When we lived in Atlanta a friend  regularly shared coffee that he roasted in his back yard. It was so much better than the stuff that might have been sitting in the grocers warehouse for months. I got spoiled! Moving home I really missed the taste of  fresh roasted coffee. I kept hearing about a local roaster here in Tallahassee but it took a few months to find them.

Lucky Goat has been working out of a food distributors warehouse off the Parkway. They were not easy to find and were not really set up to deal with the one or two pound buyer. But they put out a great product and were worth the hassle. Bonus was they carried both of my favorite Coffees- Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and Harar.

The great news is they just opened up a coffee shop!

It’s in a retail strip off Capital Circle near Park Avenue. You still have to hunt for it…  no sign yet. I’m sure one will be up soon.

Look for the coffee bags a few doors down from Capt Pete’s Gyros…

They have a great selection of coffee… several blends, flavored and single bean varieties. And their staff knows their stuff!

They have a nice espresso machine and did a great job on my cappuccino!

Got to love the two roasters in the back… they had just finished a batch of Guatemalan and the smell was awesome!

I left with a pound of Yirgacheffe and Tanzanian Peaberry.

Coffee runs $10 to $15 a pound.

Right now they are running a special- 2lbs of coffee and a Cappuchino for $20

Go find them at:

1196 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, FL

Call 850-422-0300

http://luckygoatcoffee.com

CLOSED… One more on a list of great places to eat in Tallahassee that are no more.

I should have written this review a year ago… Angelette’s in my favorite Cajun/Creole place in town.

Their hours are funky and I frequently drive over for lunch only to find them closed. The only thing that could make them better is if they were more centrality located. But trust me they are worth the drive.

Angelette cooks the basics very well- Red Beans and Rice taste the way they should. Shrimp and Grits may be the best in town.

But its breakfast food that forces me to drive to the South Side of town.

Starting with Beignts they are fresh, hot and not too oily.

Then my Favorite – The Andouille and Crawfish Omlette covered in a spicy cream sauce.

Just perfect- and if you get a biscut ask for some of their home made jam!

You really cant go wrong with this menu.: http://angelettescajunkitchen.com/AngelettesCajun/themenu.htm

They even have Banannas Foster French Toast.. Oh my.

If you go be sure to try and Abita Real Brewed RootBeer on Draft!

http://angelettescajunkitchen.com/

Southwood Publix Shopping Center

3551 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32311

Currently Hours : Wed – Fri 7:00am – 2:30pm, Sat – Sun 8:00am – 2:00pm

AND  TUESDAY AND THURSDAY DINNERS!

Dress: Casual

Cost: $10 bucks will feed you!

Had my first Voodoo Dog experience today and was very pleased!

Located on Macomb St. just South of Gaines, the outside fits well with the arts/industrial feel of the neighborhood

The inside has a club like feel with lots of 80’s and 90’s movie, music and video game tchotchke.

The hot dog menu is impressive. The biggest difference between it and Dog et All is the Voodoo dogs are fried instead of steamed. I would not say one is better than the other- just different. Voodoo Dog has some unique toppings. Bacon Wrapped, Fried eggs, Hummus, Pineapple,  and Guacamole to name a few.

Ordered a Wake-N-Bake- Bacon and fried egg hotdog and a Voodoo dog- bacon wrapped with mustard and relish. Both were great! And they have Mexican Coke!!

If this was not enough I split an order of Chili Cheese fries.  Absolutely enough to share with three people.

Now I need a nap!

VooDoo Dog 805 S. Macomb Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301

https://www.facebook.com/VoodooDogTally

Dress: REALLY casual 😉

Cost: $10 bucks will feed you!

Since the baby arrived our eating out has been limited. Last week we got takeout from Far East for the second time and It did not disappoint.

The outside does not do justice to the quality of the food they serve… Nore does the dining room. Its nice enough and clean but not a place you we would get excited about eating.  The food really makes up for the lack of ambiance.

Their menu has many classic Vietnamese dishes- the PHỞ  noodles bowls are both excellent. It’s comes in a soup bowl with rice noodles, topped with chopped scallion cilantro. We liked the PHỞ CHÍN – brisket.

The BÚN TÔM THỊT NƯỚNG- Rice Vermicelli with Charbroiled Shrimp and BBQ Pork salad bowl is good if you are not interested in the broth that comes with the noodle bowl.

BÒ KH is a Vietnamese style beef stew with chunks of marinated beef with lemongrass, star anise and cinnamon served with cuts of lime, mint leaves and crispy bean sprouts is also a great choice.

They also prepare an excellent curry with lots of lemon grass, anise and cinnamon flavors. The carrot chunks may look big but they are delicious!

One other surprise was the BÒ VIÊN or beef meatballs in soup. The Broth is the star with a flavor that makes up for the odd texture of the meatball- which I’m sure is authentic. Just a little hotdog like for my taste.

http://www.myfareastcuisine.com/

3425 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32309

850-907-9400

Casual Dress

Average menu item $10

See the menue here:

http://www.myfareastcuisine.com/wp-content/uploads/Far%20East%20Cuisine%20Menu.pdf

We have Meyer Lemon, Tangerine, and Kumquat trees and have been enjoying them for several months. A friend shares Oranges and Grapefruit from their trees. I’ve been juicing them at breakfast.

Then zested some to make Citrus Infused Vodka!

Its best to avoid the white part- it will add a bitter flavor to the drink.
I also feel better about using the zest from trees that I know have not had any pesticides sprayed on them.

Fill a Mason Jar with the zest and poured enough vodka to cover.

We did this with Meyer Lemon, Oranges and Grapefruit. Let it soak for at least a week before sampling.
Similar to Lemoncello but not the exact recipe. Lemoncello uses grain alchahol and calls for sugar.

The color and flavor is amazing and It makes a great Vodka Tonic 😉

Here is recipe from a friend for a Lemoncello Cream

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2007/01/pasteapproved-limoncello-recipe.html

I’m still enjoying these limited release brews and have a few more in my fridge. Christmas is only 4 days away!

Smuttynose Winter Ale 5.10%

Yeasty malty beer with spice on the after taste. Not as spicy as most winter warmers but has a holiday friendly taste. The overarching flavor is caramel with a very light spice. From New Leaf Market

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale 7%  If Harpoon Winter warmer is apple pie beer then Dogfish Head Punkin ale is Pumpkin Pie Beer. Great Pumpkin flavor, plenty of spiciness without being too sweet. Fantastic beer that has entered my regular holiday lineup. From the Liquer Loft

Weyerbacher Winter Ale 5.6%  A dark brown winter ale that is is mild, drinkable and a little sweet. Any spicy notes must come from the hops because this is not a Winter Warmer- just a winter ale. I was hoping for more from Weyerbacher. Their Imperial Pumpkin is one of the most In-Your-Face pumpkin ales Ive tasted. I was expecting their winter brew to knock my socks off. It was just good. From Market Square Liquors

I tried more holiday beers this weekend.

1. Abita Christmas Ale  5.50% I enjoy most of the beers Abita puts out- Turbo Dog and Purple Haze are good but the Christmas Ale disappointed. It is an ok brown ale that just did not deliver the spice or flavor I was hoping for.

2. Allagash White spiced beer 5.50%  A very enjoyable wheat beer with spicy overtones. Think about Blue Moon with a better flavor profile. Easy drinking and had the citrus flavors you would expect from a Wheat beer. The spice is light and does not overpower the beer. This one is available all year and is not necessarily a winter beer.

3. Bison Organic Gingerbread ale 6.8% A nice malty holiday beer. The gingerbread flavor comes through if not a little too sweetly. Its not ginger like a regular ginger beer but Gingerbread- like drinking a cookie. Worth a try!

4.  De Dolle Stille Nacht 12% Oh my goodness what a beer. I love Belgians and this one did not disappoint.  Yeasty Bready with great sweetness and body. The Malts really take center stage with some spice or clove flavors on top. Really can not get over how great this one was sipped in front of the fire. Go buy it now!

Driving to the coast from Tallahassee just past the turn off from Crawfordville Highway onto Coastal Highway (Hwy 98) you will see a small food trailer on the right. Normally I would just drive right by. But after several rave reviews from friends we tried it out…  Hutton’s Seafood & More did not disappoint.

Ordering Lunch at the counter- they do take credit cards

The menu is simple but exactly what you want… They will grill your lunch but why fight the fried?

Mullet Dinner- Slaw, Cheese Grits, 3 fillets, backbone and hush puppies!

Grouper “Burger” with a nice portion of grouper!

2013 Update- Try the Grouper burger grilled in Garlic Butter sauce!!!

We also got great smoked mullet dip and the portion was huge- enough to split.

Give it a try on the way home from the coast.

Hutton’s Seafood & More.

3096 Coastal Highway, Medart, FL 32327

(850) 570-1004 ‎

$5-$10

Take out or eat on your tailgate!

I love spiced Beer in the winter and right now I’m sipping on my third “Christmas Beer” of the week. I guess its time to share some favorites!

#1  Harpoon Winter Warmer-5.5%  A favorite for years. We started buying a case of this every Thanksgiving when we lived in Atlanta. Reminds me of Apple Pie. Sweet and spicy but very drinkable. They carried it Market Square last year.

#2 Sweetwater Festive Ale– 8.6%  Not as spicy as the Harpoon but still tasty. Dark ale with clove and cinnamon. Very malty and full bodied. They just started carrying it in the 16oz bottles at New Leaf Market.

#3 ‘t Smisje Kerst- 12% A Belgian Spiced Ale that is AMAZING.  Dark copper brown, Huge head, sweet and bready like most Belgian ales. Very spicy with pear and cherry tones. I just discovered this brewery and have to try more by them! Picked this one up at New Leaf also.

Time to make a trip to the Liquor Loft  and see what they have in stock this season!

Kool Beanz is one of the top restaurants in Tallahassee and probably my favorite.

They describe their food as  Modern  American Cuisine. You can get fantastic fresh seafood, amazing fried chicken or flank steak.  All their dishes are prepared with thought, care and deliver fantastic flavor.

We went last night and after our dinner Jessi wrote:

KOOL BEANZ!! So hard to pick what my favorite thing last night was! Top 3: Local Clams in an amazing Thai style sauce (did everything I could not to lick the bowl clean). Perfectly Spicy Crab Cakes over a really delightful herbed aioli. My Pan Seared Trout over Creamed Spinach with a lemon herb butter. They make their own butter and serve it at ROOM TEMPERATURE (the way it’s supposed to be), everything is cooked to perfection. Their wine is fabulous… you just gotta go.

The decor is modern, kitchen is open and the walls are covered with local art that is for sale…

Pardon the cell phone photo...

We like sitting at the bar overlooking the kitchen. Its live Food Network! They have also added great outdoor seating.

The Menu changes daily depending on the season… Here are a few of our recent plates.

Jerk Spiced Lane Snapper with Mango Salsa and Plantains

Pan Seared Trout over Creamed Spinach with a lemon herb butter

Peppered flank steak, gorgonzola-herb butter, crispy onion rings, mashed potatoes

Pan seared Duck with Sweet Potatoes and greens

Blackened Mahi over a Crawfish red beans and rice with Fried Okra

GO… You will not be disappointed!

http://www.koolbeanz-cafe.com/

Business casual – $15 – $25

921 Thomasville Road Tallahassee, Florida 32303
Phone:  (850) 224-2466