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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

2013 Florida Trip – Cedar Key & Tony’s

We had just resolved a self-induced RV issue and I wanted to hang around the coach to be sure, so I missed the trip over to Cedar Key – I would have spent the day worrying.  Bev described it as a quaint seaside town and she kept expecting Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote) to wander by at any time.

Cedar Key located about 50 miles west of Ocala, lies a couple of miles from the mainland and has a population of around 700.  Once an old fashioned fishing village, it is now a popular tourists attraction, and the current aquaculture is devoted to farming clams.  Since I didn’t make the trip, I didn’t get any photos so I lifted these from the web.











One of the things we were told by several folks was to be sure and eat some clam chowder at Tony’s – I thought I’d never heard of it until I discovered it on Big Daddy Dave’s blog.  I also have no shots of the restaurant (check out Dave’s blog for his restaurant review) however Bev & Pat ate there and did bring me some of the chowder, but let me digress a moment.  

Each year, Newport, RI, hosts the “Great Chowder Cook-Off”  to determine the World Champion of Clam Chowder and Tony’s won it three consecutive years beginning in 2008, after which the recipe had to be retired to the chowder hall of fame.

I love New England Clam Chowder, have eaten it many, many places, and always thought I made a pretty good version, but Tony’s, with its variety of flavors, is definitely the best I’ve eaten.



It can be purchased at the restaurant to eat on-site, to-go hot, to-go frozen, and canned.  The canned version, which is also available at Publix stores (for $1.50 less than at the restaurant) contains the clams, potatoes, and spices, to which the buyer adds half & half and butter to yield a quart of soup - if you like clam chowder and it’s carried at your Publix, BUY IT!  If I can get it at our local Publix, I may never make New England clam chowder again - it is not your normal canned soup.

The RV fix turned out to be fine and I regret not making it to Cedar Key - perhaps next trip.

Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

2/10/14 event date

14 comments:

  1. oh I love Ceder Key, I'll definitely go back there, great bird watching and lazy times I've had there, that clam chowder sound delicious.

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  2. What a pretty little village and I will definitely look for Tony's chowder at our Publix today.
    Sam

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  3. I absolutely LOVE New England clam chowder and that bowl looks so good.. I wish I could reach in and take a spoonful... or two.. or three :)

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  4. Larry... Too bad that you didn't make the trip to Cedar Key with Bev and Pat... At least you were able to enjoy some of Tony's terrific chowder! We really like Cedar Key, partially because its quaint and out of the way. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  5. Thank you so much for the soup suggestion Larry. We just had a bowl for lunch and it was just as you said - excellent.
    Sam

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  6. It's a great little area, I love it, and am sorry you missed the trip there. I'm hoping to win the lottery so I can buy a little cottage on Key West, chances are slim and none. I'm not into clam chowder, but it's my hubby's fave! Love that water and beach above!

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  7. Love our clam chowder but will look for Tony's at Pulix. Terri DuLong is a writer who lives in Cedar Key has had written 5 novels using Cedar Key and its fictional people as a backdrop. Perhaps not for your reading, but I would Bev might enjoy it for a light read.

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  8. I have not been to Cedar Key in years but, always enjoyed it. it is very similar to Appachicola here in the panhandle.

    I can't say I am a chowder fan but can totally appreciate what goes into a good bowl of chowder or in this case a Great bowl of chowder.

    Velva

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  9. What a darling little town. I don't know how some of those rickety looking buildings withstand the hurricanes.

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  10. Oh man... I have had a massive craving for clam chowder for awhile now & this post is not helping! It looks AMAZING. That area looks like a great place to visit!

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  11. We have not make it to Cedar Key, in fact, not in the vicinity between Apalachicola and Tampa normally skipping on over onto the eastern side of FL. But it sounds like we have missed out... and I just adore Lea Ann's comment - I don't know either, bless all of those structures (and my house too) from the nasty hurricanes...

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  12. I've never been to Cedar Key but it looks like a dream! What a real escape that must have been. Love clam chowder and will look next time I come across a Publix.

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  13. For all the years I lived in Florida, I never visited Cedar Key. Next year when I'm in Florida, I'll have to buy a can of chowder and see how it compares to my favorite seafood restaurant in New Hampshire.

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