Seaside Farmers Market

The Seaside Farmers Market is absolutely a dream come true.  Fresh, local and organic items paired with the thick smell of salt water, extremely polite and hospitable vendors, scenic views of the Emerald Coast...ah, yes. Heaven on earth.

Here's a glimpse at what Ross and I experienced this past Saturday while galavanting around the beautiful Seaside, FL.

Blackberry Jelly, Peach Jam and Bread & Butter Pickles

Patty Pan Squash, Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Eggplant and Okra

Green Beans, Bell Peppers and Potatoes

Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Heirloom Sweet & Bell Peppers and lots more squash

A Green King Smoothie kept our energy levels up 

(what with all that moseying, sampling and purchasing...) 

The sky appears overbearing in this photo, but it was insanely beautiful.

We couldn't leave without a few must-have items.

Oh yes, and then I got hungry again (go figure) - one Shrimp Salad Sandwich with a tall water please!

Paradise found.

Just Peachy

One of the most wonderful things about living in Austin, TX is the abundance of local produce.  

Growing up, I thought all peaches came from Georgia (hello, "Georgia peaches" has such a nice ring to it).  Little did I know that tiny towns sprinkled throughout the Texas Hill Country (with names like Luckenbach, Stonewall and Fredericksburg) are locally famous for the numerous peach varieties birthed each year.

I'll be the first to tell you that Texas peaches make for excellent gifts (recently a co-worker received two dozen from one of his clients) and even better snacks.  Then of course you can always top them with brown sugar, oatmeal, flour and butter for everyone's favorite summertime dessert - peach cobbler.


However I do find one thing about peaches off-putting.  I can never find a perfect peach - they're always a little too hard or too mushy. Which in turn means they're a little sour or overly sweet.  What's a girl to do?  If you're interested in how to select the perfect peach - as am I - Chef de Cuisine Grant MacDonald from TRIO has the inside scoop. Click here to watch.

Beachin'

Over the next few days, I will be quite busy; my to do list is lengthy.

I'll finish up The Time Traveler's Wife, read The Three Weissmanns of Westport in it's entirety and purchase The Paris Wife.  In between devouring my highly recommended chick lit selections, I'll consume overwhelming amounts of seafood, drink light beer with a lime squished into it's neck and sleep to the latest hour my body can handle - approximately 8:00am.

I am currently taking in the white sand beaches of Florida's Emerald Coast.  I can't say I'm pleasantly surprised with the weather, nor am I impressed that the water directly across from this very patio boasts 5 shades of blue and green.  I've been visiting Destin, FL every year since I was twelve years old, and somehow instead of giving me a feeling of giddy excitement each time I visit, a feeling of home overcomes me instead.

Which reminds me, I need to get back to my to do list.

Miami Flavor

Ross and I recently returned from a trip to Miami - what a glorious city by the sea.  This town has flavor. And not the semi-boring fancy steak houses and scandalous night clubs kind of flavor - but the flavor you wish was sprinkled on your usual scrambled eggs each morning or margarita on the rocks at 5:00.

Every piece of food I ate in Miami was out of this world.  The seafood, produce and cocktails had so much flavor that I was giddy before, during and after every meal. The Mojitos - we averaged 3-5 per day, per person - were stout and packed with muddled mint, lime juice and just enough simple syrup to keep your lips from puckering. The seafood was fresh (SO FRESH), well seasoned, and rarely cooked to preserve it's perfection.  Oh sure, breakfast lacked both mojitos and seafood, but the impeccable fruit, strong coffee and crunchy bagels more than made up for the lack authentic Miami flare.

And now, a glimpse at our trip - mixed in with restaurant recommendations and tourist tips.

But fair warning, you will leave this blog post hungry.

BREAKFAST

No matter the menu selection, - a fresh fruit platter or an egg white frittata with a large side of avocado will suffice - breakfast on the patio beneath the warm morning sun is a daily requirement.

LUNCH

Whether by the pool feasting on Tuna Tartare Lettuce Wraps

or walking down Lincoln Road - passing fruit stands and nibbling on handmade empanadas - lunch in South Beach consists of snacking on light foods, washed down with mojitos, at your leisure.

MOJITOS

With a good twelve inches of sugar cane,

or flavored with earthy hibiscus, the mojito in your hand is only authentic if the mint has been properly muddled - any good Cuban will tell you.

DINNER

Spicy and sweet Calamari and Scallop Ceviche at Ceviche 105.

Corvina, Beef, Scallop and Ahi Tuna Tartare served with plantain chips at Edge.

DESSERT

Simply divine Chocolate Mousse Cake at The River Seafood and Oyster Bar.

These Cheesecake Pops and Meyer Lemon Chiboust from Edge made it all the way back to the hotel room before they were devoured.

Although Ross and I teetered on the line of obtaining Mercury poisoning by the time we hopped in the car back to the airport, it's safe to say we experienced some of the best food this country has to offer - or at least some of our favorite food in the country.