[TANaples]

Originally Posted by jenng104

Good point about the ice cream places-- you'd think because of the weather they would be in abundance here in Florida. Not where I live on the Central West Coast. There are 2 places within 20 miles and that's it. What is up with that? In this hot state you would think that would be a booming business. But no one here seems to notice. Nor the fact that we don't have a coffee shop, privately owned, or DunkinDonuts, Starbucks, for like 30 miles. I just don't get it.

There is a Dairy Queen near Old Naples. There are always lines at that place. Most of the time it very difficult to find a table to sit down at.

There is one ice cream parlor in South Naples, but that place is always empty.

[janetvj]

I'm not living in Florida yet, but I've spent enough time there to know that I will miss Maryland steamed crabs and real crab cakes. When I was there in May my boyfriend actually ordered a so-called "Maryland Crab Cake" from a restaurant and what he got wasn't even close. All stringy crab meat - no lump or back fin. That is NOT a Maryland crab cake! Once you've had the real thing there is no substitute.

[markhunt]

Frank Pepe Pizzaria - New Haven

Modern Pizza - New Haven

Roselands Apizza - Derby CT

Lucibello's Pastry Shoppe - New Haven

Upper Crust Bagel - Greenwich

Max Amore - Glastonbury

Chowder Pot - Branford

Just to name a few...

[TANaples]

Knishes. Just thought of that. Freshly made with lots of deli mustard.

[FLBob]

Originally Posted by janetvj

I'm not living in Florida yet, but I've spent enough time there to know that I will miss Maryland steamed crabs and real crab cakes. When I was there in May my boyfriend actually ordered a so-called "Maryland Crab Cake" from a restaurant and what he got wasn't even close. All stringy crab meat - no lump or back fin. That is NOT a Maryland crab cake! Once you've had the real thing there is no substitute.

I'm from Maryland and you can adapt, the waters around here have blue crabs. I buy crabs direct from the crabbers and steam them myself.
There are a few places where you can get a decent crab cake, but when I want the real thing I pick my own steamed crabs. It's the quality of the crab meat that makes the crab cake (and the crab mustard).
I haven't found a source for softshell so I miss a good softshell sandwich.

What I really miss is cracking crabs in the backyard with a bunch of friends listening to the O's on the radio.

[Muggy]

There are no good bagel places anywhere down here, this is true. If so, please tell me where. I have found none in Pinellas County. There used to be a tiny joint that was good in St. Pete Beach but it closed. Also, no Indian - I haven't had chana masala in a long time, too long!

For pizza, I've found that Westshore is pretty darn good (maybe a little too salty) and for wings, I've found that Wild Wings is an acceptable substitute. Selmon's has amazing wings if you like them slow-cooked, not fried.

Lastly, the Thai joints down here are as good as any in NYC or elsewhere.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by Muggy

There are no good bagel places anywhere down here, this is true. If so, please tell me where. I have found none in Pinellas County. There used to be a tiny joint that was good in St. Pete Beach but it closed. Also, no Indian - I haven't had chana masala in a long time, too long!

For pizza, I've found that Westshore is pretty darn good (maybe a little too salty) and for wings, I've found that Wild Wings is an acceptable substitute. Selmon's has amazing wings if you like them slow-cooked, not fried.

Lastly, the Thai joints down here are as good as any in NYC or elsewhere.

There is place called New York Bagels here. No, there weren't. I heard it has sometime to do with the water that they will never taste the same. We heard that from a man who was actually from up north and opened a bagel shop. Just might be true.

[Georgia1113]

When I lived in Florida I couldn't find good BBQ.

[sallygoodin]

What about items in the grocery stores? Are you able to get the same things in FL that you did at home?

So many of you mentioned seafood. Other than the crab cakes, what's wrong with FL seafood?

[ChrisA70]

The seafood is OK here. I am from New England and the seafood up there is the best, Haddock, Halibut, scrod, ipswitch clams(whole belly). The seafood there is a lot fresher, not frozen. Maine lobsters are a million times better than Florida rock lobsters which are tough and tasteless.

When I first move to Orlando in 1994 we could not get marshmallow fluff anywhere at all. Now it's in a lot of stores.

Salada brand tea is extremely rare. I find the salada green tea, but not the plain.

Fish cakes(made from cod) are not anywhere in Florida at all I have looked for years....

Originally Posted by sallygoodin

What about items in the grocery stores? Are you able to get the same things in FL that you did at home?

So many of you mentioned seafood. Other than the crab cakes, what's wrong with FL seafood?