History says the first authentic Cuban sandwich was served in Tampa’s Columbia Restaurant in 1905. But which Florida city makes the better sandwich? Let the food fight begin. By Tom Scherberger As the cheesesteak is for Philadelphia, the Cuban sandwich is for both Miami and Tampa, an icon for…
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By Jennifer Audette Wait. What? The corner lot with the dilapidated gas pumps serves the best burgers ever? Don’t ask questions. Just park and get to the door, as the line is getting ready to snake outside. That’s the way afternoons go at T-Ray’s Burger Station in Fernandina Beach. The former…
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By Jennifer DeCamp I feel the sun-warmed concrete steps beneath my bare feet. At this point in our lives, my sister and I are all knobby knees and gangly elbows. The distinct pop from wax beans adds rhythm to our conversation as we drop bite-size pieces into a pan. Welcome to Sunday supper at my…
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By Janet K. Keeler It’s Friday evening post-work and Naples Beach Brewery is bumping. There are just a few seats open at the tasting room’s communal tables. A trio of TVs shows mostly sports, baseball playoffs on this night. Thirsty, work-weary patrons grab spots at the picnic tables outside, too…
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By Janet K. Keeler Latin flavors are so ingrained in Florida’s culinary landscape that cooling down with an icy Mexican paleta or celebrating the weekend with a Cuban mojito is standard procedure. For generations, immigrants from Latin America have flocked to the state, followed by restaurants…
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By Julie Landry Laviolette When you think of dining out in Florida, fresh seafood, sunny citrus and just-picked vegetables certainly come to mind. But if you’re looking for different, even unique dining experiences that will whet your appetite for adventure as well as please your palate, read on…
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Florida is renowned for its year-long sun and as a holiday destination, but some may not be aware of its world-class seafood, sun-drenched citrus offerings and the fusions of flavor available. Justin Timineri is an international culinary ambassador representing the state of Florida, with a mission…
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By Tom Scherberger The Tampa Bay area is a hotbed of great food experiences, from casual food trucks and late night eats to elegant fine dining. So many choices, so little time – which is why we’ve gathered 15 can’t-miss fine dining Tampa experiences – breakfast, lunch and dinner – designed to fit…
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By Emily Nipps You can feel the sunshine, you can smell the ocean water, you can hear the seagulls, you can see the palm trees. Now close your eyes and imagine what you think Florida tastes like. Most likely it’s the well-known, time-honored staples: the tender grouper filets, the tangy citrus…
Read MoreBy Nicole Hutchinson One of the hottest trends in food and dining is the food hall. And Florida is riding this culinary wave, with halls popping up throughout the state. So just what is a food hall, you ask? Think food court on steroids. But this isn’t your typical collection of pizza joints and…
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