Florida Cuisine

To the shock of many, yes, Florida has a distinct cuisine that is the result of heavy Caribbean and Latino influences on Good Ol’ Southern Cooking. Native Floridians and transplants to Florida are constantly combining and creating new dishes – so while visiting, you can have a tried and true favorite, or you can sample the new cuisine that keeps Florida tastefully on the edge of culinary fashions.

If you love salads, we strongly recommend you sample the Ambrosia Salad. With its root word being “ambros” (greek for ‘food of the gods’), you KNOW this salad is going to be divine. The standard Ambrosia Salad consists of mandarin oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, coconut, and sour cream. It is out of this world…the taste is marvelous!

Florida is also famous for supplying one of the major food groups….fruits! Namely, Florida’s soil and year round tropical weather provide for the most perfect citrus fruits to be found in the country. Oranges are the most recognizable of the Floridian citruses, but did you know that tangerines and grapefruit flourish there as well? The grapefruit is so sweet, you need not put any sugar on top (as is popular throughout the rest of America). You can purchase these healthy delectable treats anywhere – from grovestands to supermarkets. Since they are all grown locally, they are fresh; but if you happen upon an orange or citrus plantation, don’t pick the fruit without explicit permission from the owner (it’s illegal)!

If you want a real Florida treat, try a Divinity. This candy is oh-so-bad for your teeth, but it is delicious. A typical Divinity is chewy and consists of sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, vanilla, and pecans. Of course, everyone puts their own spin on the classic recipe, but this is more or less a candy you’d be hard pressed to find outside the state. Another treat is Key-Lime Pie. This pie is everywhere in Florida – the dish is named after the tiny key limes that are abundant throughout the Florida Keys. Unlike regular lime juice, which is green, key lime juice is yellow. For this reason, authentic Key Lime Pie is yellow in appearance, not green (throughout most of America, green food coloring is used to give it the lime appearance). It is interesting to note that Key Lime Pie is made with condensed milk, because prior to modern refrigeration, milk could not be kept in the Florida Keys. This delicious desert is the Florida State Official Pie.

Tropical Mango Rum Cake is also delectable. Some Floridians have mangoes growing in their yards or plantations, so it is readily available. If tropical paradise had a flavor, this would be it.

Florida is famous for its seafood, and while you are visiting, it would behoove you to taste some of what Florida’s waters have to offer – including Grouper, Largemouth Bass, trout, mahimahi, or trout. Each locale in Florida has their own specialty that is unique to their location – so don’t be afraid to experiment. If you are looking to try seafood Floridian style, you could start with the Conch. The Conch shells are popular with young and old alike, who put the shells up to their ear and swear they can hear the ocean, but some people really like the slimy critter that lives inside them too. Two of the most common ways to prepare the Conch is to fry it, or put it in chowder. Conch fritters are popular, as are putting Conch on salads. The Conch is a tough little animal, and best left to professional cooks to prepare. Other seafood dwellers that Floridians love to eat are Crabs and Florida Lobsters. You can buy these by the bucket load in seaside shacks or food stores as well. Stone Crab claws are a seasonal delicacy that do not require a lot of work, are easy to open, and will delight the taste buds.

There is an odd little fish that deserves mention: the Mullet. This bottom-feeder is popular in low-key areas (along with the catfish), and many say you need an acquired taste for it. This fish has a strong flavor, and is usually served with cornmeal, rice, or hot spices.

This may sound unusual – but a delicious Florida meal is Alligator. Alligator tails are virtually indistinguishable from buffalo chicken wings, and like chicken wings, are prepared in a spicy sauce. If you like spicy foods, try Alligator tail. Although other parts of the alligator can be cooked too, the tail is the most popular part of the ‘gator, by far. Absolutely mouth-watering. If you’re brave/hungry enough, dig in. In all fairness, if it were hungry enough, it would try to eat you.

Florida has a sizeable Cuban population (Miami isn’t called “Little Havana” for nothing), and Cuban influences are throughout the Florida palate. Black beans are popular with any meal, as are yellow rice and chicken. Deviled crab with hot sauce is fantastic, as is Boniato Potatoes, which are similar to yams/sweet potatoes, but whitish in color. Most visitors love the paella and the flan – rice heaped with treats, and egg custard in caramel sauce, respectively. Cuban coffee is abound, and if strong coffee is your preferred method of caffination, drink up.

No matter what your preferred culinary delights may be, Florida offers some of the best food in world. With the constant blend of people, new dishes (or reinventions of old dishes) are inspired every day. Enjoy Florida’s foods!

Florida Tourists Guide