TALLHASSEE, Fla. (October 21, 2015) – Gone are the days when Florida vacations consisted of quick service stops and fast food joints. Today, visitors will find an abundance of delicious dining options that are sure to tantalize the taste buds. Just ask Chef Emeril Lagasse. For years he's been known for his world famous New Orleans cuisine, but in 2009, he moved to the Sunshine State and fell in love with the Florida food scene. Of course, Lagasse didn't stop there. In 2012, the Emeril's Florida TV series launched on the Cooking Channel. The show, now in its fourth season, has featured more than 150 talented chefs and farmers from the Florida Keys to the Florida Panhandle, who have been sifting, simmering and stirring up the kind of food that makes the state worth dining in. Here are just a few noteworthy locations you should eat your way through on your next visit to the Sunshine State.

An Amish Paradise

For the Midwestern Amish community, Sarasota is the perfect escape when winter hits and these snowbirds bring their culinary skills with them. The Amish culture values self-sufficiency, which is reflected in their cooking style. To try the cuisine yourself, head to Yoder's Restaurant, a family-owned and-operated dining destination since 1975. At Yoder's, almost all ingredients are locally grown and organic. Every week, the restaurant fries up more than 2,000 pounds of chicken using a high pressure fryer, which cooks quicker and hotter than other cookers, but keeps the chicken deliciously juicy.

When it comes to desserts, they don't use any preservatives or mixes in their pies, which have been made by Mary Yoder from scratch every morning for the past 14 years. Before that, her mother, Amanda Yoder, came up with the recipes and did the baking herself. She prides herself on the less-is-more approach, with fewer than 10 ingredients being used in their most popular Peanut Butter Cream Pie.

Cowboy Country

While the West may have most of the bragging rights when it comes to cowboy culture, Florida is not without its own Wild West past. Back in the 1800s, when cattlemen roamed the Central and South Florida range, they had to be fed. But when the ranch owners wouldn't part with the choicest cuts of meat, cattlemen were left with stringy brisket and other tough cuts that took 10 or more hours to cook. And so began the tradition of barbeque in Florida. Slow-roasted meats were simmered long and low over the fire during the day and were devoured by hungry cowboys at night. This tradition lives on in Central Florida and is celebrated each year at the Lakeland PigFest BBQ competition. In January, the Lakeland PigFest celebrates its 20th anniversary with more than 150 teams from around the United States, and from all over Florida, competing for the coveted Kingsford Grand Champion spot.

Laid-Back & Low-Key

No one does casual quite like the Florida Keys. While the attire for this island chain might be laid-back, the area's succulent seafood offers plenty of sophistication. If you're a do-it-yourself kind of person, there are plenty of opportunities to catch your own assortment of seafood – but since you're on vacation, leave the cooking to the professionals.

Just off the beaten path in Key West you will find Hogfish Bar and Grill, where you can enjoy panoramic waterfront views, outdoor dining and live music on the weekends. This local favorite offers many “straight from the boat to your plate” selections. Additionally, the chef will cook your fresh catch for you. If you want to enjoy your Florida catch at home or share with someone, Islamorada Fish Company will custom pack and ship your catch.

Hands-on Fun

Florida has always been known as a family vacation hot-spot, but not all vacations are created equal. While some families are looking for a resort-style stay, others want that comforting feeling of a home away from home. As one of the top destinations for vacation rentals, families come to Kissimmee to enjoy the comforts of home with the experiences you can only have in Florida.

Nothing says family fun like sitting down to eat a meal together, and nothing says home like eating with your hands, right? At Medieval Times, you'll do just that. Your family will love this magical experience that presses the boundaries between fairy tale and spectacle. You'll be served a four-course feast fit for a king, a queen and all their knights.

Dog-gone Delicious

No family vacation is complete without your fur-family, and make no bones about it, the Sunshine State is what your dog has been dreaming of during all those naps. You and your dog will fall in love with Sanibel Island, from hotels and beaches to a variety of outdoor dining where the whole family is welcome.

Named after long-time islander Jimmy Cipriani, Cip's Place offers a casual, comfortable place to relax and enjoy good food with your family. Nestled in one of the Sanibel's most gorgeous landscape settings, it's hard to choose whether to enjoy your meal with your pooch in the outdoor garden patio or the front porch. From the fresh catch of the day or islander favorite grilled snapper tacos to the “best” burger, you can't go wrong. You'll also be drooling over the dessert menu, which features Mom's Famous Carrot Cake.

International Delight

Florida can easily be described as diverse, from rural farmlands and sandy beaches to fast-paced nightlife and amusement parks. The same can be said for the Orlando food scene, with cuisines from around the world being represented all in one city.

You can experience flavors from across Asia at Chef Masaharu Morimoto's new Pan-Asian restaurant Morimoto Asia. With waterside seating, beautiful terraces, a grand hall and a cozy cocktail lounge, your eyes will be just as pleased as your stomach. The two-story restaurant also includes unique exhibition kitchens showcasing traditional dishes like Peking duck and dim sum.

If Spanish fare is what your heart and stomach desires, James Beard-nominated Henry Salgado's restaurant Txokos Basque Kitchen is sure to please. The menu changes with the season and is influenced by Chef Henry's access to the East End vegetable garden, sustainable seafood and many talented Florida farmers. You can experience authentic Basque culture with small plates, Spanish wines and an outdoor Asador for grilling. 

A Day in Daytona

Daytona Beach is known for NASCAR and drive-on beaches, but its culinary offerings are often overlooked. With many locally-owned and operated restaurants serving fresh breakfast, lunch and dinner, your taste-buds will be taking a victory lap.

You can start your day with the buzzing energy and bright colors at the Dancing Avocado Kitchen, where you can choose from a variety of dishes made using fresh-from-Florida fruits and vegetables. Ask about the famed Dancer Dust, a delicious blend of 11 herbs and spices known only to the chef who created it.

When it's time for lunch, Crabby Joe's will give you the taste, smell and feel of the beach. Come as you are to this casual eatery at Sun Glow Pier. With a view of the water from every seat, the pier and the ocean are the focus of the experience until you taste the fresh seafood and land-lover specialties.

As the sun starts to set on a beautiful day in Daytona Beach and you can hear your stomach over the crashing of the waves, it's time to head to Frappes Italian Grille for what they call “organically groovy” food. Their menu changes with the season and is known for fresh ingredients. Want to learn how to cook your meal? You're in luck. Owner and Chef Bobby Frappier offers cooking classes so you can “learn to cook the food you love to eat.”

Craft on Draft

For craft beer lovers, the St. Pete/Clearwater Craft Beer Trail is a dream come true. This robust beer journey will make your taste buds “hoppy” from start to finish with beer tastings, brewery tours, and meet-and-greets with the brewer. You can even take home a few growlers from your favorite spot. What, you may ask, is different from breweries you find in cities throughout the rest of the country? Simply said, it's the flavor. The area's signature craft beer is a Berliner Weisse-style beer given a unique spin by local brewers during the fermentation process. Appropriately named Florida Weisse, this tart, low-alcohol beer features the addition of fresh fruits like key lime, raspberry, mango, dragon fruit, pineapple and passion fruit.

The oldest microbrewery on the Trail and in Florida, Dunedin Brewery has been fermenting since 1996. Their brews are all hand-crafted in small batches of 15 barrels at a time with a range of offerings from Mango Makrut Paradiso to Apricot Peach Ale, which is their most popular beer. Open seven days a week, this brewery not only delights customers with its hand-crafted brews, but also with its food menu, which includes typical pub food like pretzel bites with mustard and not-so-ordinary shredded pork tacos with the in-house customer-favorite “snakebite” sauce.

For More Information Contact: 

Meagan Dougherty
Email: MDougherty@VISITFLORIDA.org
Phone: (850) 205-3839

Lucille Spann
Email: LSpann@VISITFLORIDA.org
Phone: (850) 312-0052