Tag: Lakeland

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

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

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

The Terrace Hotel is a historic hotel in downtown Lakeland, Florida. Inside the hotel there is a restaurant that I visited many years ago. Since that visit, the restaurant and part of the hotel have been remodeled. I was able to check them out for Sunday brunch. The lobby is beautiful when you walk in. There is so much natural light. The restaurant as also beautiful. With the tall ceiling, the restaurant seems much larger than it is.

They did update their brunch menu and they now offer a bottomless Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar. It is a great setup; the waitress or waiter brings a carafe of either champagne or vodka. Then you get to make the drink to your liking.

For Bloody Mary’s, they offer a regular and spicy mix. There are the assorted vegetables that you can add to your cocktail.

I went for the Mimosas. They had several juices to choose from:

• Orange
• Blood Orange
• Pineapple
• Grapefruit
• Cranberry
• Apple Cider

They had an assortment of fresh fruit to accent the cocktail. It was a nice setup. I had mostly pineapple mimosas but did try the blood orange for something different.

I ordered the Terrace Frittata. The egg was mixed with asparagus, red peppers, mushrooms, and gruyere cheese. The plate was garnished with an arugula salad and a crème Fraiche. The frittata was fluffy. The vegetables they included gave the egg a nice earthy taste. The asparagus had a little crunch. The gruyere cheese melted nicely throughout the frittata. It was creamy with a combination of sweet and salty. The arugula salad was a great, fresh element to the plate. The peppery taste of the arugula complemented the sweetness from the crème Fraiche that was drizzled on top.

I came to brunch with family so there was a variety of dishes ordered. I did not try these dishes, but I did make sure to take pictures and ask everyone how they liked what they ordered.

The first dish I wanted to talk about was the Lake Mirror Benny. This is their take on the classic brunch dish, eggs benedict. Their twist on this was using a toasted brioche bun rather than an English muffin. The brioche bun added sweetness to each bite. They used applewood smoked bacon that was cooked perfectly to have a crispness. They placed the perfectly poached egg on top with a creamy hollandaise sauce. The hollandaise sauce has a decadent creamy flavor.

The Open Face Sammy was a unique breakfast sandwich.  They started with a base of toasted sourdough bread. They layered prosciutto, gruyere cheese, arugula, and béchamel (béchamel is a sauce made of flour, milk, and butter). Then they placed a sunny side up egg on top. This sandwich was a blend of creamy and salty with all the ingredients. The runny yoke from the egg added a richness to the already creamy texture from the gruyere cheese and béchamel. The sourdough added a slight tanginess.

Another dish that was ordered was the Open Face Patty Melt. This burger patty was a combination of ground short rib and brisket. The patty that was cooked to a perfect medium, was topped with gruyere cheese, sautéed shallots, mushrooms, a house sauce, and of course a sunny side up egg. All of this was placed on a slice of marble rye bread. The patty was juicy and tender. The way the cheese melted on the meat created a wonderful texture. The shallots and mushrooms helped create a savory flavor.

There was a non-breakfast dish that was ordered by two people at the table. This was the Fish Tacos. The soft taco shells were filled with a battered, flakey fish. They topped the fish with shredded cabbage and grilled onions and peppers. Crispy French fries came of the side. The tacos were filling but both people thought the fish could have used a little spice. It was a little bland for them. Once they got some hot sauce to sprinkle on top, they were perfectly happy.

Brunch was amazing a Terrace Grille. The staff was wonderful and took great care in making sure everything was perfect. I would highly recommend visiting. They do change up some of their dishes seasonally, so check out their menu at www.terracegrillelakeland.com

Enjoy!

T

Enjoying National Beer Day at Swan Brewing. They have a great assortment of local craft beers to choose from.

Check them out at www.swanbrewing.com

Enjoy!

T

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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Check out their menu at www.craftycrabrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

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.

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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.

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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