Right now the world is slowly getting back to normal and it had me thinking (more like yearning) about a family road trip. The kind where you stop along the way and sample the best that community has to offer!

If you were on a one day food excursion, a road trip, if you will, and could choose a breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and dessert spot in your hometown….

Which places would you choose and what would you order from there?!

I live in the suburbs of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida. We have a decent amount of diverse eateries. We also have several well known community staples. Not as many as Miami but Tampa has several hot spots offering it’s fair share of unique cuisine.

If you were road tripping through the area, maybe on the way through to Busch Gardens, the Port of Tampa or the beach, there are definitely several routes through the area, Highway 60, I-4 and I-75 to name the big three…

Breakfast is a necessary pitstop to start your trip off right! And a few miles South of Hwy 60 in Lithia, just off of Lithia Pinecrest Road, is a local favorite, the Brunchery. They also have a new location in Tampa. They have phenomenal warm muffins and griddle specialties.

Snack time! If you are traveling westbound on I-4, you definitely have to make a pit stop at Parkesdale market, a farm fresh fruit stand, for their infamous Strawberry Shortcake or strawberry milkshake!

Or you of you want a more substantial snack and you’re traveling west on Highway 60, there are a few roadside produce stands where you can grab hot boiled peanuts!

You could go further down I-4 and exit N 50th Street/ Columbus Dr (toward downtown Tampa) to visit the most iconic Cuban sandwich shop in all of Tampa, Brocatos Sandwich Shop, a Tampa staple since 1948! Grab a famous deviled crab while you’re there too! The perfect lunch spot!

Now that you’ve enjoyed breakfast, a couple of local snacks and lunch let’s get you to a great dinner spot….

Jesse’s Steak and Seafood in Brandon, Florida – also on Hwy 60. Established in 1980, still exudes the 80s classic local steakhouse charm. And the best prime rib special you’ll find in all of Hillsborough county! The prime rib dinner starts out with a warm bread loaf and butter, your choice of salad or soup and a juicy, well cooked, fabulously seasoned prime rib in au jus, with mushrooms served with creamy horseradish sauce and your choice of side. You definitely need to go with the loaded baked potato!

If you’re not too full from that remarkable prime rib dinner- you can end your road trip through eastern Hillsborough County with a great dessert stop at Campbell’s Dairy Land (I’m keeping you on Highway 60 at this point!). Located a few blocks off of Highway 60, on Parsons Avenue, you’ll find this longtime Brandon staple still exhibiting it’s vintage community charm. The vertical banana split is a popular treat but I enjoy the Reese’s cup sundae! You can’t go wrong with any frozen treats from there!

If your crew is more of the nightcap kinda group, we have a local winery off of I-4 in Plant City, Keel and Curly Winery. I don’t drink alcohol but have been there several times for other occasions. It’s a local winery with a wide range of menu items, event planning/ venue, UPick farm fresh produce, winery tours, live music, festivals, wine and beer samples.

I hope you found a good spot to rest for the night, you will definitely be ready to hit the sack after a food excursion through my neck of the woods!

Now it’s your turn… in my comment section, leave me your picks for a food road trip through your home town!!