I was out of town for my daughter’s wedding so I’ve got some catching up to do. Here’s what’s new or fairly new, with events updated on our website calendar at TallahasseeTable.com Please let me know whether you have news or events you’d like to share.
The venerable restaurant, Clusters & Hops, open for 22 years on North Monroe Street, is moving to a new spot in Capital Plaza on Thomasville Road, between Volcano Hot Pot & BBQ and Five Guys, across the street from Whole Foods Market. While they are working on details, I’m told they aim to open early next year. The plaza location will offer them more kitchen and retail space while keeping their cozy vibe, good news for their many devoted fans.
* Friday, Oct. 1, is International Coffee Day. Thanks to our readers, I have a pretty good list of favorite coffee spots in Tallahassee. Check with your top choices to see if they are offering any special deals to celebrate. Tallahassee is blessed with several wonderful coffee shops, including RedEye Coffee, Ology Coffee Co. (Sweet Crunch will be cooking waffles there Friday morning), Lucky Goat Coffee, The Frother’s Daughter (mobile coffee shop), La Florída Coffee & Wine, Argonaut Coffee (Brandi Acosta Deese suggests the Cafe Cubano there), Black Dog Cafe and Square Mug Cafe. Jason Card also suggests Paper Fox Coffee, Serenity Coffee and Kava Bar, Catalina Café, Mo Than Jo and Sunrise Sunset Coffee. Let’s stir things up Tallahassee.
* Speaking of brews, the Frother’s Daughter mobile coffee shop is celebrating October in a big way with lots of fall flavors. First up is the Dirty Jack-O-Lantern (which owner Rosalyn Wilsey calls Dirty Jack), an “ode to pumpkin lovers with a tasty chai treat!” Next up will be Dracula’s Bite, described as “a decadent, chocolatey cold brew topped with a bloody cherry foam.” The Frother’s Daughter is also conducting a monthly Spotlight drink raffle for a $20 gift card. Check the Frother’s Daughter Facebook page for details and more flavors. Photo at top of page via The Frother’s Daughter.
* Good news for fans of Bahn Thai Of Tallahassee. The restaurant has opened in its new location in the former home of Pappas Diner at 2531 Apalachee Pkwy. The restaurant is open for takeout only at this point (they open at 4 p.m.). Bahn Thai moved from its location at 1319 S. Monroe St. in the spring. Thanks for the heads up, Emily Kennelly. 850-224-4765.
* UrbanTallahassee reports that Rock N Roll Sushi Tallahassee will be opening its second Tallahassee location at 222 S Magnolia. The other location is at 1415 Timberlane Rd. in the Market Square Shopping Center.
* For me, one of the highlights of the year is the farm tour. Farm Tour 2021 will be held October 9-10. About 45 farms, ranches, gardens and production sites in the counties surrounding Tallahassee will be open for visitors. Download this link for your own copy of the Tour Guidebook complete with descriptions of each site and directions and an overall map to help plan the weekend. The toughest part is figuring out how many places you can visit. This is a great outdoor activity for the whole family and a chance to meet the people who produce our regional bounty. https://drive.google.com/…/1etD1Uwf0IFAmesEczev…/view… Plus, we have so many wonderful farmers’ markets in our region. We have a guide to the many market options on our website, https://www.tallahasseetable.com/tallahassees-farmers…/
* First Friday is coming up on Oct. 1 at Railroad Square Art District. Check out live music, food, spirits, fun shops and the murals brightening the artsy area.*
#Oktoberfest celebrations will soon be getting underway. Here are a few but I’ll be updating the list. The Growler Country Oktoberfest will be Oct. 2 at 3305 Capital Circle NE — complete with their popular pretzel boards. Ology Brewing Company will also be holding its 3rd annual Oktoberfest starting Oct. 8 at the Power Mill location at 2708 Power Mill Court. More event details at https://fb.me/e/19pzkVNvH.
* Country Kitchen is celebrating its 30th anniversary, “one of the longest reigning restaurants in Tallahassee!” From the restaurant’s Facebook post: “CK would like to thank its customers for seeing us through. We have survived Y2K, 9-11, hurricanes, the recession of 2008, and now we are doing our best to make it through the Covid pandemic. Thank you for following us through 2 moves in 1995 and 2018. We appreciate and love our customer, first responders, and our military. We will do our best to continue serving Tallahassee.”
* 1 Mo-Betta BBQ has had the right chops for 14 years. You can help owners Billy “Mo” Hollaway, wife, Nicole, celebrate Mo-Betta’s anniversary by feasting on some mighty ribs or a pork sandwich. Mo-Betta is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 2101 Apalachee Pkwy. in the bright red trailer at the Shell station. Just follow the smoky BBQ aroma.
* In case you missed this, chef Kevin Stout (Food Glorious Food) will be offering Nashville-style hot chicken daily at his upcoming location, Hot Birdie’s Chicken, in the former home of N2Sweets at 1870 Thomasville Rd. (across from the Whole Foods plaza). The chicken spot will be serving four sandwich styles of fried chicken. It’s expected to open in October. Now that’s hot.
* The bakery chain Crumbl Cookies will be opening a site, one of more than 200 in the country, in Bannerman Crossings shopping center. Date TK. The shop will offer its signature flavor with Oreo cookie pieces along with other varieties: peanut butter brittle, brownie batter, sugar and chocolate chip plus the Funfetti Milkshake. The shopping center is at 3525 Bannerman Rd.
* Sorry to say that Luis Guerrero has closed his restaurant, Great Plates, at 460 W. Tennessee St. His drive and dedication has been inspirational. Wishing him the best at his next venture.
* Another closing: On Sept. 26, frozen yogurt shop Nuberri not just Frozen Yogurt closed its Kerry Forest Parkway location because of staffing shortages and the impact on business caused by Covid. The good news is that the Nuberri location at 101 N. Blair Stone Rd. will remain open.
* To lift your spirits, Ology is presenting two cans today (9/30) at @ology_powermill and @ology_midtown!. They are Dormitory Daze Hazy, a collab with Freehand Goods in Orlando — hints of fresh orange peel, and dank mango. $16/4pack. The other is Lemon Cheesecake Shakeeeee 6%. Described this way: “Sharp, bright lemon and sweet lactose meet beautiful cheesecake flavors in this Berliner.” $14/4pack.
* From the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce: Tallahassee-based Tallulah CBD + Juicebar is opening its fourth store location in Thomasville.
* Mark your calendar: On November 18, Refuge House will host its annual Winterfall event at Esposito Garden Center. Funds raised through Winterfall directly benefit individuals served by Refuge House across the Big Bend region.
