Food
Florida’s 2016/2017 Stone Crab Season Opens October 15th–Great Eating Ahead
The result of stone crabbers’ hard work–a plate of mighty fine eatin’ There’s nothing more tasty than a Florida stone crab. And some of the best come from the ports of Natural North Florida. Florida’s stone crab population is highly regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Not only do regulations apply …
Spotted Seatrout–A Big Bend Favorite (To Catch and To Eat)!
Fall is here and all those undersized spotted seatrout that Big Bend anglers have been catching and releasing since last spring have grown up. Now, they’re mostly all in the 15 to 20-inch slot (you can keep one over 20-inches) and there should be no problem catching dinner as the waters on the Big Bend …
Florida’s Big Bend 2016 Recreational Scallop Season Ends–With A Bang!
Five of the seven counties that make up the official Florida bay scallop harvest are in Natural North Florida–Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson and Wakulla. And what a year 2016 has been! The harvest started in June, and quick boat limits (see www.myfwc.com/fishing for regulations) were taken. And even after Hurricane Hermine slammed the coast over …
St. Marks Stone Crab Festival, October 22, 2016
There’s just about nothing better to eat than Florida stone crabs and despite the “hype” that we hear from south Florida, stone crabs from the northern Gulf waters are tastier and more plentiful. Those “jumbos” and “colossals” on menus at fancy south Florida eateries are good, but our “mediums” taste better and there’s …
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 …
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. …
Sizzlin’ Summertime Fishing at Cedar Key
The town of Cedar Key has two distinct personalities. One, it’s a fun place to visit, walk the streets, sight-see, shop in small galleries and eat at better-than-average restaurants. Second, and certainly more important to fishermen, it’s a great place to do some excellent inshore and offshore fishing, especially during the hot summer months when …
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 …