Food and Dining
Let Tommy Thompson, our Food and Dining blogger and “Sportsman’s Kitchen” columnist for Florida Sportsman Magazine, point you toward the best eats in Natural North Florida.
Pit Stop: Tom’s BBQ, Keystone
If you’re driving or cycling the backroads of Bradford County near Keystone, be sure to stop at Tom’s BBQ. Located at 7154 SE CR 21 B Keystone Heights FL 32656 , at the intersection of SR 21 B and SR 100, you can’t go wrong with some of their great food! They’re open for lunch …
Hungry For Mexican Food? Just Head To Gainesville’s La Tienda Latina Restaurant
Natural North Florida has no shortage of Mexican restaurants. That’s likely due to our growing and industrious Latin population. After all, many of us speak Spanish as a second language and Florida’s geographic location has made us the focus, and possibly the ‘capital’ of Latin America. While there are plenty of upscale sit-down Tex-Mex eateries …
Get Your Seafood Dinner “Fresh From The Shrimp Boat Restaurant” in Horseshoe Beach
As one of the locals told me, “It don’t get no fresher”. And despite the grammar, when you know your seafood was recently swimming in local waters, that’s all that counts. The Shrimp Boat isn’t hard to find. It’s on Main Street (the MAIN street!!) just across from the boat ramp. There’s plenty of parking …
Headed West To Horseshoe Beach? Don’t Miss Lily Creek Store on Hwy 351
Located about halfway between Cross City and Horseshoe Beach, Fl, Lily Creek General Store and Cafe is a “must stop” if you think you’ll need any supplies for your vacation or fishing trip. While there are some supplies available at the Horseshoe Beach Marina, you might consider stopping and browsing at Lily Creek Store before …
Pit Stop: Akins BBQ, Bell
Locals traveling from Levy County (Yankeetown, Inglis and Chiefland), Florida to “points north” on Interstate 75 typically take the “Hwy 129 shortcut” to avoid busy traffic in Gainesville and Lake City. Hwy 129 heads north off US19/98 at Chiefland, and runs through Trenton, Bell and Live Oak before putting travelers out on I-75 just below …
Take A “Day-Cation” on Florida’s Santa Fe River at Ellie-Ray’s
If you’re boating on Natural North Florida’s Santa Fe River or just touring US129 in Gilchrist County, stop by Ellie Ray’s for lunch–or a fun weekend. With plenty of RV sites, a huge boat dock, a restaurant as well as a beautiful swimming pool, Ellie Ray’s is a must-see place on the Santa Fe River. …
Natural North Florida’s Bay Scallop Season Opens 6/25/16…
…and it promises to be a banner year for scallopers at Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach and St. Marks! The official abundance survey for bay scallops was released on June 24, and the numbers for Dixie and Taylor counties (Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach) showed a near 300% increase since last year. Wakulla County’s numbers …
Pit Stop: Burger & Fries at Grave’s Drive-In, Perry
In my travels through Taylor County and Perry, I’d often seen roadside benches advertising Grave’s Drive-In, claiming they served the best hamburgers in the area. But, almost always, as I headed north on Jefferson Street from US27, I was detoured by my craving for Johnson’s Bakery donuts, and then, sated, I’d head either west on …
Pit Stop: Kathi’s Krab Shack, Steinhatchee
It started with a successful commercial fishing venture in Jena, then morphed into a great retail seafood market (Kathi’s Krabs) in Steinhatchee, and now is succeeding as a wonderful seafood restaurant, Kathi’s Krab Shack! The Willets family is going full-steam with their recent rehab and takeover of the venerable Lynn-Rich Restaurant, and they’re making every …
Recipe: Captain Tommy’s Pretzel Rolls
One of my pet peeves is “bad buns”. No—not necessarily beachgoers who don’t suit up in front of mirrors, but fried or grilled fish sandwiches whose buns ruin a perfectly good meal. Forget soggy fries or wilted salads—they can be ignored. Just don’t give me a piece of fish on what’s essentially a stale piece …