With spring break in the rear-view, it is hard to forget the week of meals splurged on and posted about. School was out, and so were dining halls, so eating out at tasty restaurants was in. Here at Spoon UF, we took advantage of the free time to get some much-needed grub in, and we are excited to share it with you all. From favorites back at home to good eats around the world, here’s what the Gators chomped on.
Starting off within state lines, we have some yummy meals across Florida. For the balance of Italian, seafood, and sweets, head to South Florida. Shooters Waterfront in Ft. Lauderdale, along the Intracoastal highway, offers great food with even better views. The Chicken Pesto Flatbread and New England Lobster Sliders were obvious choices. For a sweet treat, Crispy Cones in Palm Beach Gardens offers hand-rolled dough cones topped with a fun range of flavors of traditional soft-serve. I know I’ll go check it out when I’m in the area!
Then hop on a short flight to follow the foodies to Aruba! Known for its beaches and beautiful weather, obviously, the seafood had to be on the menu. Starting off strong with a gorgeous plate of assorted fruit on the beach was the way to go. That was just a refreshing starter while the real dish came out, though. Beachside lunch consisted of the yummiest poke bowl and a classic cheeseburger: the best combination.
However, our hunger was only dampened for so long, meaning a hearty dinner was awaited. We capped the night off with some lobster ravioli, almond-crusted grouper, and a rack of lamb.
Back up in the U.S., we headed to the one and only big Apple. Whether you’ve been to New York or not, you have definitely heard of ChaCha Matcha, the store renowned for its amazing drinks and aesthetics. This was obviously the first stop for a warm drink, followed by an iconic sandwich at THE Katz’s Delicatessen. There’s nothing better than a roast beef sandwich and some pickles served with familial love.
Before leaving, we had to go all out on dinner. The first night, we went to Twin Tails for a twist on Southeast Asian food. Because that wasn’t enough (it was), later in the trip, we made it to Miss Korea BBQ for a delicious dinner that included an activity for the whole table to enjoy.
Spring Break Across the Pond
The last stop on Spoon UF’s food tour was in Europe! Lisbon welcomed us with their delightful Pastéis de Nata, Portuguese egg custard tart pastries. They were truly addicting, enough for me to eat at least one per day. We also couldn’t resist our American comfort foods and stopped at the Bakery Café for some good ol’ pancakes.
For a nice night out, dinner and drinks were served at Di Marzano. How can one say no to pasta and espresso martinis? As if that wasn’t enough, we travelled to the Netherlands to check out the Amsterdam food scene. Hans Egstorf Stroopwafels was our first stop for a perfect, sweet bite. Obviously, we had not had enough of the pancakes because we headed to brunch at MOAK Pancakes, where the selection was… slim. Let me just say, the pancakes were devoured. Of course, you can’t visit Amsterdam without taking advantage of every last free Gouda sample at the countless cheese shops.
I think it’s safe to say that our team here in Gainesville knows how to find some good food.