Casey Shea grew up near Jacksonville in Ponte Vedra Beach before striking out to New York and Nashville to pursue his musical dreams as a singer-songwriter and guitarist. After three solo albums, Shea finds himself a member of Los Angeles–based Grand Canyon, creating a lush classic rock brew that echoes Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood […]
I often use the phrase “hidden in plain sight” to describe wild Florida, especially the overlooked forests, swamps, ranches and wildlife corridors that make up our state’s interior. While our coastlines have much higher billing in Florida’s identity, our coastal nature can be hidden in plain sight too. Such is the case with the thousands of […]
It was an inundation of “Get Well Soon” floral arrangements that led Ashley Woodson Bailey to start photographing flowers. She was recovering in 2012 from a horrific car crash—one that not only resulted in a broken back but also forced her to give up her full-service floral and event design company in Austin, Texas. “To […]
Lauren GroffSwamp Savant Lauren Groff stepped into the spotlight in 2015 when President Barack Obama named her novel Fates and Furies his favorite book of the year. In Florida, her newest collection of short stories, the New York Times best-selling author transports readers across the state from storm-stricken shores on the Gulf Coast to Gainesville’s […]
What do you do if you make a dish and it gets famous—really famous? If, say, your “Grits à Ya Ya” is named by a statewide publication as one of the best Southern dishes in Florida and is marched to Washington, D.C., to be served at “Taste of the South,” a celebration of Southern culture […]
GRITS À YA YA Serves 4 Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits The Ya Ya PREPARATION: First, make your grits. Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a thick-bottomed saucepan over high heat. Mix in the grits and stir like crazy. Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cream […]
CRAB CAKES Serves 4 PREPARATION: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Gently inspect crabmeat to ensure there are no shell pieces. Gently work herbs into crabmeat. Add Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, fish sauce, eggs, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard to a blender and pulse until combined. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and gently fold […]
THAI MOLLY dough Note: We use organic whole corn purchased from Great River Organic Milling. It comes in a 25-pound bag. PREPARATION:Put corn and lime in 2-gallon pot and fill with water. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, for an hour and 15 minutes. Strain and rinse corn thoroughly. Spread corn on a […]
