Tag: Lakeland

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

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