The Best of The Best–Florida Stone Crabs

Crabs are a favorite of American diners. There are Dungeness crabs on the Pacific coast and blue crabs from Maryland to the Carolinas. But there’s no crab like Florida’s stone crab, Menippe mercenaria. Found off both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, stone crabs are not killed during the harvest of their claws. Harvesting is accomplished …

It’s All About Seafood….Florida’s Big Bend Shellfish Trail

Experience fresh, local seafood along Florida’s Big Bend Life on Florida’s Big Bend, especially in the coastal communities of Taylor, Dixie and Levy counties revolves around seafood, especially shellfish. Not only are oysters, clams, shrimp and crabs available at local eateries, they’re available at seafood retailers, often “fresh off the boat”. Certain species. like bay …

Cedar Key 2019 Seafood Festival, October 19 & 20

Fall is here and in Natural North Florida, that means several things! One, it’s cooler and second, the annual Cedar Key Seafood Arts and Crafts Festival is getting ready to happen, October 19 and 20, 2019. In the early ’90s, there was doubt that the city of Cedar Key would survive the official banning of …

Sunsets, Seafood and Six Other Reasons to Visit Steinhatchee

It takes a little effort to reach Steinhatchee, a coastal village in Northwest Florida’s Taylor County. You’ll find it’s worth every minute of the drive along sparsely developed Highway 51 to visit this town alongside a river of the same name. As you might guess, “Steinhatchee” was derived from the Native American language: “esteen-hatchee” means …

Follow Your Dream To The Blackwater Grill in Yankeetown, FL

In the summer of 1961, Elvis Presley spent almost two months in the Yankeetown area, filming “Follow That Dream“.  It’s anyone’s guess why Elvis’ producers picked this sleepy Levy County town on the banks of the Withlacoochee River, but it’s solitary location might just be the reason.  Yankeetown is historic, and has grown little since …

Ask A Seafood Specialist About “Reel Variety” at Florida’s Largest Supermarket Chain (Recipe Included!)

“Florida Food” is all about seafood.  And  sources of fresh, healthy seafood can be found throughout our Natural North Florida region.  In small coastal towns like Steinhatchee (Kathi’s Krabs), Cedar Key (Robinson‘s), Cross City (Rick’s)  there are some great seafood stores.  And in Gainesville, you can’t do much better than Northwest Seafood‘s two locations–one in …

2019 Florida Big Bend Bay Scallop Harvest Season Announced and Scallopers Are Optimistic!

Florida has one of the few recreational scallop harvests in the US, and it’s all centered around Natural North Florida’s Big Bend.  While the scallop region extends from Gulf County (in the panhandle) to the Anclote Key lighthouse (off Tarpon Springs), the epicenter of the harvest is in Dixie and Taylor counties, west of Gainesville. …

Panacea Oyster Festival Rescheduled for February 9, 2019

I don’t know about you, but I can eat a lot of oysters on a Saturday afternoon, especially if they’re farm raised in the waters of Wakulla County, on Florida’s Big Bend.  Farm raised oysters are special.  They are called “triploid” and they grow faster than wild “diploid” oysters.  With oysters now being farmed at …

St. Marks Stone Crab Festival, October 27, 2018–Great Things To Eat in Wakulla County

The annual St. Marks Stone Crab Festival is planned for October 27, 2018.  St. Marks is the southernmost town in Wakulla County, just a few miles south of Florida’s capital, Tallahassee.  St. Marks, and neighboring Panacea, have long been vibrant commercial fishing hubs, specializing in both crabs and fin fish. Here are a few words …

It’s Getting Cool–Expect FOOD and FUN at 2018/2019 Festivals in Natural North Florida

Fall and winter in Natural North Florida can be warm, but generally not as hot as in the summer months.  And cool days and nights mean that it’s “food festival time”, with several great events on the region’s calendars. Some events revolve around drink, like  the Big Bend Brewfest.  Others center on food, especially the …