Enjoy Florida's Culturally Diverse Food

The local cuisine is sometimes called Floribbean.

Thanks to a strong Caribbean and Latin American influence, Floridian food is culturally diverse - and thanks to the huge coastline, you can enjoy fresh fish and seafood wherever you are.

Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts and its inland waters serve up a mouth-watering menu of marine cuisine. Depending on the time of year and where you are, you can dine on Apalachicola oysters, Fernandina Beach shrimp, St. Johns River blue crabs, Florida Bay lobsters, and Cedar Key clams, Grouper, mahi-mahi, largemouth bass, speckled perch, and trout.

For Starters - here are a few

Conch Chowder - a creamy soup made with conch (a giant sea snail).

Conch live in those shells that some of you buy in souvenir shops, take back home, put it to your ear and think that you can hear the ocean.

The two most common ways conch is prepared is in chowder or fried.

U-Peel-Shrimp

This is a dish consisting of shrimp cooked in a spicy broth.

Some Main Course dishes

Seared Tuna

may be served with a mango salsa and grilled chayote (a type of squash).

For the mango salsa; Fresh mangoes are blended with herbs, spices and scotch bonnet peppers for mild heat.

Chicken Tropicana

This is a chicken dish with tropical fruit sauce, coconut and cashews.

Dessert

Key Lime Pie - you cannot mention Florida desserts without mentioning this Florida Signature dessert.

Key Lime Pie is filled with a tangy custard made from Key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and sugar. The pie is named after the small Key limes that are found throughout the Florida Keys.

Key lime juice is yellow, not green - so if it is green it is not authentic.

To sample a day's worth of Cuban delights (Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisine), begin at breakfast with a wedge of hot, buttered, Cuban bread with a cup of café con leche — this is strong coffee with a some milk.

Other choices include frijoles negros (black beans), arroz con pollo (chicken and yellow rice), boliche (a beef roast, stuffed with chorizo sausage), Cuban mojo-roast pork, arroz salteado (salted rice), and deviled crab with hot sauce. Feast your eyes and stomach on a heaping dish of paella — rice mixed with a profuse amount of delights that may include mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, lobster, oysters, stone-crab claws, chicken, and/or pork.

To finish off, try flan, egg custard oozing with caramel sauce.

Then go back to your Florida Vacation Rental Home and have a well earned rest.

If you are looking for relaxation Florida is ideal. There are also a vast array of lakes, forests, natural springs and some of the best beaches in the United States. Walk the beach early in the mornings and you might see Florida pelicans fishing for its breakfast or even dolphins. If you are visiting the world famous Disney Parks chill out in Orlando Villas or if you are visiting the Gulf Coast, chill out in Gulf Coast villas

You can also - Watch beautiful sunsets.

at the Naples Municipal beach and Fishing Pier.

There are plenty of fantastic places in Florida to watch the sun go down. But one of the best is Naples Municipal Beach and Fishing Pier in the Everglades. As soon as the sun begins to set low on the western horizon, fishermen, tourists and locals alike, fill the pier in anticipation as the sun sinks into the Gulf.

You can - Snorkel

at Dry Tortugas.

About 68 miles west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands. These are composed of coral reefs and sand and are called the Dry Tortugas.

The cluster of seven reef islands, along with the surrounding shoals and waters make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, its legends of pirates and sunken gold and its military past.

Put on your sorkeling gear and submerge beneath the waves in the Dry Tortugas National Park and feel your cares slip away.A variety of fantastic experiences await those who go there. Whether you find yourself camping, snorkelling, birdwatching, fishing or just enjoying the view from the top of the massive Fort Jefferson.

You can even - Explore the Gulf Coast

by visiting, Clearwater Beach which is popular with younger people, Sand Key Park which has a family beach, Indian Rocks Beach for a chance to surf, Madeira Beach where you can see real life fishermen, St. Pete Beach for excellent water sports facilities and Pass-a-Grille for great sunsets and to spot dolphins.

Together, there is an opportunity for everyone to relax in Florida.

Stay at these Florida Villas Orlando Holiday Homes, whilst being entertained in Kissimmee. Low cost luxury villa accommodation are just 10 minutes away.

Or, Rent Florida Villas Holiday Homes, whilst being entertained on Florida's Gulf Coast. Low cost luxury villa accommodation are not far away.

Ask the Community