Florida has more variety than an all-you-can-eat seafood gorge fest. Natural wonders and prefab theme parks. Miami chichi and flip-flop beach towns. And its edible landscape has its own varied assortment of flavors for travelers to devour.
Miami’s Wynwood Arts District
The former warehouse and manufacturing district of Greater Miami continues to see its second coming. Strokes of kaleidoscopic creativity and imagination provide the base coat on top of defunct factories, old warehouses and other spaces. Today they thrive as art galleries, retail shops, live performance venues and more. Its galleries play a big part of the Miami Beach edition of Art Basel (www.artbasel.com/miami-beach), an annual fair that exhibits work by a multitude of international artists and takes place Dec. 1-4, 2016. Art Basel organizers expect approximately 70,000 guests at this year's event. Wynwood Walls, an outdoor display of graffiti and street art, lures onlookers. And restaurants cook up their fair share of this renaissance.
Some credit Italian eatery Joey's (2506 N.W. Second Ave., Miami. 305-438-0488, joeyswynwood.com, @joeys_wynwood) for helping light the neighborhood's fire. Its ever-popular thin-crust pizzas, including the Joey with its portobello mushrooms and shallots, buddy up with tangles of pasta, panini sandwiches and entrees. A grilled marinated sirloin sizzles among the latter.
A mixed grill of art and cuisine plates up at Wynwood Kitchen & Bar (2550 N.W. Second Ave., Miami. 305-722-8959, wynwoodkitchenandbar.com, @wkbmiami). The menu's roll call of small plates shines with Latino essence, encouraging guests to customize their own foodie patchwork meal. The thread of ornamental art runs throughout, including in the bar and lounge where artist Shepard Fairey's wallpapered mural stretches from floor to ceiling. Fairey also lays claim to creating the joint's logo.
The intimate Kush (2003 N. Miami Ave., Miami. 305-576-4500, kushwynwood.com, @KushWynwood) puts most of its focus on smart burgers featuring locally sourced ingredients and craft beer chasers. The staff presses the contents of the Frita burger — in which the patty comes with Gruyere, potato sticks, bacon and a smear of guava jelly — between the buns. The Johnny Utah, with its "Point Break" reference, buddies the patty with hot pastrami. Beer disciples flow through the doors to kneel before Kush's 18 taps of discerning suds. Fried chicken with Belgian waffles, Bahamian conch salad, gator bites and a black bean veggie burger bring the variety.
Zak Stern has serious flour power in Miami. He began earning his stripes by providing some of the city's hottest restaurants with superior sourdough. Since last year, the bearded wonder has been on the rise with Zak the Baker (405 N.W. 26th St., Miami. 786-347-7100, zakthebaker.com), his DIY bakery and cafe. The menu revolves around the fresh ingredients on hand. Diners rave over the Nova salmon sandwich, the spiced-up shakshuka (an egg-based Middle Eastern dish), avocado toast and oodles of others. Sweets and breads, of course, garner strong followings. Jewish rye, sunflower, whole wheat and a variety of others regularly come out of the oven in large numbers. Remember this Jewish baker shuts down on Saturdays for the Sabbath and keeps things kosher. That means no meat. Stern, however, works his magic with veggies, fish, eggs and dairy ingredients.
Wynwood seems to be the logical choice for Wynwood Brewing Company (565 N.W. 24th St., Miami. 305-982-8732, wynwoodbrewing.com, @WynwoodBrewing). Miami's first craft production brewery claims to create "a work of art in every glass." Even though it's still young, the place has serious props. Its Pop's Porter took home a gold medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival in Denver giving it the title of best robust porter in the country.
Orlando theme park dining
Orlando’s theme park giants, Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World, know the importance of targeting all five senses. And they both take immense care marinating the strategy of taste.
Mythos, located at Universal's Islands of Adventure park (6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando. 407-363-8000, universalorlando.com, @UniversalORL), boasts a critically acclaimed rep and a strong cult following where theming and quality bites coexist. Inside an impressive faux mountain, visitors nosh within a striking grotto where an eclectic menu blends more laid-back fare (blackened fish tacos) with snazzier entrees (grilled swordfish).
CityWalk, Universal Orlando's entertainment district, saw a massive expansion last year with new restaurants firing up. The Cowfish (6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando. 407-224-3663, universalorlando.com, @CowfishOrlando) may make it upstream as its most imaginative. Billed as "the first and only sushi burger bar," the Orlando location of the small chain not only offers both raw fish and burgers, but also its trademark "burgushi." This convergence of the two finds items like the High Class Hillbilly tumbling the East and West together. This flash-fried, maki-style roll features barbecue pork.
Arguably one of the most sought after attractions at the amped-up Fantasyland at Disney World's Magic Kingdom isn't an attraction at all. The French-inspired Be Our Guest restaurant (Magic Kingdom Drive, Orlando. 407-939-5277, disneyworld.disney.go.com, @DisneyParks), themed after the animated classic "Beauty and the Beast," rings the mealtime bell inside the Beast's castle. Make sure to grab a seat in the West Wing with its thunder and lightning effects, and transforming Beast portrait. It offers quick-service breakfast and lunch, and table-service dinner.
Although it holds the title as Disney World's priciest in-park restaurant, the accolades keep coming for Monsieur Paul (200 Epcot Center Drive, Orlando. 407-939-5277, disneyworld.disney.go.com, @DisneyParks), located in the France section of Epcot. Named after 89-year-old French chef Paul Bocuse, the dinner-only restaurant specializes in French cuisine in an intimate fine dining environment. The signature black truffle soup hits the menu along with lobster, rack of lamb, duck, steak and other culinary delights. Since it sits above Chefs de France, also operated by Bocuse's family, Monsieur Paul arguably offers one of the best fireworks views in the park, so book accordingly.
Tailgating at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party
With bowl game-style revelry and die-hard enthusiasm, the annual pigskin rumble in Jacksonville between the University of Georgia and the University of Florida continues drawing throngs of Bulldog and Gator faithful. And many of them hold tailgating pageantry as dear as the game itself. For those who'd rather not worry about stocking up for and organizing their own pregame festivities, the Georgia Bulldog Club of Jacksonville has its own playbook. The group huddles up for its annual BBQ Tailgate Party in Metropolitan Park located alongside the St. Johns River just south of EverBank Field. Free and open to the public, it kicks off around 11 a.m. when the River Band cranks its amps. Barbecue pros set up shop and begin serving oh-so-tender chicken quarters at 11:30 a.m. The $15 meal, the same drill the club has been offering for 20 years, includes baked beans, potato salad, a slice of no-frills white bread and a sweet tea belly washer. A virtual pep rally drops at noon when UGA's Redcoat Marching Band, its Georgettes dance line, the school's cheerleaders and costumed mascot Hairy Dawg arrive.
Keep an eye on the club's website for the 2016 game date and plans. Metropolitan Park, 4110 Gator Bowl Blvd., Jacksonville. jaxbulldogs.com.
Beach bites
Whether you’re splashing in the surf or spiking the day with a game of volleyball, beach activities can be a recipe for a growling gut. Fortunately, beach towns typically have more-than-admirable grub in the vicinity.
Step away from your spot on Flagler Beach and stake your claim on the oceanfront deck at tapas restaurant and watering hole Break-Awayz (819 N. Oceanshore, Flagler Beach. 386-439-7700, break-awayz.com). Slather a pita with some flounder fish dip, sink your choppers into a tuna slider and gulp down one of its many craft beers. Missing your beach blanket? Grab a burrito to go.
Roll up to the drive-thru at Stewby's Seafood Shanty (427 Racetrack Road N.W., Fort Walton Beach. 850-586-7001, stewbys.com) for a snag-and-go lunch you can bring to the beach. Fried and grilled dinners, sandwiches, tacos and more bank on fresh-out-of-the-Gulf ingredients. Its fried shrimp and fried oysters keep hooking fans. If you're looking to fill up after a day at the beach, get there early. This counter-service restaurant has limited seating, and schools of diners swim through regularly.
Key lime pie in the Keys
The building's lemon-lime paint job should be the first giveaway. Yet nearly everything about the original location of Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe (200 Elizabeth St., Key West. 800-376-0806, keylimeshop.com) reminds you it's always lime time. Known for creating one of the best pies on the island, they inject Key lime into everything from cookies to salsa. Still they always have an eye on the pie. Eat a slice out by the koi pond or go mobile with its pie on a stick.
It makes sense you'll find a comfy slice of tang within the cozy confines of Ma's Fish Camp (105 Palm Ave. #2, Islamorada. 305-517-9611, masfishcamp.com). The tart Key lime filling hits you first, and the crunch of its graham cracker crust soon follows. The staff crowns it with sweet meringue.
The folks behind the Fish House (102401 Overseas Highway, Key Largo. 305-451-4665, fishhouse.com) promise fresh Key lime pies from its kitchen each day. The menu claims it's the "authentic Florida Keys version," and the meringue topping comes lightly browned.
Tiki time at the Mai-Kai
Dating back to 1956 when the country's Polynesian pop craze swiveled its hips at a fevered pace, the thatch-roofed Mai-Kai restaurant stands as a historic landmark and beloved Fort Lauderdale institution. The carved tiki statues, the rushing waterfalls, the lush gardens and tropical decor set the tone like the strum of a steel guitar. Each of the dining rooms hulas to its own drummer and features theming of a respective part of Polynesia, from Hawaii to Tonga. Have a seat in either the Samoa or Tahiti rooms for a waterfall view or even opt to eat in the gardens.
Asian-inspired entrees jump the continent. You can take a bite of Cantonese shrimp or zip over to Thailand for some red curry chicken. Old-school style Peking duck remains a specialty, but with its limited availability, you might want to call ahead. Steaks, ribs, lobster, pork tenderloin, rack of lamb and more get smoky in the oak wood-fired Chinese ovens.
Catch a wave with more than 50 tropical drinks in the Molokai Bar. The Mai Tai, Barrel O’ Rum and Shrunken Skull help make up the long list. Bartenders wearing sarongs serve libations amid the bar’s shiplike design. Order the Mystery Drink, and you get the longstanding tradition of a waitress dancing before you.
The real performance takes place in the showroom with its Islander Revue. Tahiti native and co-owner Mireille Thornton choreographs a new show each year. Rumbling drums, fire dancers, hula girls and a slew of South Seas traditions unfold on stage.
Mai-Kai Restaurant, 3599 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. 954-563-3272, maikai.com, @TheMaiKai.
The 53rd Annual Florida Seafood Festival
For two days in the fall, seafood supporters indulge at Apalachicola's oak tree-laden Battery Park. The festival's massive Food Row plays host to just about anything you can catch out of the area's waters, making the mouth of the Apalachicola River a choice backdrop. Nonprofit groups raise funds by shilling shrimp, smoked mullet, oysters on the half shell and an ocean full of other items, including non-fishy fare.
Like a conglomeration of colorful fish in the same aquarium, the festival’s special events flourish with interaction and entertainment. Kids squeal on carnival rides; cheer on or participate in the blue crab races; learn about aquatic creatures at a maritime exhibit; and watch as the festival parade winds along its path. Runners hoof it in a 5K, live music cuts through the air, and guests peruse the arts and crafts. The Blessing of the Fleet ceremony honors the glut of vessels expected to pack the nearby marina. Oyster fanatics compete in separate contests to see who can slurp down and shuck the most.
Battery Park, 1 Bay Ave., Apalachicola. 888-653-8011, floridaseafoodfestival.com.
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