A Foodie's Guide to Florida Cuisine...From Alligator to Stone Crab and everything in between

From Apalachicola in the north to Key West in the south, Florida is a food lover's dream. 

Starting in Apalachicola, you can get the best oysters that the Gulf Coast has to offer.  The wild oysters in the bay are still harvested via small boat by harvesters using tongs.  Harvesting season is September 1 - May 31 each year. 

However you like to eat your oysters, raw or cooked, they are readily available in most restaurants offering seafood or go here for great recipes:
Oyster Recipes you will love...

Crossing the state to the Atlantic Coast, St. Augustine offers a variety of foods inspired by the Minorcans, Indians, and Spanish.  With the arrival of the Spanish to our coast, the natives were introduced to a variety of fruits and vegetables from the Caribbean along with Spain's own Valencia oranges.  The natives in turn introduced the Spanish to new ways of food preparation (to include barbequing) and seasoning with peppers and spicy sauces.  Minorcan foods were added to this giant melting pot when the British took over control of Florida.  Coming from the Mediterranean island of Minorca, the immigrants added their influence to the native cuisine by introducing pilau, using datil peppers (native to Florida) and Fromajardis, a tiny cheesecake that is now a breakfast staple in the St. Augustine area.

In central Florida, think Orlando and its surrounding area, you will find a heavy Floribbean influence.  While there are three recognized varieties to this style of cooking, Latino/Hispano, Afro, and Indo, this particular area of Florida has a heavier Afro/Indo influence to its Floribbean offerings.  Think Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti.  With an emphasis on fresh ingredients to include citrus and sweet tropical fruit, seafood, and various spices ranging from mild to spicy, it is a combination that will certainly tantalize your taste buds.  One such dish is Floribbean Grouper .  With red pepper and papaya jam in the mix, it is definitely a dish to delight.


Heading further west, the Tampa Bay region is famous for its Cuban sandwich. 

While its origins are murky, it was brought in by migrant Cubans coming into Tampa/Ybor City as the cigar industry shifted to Tampa in the 1880's.  One of the best Cubans on the beach (IMO) is at the Kooky Coconut.

Looking for something a little different?  One of Florida's finest seafood items is Stone Crab.  

Season runs from October 15 - May 15 and supply is often limited.  Stone crab meat is flaky and white to off-white with a sweet taste.  Claws are either cooked right on crabbing boats or dockside, and are available either fresh or frozen. 

If you have a taste for alligator, there are a variety of options just along the beaches of Pinellas County.  One that comes to mind is Keegans Seafood Grille.  In addition to their blackened "gator" tail, locals will tell you that they have one of the best grouper sandwiches in the area.

Ropa Vieja

Fried Plantains with Cheese

Heading south to Miami, you will find a growing international food scene.  With the strong Latin/Caribbean influence, Cuban cuisine is usually the food of choice when visiting this area.
From ropa vieja to fried plantains with cheese, there are so many options available. 
This article from Travel & Leisure magazine follows the new food scene of Miami...order up!

Lastly, traveling to the "Southernmost" point of the United States... Key West, aka The Conch Republic, has its own food traditions.  While famous for key lime pie and conch fritters, there is much more to Keys cuisine. 
Key Lime/Blueberry Pie

Love shrimp?  Then Key West Pinks are a must have.  Local to the Florida Keys and wild caught, these shrimp are firm and meaty.  Order a dozen peel and eat, you won't be sorry!


You can get a killer hogfish sandwich or hogfish tacos at Hogfish Bar & Grill in Key West. Hogfish is a flaky, rich, melt in your mouth fish. 

Florida lobster, also known as spiny lobster, is another food unique to the Keys.  Regular season runs August 6 - March 31 with a mini-season the last Wednesday/Thursday of July.  If you are heading to Key West, take a snorkeling/diving trip with Dream Catcher Charters and catch your own dinner.





Whatever your tastes run to, when visiting Florida, eat local.

 

Snorkeling for Scallops in Florida

Scalloping season is June 27 - September 24, 2015.

While most water activities can be enjoyed year round in Florida, certain activities follow a season.  Scalloping is one of them. 

Think of a treasure hunt, Easter egg hunt, and underwater adventure rolled into one.  Scalloping is a great experience and one that should be included in any Florida trip.  From the moment you enter the water, it becomes a different world.  As you swim over the turtle grass, you get such a sense of tranquility that you will almost forget you are there to hunt scallops.  Jelly fish, barrel sponges and more all make an appearance to make your experience memorable.

Scalloping is an activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family and makes for a great day on the water!       

As your search through the underwater grasses  begins, you find yourself caught up in the hunt.  The adventure has begun.  While scallops can be a little hard to find, as they tend to blend in with their surroundings, their electric blue eyes (yep, eyes, and lots of them) make them noticeable in the tall grass. Once you find the first scallop, locating them becomes much easier.  Just watch out for the swimmers....catching them mid swim is a blast but watch your fingers.  I can tell you from experience that when the shell closes on a finger, it hurts! 

So, you've met your limit of scallops, now what?  You can have them shucked dockside for a very reasonable price.  After that you only have to ask yourself.......

Pan Seared or Bacon Wrapped?



Happy hunting and "bon appetit!"

Tis the Season....for Monarch Butterflies

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

Nathaniel Hawthorne

At Gulfside Resorts, we always anticipate the beginning of Spring as the owner (Lee Wilkerson) has planned and planted our garden area at 810 Gulfside to attract Monarch butterflies.  With 4 generations last year and the emergence of our 1st generation this year, we are looking forward to another year of delighting our guests (and ourselves) with our butterfly garden.

Getting ready for transformation....into....

   Ta-da...introducing the first and most recent addition to the Gulfside Resorts family.

You too can plant a butterfly garden, regardless of your location.  The following link (please click picture) will take you to a regional butterfly garden guide:

 

 Here you will find recommended feeder gardens for both butterflies and caterpillars.  

So grab a spade, your own little corner of the yard and get to planning and planting.   Below is Mary Wilkerson's successful experiment with urban gardening, one large planter, 24" of dirt, 3 milkweed plants.... she increased the monarch population by 25... :-)

Happy planting!

Cycling our beaches and trails...

 

The Pinellas Trail stretches from St. Petersburg in the south to Tarpon Springs in the north.  It has 42.5 miles of bike trails taking you through some of the most beautiful scenery in the county.  

From tree lined trails to white, sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.... your bike ride will be a very memorable one.

                                       

Honeymoon Island to the north....Fort Desoto to the south.... the only question you need to ask "Which way to go?"

From Gulfside Resorts in Indian Rocks Beach, pick up the trail in either Largo or Belleair.

You can visit Pinellas Trail and view the discovery map for a list of pick up points throughout Pinellas County.

Following are a few pictures from different points of the trail....

                                         Our 15 minutes of fame......Hall of Fame that is!

 

                                         Safely cross major roads with the bike bridge

                                          Hungry? Stop in Dunedin....The Boxcar Cafe

                                          Anclote Wetlands....

                                          Ozona....

                                          Taylor Park....Just down from Gulfside Resorts

So, bring your bicycle, or take one of ours, and enjoy your ride through our little corner of paradise!

Living like a local on our wonderful beaches...

Have you ever thought what life would be like, living on the lovely beaches of Florida?  Days spent whiling away your time in our mostly subtropical climate, interrupted only rarely by a brief cold snap to break the monotony of constant warmth and sunshine?  From the beaches to the bay and points in between, explore, enjoy, and make the Tampa Bay area your home away from home!

Whether you are into sporting events, outdoor activities, or intellectual pursuits, Indian Rocks Beach and its neighboring communities offers something for everyone.

 Home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Tampa Bay Rays, along with the Rowdies to cover soccer.  Whatever your sport preference, take in a game while visiting us at Gulfside Resorts. 




For outdoor enthusiasts... our area offers an abundance of activities to keep you busy and make your stay a memorable one.  For surfing, skim boarding, paddle boarding and more, make a point to stop into Nekton Surf Shop in Indian Rocks Beach.  It is owned by Gulf Coast surfing legends, the Lopez family. Cory and Shea Lopez put Gulf Coast surfing on the map in the late '90s, ranking in the Top 40 of the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour.

Interested in boating or trying out your casting skills?  There are various companies in the area offering boat rentals, fishing charters, dolphin watching and other day trips.  IRB Boat Rental located in Indian Rocks Beach is one of them, another is Island Marine Rental.  Both offer excellent service and a great selections of boats.  If you are looking to hit the Intracoastal or Gulf waters for a little fishing, you can choose from group or private charters.  Simply Hooked, Jaws Too, Hubbard's Marina, Queen Fleet are just a few in our area offering the ultimate in fishing experience.

For a great trip, cruise the intracoastal waterway to Egmont Key, a beautiful island that is on the National Register of Historic Places and a State Park.  Along the way you watch dolphin as they play in the wake of the boat, snorkel through  sunken Spanish-American War fort ruins or just relax and enjoy the scenery as you cruise to the Key - visit Tropical Island Getaway to plan your adventure. 



Looking for something artsy and different? 

Spend a day in St. Petersburg visiting the Warehouse Arts District.  The Morean Arts Center offers unique opportunities to locals and visitors alike.  Throw a pot at Center for Clay, take a class in glass blowing at The Hot Shop, visit the Chihuly Collection for inspiration.  The Museum of Fine Arts and The Dali Museum are two must sees as well. 

Stroll our beach community of Indian Rocks Beach and take in nature at its best.  Whether you are into bird watching, chasing 'gators, or feeding turtles you can experience it all within a 2 mile radius.
Visit McGough Nature Park and feed the turtles, visit the Birds of Prey, or hike nature trails to the intracoastal waterway.



Hiking, biking, or running you can find marked trails here:

Trails & Maps

 Whatever you choose to do, we hope that your time spent in our area is a memorable one!

Make a point to stop into Nekton Surf Shop in Indian Rocks Beach, owned by Gulf Coast surfing legends, the Lopez family. Cory and Shea Lopez put Gulf Coast surfing on the map in the late '90s, ranking in the Top 40 of the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour. - See more at: http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/article/board-sports-paddleboarding-skimboarding-more#sthash.aZGXk9QI.dpuf

Make a point to stop into Nekton Surf Shop in Indian Rocks Beach, owned by Gulf Coast surfing legends, the Lopez family. Cory and Shea Lopez put Gulf Coast surfing on the map in the late '90s, ranking in the Top 40 of the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour. - See more at: http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/article/board-sports-paddleboarding-skimboarding-more#sthash.aZGXk9QI.dpuf