A Foodcation Guide to Tallahassee

During my blogging hiatus, Samantha came to visit for a long weekend. No one appreciates (and requires) a foodcation more than that girl. You may remember our previous foodcation guide to NYC, which was a true test of endurance but we pushed through all of the doughnuts, truffle cheese fries, steak frites and brunches. This weekend was no different except that we couldn't have asked for better weather (not a single summer afternoon shower which is unheard of in Florida) and were able to take advantage of eating outdoors at most places. When we weren't eating, we were making plans for Germany, which is only two months away now! 

Saturday brunch at The Front Porch We hit the ground running on Saturday with brunch, which is the best meal in my humble opinion. Biscuits and sausage gravy for Samantha and biscuits, veggie omelet and hashbrowns for me.  

Photo via @tlhdowntown

Farmer's Market The key to being able to push through a foodcation is to eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies as often as you can inbetween stops. Your body will thank you. Typically my eyes are bigger than my stomach when it comes to buying produce. I say yes to everything all at once and then after a week or so am left with a fridge full of produce that is a little past its prime.

Bella Bella This may possibly be my favorite restaurant in Tallahassee. My advice to anyone going is order the bubble bread (garlic bread topped with . You'll thank me later. My other recommendations include the eggplant parmesan and the spinach ravioli with shrimp.

Photo via @paisleycafe

Paisley Cafe Also located in midtown, Paisley Cafe has fresh and locally-grown soups, salads and sandwiches and is the perfect location to catch up with girlfriends over a long lunch. You can't go wrong with their chicken salad croissant and lobster bisque, farmhouse grilled cheese and tomato soup. If you are ambitious and want to brunch Saturday and Sunday, they also have a brunch menu that is sure to not disappoint.

Pub Sub Picnic at Cascades Park Samantha loves Publix possibly more than Floridians and requested a pub sub at some point. The weekend's weather couldn't have been more perfect for a picnic. We loaded our cart with pub subs, pita chips and bacon horseradish dip (my new obsession), and fresh berries before driving to Cascades.

Jonah's On Memorial Day we drove over to Thomasville, and although most of the shops were closed for the holiday, Jonah's was open and offering free fried pickles to their Facebook fans. Yes please. Jonah's is a staple in the Thomasville downtown area. I was hesitant because Samantha typically has an aversion to all things seafood, but she was a good sport and was even pleasantly surprised by her first grits experience. My recommendations: the grilled salmon or grouper with the Jonah's sauce and the white cheddar grits. And if you're really hungry, or had a long wait (you'll want to arrive early), start off with the calypso shrimp, their version of bang bang shrimp.

Photo via @grassrootscoffee

Grassroots Coffee Although no Midnight Oil, Grassroots comes in a close second for a unique atmosphere that makes you want to hang around all afternoon. And their coffee, which is roasted in-house, isn't half bad either.