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.
Sugar Refined: Cupcakes Take Center Stage in Newberry
In my humble opinion as a food writer, there’s nothing quite like a properly baked cupcake. And if you add buttercream icing and some sprinkles, it gets even better. Sugar Refined Bake Shop is located in downtown Newberry at 25345 Newberry Road. There are always plenty of cupcake and pastry choices in the cases, and …
“Nothin’ But Good Meat” at Newberry Cold Storage in Newberry, Florida
With two Bar-B-Q joints, a “meat and three” restaurant, a crab house and two Mexican restaurants, there’s plenty of good solid food available in downtown Newberry, Florida. And there’s also some good things take home and cook. Newberry’s oldest retail establishment is Newberry Cold Storage, set back from SR26 (Newberry Road), across the street from …
Real Homemade Biscuits, EVERY DAY, at Lynn-Rich Restaurant in Steinhatchee, Florida
Yes, Steinhatchee, like the rest of Taylor County, is busy in the summer months. That’s when hordes of eager snorkelers invade the small Gulf-side community in search of bay scallops. Motels are full, boat ramps crowded, marinas busy and the waits at local restaurants can be long. But despite the bustling tourist season, a hearty …
Lunch, Dinner and Country Atmosphere at Levy County’s 19/98 Grill & Country Store
When you’re traveling on US19 headed north from Inglis and the Withlacoochee River, in the lower stretches of our Natural North Florida region, you’re also traveling on US98. The road has both names until they split at Perry, in Taylor County, with US19 heading towards Monticello (in Jefferson County) and US98 heading west towards Wakulla …
Small Town Escape: Newberry in Western Alachua County
Many consider Newberry to be a “suburb” of busy Gainesville, the county seat of Alachua County, Florida. Located at the crossroads of US27 and SR26, it seems Newberry is often overlooked by folks traveling through the downtown. Newberry’s official Main Street is US27, but it’s along east/west SR26 (Newberry Road/University Avenue if you’re heading west …
“Meat and Three” at Bett’s Big T Restaurant in Chiefland, Florida
“Meat and Three” restaurants are a southern tradition. In many parts of Florida, they’re dying out and being replaced by fast-food enterprises, especially in the more urbanized areas. But if you’re traveling through (or hopefully stopping in) our 11 county Natural North Florida region, you’ll find several of these classic eateries. A good example is …
“Early Birds” Catch The Fish–Summertime Fishing on Florida’s Big Bend
There are several reasons to get up early and go fishing on hot summer days. One, if you’re fishing from one of our busy scalloping areas (Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, St. Marks), you’ll beat the crowds to the water. Another, the weather is more likely to be calm, unlike the afternoons when thunderstorms usually develop. The …
How to Ensure You’re Getting Fresh Gulf Seafood!
Thanks to The Catch for this excellent information regarding fresh seafood! When you’re looking to buy fresh Gulf seafood, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting the highest-quality seafood sourced straight from the Gulf. The first and most important step before you purchase seafood at a store (or order it in a restaurant) is …
Small Town Escape: Alachua, the Main Street of Natural North Florida
Don’t be fooled by all the new development, gas stations and fast food outlets when you exit I-75 at Exit #399, US441. You’re in the town of Alachua (pronounced Al-ach-u-way) in rural Alachua County (pronounced Al-ach-u-wah). And you’re in a real gem of a Natural North Florida town. The restoration of downtown Alachua is impressive, …
Wade For Bay Scallops at Taylor County’s Hagens Cove Park
For the most part, harvesting bay scallops on Florida’s Big Bend is a boat-oriented exercise. However, there’s one place, on coastal Taylor County, where folks can wade out to gather bay scallops. The park at Hagens Cove is located between Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach, just off CR361 and is a good location for waders, kayakers …