VISIT FLORIDA Shares Some Sunny Treats to Try at Home

VISIT FLORIDA Shares Some Sunny Treats to Try at Home

From across the State, discover some iconic,
and lesser known, favourites

As we all spend more time at home, many of us have been honing our culinary skills as a way to pass the time. Be it complex cocktails or homemade bread, cooking up classics or trying out something completely new, the kitchen is an outlet for our energy and creativity. With that in mind, VISIT FLORIDA has curated a selection of local flavours that will bring a little bit of the Sunshine State into your home.

THE FLORIDA KEYS
Synonymous with any visit, Key Lime Pie is a long-time favourite – and for good reason! What better way is there to cap off a day of sun, sand, and fun than with this dessert classic? While this pie can be found all over the State, the Florida Keys is where you’ll find the original recipe. Take a look at this video to learn how it is made in the Keys and then try it out for yourself! (And be sure to share it with us on social!)

The area is also famous for its fresh fish and seafood creations, so for anyone craving something a little more savory than sweet, the Keys’ own Chef Bobby Stoky has shared his version of tuna poke.

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Home to seemingly endless orchards filled with oranges and grapefruits, it’s no surprise that this part of Florida also produces creative citrus dishes. This includes the Black Hills Passion Play Orange Muffins out of Lake Wales, and the bright and beautiful Grapefruit Pie out of Haines City. The latter is actually a staple at the Taste of Florida Café, a family-run company that first opened its doors in 1951 and that is only open during citrus season (October-May).

PORT ST. LUCIE
Located on Florida’s Treasure Coast, just north of West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie is home to one of the few all-inclusive resorts in the U.S. – Club Med Sandpiper Bay. Along with the many perks and amenities available here, there is also an impressive array of dining options that include the resort’s iconic White Chocolate Bread, which was created at Club Med Sandpiper Bay but is served at all of the chain’s properties. Now, you can recreate this famous recipe in your own kitchen!

APALACHICOLA
Located in Franklin County, along Florida’s Northwest coast, this is where you’ll find the world-renowned Apalachicola Bay Oysters and the annual Apalachicola Oyster Cook-off, one of the region’s most anticipated food festivals.

It was at this festival that local gourmands John Solomon and Donna Duncan first debuted their now award-winning recipe for Bacon & Spinach wrapped Jalapeño grilled Apalachicola Oysters with southern aioli, and now they are sharing it with us.

PENSACOLA
Further along Florida’s Northwest Coast, Pensacola is home to The Fish House, the restaurant behind the unique and delicious Grits à Ya, created by Chef Jim Shirley in 1998. A combination of grits, a southern staple, heavy cream, and lots of smoked gouda cheese, this is comfort food like no other.

If it’s a cocktail you crave, take your pick! Whether it’s a Painkiller from Pensacola’s Casino Beach Bar & Grill, the Old Pensacola from Jackson’s Steakhouse, FloraBama’s Blueberry Bama-Jama, Old Hickory’s P.S. I Love You, or the area’s famed “Bushwacker,” we’ve got it all here.

About VISIT FLORIDA
VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism marketing corporation, serves as Florida's official source for travel planning to visitors across the globe. VISIT FLORIDA is not a government agency, but rather a not-for-profit corporation created as a public/private partnership by the Florida Legislature in 1996. Florida’s tourism industry was responsible for welcoming 133.7 million visitors in 2019. Based on the latest economic impact study, Florida visitors contributed $91.3 billion to Florida's economy and supported over 1.5 million Florida jobs in 2018. According to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, $2.15 in tax revenue is generated. Each year, the Florida Legislature appropriates public funding to be allocated for tourism marketing. VISIT FLORIDA is required to match those public funds dollar-for-dollar, which is done by actively recruiting the state's tourism industry to invest as Partners through cooperative advertising campaigns, promotional programs and many other marketing ventures. Through this public/private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA serves more than 13,000 tourism industry businesses, including major strategic alliance partnerships with Busch Gardens Tampa, Disney Destinations, The Hertz Corporation, Hilton, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, SeaWorld Parks & Resorts Orlando, Simon Shopping Destinations and Universal Orlando Resort. VISIT FLORIDA facilitates tourism industry participation in domestic and international travel trade and consumer shows, as well as media missions to the top global visitor markets. VISIT FLORIDA also works closely with travel agents, tour operators, meeting and event planners, and is responsible for operating Florida's four Official Welcome Centers. To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA, follow us on our industry social media channels: Facebook and Twitter @FloridaTourism.

About VoX International
VoX International is a Canadian-owned destination marketing firm based in Toronto, Canada with offices in Vancouver and Montreal, providing Canadian representation nationally. VoX is a full-service sales, marketing, event planning and public relations agency led by a team of high profile, knowledgeable travel industry executives. Recognized as a marketplace leader, VoX offers a wide range of support within the North American meeting, incentive, events, and hospitality and leisure tourism sectors. VoX’s passion for providing personal, innovative and results driven solutions are key factors for driving the company’s reputation for success.

Contact:
Lea-Ann Goltz
Account Manager, VISIT FLORIDA
Lea-ann@voxinternational.com
Represented in Canada by VoX International