Tag: Lakeland

I have written about The Red Top Pit Stop before. The last time I visited I was there for breakfast. This second visit I was there for lunch. As soon as I got out of the car I could smell their BBQ smoker and it made me so hungry.

Because of that smoker I knew I wanted to try some BBQ. I ventured out of my normal routine. Normally I would order pulled pork if it is on a menu, but this time I went for the chopped beef brisket.

The brisket was chopped up extremely fine. It was piled high onto the bun. When it came out there was no sauce on the meat. I liked this because I got to taste what the beef is like when it comes out of the smoker. The bark from cooking was chopped up with the rest of the meat. That bark carried extra smoky flavor throughout the brisket.

After eating a little of the brisket plain, I put the homemade BBQ sauce on my sandwich. The sauce added a sweetness to the meat. It was a great complement to the smokiness.

I got two of their homemade sides that I knew paired well with BBQ. The first was the mac and cheese. This was great, cheesy goodness. There was a crispy cheese layer. I just needed to add a little extra salt to taste.

The other side was the green beans. They cooked the beans with bacon. This added extra flavor to the beans. This side too needed just an extra pinch of salt for my taste.

I am glad I got to go back to The Red Top Pit Stop. It was just as crowded as my first visit. They are an awesome hidden gem in Lakeland that serves amazing comfort food.

Follow them on Facebook at The Red Top Pit Stop

Enjoy!

T

Watching football on Sunday’s is a tradition across America. Having a fun place where you can watch the game and have great food is a must. I found that place in Lakeland, Florida called Mojo’s.

They were founded in 2008 and are known for their ice cold beer. I was very excited to see that their wings have won tons of awards.

Their menu is cute and creative. It’s a newspaper!

I was thrilled to try their red raspberry sangria. It can be ordered by the glass or the pitcher. Naturally, since it was game day I ordered the pitcher. They use raspberry liquor, cherry juice, and cranberry juice and mix that with Merlot and fresh squeezed oranges. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and great for a warm Florida afternoon.

For an appetizer, I ordered their potato chips and queso. It’s a unique combination. They make homemade potato chips that are really addicting. The queso has a chili mixed in that has a little bit of spice. I enjoyed how the spicy queso and the sweetness of the sangria complemented each other.

Since their wings have won awards I knew I needed to try these. There are several sauces to choose from so it’s good they can be ordered in increments of 5. I was able to try different flavors:

• Hot
• Garlic Parmesan
• Sweet & Spicy Plum

The Hot is a traditional Buffalo wing sauce. It was not too spicy; it was the right amount of heat. The kick came from the vinegar in the sauce after I was done eating the wing.

The Garlic Parmesan was a creamy sauce with minced garlic mixed in. It was a little salty but the creamy sauce added a buttery flavor that balanced out the salt. I imagine this sauce would be amazing on pasta.

The Sweet & Spicy Plum is their take on an Asian sauce. The spice was not to hot and the sweet came from the plum sauce that was mixed it. I could really taste the plum. This sauce was my favorite. I liked how unique the flavor was. It was great on the crispy skin of the wings.

I had a great time at Mojo’s and I definitely want to visit again because their burgers looked really good. Plus the staff was fantastic. My waitress, Tiffany, was great!

For a fun time watching football or playing pool on the patio – Mojo’s is a must visit. Check out their website at: http://www.getmojod.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Some friends of mine knew how much I loved Italian food and told me that I needed to join them at Scarpa’s in Lakeland, Florida. They absolutely love this place so I knew I would love it too.

As soon as I walked in I was greeted by a giant chalkboard filled with their daily specials. As soon as I saw arancinis on the board, I knew I would be getting these for sure.

The restaurant is slightly small inside so it is necessary to make a reservation. They do have a beautiful wine cellar with several great options to choose from.

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I ordered a glass of their Rose Prosecco. It was pretty in color and light in flavor. It is not as dry as other Proseccos can be.

The fresh bread they brought to the table was amazing. This Italian bread was crispy on the outside and soft and warm inside. They served it with a side of seasoned olive oil. I could have eaten the entire basket so I had to pull myself back.

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As planned I ordered the arancini. Two huge rice balls came out on the plate. I could not wait to see the chef’s interpretation. The breading on the outside was very crunchy. Inside was the cheesy rice. There were no peas or chopped meat which was ok because they used a ton of cheese that made it super creamy. The flavor was great on its own but the pasta sauce they served on the side was a nice complement to the cheese.

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The eggplant rolatini came out fore I could finish the arancini. This was considered an appetizer but I thought it was big enough for a meal. Two large pieces of eggplant was plenty for me. The eggplant was sliced very thin and breaded just enough to get crispy on the outside. Inside the eggplant was loaded with a soft, creamy cheese mixture. The cheese had a sweet taste. It had pasta sauce drizzled on top along with a little extra cheese. The flavor was great and the cheese made the dish extremely filling.

The few things that I had a Scarpa’s were wonderful. I want to make sure I make another visit to try some other items. I heard the Parmesan crusted grouper is amazing.

Check them out at www.scarpasitalian.com and make sure you have a reservation.

Enjoy!

T

This restaurant is a little off the beaten path in Lakeland, but their Cuban food is worth the drive. I love Cuban food and it is not something you can find regularly outside of Florida. So when I visit it is a must have on my list.

To start lunch off, I got two appetizers for the table. The first being fried ripe sweet plantains. These are my absolute favorite dish. I can tell that the plantain was perfect because it will be soft and sweet. When it is hard and bland then the plantain is not ripe enough. The best way to cook these is simply sautéing them in some butter and they are ready to go.

The ham croquettes were also great to share. The ham was chopped up very fine. It was fried to crispy perfection. When I bit in I could taste the smoky flavor of the ham.

    

I ordered their Lechon Asado – which is the traditional shredded pork. Cuban shredded pork is my second favorite dish (remember the fried plantains are my first). There is something special about how the pork is prepared and seasoned that I cannot replicate at home. The dish also came with a side of black beans and rice and more fried sweet plantains.

The pork was amazing. It was juicy and the salty seasonings could be tasted throughout the meat, not just on the surface. There were also a few crispy edges which added a little crunch.

The black beans and rice they served were delicious and different from others I have had. Instead of serving white rice with a bowl of black beans in a sauce on the side, they actually combined them both and cooked it that way. I liked this style because it allowed the sauce and beans to coat all of the rice.

For authentic Cuban food, please visit West Caribbean Cuban Restaurant. They give you huge portions so plan on having a to go box.

Check out their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/westcaribbeancubanrestaurant/

Enjoy!

T

I have written about Frescos in Lakeland, Florida before. I went back recently for brunch again. I had such a great experience I thought I would write about them again.

I started off with the deviled eggs. They are perfect for sharing. These had a beautiful sweetness to them. They also had crunchy bacon accents that added a very slight touch of saltiness.

For my meal I ordered the spicy chicken and waffles with chorizo gravy. After I ordered it my waiter said this was his favorite dish. When I here this from someone who works at the restaurant I knew I made the right selection.

This was a unique take on chicken and waffles. They used roasted chicken thigh meat. It was off the bone so it was easier to eat. The gravy had all the spice because of the chorizo they used. The chicken was covered in it. The waffle was extremely sweet. It created a perfect enhancement to the heat from the gravy. The dish was pretty big in size so it could easily be shared.

Now my favorite thing about Frescos brunch is their bottomless mimosas. However, there is more to it then just being bottomless. They offer several different flavors. So each time you order you can try something new. They had several flavors on the menu that were not available the last visit. They had Prickly Pear listed but when I went to order it my waiter said they had run out. I was lucky the last time I visited I got to try it. Clearly this is a popular flavor, so add that to your must try list.

I started off with the Pineapple. That’s my favorite juice so it is always a must for me.

The Raspberry version had great tartness to it.

The White Peach was light. There was a subtle peach taste, nothing overpowering.

My last mimosa I went for something fun. They were offering a Sex on the Beach mimosa. It was made perfectly with the right amount of grenadine. This was the sweetest of all the mimosas I tried.

Just like my first visit, this visit was fantastic. My waiter was fun and engaging. The food was great and the mimosas were wonderful. Make sure you add them to your brunch list.

www.frescoslakeland.com

Enjoy!

T

 

When people think of Florida usually what comes to mind is South Beach, Disney World, and Daytona Beach for a NASCAR race. But there is more to Florida than these places. Florida is loaded with lakes, state parks, nature preserves, and wild animals that you would not expect. Located in Lakeland, Florida is the Colt Creek State Park that sits inside the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. Here you can enjoy miles of walking and bike trails and hopefully spot a bald eagle or white tail deer.

Just on the outskirts of the park you will find a little restaurant called The Red Top Pit Stop. This is the perfect spot to stop for breakfast before spending the day with nature.

The restaurant was packed when I got there. I was lucky to get the last table. The breakfast menu was huge and had all the usual breakfast essentials. I was wanting to try something unique and that is when I saw the pulled pork omelet. They smoke their own meat in the BBQ smoker out front, so I knew this was a great choice.

The omelet was big. I started out by tasting just the pork. The meat had a wonderful smoky flavor. The Red Top makes a homemade BBQ sauce, which is sweet and pairs well with the smoky meat.

My second bite was the combination of the egg, cheese, and pork. Prior to eating this combination, I would not have thought egg and pulled pork would work. I was completely wrong. It was an amazing taste.

The egg had a neutral flavor but added tons of texture to each bite. The cheese added a creaminess, the pork had the moisture and smokiness, and the drizzle of BBQ sauce on top added the sweetness. It all worked together and each flavor was balanced out. If you like bacon in an omelet, having pulled pork is similar. It added the saltiness but offers less crunch. It really made the omelet heartier. Keep in mind they give you a large portion so you can fill up rather quickly.

Each breakfast comes with a side. They have a homemade hash brown potato that looked good. However, I knew that would be way to filling to pair with the omelet. I went for the buttery grits. They were cooked perfectly, creamy and salty. A great breakfast staple.

There is more to The Red Top Pit Stop than breakfast. They have a large selection of sandwiches and burgers. I definitely plan on heading back to try one of their burgers topped with their BBQ.

Whether you are heading out to the park for a bike ride or coming back from a sunrise nature walk, you are certainly going to work up an appetite. The Red Top Pit Stop is a must visit along the way. Check them out their Facebook page at facebook.com/The-Red-Top-Pit-Stop

Enjoy!

T

There are seafood places all over Florida. Sometime the decision can be really hard. When I decided to check out Fish City Grill it was because I saw they had char-grilled oysters on the menu. I was sold.

     

As soon as I sat down I ordered my oysters so they could start preparing them. They usually take a little while to cook properly.

Once I got my order in it was time to order a cocktail. I was curious to try the Grilled Peach Old Fashion. They used rye whiskey, St. Germain, thyme, bitters, a splash of lime, and fresh grilled peaches. There was a slight sweet taste to the cocktail and I could taste the hint of peach. It was not overly peachy.

As an appetizer the table ordered some fried calamari. This was a classic dish, nothing too fancy. The calamari was fresh, so the meat was tender. It shined through.

I ordered the crab bisque. I do not remember ever seeing this on a menu. Usually its lobster bisque. This soup was rich and creamy. It was topped off with a little Sherry. There were a few pieces of lump crab meat that settled at the bottom of the bowl. This bisque had exquisite taste. I just wish there was a little more crab meat.

Finally it was the shinning moment. My char-grilled oysters arrived at the table. They were still sizzling as if they were still on the grill.

There were a few different sizes of oyster from small to extra large. All were loaded with melted butter, garlic, and cheese.

     

As soon as they hot my lips I was in heaven. These were exactly what I enjoy when I visit New Orleans. It did not take me long to eat these morsels.

     

After the salty oysters I needed something sweet. I placed an order for the beignents. I figured I should stick to the New Orleans theme.

I was excited when they came out and I saw the piles of powdered sugar. But when I picked up the triangles of dough I realized they were very light. These beignents were made with a puff pastry. So they were not real beignents.  They were crispy instead of doughy. They were a nice dessert but not what I was hoping for.

The food and drinks were goof at Fish City Grill. They offered a nice variety of fresh seafood dishes. Check them out at www.fishcitygrill.com

Enjoy!

T

I have eaten at several restaurants around Lakeland, Florida. There was one placed located downtown that I had been wanting to try for a long time called Frescos. They are known for their weekend brunches and I was excited to get to experience it for myself.

One of the best things about brunch at Frescos is their bottomless mimosas. These are not just your standard orange juice and champagne mimosas. They offer a variety of different flavors and you can try them all. There were champagne glasses being served all around the restaurant.

The first mimosa I ordered was the pineapple. I wanted to start with my favorite juice. I knew I could not go wrong.

The second flavor I ordered was the mango-strawberry. It was sweet; I tasted more of the strawberry than mango, but there still was some mango essence.

  

The third flavor was strawberry. This was even sweeter than the previous one. However, it worked well with the saltiness from my food.

Finally, the last flavor I tried was the prickly pear. This was a unique taste. It was a little on the sour side.

Now after reading all about my mimosas you might think that is all I had at Frescos. Not true. I ordered a wonderful breakfast bowl called the Ranchero bowl.

It had these wonderful cheesy potatoes that were like a hash brown casserole. Those were topped with slices of chorizo sausage, pico de gallo, and scrambled eggs (but you can get your eggs however you want). It was suppose to come with avocado however, to my disappointment they were out of avocado that day.

Each element of the bowl was delicious. I liked that type of chorizo they used because it was not too spicy and it was sliced instead of crumbled. It prevented the dish from being too oily. The pico was fresh and tasted great with the eggs. The potatoes were my favorite part because they were so cheesy.

While I was enjoying my last mimosa, I decided to try one of Frescos desserts. They had a large selection of sweet treats to choose from. They were all displayed in there case for everyone to see.

It was a hard choice but I went for the carrot cake.

It was a huge slice. The cake was moist and had the right amount of spice. The inside cream between each layer was the classic cream cheese icing. The outside icing reminded me more like a butter cream frosting.

If you love brunch then you must got to Frescos. They also have a wonderful menu for dinner. They are also the only bourbon bar in Lakeland and have live music throughout the week. Check them out at http://www.frescoslakeland.com/

Enjoy!

T

If you have ever driven on Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando you have certainly seen a giant industrial building with a big sign that says Brew Hub. I finally decided to check them out and see what they were all about.

When I walked in I was overwhelmed with the size if the tasting room. There were tables all around and a nice huge bar. I pulled up a seat and started talking with the bartender.

What makes Brew Hub different is they offer brewing machinery, space, and bottling to local craft breweries. This allows these local businesses to get their product out to the public. It is a very fascinating concept.

Brew Hub also has a pretty decent food menu filled with bar munchies. And they always have a local food truck on site serving up some of their specialties.

I looked over the beers and ciders they were offering. The Pineapple Hula caught my attention. It’s a pineapple cider that is 5% ABV. This cider was made by Ciderboys Hard Cider.

I have never had a pineapple cider. The flavor was amazing. The pineapple taste was strong but not overpowering. The citrus after tones made this cider very refreshing.

To go along with my drink I ordered the pretzels and beer cheese. The pretzel sticks came out extremely hot. They needed to cool off a little before I could eat them.

The pretzel dough was slightly sweet and it paired well dipped in the salty beer cheese. The cheese also had a slight tangy taste. It was the perfect snack to enjoy at the bar.

I had a great experience at Brew Hub. I only scratched the surface to what they offered. I joined their rewards program so I plan on going back. Plus I want to get their early enough to take the brewery tour.

Check them out on Facebook and at their website http://brewhub.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

A brand new restaurant recently opened up in downtown Lakeland called Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits. It is actually located in an old post office building.

It was really cool how they incorporated the old look of the post office into an updated chic hangout.

    

What patrons may not realize when they walk into this restaurant is it’s actually a BBQ joint. They smoke all of their own meats in the back. When they run out of a meat, then that is it for the day.

While I decided what food to try I glanced over their drink menu. They offered a red and a white sangria. They make it from scratch using wine, Sailor Jerry spiced rum, fresh raspberries, strawberries, orange and lime. They decorated the glass with a purple and white orchid. It was a beautiful presentation. Through the course of the dinner I ended up trying one of each.

The red sangria was slightly sweet. They used a dryer wine. The rum added spice as you would expect. To help prevent the sangria from getting watered down they actually froze the raspberries and strawberries.

The white sangria was very sweet. The taste actually reminded me of a rum runner rather than a sangria. It was refreshing.

They offered several BBQ starters that were ordered for the table to share. The one I was most excited to try was the Burnt Ends. These are the crispy, outside edges of their beef brisket.

These were absolutely amazing. The bark on the outside was loaded with smoky essence. The brisket fell apart as I picked it up with my fork, which shows how tender it was. The marbling of the fat throughout the brisket created a juiciness that spilled out of the meat. It simply melted in my mouth. The flavor was so strong I did not even bother putting BBQ on the pieces.

The quesadilla was perfect for sharing. The crispy shell was loaded with pulled pork, the special Mojo BBQ sauce, and both cheddar and jack cheese.

The pork was tender and very juicy; the Mojo sauce added extra flavor. The cheeses added a salty element. It did come with a side of salsa but I did not use it because the Mojo sauce was so good on it.

The fried pickles were exactly what I expected. They were pickle chips with a crispy breading. It came with a “comeback sauce” that was like an aioli. I actually enjoyed them being dipped in their different BBQ sauces.

When it comes to sauces they have five to choose from:

• Sweet – totally sugary sweet
• Mustard – self explanatory
• Chipotle – had a slight pepper heat
• Vinegar – sour and classic Carolina style
• Mojo – a classic BBQ sauce with slight spice

Now a friend at the table ordered the Mojo Q Salad. I was able to try some of it. This salad was loaded with pulled pork, beef brisket, and chopped chicken. This salad was huge. The meats all had a great smoky taste. When covered with the Chipotle sauce it added another layer of flavor and eating it with the crunch of the romaine lettuce added a freshness.

For my dinner I ordered one of their two Meat BBQ Plates. It came with my choice of meats and sides. They offered seven different BBQ meats, which made it a hard choice. Everything sounded delicious. I went with the pulled pork shoulder and the beef brisket.

Of course I went with the pulled pork because that is my favorite BBQ meat. I also went for more brisket since those burnt ends were so delicious. The pork was super juicy and tender. There were not enough burnt edges but I still enjoyed it. The slices of brisket were amazing. They were thinly cut and the meat pulled apart with just a touch of my fork. There was just enough bark on the edges of each slice to add a salty accent.

Once I tasted the meat in its natural state I drizzled the sweet BBQ sauce on top. I really like how the sweetness worked with the smokiness. They complemented each other so well.

Now I got two sides with my dinner but there was a third that I wanted to try. The garlic cheese grits were amazing. I have had cheddar grits before but adding the garlic to them took the flavor to a different level. These were not your typical breakfast grits. They were thick and creamy and had a great savory element.

The mac and cheese reminded me of the one my mom would make. The noodles were tossed in a ton of cheese that melted into a creamy sauce. The top layer had crispy cheese and a sprinkling of breadcrumbs for added texture. It was classic comfort food.

The final side that I ordered extra was the sweet potato mash. It is not often that I see sweet potatoes on a menu, so I needed to see what these were all about. They mashed the potatoes leaving just a few chucks. Then they mixed in a little brown sugar for extra sweetness. They baked these in the oven in order to create a crispy, sugary layer on top. This way when they scoop the potatoes into the bowl, the crispy later got mixed throughout the entire serving. Normally sweet potatoes like this are served with turkey at Thanksgiving but they also go really well with BBQ.

I really enjoyed all the food and sangrias at Mojo Federal. I am planning on going back when I am in Lakeland because they have so many more things to try. Check out their entire offering at www.mojobbq.com

Enjoy!

T