Candid Florida

Black Hammock Fish Camp

One of the first genuine Florida adventures I was introduced to upon arriving back as a resident after a long absence was the crazy quilt of outdoors and dining that is Black Hammock Fish Camp, not far from Orlando along Lake Jesup in Oviedo.

The restaurant is down-home and tasty, featuring farm grown alligator and seafood. At the time I visited, you had to slip and slide down a sand road, much like driving in snow, to get there. The road’s since been paved but rambles through old orange groves in a blissfully agricultural district of Seminole County.

Beyond the restaurant, it’s a complex of entertainment and outdoors: a marina and boat ramp, waterfront tiki bar and shop full of trinkets and Ts, an alligator pit, and airboat rides on Lake Jesup. Now I’ve experienced for a fact that Lake Jesup is full of alligators. So if you’re hankering to see some, either hatchlings in a tank, gator tail on your plate, or the big guys in the lake, this is the place to be.

Black Hammock Fish Camp
2356 Black Hammock Fish Camp Road
Oviedo, FL 32765
407-365-1244

Stop at the Front Porch!

When you’re driving down US 41 from Dunnellon towards Inverness, a stop at the Front Porch is a must. It’s not just that they’re a family diner serving great country cooking, nor is it the long list of side items – mostly veggies – up on the board each day to round out your lunch. No, it’s the many flavors you’ll encounter, from French silk to lemon meringue to coconut cream – in their awesome mile-high pies. ‘Tis the season to put in your order if you’re not a baker, and if you are, well, stop in and see what you’re up against. These are awesome pieces of pie.

Closed Mondays, but otherwise open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Front Porch Restaurant & Pie Shop
12039 North Florida Avenue
Dunnellon, FL 34434-2211
(352) 489-4708

Here at the tip of Punta Rassa, Jacob Summerlin, in the 1850s and 1860s, once oversaw massive cattle drives loading into ships bound for Cuba. Inside the lobby of the Sanibel Harbour Resort, exhibits portray this period of hustle and bustle along the waterfront on San Carlos Bay. From my picture window in the resort, I can relax and watch the modern bustle of sailboats and yachts slipping by, guests climbing in and out of the pool, and herons winging from island to island. It’s a quiet slice of calm with a Sanibel view.

A tasty treat of your favorite Southern BBQ awaits just off I-75 along US 301 south in Ellenton. Hickory Hollow is abuzz in customers for a late lunch on a Thursday.

It could be the huge selection of sides, or the fact you can get your pulled pork with either a tomato or vinegar base. Bring cash, that’s all they take, but it’s well worth it!

Hickory Hollow Barbeque
4705 US Highway 301 N
Ellenton, FL 34222-2871
(941) 722-3932

Dining's fine at Chez Pierre

Once upon a time, there was a sweet little French restaurant in Ocala, in a space – still unoccupied – that sits next to Tast-T-O donuts on Silver Springs Blvd.  When sweeping through Tallahassee for restaurant reviews, I was surprised to find that Chef Eric – owner and creative force behind the capital city’s finest French restaurant, Chez Pierre – came from that eatery in our humble city.

Chez Pierre is a delight, updated to fit the times. No stuffy waiters and over-the-top European elegance here! It’s now full of modern Euro flair. Chalk paintings greet you along the walk, and flamboyant modern impressionism dresses up the tasteful maroon walls, setting a festive mood that spills over to Chef Eric’s parade of fresh French cuisine, with entrees that range from magret de canard to shrimp and grits. Call it French / Southern Fusion. Call it good.

Tucked into an urban Tallahassee strip backing up on FSU, Pitaria is a grill shop serving up souvlaki, pita, dolmades, and other Greek standards in veg and non-veg versions (make mine lamb!). Around for nearly 20 years, it’s obvious it’s an FSU tradition as the back-to-college crowd files in. Falafel, hummus, and fava beans accent the menu. Opa! You’ll find them at 617 W Tennessee, downtown Tallahassee.