Things to do / Travel Guide
Northeast Florida and the Panhandle's cuisine is typified by being a mixture - many times a quite surprising mixture - of Southern food and Spanish food. This state of affairs is no doubt derived from the region's history, in which the Spanish came first with their culture, and then the Southerners to the north penetrated the area and brought their culture with them. Other influential elements in the region's cuisine are its proximity to southern Florida's more tropical cuisine and its proximity to the sea - there are therefore many opportunities to consume some great seafood, too.
For all this variety, you can get chicken and dumplings, fresh-baked empanadas, Caribbean favorites, and grouper Monterey, all in the same region. Better yet, these aren't specials with imported chefs, as you might find in large international cities. Rather, these are the indigenous foods that local residents love to eat, meaning that in most places you go in northeast Florida and the Panhandle you'll find a good selection of these local offerings.
Along the coasts, every city and town has its excellent seafood venues, often located right on the piers or across from the beaches. Around 20 types of fish are served in these establishments, from bass to triggerfish, and all are as fresh as the sea that gave them up.
Jacksonville can take first place for quality dining establishments in the region. The three main areas for good restaurants are downtown (near Jacksonville Landing on the western side of the St. Johns River), Five Points (slightly farther south along the river), and the San Marco Historical District (across the river). Downtown, the selection is more upscale, while in Five Points it's more full of health-food and cafés, and in San Marcos the cuisine is more trendy and artsy.
One local favorite in Gainesville that you can't not mention is boiled peanuts. This might not sound appetizing to you, and even the residents of this sleepy town-turned college town will agree that it's an acquired taste. However, no pain no gain, so they say, and this is no exception. The best boiled peanuts are slightly salty, they have the consistency of al dente pasta or boiled potato, and a favorite seasoning is Cajun. You can buy them most anywhere in the area, at local vendors, some restaurants, even the gas stations. Enjoy!
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