Florida

From a one-story cabin in the piney woods of the Panhandle to a high-rise condo along the glistening waterways, Cracker cooking in Florida has evolved with our tastes and times.

When supplies were limited and the workday arduous, black coffee with leftover cornbread might serve as breakfast. Today’s bounty and life’s relative ease bring mornings with lattes and biscotti, biscuits and sausage gravy. What’s on the plate has changed, but our heritage infuses who we are. As we follow the path laid out by gastronomic pioneers, this culinary quest, guided by sixth-generation Cracker Joy Sheffield Harris, will whet your appetite with recipes and sumptuous reflections. Pull up a chair and dig in.

Recipes that Have Survived Generations 

Pensacola was one of the first European settlements in the United States. The city’s culinary history encompasses a range of diverse cultures and peoples, forming a contemporary melting pot. Weave your way through each era and learn how to create dishes that have been consumed in Pensacola throughout its entire history. Historic Native American, Spanish, French, British, Creole, early American and twentieth-century recipes are all represented on the pages within. Explore dishes like early Native American stews and corn cakes, Spanish pork and wine cuisine and British oyster pye and mushroom catsup, as well as modern fine dining treats like grouper picata and the ubiquitous fried mullet. Join author and chef Duel Christian as he takes you on a culinary journey through the history of the City of Five Flags.

Join author Dorothy K. Fletcher as she recalls the history of the city's lost restaurants and reflects on a more gracious time in Jacksonville living.

The city of Jacksonville has long enjoyed a wondrous array of restaurants with fine cuisine and unique atmospheres. Some of the greatest of those now exist only in memory. Le Chateau, with its elegant patio and seascapes, was a beacon of fine dining. The Rainbow Room at the George Washington Hotel offered a crowded dance floor with its dinner experience. The Green Derby was the hub of passion for fans of Florida and Georgia during one of the fiercest rivalries in college football.