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USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
5 longstanding Tallahassee restaurants that keep the spirit of Old Florida alive
Tallahassee is changing every day. While parts of the city are losing that old Florida charm with new developments and chain eateries springing up, there are still a handful of restaurants that have maintained their classic ambience. Every time you walk through their doors you can anticipate the same meals, recipes and even the same decor. It's almost like going back home. They've never lost their feel or character even as the world around them changes. They transport us to a time when the Sunshine State was slow-paced, carefree and there were no bells and whistles needed to get guests into the door. Each restaurant boasts its own origin, from longtime chefs looking to transport people to different countries with their food and family recipes that drew in crowds, what makes them legendary is their ability to still do just that. Here is a list of classic Tallahassee restaurants that have withstood the test of taste and time for at least 25 years and more, bringing us back to that old Florida time. Food Glorious Food | 1982 1950 Thomasville Road; 850-224-9974; For all 43 years of its glory, this local favorite has provided an eclectic range of fare giving you a taste of international flavors from its brick-and-mortar location on Thomasville Road for its brunch, lunch and dinner services. This family operation has become and remains as a dining destination, and the award-winning menu is the main attraction with a little something for everyone. There are no limits when it comes to this menu, from the starters to the decadent desserts, you're in for a treat with plenty of options to choose from with its hamburgers and appetizers, salads, sandwiches and hot entrees. During lunch hours, you can eat specialty chicken sandwiches in the upstairs dining area from Birdie's at Betton. Everything you're looking for you can find at Food Glorious Food with indoor and outdoor seating, a full service bar and decadent desserts. Georgio's Fine Food & Spirits | 1994 2971 Apalachee Parkway; 850-877-3211; The landmark establishment Georgio's Fine Food & Spirits, a fine dining restaurant, offers Greek, Italian and American dishes for their dinner service Tuesday to Saturday. Upon your visit, longtime restauranter and owner George Koikos, with a career spanning over five decades may greet you and say hello. The restaurant on Apalachee Parkway is full of old-school character, bringing a relaxed and comfortable approach to upscale dining. The decor features floral decorated booths accented by cherry red seats, black and white picture frames that line the wooden panels and ocean-themed knickknacks sprinkled throughout. Outside of the warmth from its family friendly dining service, the food is what leaves a lasting impression. The classic menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, salads, seafood, chicken, vegetarian, beef and lamb entrees to pair with a generous wine, beer and spirits selection. Hopkins Eatery | 1982 Hopkins Eatery has three locations in Tallahassee: 1415 Market St., 1660 N. Monroe St., 1208 Capital Cir SE; This long-standing casual eatery, decorated with kitchen like decor and popular for its specialty sandwiches snuggled between its fresh baked bread, decadent salads and delicious treats has been around for over 40 years. This eatery got started with one single mother of four, the late Martha 'Dee Dee' Johnston, who was looking to fulfill her dream of "serving her friends and neighbors delicious and fresh food," as the website says. With the help of her family and longtime patrons, she's done just that. This gourmet sandwich shop has been recognized by many for its family style service and flagship dishes ranging from the "guac sandwich" served on rye pumpernickel or the specialty "Chicken Tetrazzini" a cashew chicken salad with linguine, mushrooms, cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion and bell pepper with a house dressing drizzle on top. Olean's Cafe | 1997 1605 S. Adams St.; 850-521-0259; Facebook Anyone looking for a little bit of warmth and comfort are bound to find it in a hearty plate from Olean's Cafe, perfected with a side of "Jesus Passion Juice." This cafeteria-style restaurant has been operating for nearly 30 years with the fuel of morning prayers and a determined owner, Olean McCaskill, who knows that hospitality is her calling and food is the answer, offers soul food for its breakfast and lunch services with authentic recipes that have never changed and never will she says. Generations of guests are greeted and treated like family, with staff making sure you get enough to eat and adding their recommendations if your plate is a little light. While waiting for a platter, you're bound to reunite with an old friend or family member. Former president Joe Biden stopped by for a plate when he was vice president in 2016. TLH Eats! Olean's Cafe on Adams Street feeding souls and stomachs Shell Oyster Bar | 1945 14 FAMU Way; 850-224-9919; Facebook Oysters, a salty sea delicacy and Tallahassee tradition, are enjoyed for every occasion at longtime establishment Shell Oyster Bar, located on FAMU Way. Celebrating its 80th year, the dive style oyster shack and restaurant started in a former gas station on South Monroe Street in 1945, selling only raw oysters and small bottles of soda until 1992. At that time oysters were only $1 a dozen, and while prices may have changed over the years the spirit of this local eatery hasn't. When it moved to FAMU Way, still in the shadow of the Capitol, employee turned owner Leroy Milligan added fried oysters, plus scallops, shrimp, grouper and other seafood to the menu. The generous grouper sandwiches are a favorite. Its farmed oysters are devoured and slurped by students, families, legislators and lobbyists alike. Cash only. This article includes previously reported information. Kyla A Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. New restaurant opening up, special deals, or events coming up? Let me know at ksanford@ You can also email your suggestions for a future TLH Eats restaurant profile.
Metro
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
All celebrities rumoured for Strictly 2025 line-up including Queen's son
Following the success of Strictly Come Dancing 2024, in which Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell lifted the Glitter Ball trophy, rumours are already swirling around who will be next to take part. It remains to be seen who will take to the dancefloor when the BBC show returns later this year. However, our lineup of professional dancers has been confirmed, with all last year's favourites returning, plus the addition of two new pros to come. But who will they be teaching how to tango? Among the current rumoured lineup is Queen's Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Let's take a look at the rest… Queen Camilla's eldest son Tom Parker Bowles, 50, is reportedly top of Strictly's wishlist. A food critic and writer, the Royal is no stranger to TV, having appeared on various culinary formats including BBC's MasterChef. King Charles' stepson's other TV credits include ITV's Food Glorious Food, Australian cooking series The Hot Plate, and Good Food Channel's Market Kitchen. According to a source, Tom was approached by Strictly last year, but the plan fell through. Bosses are hoping for better luck now as his signing would be a real 'coup.' They told The Mirror: 'Top of their wishlist is MasterChef star Tom. His name was also sounded out last year but never materialised. Bosses hope they'll have better luck this year. 'It would be a coup to sign someone with such a strong royal link. Maybe we could see Camilla and Charles in the audience?' Tom's father is Queen Camilla's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles. He also has a sister, art curator Laura Lopes. Ex On The Beach star Ashley Cain could appear on Strictly after catching the eye of BBC bosses. The reality TV star, 34, reportedly made a list of stars producers would like to appear on the next season of the show. 'He's a proper character with a very interesting background that looks the part,' a source told The Mirror. 'He would be a great addition to the Strictly lineup. He's presented a couple of shows and has really impressed.' The former footballer previously said he would like to take part in Strictly as a tribute to his late daughter Azaylia, who died in 2021 at eight months old after suffering from leukaemia. Ashley and his former partner, Safiyya Vorajee, raised more than £1.5million for Azaylia's treatment before her death and have since continually raised awareness and money for charity. 'Me and my family are known for dancing. That's what we do,' he told The Sun last year. 'When I had my daughter in hospital, when she was poorly, any time that she used to be feeling poorly or she was going through chemotherapy, I used to hold her in my arms, and I used to dance with her. 'And I'd dance with her for hours and hours and hours and hours. So something like Strictly would relate to me in a sense where I would love to do a Lion King-themed dance. 'I would love to be able to tell my story on such an amazing platform that could reach out to so many incredible people.' The X Factor alum Stacey Solomon is believed to have caught the eye of Strictly bosses, who are keen to sign her up. It's thought she first landed on their radar after winning a National Television Award for her BBC One series Sort Your Life Out in September. She also has a whopping online following of over six million, with fans obsessed with her life at Pickle Cottage with husband Joe Swash and their kids. A source told The Sun: 'Stacey is a hit with viewers thanks to her lovable personality. The BBC always want to showcase their own talent on Strictly, and Stacey's show has already bagged them an NTA. 'Fans will also love watching her husband Joe Swash in the audience cheering her on every week.' Stacey would surely be open to the conversation should the Strictly phone call come, having expressed her love for the show in the past, despite not being the best dancer. 'I would never say never, but I am a terrible dancer, an absolutely terrible dancer. I don't know why, but I have no rhythm when it comes to movement,' she said in 2022. 'I have rhythm with singing or listening to music, but when it comes to moving my feet, I am left-footed; I have two left feet!' However, she's a self-professed Strictly fanatic, declaring herself 'obsessed with the costumes'. 'Also, I would love to learn a new skill like that. I love learning anything, to be honest,' added the Loose Woman. 'I'd be one of those people who would go out in week 1, and they'd be like, 'Well, that was a waste of time!'' Last series, Miranda actress Sarah Hadland wowed viewers and the judges with her dancing talents, reaching the grand final with her pro partner, Vito Coppola. Throughout the series, she was inundated with support from her celebrity pals and co-stars, most notably Miranda Hart herself, who gave the nation a gorgeous surprise by sitting front row in the studio. She even made her way into the VT one week, taking her pet pooch to visit Sarah and Vito in rehearsals and cheer them on. Miranda made no secret of the fact that she was Sarah's biggest cheerleader, sharing a video to Instagram each weekend for motivation and joking about being her sidekick's teacher. So, it's no surprise people want the star to take part in Strictly next time, now that she's returned to the public eye after battling chronic health issues for some time. People even want her to follow directly in Sarah's footsteps and be paired with Vito—Miranda galloping her way onto the Strictly dancefloor is not a want, but a need . Strictly fans also have their eyes on Big Brother 2023 finalist Yinrun Huang for the upcoming series. The foodie influencer has gained a following of hundreds of thousands with her online content since finishing fourth in the first outing of ITV's reboot. Her cooking videos have repeatedly gone viral, as have her dancing videos with husband Luke. There's one video in particular that got people talking, though, as she performed the Charli XCX Apple dance with Strictly professionals Nancy Xu and Carlos Gu. Proving herself to have natural rhythm, Yinrun has now been backed to take things one step further and compete in Strictly. '@bbcstrictly get her signed up!', commented @hmn_028 on her vid. 'Keep dancing , see you on Strictly next year', echoed @dancingmags68. She was invited down to the show last year and has remained close pals with Nancy specifically over the past few months, so if there's such a thing as a Strictly Easter egg, we reckon this could be it. If this rumour is true, Angellica Bell is in for a busy year! She started off 2025 strong by heading into the Celebrity Big Brother house with the likes of JoJo Siwa, Mickey Rourke, Chris Hughes, Jack P. Shepherd, Donna Preston, and Patsy Palmer. The CBBC star is, of course, no stranger to live TV, having started out on children's telly before moving to co-host with Martin Lewis, so we have no doubt she'd ace it under the pressure of Strictly. According to reports, Angellica was a 'reserve' for last year's series, just like when Kelvin Fletcher took over from Jamie Laing in 2019 when he got injured and had to pull out. More Trending But now, Angellica is hoping to be an original cast member. 'So when I've had like, in-depth conversations with people who are my friends and they say it's great,' Angellica previously told The Sun, 'I would definitely go from their recommendation.' This article was originally published on April 20. View More » Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One later this year. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Stacey Solomon wasn't the only star wearing her wedding dress to the TV Baftas MORE: Strictly star reveals emergency surgery in same week 'everything she owns was stolen' MORE: Royals arrive at VE Day 2025 service at Westminster Abbey
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Tributes pour in for Ruth Chase: Friends honor political life, death of tireless activist
Tributes pour in for Ruth Chase: Friends honor political life, death of tireless activist Ruth Chase will be remembered as a creative and tireless activist in the cause of 'liberation, equality, and democracy" – a fight continued even into her death, her close friends say. The 76-year-old former restaurateur and landscaper was among the early group of residents 50 years ago to build their lives at the Miccosukee Land Co-Op, a 90-acre development in rural Leon County owned by about 300 residents. Chase was also a well-known community organizer and co-founder of one of the city's legacy restaurants, Food Glorious Food, which boasted a menu of recipes she collected from her travels in Europe. More recently, Chase was the driving force behind the Masked Marvels, a group of knitters that stitched together more than 28,000 masks for hospital workers during the COVID pandemic. She also played the leading role in the Stone Soup Street Action Committee's street theater protests when she would dress in a giant Donald Trump head. 'Ruth was a fountain of good trouble, bringing smiles and humor to hard and important political work. Her perspective was unique. And inspiring. She made friends and community everywhere she went,' a statement from Indivisible Big Bend Florida said. She was a champion of the group devoted to resisting the "radical right agenda" and policies of President Donald Trump. Much as she lived, Chase's final act was also colored by politics. Her body was found Saturday afternoon at Sunrise and McClelland roads near the Miccosukee Co-Op. She chose the time and place of her death. And mailed personalized letters to a score of people to explain why. 'Oh, it's connected to politics,' both Norine Cardea and Vicky Peace said while discussing their friend's death with the Tallahassee Democrat on Tuesday. 'Those of us closest to her know she wanted this out there. She wanted people to know why she was choosing this and this is a humane way for people to end their life,' said Cardea, who had known Chase for nearly 50 years. A batch of final letters sought to explain 'Why Now?' Peace's husband, Paul Peacock, found Chase's body. Chase had timed delivery of a text message to Peacock about where her body would be for two hours after she sent it. Peacock, Peace and Cardea were among a small circle of friends who received letters afterward from Chase titled 'Why Leave Now?' 'There isn't a satisfactory way to word my explanation,' Chase wrote. 'The next four years (and possibly the next four decades) will be historically ignorant, depraved and cruel.' 'Had Harris won, I would have worked gladly towards policies which would have favored crushing global warming, racial and financial equity,' Chase explained. The first batch of letters that went out had a personalized preamble, colored with personal references and nicknames. Peace's letter included Chase's wishes, and a second batch of letters to be mailed. Chase compared the current political environment to a bullfight she witnessed as a child in Spain for why she changed her plans to move up her death. 'Although leaving the arena leaves me in an unknown and unfamiliar space, it feels better than the forthcoming arena of cruelty, injustice and the Quisling cheering crowds." In the letter, Chase apologizes to the friends for misleading them about her end-of-life plans. While she told them she planned to move to Panama, she was quietly gifting, donating, or destroying her writings and art. "I am NOT recommending my path to you at all, ever. You can be active, saintly, apathetic, air conditioned or whatever you choose to be. Your body, your choice. My body, my choice," Chase said in her goodbye letter, while instructing that her body be donated to a medical school to train doctors. She concluded her letter with a checklist of all the ways her "life is enough," ranging from never having to wear high heels to having been "loved and adored" and loving and adoring right back. "I'm opting out of this coming creep show not because life has been miserable to me," she wrote. "It has been unbelievable. It has been beautiful. I love it." 'She had a huge heart and just wanted to make life better for other people' To those who knew and loved Chase, she was one of a kind. "I will tell you this, almost everyone complains about problems, but Ruthie, unlike anyone I've ever known, consistently and relentlessly took action, day after day, to solve problems and help other people," Chase's brother Walter Moore wrote in a text message to the Tallahassee Democrat Monday. "She didn't do it for fame, or money, or to obtain a political office. She did it because she had a huge heart and just wanted to make life better for other people," the Pasadena, California, attorney continued. "You could disagree with her politics, but you could not question her compassion, sincerity and commitment. Plus, she was hilarious and the best cook ever." The 2016 election of President Donald Trump prompted Chase to organize a Stone Soup Street Action Committee in Tallahassee to call attention to the president's policies. A half dozen men and women would gather on a Tallahassee street corner once a week during the morning commute and wave signs decrying a "sellout to Russia" and budgets cuts to environment and health programs. Chase would don a giant papier-mâché Trump head, dress in prison stripes and wave a '4 Sale 'n' chief' sign to drivers. The sight gag was so popular when she attended a University of Florida protest in 2019 students lined up to take selfies with Chase. Marty Monroe, a retired public school teacher, was among the Masked Marvels, a group of 200 volunteers Chase organized in 2020 after the University of Florida Medical Center announced it had found that material used to ship surgical equipment could be repurposed into facial masks for hospital workers during a pandemic-induced mask shortage. The group worked out of the backs of pickup trucks, a wood shop and their dining room tables to stitch together the first batch of 500 masks. After Leon County Schools offered up the Cobb Middle School Library as space, the group began to turn out 1,000 masks a week – and by the end of the pandemic had made 28,433 masks for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. Chase's goodbye letter to Monroe was addressed to 'Smarty Marty.' 'We had had some conversations about being an old war horse and how you just get tired,' Monroe said. 'It was a beautiful letter.' Monroe and Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, remember Chase as an intensely passionate loving person with the relentless qualities of a bulldog once she sank her teeth into a cause. "Ruth was a changemaker," Tant said. "She made a difference for others and leaves a legacy of walking the walk and having a deep commitment to her neighborhood, friends, family, and of course the candidates and causes she supported." Leon County Commissioner David O'Keefe called Chase a political activist with a backbone and the heartbeat of community activism. 'She was a bulldog for people who needed a bulldog. This was not some person who could ever just turn off the news and take a break and sit out for a little while. This is someone who just couldn't let go of this incredible compassion that she had,' O'Keefe said. O'Keefe recalled in his first campaign in 2022 Chase loaded up a red wagon with yard signs and walked neighborhoods on his behalf. 'It is no small part that I am where I am today because when I met her, she decided to help me,' O'Keefe said. 'She spent every day for the most of that year with a wagon that she pulled from door to door with road signs.' 'Joyous and heartbroken' Those closest to her said they knew the 76-year-old Chase planned to end her life at the age of 80 because, with no children, Chase didn't want to be a burden to others. Cardea was among the friends who enjoyed many long walks and deep conversations with Chase dating to when the two were in their early 20s. She said once Chase's mind was set, no one could talk her out of her plans. 'Ruthie kept her own counsel on this. Was she depressed? No. She was joyous and heartbroken; it comes through in the letter,' Cardea said. Still, friends were shocked by the news. Jewelry artist Quincie Hamby worked with Chase at the now closed Chez Pierre restaurant in 1996. She called Chase a vibrant spirit and the purest person she had ever met – a physically fit vegetarian who didn't drink alcohol. Chase once lived for six months with Hamby and her husband. The two often would argue about Chase's plans to choose when to end her life. 'I would say, 'Why are you eating so well, drinking so well, taking care of your body if you want to die before 80? It doesn't make any sense.' And she goes, 'Well, I want to live well while I'm alive.' That's my Ruthie in a nutshell. And she was a force to be reckoned with," Hamby said, while admitting she finds herself grieving, because she thought she had four more years with her. As they reflect on Chase's life, Peace and Cardea are helping to pack up her possessions and mementos for her family. They are planning a memorial service sometime in March. "I feel like we have to keep her on our shoulder as a reminder of the power of taking on a task and staying with it,' Peace said. Chase is survived by four siblings: Beverly Graddy of Tallahassee, Barbara Harrison of Monticello, Walter Moore of California and George Moore of Texas. In her final letter, Chase wrote, "Don't send flowers, please." Instead she directed people to the Robert Chase Memorial Fund, which empowers people with disabilities, at Need help and looking for resources? While close friends say there's no indication Ruth Chase was in crisis, navigating a mental health issue for yourself or a loved one can be a difficult experience. You can call or text 988 to connect with a trained counselor. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee.
