Genuine Florida

A tradition for some 60 years, Dairy Belle still thrives as the best place in Riviera Beach for soft serve ice cream. It’s in a dicey neighborhood as so many other soft serve spots are in the state (Little Dairy Manor in Altamonte Springs and Goff’s in Orlando). However, the owner diligently provides a great product and great service that has them coming over from miles around. The fellows at the window above had been out in the Atlantic all day. They hit dry land and headed to the Dairy Belle.

Here Swampy visits Bradenton’s infamous Shake Pit. Since 1959 the Shake Pit has been serving Manatee County. What a great place to bring children to see what there fore mamas and papas experienced in Bradenton.

They serve soft serve and real ioce cream, along with burgers and hotdogs. You can order outside or go insiode and make use of the spinny chairs at the counter. The indoor area is very small, but that’s because most are odering ice cream to go.

There is a very good variety of shakes and nothing is better than stopping at the Shake Pit during a typical sweltering Florida day and cooling off with a shake!

Since 1957, it’s Harry Family Restaurant on Main Street in Lakeland.

This is Karl Dappen who plays saxophone at various locations around Apalachicola. Here he is at Verandas Bistro on a Saturday night. One song you can request is the Jimmy Van Heusen tune, ‘Apalachicola, F-L-A’. The music is the opening song for the Bob Hope & Bing Crosby 1947 film, ‘Road to Rio’. Dappen deftly plays the complicated song and entertwines ‘Old Folks at Home’ at the same time. It’s a must-hear while visiting Apalachicola.

Below is a view of downtown Apalachicola from the veranda of the Veranda.

Here’s Zeno’s Homemade Candies just off the beach and boardwalk in Daytona Beach. Zeno’s was started by Mr. Zeno more than 50 years ago when he and his family left Greece in 1948. He came to Daytona Beach and began a candy shop featuring salt water taffy. The business has been passed on to Zeno’s son.

We had a chance to talk to the son’s wife, who was managing the store, and she assured us Zeno’s is here to stay. Over the years a Florida gift shop was added and sales are good. Thay should be. The salt water taffee is the best I’ve ever had. I also loved The Caterpillar: A stick of three marshmellows dunked in caramel. Yum!

Below is the taffee pulling machine in the front window.

Downtown Eustis! Here is McCulloch’s Alley. I tried searching for more about this. Sylvia Saunders, who was born and raised in Eustis, can you tell us more about it?

Below is the interior of what was told to me was the 1880’s Ferrans Department Store. They closed sometime around 1980. It is now ‘A Thrid Place’ restaurant. Here is a photo of the interior. Click here to see my illustration of another angle of the interior.

Now this is a full plate. A family business that started in 1913 in the former Gulfview Hotel in Fort Walton, this splendid seafood restaurant is now in its fourth generation of chefs and customers, and still buying fresh Florida catches straight off the boat. Dinners are all-inclusive: salad, bread, veggies, and your choice of dessert from the dessert ship. Rob enjoyed a steak; my fresh-caught Florida lobster and shrimp with crabmeat stuffing, superb. They are located along US 98 in Fort Walton: see their website for menus and more.

Here Swampy visits The Ice House Grill in Marianna! A hundred years ago this same building stored ice for the area around Marianna. Now the structure houses one of the great hangouts in the Panhandle! Great seafood and subs!

Notice the deer busts that line the walls and the very large gator to the left that watches over the restaurant.

Here Swampy is with the incredible Lauralee Thompson of Dixie Crossroads in Titusville. With them is a very rare occurance. The cars of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr. in the same place. It was just happenstance that this appearance occurred February 2nd, 2008. But here are the two cars, Laurilee Thompson and Swampy!

Swampy travels to Titusville and makes a stop at one of the best seafood restaurants in our great state, Dixie Crossroads. The photo above is of Swampy and Mr. Rock, the mascot of the eating spot.

Dixie Crossroads opened in 1983 by Florida native Rodney Thompson and has been crowded ever since. One of the biggest draws to the menu is the rock shrimp. Developed by Rodney’s daughter, Laurilee, the broiling of the rock shrimp with butter was a first. It’s a must if you visit the restaurant. That and the corn fritters, which are given to you when you sit down.

Laurilee is doing more than handling restaurant duties. She is very proactive to many conservation issues facing Florida. From the annual birding festival she holds in Brevard County to her involvement in Florida tourism. No doubt we need more Laurilees in our state of Florida!