste. I did dip it in some soy sauce that I mixed wasabi in. I really like when there is a little heat. It added some additional flavor to the fish itself.

The mackerel was also very interesting. I had never had it before, it was a little oily and did have an oily taste. It was a little too fishy for me. Even with adding the yum-yum sauce, it did not care for it. The texture was also different from the other fish I normally eat.

I had also ordered a side of shrimp fried rice. It was so good. I dove in as soon as it came to the table. I did not even remember to take a photo. The shrimp were grilled up and had a great ginger flavor. The rice was perfect with a slight salty taste and a few crispy edges from the grill.

This was a great place to sushi. They have many other things on the menu, including some Thai dishes. I am looking forward to going back. Check them out at www.fancyqlakeland.com

Enjoy!

T

Omusubee – Lakeland, FL

It was a beautiful Spring morning and I headed to downtown Lakeland for the Saturday Farmers Market. It is a great place to go help support local businesses.

Each time I go I find something, and this Saturday was no exception. I saw a sign for a Japanese rice ball, and I was curious what that was all about.

They had a pretty large crowd around their booth. It seemed that everyone was interested in these rice balls. These are made with Japanese sushi rice that is stuffed with different filling and then wrapped in a seaweed sheet. It was also not in the shape of a ball but a triangle. The entire item was fascinating.

I took a chance and ordered a tune rice ball. Even the wrapping around the rice was unique.  You needed to pull the red arrows on the wrap in order to remove it, otherwise the seaweed might all have come apart.

It was creamy tuna salad in the middle of the soft rice. The rice did have a slight vinegar taste just like sushi. The seaweed wrap added a little crunch when I took a bite and it kept the triangle shape. It acted almost like an editable napkin.

The entire item was delicious. All three of the elements worked so well together. It was super easy to eat and easy to walk around the market.

They do have a website where you can order some other flavors. Then you can pick them up at the following weeks market. This is exactly what I did. I ordered another creamy tuna since I enjoyed it so much. I also ordered the eel. This was strips of cooked eel (just like I get when I order sushi) topped off with the sweet eel sauce. Then it was covered with the seaweed.

It was like eating a jumbo sushi roll. I actually popped it in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up. That made it a little easier to bit in to the eel.

I am so glad I found the at the Farmers Market. These rice balls are a nice snack and very easy to eat. Check them out and order a few at www.omusubeefl.com

Enjoy!

T

Texas Cattle Company – Lakeland, FL

A special occasion calls for a good steak dinner. That is exactly what I got at Texas Cattle Company in downtown Lakeland, Florida. I got a table by the window so that I had a nice view for dinner.

A steak dinner needs to start off with a good bottle of wine. The Amici Cabernet Sauvignon was mild in flavor, without a dry aftertaste. It paired perfectly with steak.

We got one of their starters, the Blue Chips. These were homemade potato chips with a blue cheese cream sauce drizzled all over. Then it was topped off with extra blue cheese crumbles. All that blue cheese gave the crispy chips a sharp taste. They were delicious and it only helped enhance the flavor of the wine.

Every meal comes with a salad and homemade cheese garlic bread. The bread was amazing. The cheese was baked on till it was crispy. The bread itself was sweet and the cheese added a salty element. The garlic added a nice tanginess.

The salad was delicious. The lettuce was chopped up which made it much easier to eat. They tossed it in a house dressing. It tasted like an Italian dressing. You can get refills on the salad if you want. Although I could have eaten more salad, I passed on refills because I wanted to save room for my steak.

They were running a special on a 16oz bone in filet. I went for that because I have never had a filet still on the bone. It is supposed to help add additional flavor to the meat.

I got it prepared medium so it would be pink in the middle. The steak was extremely juicy which I noticed as soon as I cut into the meat. I got a little truffle butter on top. It melted overtop of the hot steak and that added additional earthly flavor to the meat. The seasoning on the steak was very satisfying.

I also got grilled shrimp on the side. The shrimp were tender and a great accompaniment to the steak, it is the whole surf and turf idea. The steak was just too big, so I had to take the shrimp home. I figured those would be good for lunch the next day.

The best side dish to go with a steak are potatoes. They offered loaded mashed potatoes. They bring out creamy mashed potatoes and they let you select what toppings to go on top. Naturally, I loaded up with butter, cheese, and bacon. It was the perfect choice.

My meal at Texas Cattle Company was delicious. Every dish was comforting and filled me up. This is a great place to go for a special occasion or just to spend the evening with someone special.

Check out all they have to offer at www.texascattlecompany.net

Enjoy!

T

Country Chicken ‘N Fish – Lakeland, FL

I absolutely love fried chicken. It is one of my favorite comfort foods. There is this little hole in the wall place in Lakeland, Florida that has been cooking up homemade fired chicken for decades, Country Chicken ‘N Fish.

You can just walk up to their window and place your order.

I had been passing this restaurant for years and always noticed a line of people waiting to order. I finally made a stop. I picked up an 8-piece bucket to enjoy at home. They have some picnic tables outside if you want to enjoy it there, but most people get theirs to go.

The chicken was piping hot when I got my order. It cooled off a little by the time I got home, which as a good thing. The breading on the chicken was super crispy. It locked in the moisture of the chicken, so it was very juicy. The flavor of the breading was your classic southern style, slightly salty with a hint of black pepper. Nothing fancy, just simple.

The wings were extra crispy and very meaty. They are the perfect kind of wing you want when watching football.

They have a few other items on their menu including fried fish. I definitely want to go back and try that. I can see why this restaurant has been around for a while. The food is great, and the staff was very friendly.

Check them out at https://www.yelp.com/biz/country-chicken-and-fish-lakeland

Enjoy!

T