[sunrico90]

What about: local pink shrimp barbecued, baked, broiled, grilled, marinated or fried

Some folks call the some of the cuban food local:

What about: Cuban-style beans, tasty marinated pork plates, plantain, conch, and one-dish chicken and curry rice plates with a slab of flan for dessert.

[lulu]

Yummmm... yes!!! a mish-mash of all... bingo. On the banquet table how 'bout some papaya's, mango's, pineapples, too?? With a drink of coconut milk??
Cuban local fare can be considered native as they have had ties with Florida for centuries buttt...
I think most people here wanted the "native foods" which can be many meanings to different folks. It all depends whom is asked or how they identify themselves as a group. It's not that easy nor clear cut... Though, all can be considered authentic.
To the real natives (meaning native American Indians) it would be one thing, to the 2nd set of natives after that, which have been here for generations it can take another meaning & for the third set of spanish speakers (some are natives, too - like me, though I too fall in the 2nd group ) it can/may take another meaning. I for one love them all....and can really identify with all. Because I feel it thru my family history... & my inner soul breathe's, chew's & digest's all Florida has to offer.
In my opinion...not that it matters, the above 3, plus soul foods too can be considered native foods. Some might say, "well how can soul food be native, we're not black?" Well, our ancestors brought them here and they cooked these foods alongside them at the same time, and they have been traveling back & forth from the Bahamamas, Haiti, etc. with us, so their foods are just as valid. I don't know but I sure love oxtails, collard greens, potato pie, all the Jamaican curried dishes, seafood dishes, tropical fruits including lychee's, too. Anyhow, in my personal tastebuds they are all quite welcomed, cause I represent a bit of all. God I love foods, it represents what we are all about. No place on earth where one can savor literally our rich tasting diversity, nowhere on the planet!!

[sick of South Florida]

Well that's one thing I will miss about this place, my Key Lime trees, but I only have one left thanks to the hurricanes. I had one in the front that was giving me more Key Limes than I could keep up with. I was making pies and selling them. I make the real thing with merenge on top! The other foods that will be missed are the fresh fish (Mahi-Mahi and Snook are my fav's). We eat fresh shrimp boiled with Old Bay seasoning, chilled with cocktail sauce, and Coconut Shrimp at Red Lobster with a Bahama Mama or they have a new drink with Coconut and Strawberry that is SO good! I also used to have an Avocado tree that I couldn't keep up with and now they cost so much and look so small in the store, I don't buy them. But LOVE guacamole! Yep I will miss those things and Starbucks but we can visit once in awhile. OH, If you like Italian food go to Carabas!! YUM!!

[Bonjour]

MAngroves in Apollo beach and in TAmpa and also Circles in Apollo bch

and as for authentic.....I don't know....maybe grouper...