“Fun and Different” Dunedin (done-ee-din in Florida), a term often used by Mayor Julie Ward Bujarski, best sums up what it’s like to stay and live in this unique place. Make. This is “Eden” that you really want to visit. After more than a year of “blockade”, it’s time to start exploring what our great nation has to offer.

From nearby Caledesi Island (named one of America’s best beaches by Doctor Beach) and Honeymoon Island at the Major League Baseball Spring Training Stadium (home of the Toronto Blue Jays) to a unprecedented art center, a culinary arts program exists. Learning from chefs, tips and tricks that make skillful cooking easier, Dunedin has it all. The quaint, yet exciting and bustling downtown area was named “America’s Best Small Walking Town” by Walking Magazine, featuring unique boutiques, boutiques, artwork, and an eclectic dining experience. It’s worth being on the list of places to visit in the state.

This fascinating “city” is like a historic city celebrating its community and heritage with the same enthusiasm as displaying its stunning geographic location along the turquoise and tranquil waters of the fascinating Gulf of Mexico. I feel it. And part of its heritage includes the beautifully appointed Fenway 83 Hotel in a great location. https://www.fenwayhotel.com/ ..

The hotel reopened in November 2018 after having played various roles in Dunedin’s history since opening in 1927. It is a symbol of the jazz era, which served as a legendary musician and host when it was operated as a hotel. It was home to Pinellas County’s first radio station, broadcast from the rooftop. Today, Fenways’ rooftop Hi-Fi bar is the place to be seen, especially at sunset. The theme of jazz is inherited throughout the hotel.

Food is also part of Dunedin’s history. By the 1900s, the Skinners were involved in the citrus industry and developed machines to process orange and citrus concentrates. Add 2 cans of water to the concentrate and you have orange juice that contains all the vitamin C. Read more about the history of Dunedin citrus fruits https://bit.ly/3dqA5Om ..

I started exploring food at the hotel’s HEW Parlor & Chop House. Its name is an ode to the former architect of Fenway, Herman Everett Wendell. “To chop” also means to chop. Executive Chef Eric McHugh has carefully selected a menu that includes Chophouse classics and his interpretation of comfort food. When asked what his specialty was, he said “cook”. And if you really want to see what the food is like, ask to sit in the chef’s bar. HEW dinner began with lightly tossed potato gnocchi in a mixed mushroom stew topped with delicate homemade ricotta cheese and pesto. Sautéed shrimp are served with creamy polenta, slow roasted tomatoes, arugula salad, and lemon corn and caper butter. Jules’s Turkish Armandine soup sounded like a strange combination, so of course I had to try it. Surprisingly, it worked. Soups based on soup are bulky, crunchy, and have a complex flavor profile. A filling filled with turkey, garnished with toasted almonds, Scotch rice, chive oil, microgreens and tarragon. Chef Eric mandated my recipe request. https://bit.ly/2vzkedh ..

From the “Cut & Chop” selection, a pan of perfectly seasoned pork cutlets with lemon aioli is now available. The sides of the mixed grain salad (quinoa, couscous, farro, edamame, roasted corn) are tasty, but not overwhelming. For desserts, Cherry Pop Float brought me back when I was a teenager when I was a jerk soda: cherry and chocolate ice cream, cherries and Dr. Brown’s black cherry soda. The goat cheese panna cotta was silky smooth, topped with fresh blackberry compote, lemon zest and thyme.

The intimate lounge bar at the entrance to the HEW features a rich collection of whiskey and scotch inspired by Dunedin’s Scottish heritage.

In addition to the basics, HEW’s breakfast menu offers some interesting choices. Joe’s energy sandwich was my choice: egg whites, turkey sausage, tomatoes, avocados, roasted peppers, almond chimicuri. The concept of chop house is also reflected in the breakfast menu. Chop the homemade omelet (entrecote, fontina, grilled peppers, crispy shallot). Perhaps some of these dishes will remain on the HEW menu when you visit, as the chef’s creations change from season to season.

After breakfast, cycle from your hotel to explore the 60 km Pinellas Trail, which runs directly through central Dunedin, one of Florida’s most popular city trails.On your return, enjoy fresh lemonade squeeze, limeade or orange-ade with Lanes Limonade. https://laneslemonade.com/ Before returning to Fenway to swim in the pool, he was accommodated in a boxcar on a restored train on the trail.

Are you hungry for late night snacks and drinks indoors? The artisanal pantry has more than the usual tasty ones.

Of course, I wanted to explore Dunedin’s eclectic food scene. BonAppetit Restaurant by the water https://bonappetitrestaurant.com/ It offers a breathtaking view of Honeymoon Island and Karadesi Island. And those photo-worthy sunsets over the bay! I met some local friends for dinner and they asked me to try the seafood tower for appetizers to share. Beautifully adorned with chilled 11/4 pound main lobster, stone crab claws, the biggest shrimp I’ve ever seen, and half shell oysters. The main course was grouper bon appétit, one of the dishes recommended by the chef. Fry fresh fish in cherry tomatoes, capers, feta cheese and lemon butter. Feta cheese adds a flavorful touch to the dish. Each day, different comfort foods are presented. A friend of mine ordered a slow simmered boneless short rib topped with spinach and mushrooms. I have to go back to dinner on Friday for the shrimp stew with smoked sausage and 3 cheese groats.

If you’re full and still have a sweet tooth, or want to try desserts like me, the Small Dessert option is just the right size. The lime pie with graham cracker crust and meringue top and chocolate peanut butter pie (chocolate cake, peanut butter mousse, chocolate sauce, chopped peanuts) was my sweet end. Wine lovers will not be disappointed with the reserve wine list.

As I walked through central Dunedin, the smell of barbecue struck me. At that point, I knew I had to eat at Dunedin Smokehouse. I wanted to try a few different meats, so I chose the “combo poker” (3 meats / 2 sides) from the “Make your own combo” section. My choice: breast, pulled chicken, pulled pork, hand cut fries, cornbread with jalapenos and sweet potatoes with paprika smoked honey butter – delicious!

Frankfurt’s most interesting toppings can be found at Hot Dogs on Main Street 505. We offer Brooklyn and Chicago style hot dogs, gluten-free organic turkeys, kosher and vegetarian dogs. Very affordable. What about creative dogs? “Greek Hound Dog” topped with cucumber, tomato, onion, feta, olive, tzatziki, peperoncini and oregano, or “BLT dog” topped with bacon, lettuce and tomato. Spent with the more common “Brooklyn Dog” topped with sauerkraut and spicy mustard. I think you can get a boy out of Brooklyn, but you can’t get Brooklyn out of a boy. By the way, owner Susan Norton is also from Brooklyn, but she loves living in Dunedin.

After eating a few hot dogs, walk a few yards to Kookie Krums. https://kookiekrums.com/ For a cup of coffee and freshly baked cookies, cupcakes, brownies or muffins. The bakery is known for its decadent cookie sandwiches filled with delicious buttercream. You can also send a beautifully designed bunch of cookies to a special someone or to yourself.

One morning, we visit the Dunedin Coffee Co. & Bakery, 730 Broadway Ave. Choose from jumbo cookies (butter, sweet potatoes, cheddar chives) with jam or homemade sausage sauce. “Southern Bell” is an open-faced buttermilk cookie topped with two scrambled eggs, homemade sausage sauce, melted cheddar cheese and chives. Like the mouth-watering cinnamon rolls, the different quiches are appealing. And get the carrot cake scones. The baristas are also very good at brewing your favorite coffee drinks.

Dunedin is also home to the Dunedin Brewery, Florida’s oldest craft brewery. https://dunedinbrewery.com/, 937 Douglas Ave. Beer lovers will appreciate the fact that this brewery sparked a super local passion for beer and prompted eight more breweries to open within a square mile radius. Do not hesitate to contact us for a visit of the brewery. I was amazed at the number of different beers in their repertoire. Recent products: Cherry Imperial Stout coated with chocolate (sweet olegone cherry, roasted cocoa, notes of milk chocolate), peach ale with apricot (wheat beer with fruit, juicy, refreshing, fruity). The beer flight includes four beers from the current brewery. The menu of dishes is as interesting as the choice of beer. I ordered a custom Southern Fried Pork Lind with a lime wedge. Squeezing the lime adds another dimension to the skin. The order of the Dunedin Brewery Wing was mandatory, as the Brewery won “Best Wing” in the “Wing Knights” of Wings, Beer and Baseball. They are marinated overnight, fried and served naked with two dip sauces (snakebite (medium spice) and blue cheese IPA). The fried Wisconsin cheese curd (breaded white cheddar curd with sides of buttermilk ranch dressing) intrigued me. Do you like spices? Cards are also offered in jalapeno style. Chicken Salad Sandwich – Chicken salad with toasted brioche (chosen gluten free bread) infused with apricot peach beer with celery, red onions and red grapes, and hand cut fries with curry ketchup.

Dunedin might not have been on the Florida vacation spot list, but once you visit it you’ll be hooked like me. For more information on Dunedin http://visitdunedinfl.com ..