Reason's Why #6 - FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!!

by Meredith Linley

Have you ever noticed how people remember cities from the restaurants they have? Whenever conversation of a visit to a city comes up, usually food is involved. “I was in New Orleans for a conference last weekend.”, is usually answered with, “Did you go to (insert any restaurant)? The have the best (insert any type of food) ever!”.
This can be said of our community. Everybody knows where to go to get the best garlic crabs, deli sandwich, and Chinese food around these parts. And when you are gone for an extended period of time, you crave those things. Now I love food, so for me I’ve craved all the specialties from Citrus County for the better part of the past decade.
Part of the reason I accepted my job was because of the proximity of my office to several of my favorite eateries. The best desserts in town at Cafe on the Avenue are literally around the corner, the best french fries and salads can be found five blocks north at Crackers Bar & Grill, and a Philly to rival those found on the street corners in Pennsylvania are about a five minute walk south at Taste of Philly. My all-time favorite though are the subs from Brooklyn Deli.
My first day of work, it was a no brainer what to get for lunch. I’d even dreamed about how wonderful the sub would be (and trust me – it so was!). While I was in this local deli waiting for my favorite sandwich to be made (Brooklyn Bomber hold the onions), I made a quick update to my Facebook account. “Meredith is having a Brooklyn Deli Brookln Bomber."
This quick update sparked an afternoon of jealousy that spanned the whole nation. Seriously, my Facebook friends who are from Citrus County but aren’t currently living here immediately started responding. “I’m jealous.” “I hate you.” “Those sandwiches are worth a visit back to Citrus County.” were just a few of the dozen or so comments I received.
Working for the Chamber I come in contact with hundreds of tourists and passerby’s each month. One of the first questions they ask is “Where is a good restaurant?”. This is my cue to go on ad naseum over the large variety of fantastic local eateries.
Lack of chain restaurants seems to be a commonplace complaint about our community. Who needs them, that’s what I say. You can get the best Greek salad served with American pride at a MargaritaGrill in Homosassa on the river, the best duck fingers you ever tasted at Coach's pub in downtown Inverness, and there are more than a few places around here that serve wings to rival any Hooters or WingHouse (Sportsters, Tug's, the Cove - need I go on?).
The icing on the cake with the restaurants around here is that they are almost all local. Locally owned and operated, employing locals, and paying local taxes. You can keep your big chain restaurants; I’ve got more than a few reasons why I’ll choose our homegrown specialties over nationwide standards any day.