Food Festival: St. Augustine

St. Augustine might be known for being the first city in North America and is steeped in its Spanish influence; however, there is another type of culture in this small waterfront city. Food culture seems to dominate this historic, quaint little town and is a melting pot of cuisines worldwide. I could visit St. Augustine to enjoy a food tour of the city and learn about the influences of different states, countries, and family recipes passed down through generations. Every side street has a unique restaurant, and the main roads have great places to enjoy a cold beverage, adult and child, to help keep you cool, hydrated, and energized for all the exploration the day holds. Since we only stayed for 24 hours, I couldn’t release the true gluten-free foodie that lives within, so I’ll share the handful of places my family and I discovered during our visit.

The Floridian

The Floridian is a downhome restaurant that puts a modern flare on “mama’s” home-style cooking. They take the traditional comfort foods such as chicken and waffles, Po’boy sandwiches, salads, and more and give it a modern-day taste. The chefs use locally farmed, and sourced ingredients which means the menu stays true to the season, updated, and always has new foods to try. They even have a nice variety of vegetarian meals to make sure everyone gets a taste of local favorites. For me, since it is hard to enjoy any sandwich, I was able to indulge in a shrimp Po’boy sandwich with a sweet and spicy glaze, creamy sauce, and crunch pickles. The server made sure the shrimp was grilled, not fried, the bread was toasted in a specific area away from contaminates, and made great suggestions for sides. I could have eaten two of these sandwichs because the flavor combination was a perfect match between sweet and spicy.

O.C. Whites

In 1790 the O.C. Whites restaurant was built by a prominent St. Augustine named Don Miguel Ysnardy. In its early days, this was the first hotel in St. Augustine and was situated on land closer inward until it was moved to its current location in 1961. Throughout the hundreds of years since it’s been built, this building has called St. Augustine home. It has been reimaged into different businesses and is a piece of history where you can now enjoy a wonderful meal inside to look at the rustic decor and wood beams or enjoy the warm sun and salty air breeze on the patio. The patio is where we enjoyed our lunch. It was a great open area where the kids could see the different birds flying above us and move around more freely. O.C. Whites is a seafood restaurant with so much to choose from their menu. Soups, fresh catch of the day, fried, blackened, or on a bun, the possibilities are endless, and so was the opportunity to enjoy a gluten-free meal. Since they are known for their seafood, I did not pass on taste testing the salmon. I had it seasoned with just salt and pepper, which brought out the fish’s best flavor. The salmon was perfectly cooked, juicy, and paired nicely with the freshly steamed veggies and rice. It was the perfect light meal to keep me motivated to see more of downtown.

Harry’s

Ready to take a trip to the Big Easy? A New Orleans-inspired restaurant with Creole flair in almost every dish, Harry’s will have you thinking you time traveled during your vacation. Located on the main road, Harry’s originally started in Jacksonville in 1980 and has not only expanded its menu but locations as well to include an open dining atmosphere with a large patio, live music, and family feel while enjoying your meal. Not only is the vibe of the restaurant and services beyond expectations, but the food also transports you to a different place while enjoying an experience you find in a few great places. Since it was later in the evening, we ordered our food-to-go and waited at the restaurant. The bartender who took our order was very knowledgeable about the menu, which substitutions would be best for gluten-free eating, and double-checked the order before wishing us a good night. I had the shrimp scampi and substituted the noodles for rice. At first, I was unsure, but the family was hungry, and the kids needed to go to bed, so I trusted his suggestion. Judge me all you want, but I ate all the shrimp, rice, and garlic sauce with a spoon. It was the best shrimp scampi I have ever tasted. Hopefully, next visit, we can listen to the live music outside on the open area patio.

Le Macaron

Technically not a restaurant, but never the less, very much worth mentioning. Le Macaron French bakery was the best surprise out of the vacation. We stumbled upon the bakery because we promised the kids they could have a treat, so when I saw other customers walking out with cups of what I thought was ice cream, we unknowingly stepped into France when walking through the front door. The kids ordered French gelato and also asked for chocolates from the long glass case. The gourmet chocolates looked too pretty to eat. While looking at the fantastic selection of chocolates, I saw the macaron case, which so proudly stated: “made with gluten-free ingredients”. I probably was a little too excited, but for the first time in my 35 years of being on this earth, I finally indulged and tried my first macaron. I ordered six different flavors, some even dairy-free, and ate half. My favorite flavor was mango. It was light, fruity, refreshing, and made you want to eat 20 more. The kid’s gelato was light, airy, and colorful, and they enjoyed every bite. This is a beautiful place to visit for a mid-day pick-me-up between meals while walking around exploring history. These great little cookies also make great finger foods perfect for eating while walking around.

Since our visit, I have already started making a list of new places to try on our next and can’t wait to find another restaurant that perfectly mixes comfort with modern cuisine.