Another word about grouper: read menus carefully and always ask questions. We were at a to-remain-unnamed spot in Sarasota, staring at the "fresh catch sandwich," when I realized I wasn't imagining the words "grilled used-to-be grouper." Say what? The cook explained that they carry a grouper-like fish from Mexico — i.e., a cheaper supply source, but after a big flap in 2007 over non-grouper substitutes, he had to be very careful about his menu descriptions.
Our last intriguing seafood meal in Florida occurred quite unexpectedly in St. Augustine when, after a long day's drive, we were looking for something other than a raucous pirate bar. We found a haven at Opus 39, an upscale restaurant with a dedication to local produce and seafood. We had snapper and triggerfish. The snapper was good, but the triggerfish was outstanding, with a slightly pungent but earthy kick to its sweet taste — not at all "fishy." Turns out it feeds mainly on sand dollars and sea urchins to give it that distinctive taste.
Three last recommendations for Florida foodstuffs: a fish called "wahoo," a sport fish related to king mackerel; the Bahamian specialties of conch fritters and conch chowder, which use Caribbean conch; and the tropical taste of "coconut water," the liquid inside a chilled coconut, exotic and addicting, even without the rum!
Johnette Rodriguez can be reached at johnette.rodriguez@cox.net.
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- Sami’s
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Even a slice of zucchini makes you want more . . . zucchini. You are perhaps vegan? Order two of these and sneer at the carnivores of the world.
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El-taha’s house in Falmouth is populated with an easy Lebanese-American combo-culture.
- T.J. Scallywaggle's
It’s eye-opening for a professed omnivore to visit the improbably named T.J. Scallywaggle’s, a 100-percent-vegan pizza and sub shop.
- The West Deck
Shame on us. There we were, scratching our heads over which Newport restaurant to choose as the destination for an visitor, and we didn’t think of the West Deck until last.
- Caffé Itri
At 18 years, Caffé Itri is one of the longest-running places on Cranston’s “restaurant row”, and for very good reason, as we re-learned on a recent visit.
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Gran Gusto is an Italian delight located as close to the middle of nowhere as it gets in North Cambridge.
- Less
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Restaurant Reviews
, Culture and Lifestyle, Food and Cooking, Foods, More
, Culture and Lifestyle, Food and Cooking, Foods, Fruits and Vegetables, Desserts, Seafood, Florida, Key West, Less
