Food

The sun is out and the grill should be lit, because summer is right around the corner and National Barbecue Month is here.

It’s the first jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby. And, while the on- and off-field stars change from year to year, the starring beverage remains the same: the mint julep. If you’re making them at home:

There’s a new place to indulge your sweet tooth in Tallahassee. Opened by For The Table Hospitality, the team behind Madison Social, Magda’s Tallahassee is an ice cream-meets-coffee shop tucked beside Centrale Italian Parlour.

The Tallahassee 100 keeps its readers up to date on many restaurant grand openings, relocations and expansions. The capital city is home to unique dining options, from college “dives” to fine cuisine. Here’s a new family friendly sports bar, which reportedly got its name after “Grandpa and his pipe fitting union.”

Girl Scout cookie season is upon us again to steal our hearts, fill our cravings and empty our wallets.

Beloved Tallahassee dining staple, Mom and Dad’s Italian Restaurant, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new location in Bannerman Crossings, the up-and-coming collection of boutiques, restaurants and entertainment on the Capital City’s north side. The move marks the end of Mom and Dad’s historic location on Apalachee Parkway.

If you, like so many others, started the year with the resolution to be more health-conscious, then the recently opened 3 Natives is a must-visit.

You can tell a lot about a restaurant by its bread. With my first bite of Lucilla’s warm, crusty baguette, I knew this new eatery would become a Tallahassee staple.

2017 has been an interesting “news” year, to say the least, on the local, state and national levels.

Tin Lizzy’s, a “flex-Mex” Atlanta-based restaurant started by three FSU college buddies, has opened its first Florida location in the heart of College Town.

It’s no secret to those who live or work downtown that the area is enjoying a renaissance. With microbreweries, food trucks, nightclubs and office buildings, it’s becoming increasingly clear that downtown Tallahassee is coming into its own.

Throughout December, the Tallahassee Publix Aprons Cooking School is chock full of holiday-themed cooking classes. Every Saturday in December, they offer a class to help little ones decorate gingerbread houses. A family of four can attend the 2 1/2 hour class for $60.

Two friends and former employees of the legendary A.J.’s sports bar in college town came together to open the Florida Wing Factory (FWF), which is quickly becoming a legend of its own.

If you have a refined olfactory system combined with a strong Pavlovian reaction to freshly baked goods, you’re no doubt aware of the sweet and savory pleasures at SōDOUGH.

Going to college in New Orleans meant a lot of things: Mardi Gras, drive-thru daiquiris, St. Charles streetcars, crawfish boils, and of course, beignets at Café du Monde. Uptown Tallahassee residents have been enjoying these French pastries (and often losing the battle between powdered sugar and little black dresses) during brunch for years at Coosh’s Bayou Rouge.

I’ve been known to wax poetic about an aged cheddar, defend the virtues of Gorgonzola to my co-worker and research The Best Mac ‘n Cheese in Every State (I’m prepared if I find myself in North Dakota).

A short and peaceful drive just east of Tallahassee will bring you to quaint, historic downtown Monticello and new restaurant, Rev Café. The café has a modern yet cozy atmosphere and features a wrap-around outdoor eating area that provides spectacular views of the canopy oaks draped in Spanish moss that surround town square.

Newly opened Willie Jewell’s Old School Bar-B-Q is heaven served on a platter. On Thomasville Road just south of Kerry Forest Parkway, you can find all your barbecue favorites smoked for hours and served in minutes, as the motto promises.

There’s no doubt Tallahassee’s newest sub shop, OG Subs, fulfills its mission to be “Outrageously Good.” Located a few blocks from FSU, guests here are greeted by the smell of fresh-baked bread and a menu with every sandwich, wrap or salad one desires.

Tucked inside the Killearn Lakes Plantation neighborhood is a Tallahassee culinary jewel that has stood the test of time. Serving delicious Italian cuisine amid old-world ambiance for more than 20 years is Z. Bardhi’s.

A quiet and scenic drive up Centerville Road in northeast Tallahassee brings you to this old-fashioned and delightful country store.

As a fan of Madison Social, I was curious about its new restaurant/gastropub Township. The menu is divided into Cones, Bowls, Sticks, Buns and Feasts, and the building has a rustic, industrial feel with outdoor space.

Tallahassee-based political consultant and father of four, Josh Cooper, recently appeared on FOX’s “MasterChef.” The show features 40 home chefs from around the country selected to compete for the MasterChef title and $250,000 prize.

Need a sweet escape from the heat? Stop by Tallahassee’s own Diva Pops to cool down with a cup of hand-rolled ice cream, an Instagram-worthy frozen treat that began in Thailand and recently made its way to America.

Arepana Latin Grill is one of Tallahassee’s newest restaurants. It’s similar in set up to Chipotle, but as its owner describes, is everything but “Tex-Mex.”

Waterworks is Tallahassee’s premier tiki bar serving food, cocktails, 50+ beers and tiki drinks you won’t find anywhere else.

The owners of Masa and Azu have done it once again with the newest addition to the Lucy Ho family of restaurants, Dao, located at Bannerman Crossings on the northeast side of town.

Need a quick bite during the workweek, but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Jacob’s on the Plaza is the place to go, now offering a variety of meal options, including:

• Monday for Asian
• Tuesday for Mexican
• Wednesday for Southern Comfort
• Thursday for Italian
• Friday for A Taste of the Coast

At Paisley Cafe in Midtown, their motto may be “Love on a Plate,” but for me, it was love at first bite. Open for lunch on weekdays and brunch on the weekends, Paisley’s created menus born out of a desire to use fewer and high quality ingredients.

Downtown and need a jolt of java? A new Starbucks is open on the corner of Duval and Pensacola streets. Nestled in the TCC Center for Innovation on Kleman Plaza, this is no ordinary Starbucks. It’s also a classroom of sorts.