If you have followed this blog for any length of time you know that Roberto loves his pizza. Being from Rome, Italy, although not THE capital of pizza that Naples is, he still knows a thing or two about what pizza should really be like (if you would like to see what we think makes a pizza great, check out this article ). So as always, when we change living locations we are always on the quest for the best pizza around (if you want to see where the best pizza in the US is that we have found so far, check out this article ).

If you live in Saint Augustine, Florida or have ever spent time here, you know there are tons of pizza joints. One night we were in the mood for a slice so we decided to check out Pizza Time’s Brooklyn style pizza on St. George’s Street. Now as you know, generally we are not big fans of New York style pizza. The crust is much more floppy than the classical Italian version and so it never quite meets up to our crunch standards. But Pizza Time displays many of their pie choices in the window and they looked really good. Plus I loved the sign in the window saying: “I’m Italian, I don’t need a recipe!”
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I have been to Cafe del Hidalgo many times for Gelato. Boy is it good. I am so happy that they don’t always have Nocciola (Hazelnut) or else I would never have gotten the chance to explore the other many wonderful flavors. One day, I was out on an errand and I decided to try their espresso. Whenever I go to a new coffee place to try their espresso drinks, I always get a latte, so it is the standard by which all coffee places are judged.

My latte at Cafe del Hidalgo was alright but it was not as good as some of the other places I have been, like Mystic Bean, which I will be doing a write up on later. I was also disappointed that it was served in a paper cup, even though I was having it there. This is not just a complaint about Hidalgo, but most coffee places now. I remember the days when you went to a coffee bar and if you were having a drink there they served it to you in a regular coffee/ espresso/ cappuccino cup. I miss that and I hope the coffee bars will go back to that someday. There is something nice about that.

I still may go back to Cafe del Hidalgo and try one of their fancy specialty coffees, but most likely I will just stick to the Gelato!

This restaurant which is often touted as a place for tourists is in fact, great for tourists because it has a fantastic view of Matanzas Bay and The Bridge of Lions. You can see seagulls, fish and even dolphins playing in the water below you. But it is also a fun place for locals when you need to get your fix of watching crazy seagulls and attempt to feed them without getting your fingers bitten off! Kids will love it, too, as this place is more than food, it is also entertainment.

We had a great experience at The Santa Maria when my Dad and Stepmom were visiting a few weeks ago. We were going to take them to the A1A Alehouse, so they could get a nice view of the water and city, grab a pint of beer and enjoy the food, but they were closed for renovations. So A1A missed out!By this time we were so starving we didn’t know what to do. The belly was taking over the mind, so we ended up at The Santa Maria. I am really glad we did because I am sure this is exactly the kind of place I would have overlooked since it is right on the water and I have a theory that a good view does not always equate to good food. But I was happy that The Santa Maria proved me wrong.
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I always have a few rules of thumb when dining at a new restaurant. I like to try places that serve food I normally do not prepare at home. I love eclectic restaurants, small establishments that are family owned, that cater to people with various dietary habits, not because I have one, but because it means the chef is usually creative and cares about satisfying a wide variety of patrons – not just mainstream palates. I especially love restaurants that tell you about their food – what ingredients are in the dishes, what sources they get their food from, is is organic, fair trade, etc. This tells an awful lot about a place and I care a lot about the answers. It has to do with quality. I care about quality. I fancy myself a pretty good cook – I have a whole other blog devoted to it, so if I am going to go out to eat, I want the restaurant to have some of these aspects. That or a killer ambiance, but that can be another whole kind of experience.

All of the times we came to St. Augustine before we lived here I wanted to try Casa Maya. It is known for its Mayan cuisine, which to me, means real Mexican / Northern Central American food – not the stuff you get at Taco Bell or Moe’s. By self describing as “Mayan” - you can already surmise that it is done to set them apart from that contingent. I love when I go to an ethnic restaurant where the real cuisine is unfamiliar to me and I don’t recognize anything on the menu. This usually is a signal that the food is authentic to that region. Such was the case at Casa Maya. After being disappointed by Acapulco, several months ago, I was loosing the battle with trying to convince Roberto that Mexican food is really good.
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These guys have got my number. I do believe that coffee is a crucial part of life. Not just any coffee but GOOD coffee. I admit I may be a coffee snob, but I feel myself very fortunate to know a bit about coffee and that I have a desire to learn more and more. If you look through this blog or my other blog TheLeftoverQueen you will see much about my love of the bean. So when we relocated to St. Augustine, I made it my personal mission to seek out the best of what St. Augustine has to offer by way of coffee. I will also be enjoying many of the eating establishments here as well, so stay tuned for more. But now, for the coffee.

I love the look of Crucial Coffee. This adorable little coffee shack on the corner of Cuna Street, right near the Castillo de San Marcos is so inviting. It does remind me of those coffee shacks in New England I so love. It is unassuming yet brings attention to itself with brightly colored doors and twinkling little lights. You just can’t help not to go in.
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Jenn’s TravelCloseup has just changed hubs. We have moved from Ocala, Florida to the beautiful coastal city of St. Augustine. The Oldest city in The United States, founded in 1565 and discovered in by Ponce de Leon. His Fountain of Youth is still here. It has the effect of giving you the giggles.

We are going to have a lot to explore in St. Augustine - lots of historic sites, beaches, restaurants, cafe’s, etc. You can even visit this bar that has no electricity and is lighted at night by lanterns! I can’t wait to check that place out.

We are settling into our new place, so stay tuned for some adventures in St. Augustine! Or if you live in this great city, you may see us at one of our new favorite cafe’s - The Bunnery on St. George Street.

(image courtesy of Jupiter)

There are only a few Sushi restaurants in Ocala. We have been to Tony’s Sushi, which is nice - good food, beautiful ambience and inventive salads (one I remember specifically was a conch salad in rice vinegar). But I hate to go to the same place twice, especially if there is a restaurant of the same cuisine in the area that I have not tried yet.

I heard about Aki Sushi because they sent a menu out to businesses downtown, and it just so happened that I saw it in the pile of mail that was received at the new Genesis Heaven and Health Juice Bar and Cafe (that will be opening SOON!).
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This weekend we were in Orlando. Roberto and I promised each other after we moved to FL that if any of our friends ever came to the state of Florida, we would make a point to visit them. It so happened that my friend LaLa was in town visiting the parks with her family so a meeting time was planned. Since Roberto and I weren’t planning to go to any of the parks, LaLa suggested that we meet at Downtown Disney. Even though I live in Florida, LaLa is the expert when it comes to all things Disney. Not only has she spent most of her career in the Travel industry, but she is also a huge personal fan.

I mean check out her nails! We decided if things ever get bad on the job front, she can always open a stall to airbrush nails at Disney and probably make a mint!

Anyway, she and her husband Dave try to visit as much as possible, so I really relied on her to pick a good meeting spot, and provide she did.
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This weekend we went to the Caribbean Festival which was held at one of my favorite places in Ocala – Silver Springs. It was a wonderful way to celebrate summer as the season is drawing to an end. I am really looking forward to the Autumn crisp air and rich earthy colors, but the brightness of summer is something I always enjoy, so it was a nice way to raise a glass to all things summer at its height.
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I am always looking for good getaway spots. Somewhere you can go to just relax, eat some good food, sit on a beach and just get away from it all. Granted I do enjoy busy vacations full of historic sites and things to do, but lately, I have really enjoyed just sitting back relaxing and watching the waves come in. Anna Maria Island, near Bradenton Florida, just outside of Sarasota, looks like a good candidate. Unfortunately the day we went, it rained…all day. No sitting on the white sugar sand beach for us, no strolls along the surf looking for shells. But we were not to be deterred. We came for relaxation and a nice day trip, so we were just going to have to make the best of it, by eating our way through Anna Maria Island.
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There is a new restaurant that has opened its doors in Ocala that everyone is talking about. If it is not their beautiful décor and “to die for” salad bar the topic of conversation usually turns to the prolific amounts of meat one ingests while dining at Ipanema Brazilian Steakhouse. This is not a restaurant for the faint of culinary heart, but surprisingly it CAN be for vegetarians! For someone who is always trying to cut down on their meat consumption, the salad bar at Ipanema is more than enough to fill you up while at the same time allowing you to indulge in top quality ingredients without straining your stomach or your purse strings.
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I had been hearing about Bella Luna for a while. I heard that is was independently owned, that it had a beautiful ambience and inventive upscale Italian cuisine but what really got me to go and check it out was that I heard they had a beautiful gargantuan Cassata – Sicilian wedding cake – with layers of sweetened ricotta cheese, white cake and candied fruits . I love a good Cassata and it was a night on one of these rare occasions that I was craving some pasta (mostly I am a really bad Italian, as I do not like eating lots of pasta) and in celebration of our pending nuptials that we decided to check out Bella Luna, celebrate a bit with my mom and see for ourselves!
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DeLeon Springs Florida, named for the famous explorer Ponce De Leon is one of Florida’s most beautiful natural springs. It has been voted one of Florida’s best State Parks on several occasions. It may not give you eternal youth, but you can sure spend the day feeling as care free as a child! It is pristine and unique – the swimming area, which is always 72 degrees F (as all other springs in Florida) is large and enclosed, which means no gators, although fish and turtles are often spotted! It is a wonderful place for the whole family as there are lots of great activities for every person - snorkeling, skin-diving or just lounging around on your raft.
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We were in Orlando this past weekend celebrating our engagement and were looking for some good Mediterranean food. There is every kind of restaurant imaginable in Orlando, but what we experienced at Ali Baba’s was more than we could have dreamed up.
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We have been to The Copper Pot several times since we moved to Ocala. What brings us back is that it has a unique dining experience that fits these criteria: intimate, quiet, interesting drinks and gourmet snacks with the whole package being budget-friendly!

Again, this is a case of don’t judge a book by its cover. We have found that with the exception of dining establishments in the downtown area, all the best places to go are in strip malls. If you want a free standing restaurant, you will generally have to eat at a chain restaurant. However, when you walk into The Copper Pot, you know that you have found a unique spot. The ambience is definitely there, every room has a low light and all the furnishings are done in dark wood colors with jewel toned fabrics. There are beautiful flower arrangements everywhere. If you decide to spend your evening in the lounge area you will sit in nice plush booths with the focal point of the room being the beautiful copper bar. Everything is sleek, shiny and stylish.
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Sometimes, when you are looking for something to do on a weekend and you don’t feel like going to the movies, or going out to eat, or just getting stuck in front of the television again, there is a wonderful alternative in Downtown, Ocala! It is the Ocala Wine Experience. This little gem is a very unique place, indeed. Downstairs it is a wine shop where they sell every kind of wine imaginable as well as gourmet treats and their own beer, named for Ocala – The Horse’s Ass. But there is more, oh so much more to this place.
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It has been years since I have had a good Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Honestly I have only had it 3 times prior– once in Ireland, once in Scotland, once in New York City. Do you know how hard it is to find it in America? Yes, yes you can get it in a can from Heinz, but is that good sticky toffee pudding? I don’t know, I don’t think I have ever had it, unless it was served to me in one of these places. God forbid. But in just those three occasions it has become my favorite dessert. I don’t like toffee in general, so I probably never would have had it if I ordered it from a menu. But once, I was in a restaurant and I saw a server walk by with this beautiful shining pudding, plated on top of a pile of silken vanilla custard the smell was out of this world! I decided right then and there I wanted it! Sticky Toffee Pudding despite its name does not taste like toffee. It tastes almost like a spice cake, and since that first time I have been hooked.

As I have a sixth sense for finding anything Gelato related, my powers must be growing. I must have a sixth sense for all my foodie favorites. Lucky me. We arrived in St. Augustine and as we were driving up and down the side streets looking for parking, I suddenly screamed: “Sticky Toffee Pudding!” There it was written with magic marker on a white board outside The Prince Of Wales Restaurant . Again the Foodie Gods were smiling upon me.
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Welcome to post 10 bazillion of Gelato Nation! I feel like all I do lately is write about Gelaterias. I guess that is because I seem to have a sixth sense for them. Any town we go to, I can always find the tell-tale signs. I look for people in the streets walking with those quintessential shovel-spoons, I scan store windows for neon or painted signs with letter combinations beginning in G and ending in O with a T in the middle. I sniff out the smell of cones baking in the oven. I search the faces of people for that Gelato-Blissed-Out look.

And then I spring and devour in delight! This has become a joke at home now, everyone thrilled with my new my super-gelato-powers to scope out the good stuff!
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You know the saying “Ask and you shall receive”? Well I asked for good Cuban Food and St. Augustine, Florida delivered big time! I had a great foodie experience in St. Augustine enjoying Cuban food and all of my favorites, in one day! It was a big challenge, but I was totally up for it!
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Well there was so much to see and do in Ft. Lauderdale that I could probably write posts about it for the next 2 weeks. But in lieu of the fact that I just got back from yet another great destination, I am going to give you all the highlights instead! First I must say Ft. Lauderdale is perfect for a romantic getaway. Romantic Getaways to the beach is a no-brainer. There is nothing more romantic or relaxing than having nothing to do all day but sit at the beach, watch the water, play in the waves and eat, drink and be merry. We had a great time and would recommend it to any interested parties!
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