A career in culinary arts is relatively easy to find within the state thanks to the abundance of resort hotels, cities and discerning clientele who appreciate a range of cuisines on every menu. The hospitality industry continues to grow and bodes well for future chefs throughout Florida.
Cuban, Spanish and Caribbean Influences on Local Food
There is no denying that both Cuba and the Caribbean Islands have played a large role in shaping the modern culinary landscape of the state.
Many traditional Floridian favorites are actually Cuban foods that have popped up in cities like Miami and Tampa. Rice and beans, Cuban sandwiches, African flavors and traditional Caribbean spices are just a few of the ways you can clearly see these influences on Floridian menus.
The early Spanish settlers who discovered the state are also responsible for some of the earliest flavor combinations in the region.
Southern Influences on Local Food
The panhandle of the state borders both Georgia and Alabama. The communities found in Northern Florida can often identify more with Southern dining traditions than with the Spanish, Cuban or Caribbean influences found further south.
A traditional Southern breakfast of biscuits, white sausage gravy and grits are incredibly common in cities like Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Sweetened iced tea, barbecued ribs, fried okra, cornbread and collard greens are a few more foods you can be sure to find in Floridian restaurants in the northern part of the state.
From the residents who call the state their home to the visitors who enjoy luxury vacations, there is a restaurant to meet the palate and budget of every individual.
Local Ingredients and Produce
Florida's oranges are often the first produce that comes to mind when local ingredients are mentioned. While oranges are certainly a big cash crop other fruits like grapefruit, papayas and strawberries are also popular produce items grown within the state.
With the Floridian borders touching the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea it should come as no surprise that seafood is also a popular food in the state. Traditional cuisine relies on the fish caught in the sea as well as that caught in the many lakes in the area.
Grouper is the most ubiquitous seafood item on the menu, but other popular choices include crabs, snapper, marlin and pompano. Alligator is a strange menu item that is nonetheless served in many restaurants and prepared just as chicken might be. For dessert, the Floridian invention of key lime pie is a classic found in many dining establishments in the Keys archipelago.
A True Tourism Destination
The sunshine state of Florida is a beautiful destination that borders the Southern states of Georgia and Alabama, boasts some of the world's most famous amusement parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios and is home to miles and miles of beautiful coastline.
Add that to the incredible food found in the state and it becomes clear to see why the Sunshine State is such a popular tourism destination. With influences from Cuba, the Caribbean, the Southern United States and fresh local ingredients, dining and cooking in the state is a dream come true.
