Candid Florida

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.

Moon shot at Dicerandra Scrub

Growing up in the Space Age, it’s always been a joy to stop in Titusville and admire the view across the Indian River Lagoon of the hustle and bustle of Kennedy Space Center.

It saddens me that the wind-down of the Space Shuttle program will have a ripple effect on local businesses, such as the Clarion Inn at the end of SR 50 that just recently closed. But there will always be the moon.

Space View Park is an excellent place to see the starry skies over the Indian River Lagoon, but I lucked into this daylight shot in Titusville at Dicerandra Scrub Preserve, no tripod, with my Nikon D-80. Perhaps the stars were in alignment?