Florida's Cuisine

Florida's cuisine is as diverse as its population — a fascinating mix of Cuban, Caribbean, South American, and Southern influences, enriched by top-quality seafood from the Atlantic and the Gulf. Here, you don't eat "typically American" — you eat better.

Cuban Food

Cuban cuisine is ubiquitous in South Florida. Indispensable:

• Cuban Sandwich (Cubano) — Ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on crispy Cuban Bread, grilled in the Plancha press. Tampa and Miami fiercely dispute its invention.
• Ropa Vieja — "Old Clothes": tender, shredded beef in a tomato-pepper sauce. Cuba's national dish.
• Lechón Asado — Whole suckling pig, slowly grilled over charcoal, with Mojo sauce (garlic, citrus, cumin).
• Cafecito/Cortadito — The strong, sweet Cuban espresso is a social ritual. Best enjoyed at a Ventanita (street window) for under $2.
• Croquetas — Fried croquettes, usually filled with ham (jamón). The perfect snack.

Seafood

Florida has over 2,000 km of coastline — accordingly, the seafood is fantastic:

• Grouper Sandwich — The unofficial fish of Florida. Best "blackened" (charred with Cajun spices) on a bun with coleslaw. Every beach restaurant has it.
• Conch Fritters — Fried dough balls with conch meat, especially popular in the Keys.
• Shrimp & Grits — Shrimp on creamy grits — a Southern classic that is standard in North Florida.
• Fish Tacos — Fresh fish (often Mahi-Mahi) in soft tortillas with mango salsa and lime crema.

Stone Crab

Florida's greatest culinary delicacy is in season from October to May. The claws of the Florida Stone Crab are harvested, and the animal is returned to the sea, where the claw regenerates — one of the most sustainable fishing methods ever. The claws are cooked and served cold with mustard sauce. Most famous: Joe's Stone Crab on Miami Beach (since 1913, no reservations possible, wait times of 2+ hours). Cheaper: Buy them yourself at the Flagler Fish Company Market and eat them on the beach.

Prices: Medium Claws about $40/kg, Jumbo about $80/kg. Expensive, but worth it.

Key Lime Pie

The official dessert of Florida (since 2006 by law!): A creamy filling of Key lime juice, condensed milk, and egg yolk on a graham cracker crust. The best are, of course, in the Keys — Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe and Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory in Key Largo are pilgrimage sites. Important: Real Key Lime Pie is yellow, not green — anyone serving green uses food coloring and disqualifies themselves immediately.