"Food is memories." - José Andrés
You are the sum total of your experiences, and the idea is to go off the beaten path to learn more about food and the people enriching our lives. In this case, our story begins with a trip to the Florida Panhandle, a long drive out to a place called Carabelle, where the river meets Saint George Sound. An unsuspecting little town on Route 98, where the sugar sand and iridescent blue waters shimmer as the Pelicans make homes on the nearby pilings. You can see Bald Point in the distance, a small village of locals sustained by tourism and wild-caught shellfish.
The Carabelle River meanders through the postage stamp of a downtown. As you walk through the streets, some of the buildings and docks show their age. Carabelle is derived from the naming Rio Carrabella, meaning “beautiful river.” A once vibrant milling and oystering community, it has become a retirement and fishing destination over the years.
The Carabelle Junction Cafe
Just across the way from the local post office sits the Carabelle Junction Cafe, painted yellow on the face with a distinct red and blue sign at the top of the building. If you look hard enough, there is a sweet counter with some of the best sandwiches and memorabilia I haven’t seen in a long time. The flooring is that harlequin hotel design, with black and white squares.
A mish-mosh of cool and funky dining chairs with wall hangings. Don't forget the cork board with local business cards, items for sale, and community gathering notifications.
The jukebox sits straight ahead, and to your left, next to the lunch counter, is a hi-boy palm tree umbrella table. The people behind the counter are welcoming and happy to explain the menu offerings right away. They yell out the special to locals; “French Dip Friday Subs served with a side of chips for $12!”
Line Up & Order!
Once we read the menu and found a seat for 4 along the front window, we got in line to place our order. Make sure to come with cash or even a good ole fashioned check! Yes, folks, they take checks, too! Thank god we actually had a check for emergencies because QR codes are not on the menu. We ordered four sandwiches and drinks, and everything was awesome!
The Sammies
First, I had the Big Bird, with turkey, bacon, Swiss, and basil mayo, and it was to die for! Some had the Turkey Rueben and raved. Next up, our buddies had the Texas Club and Porky’s Revenge, loaded down with pork, ham, and bacon to boot! If you don’t want soda, they’ll gladly include water and a cup of ice for those hot Florida summer days. Make sure to get the kiddos an ice cream on the way out!
Road trips find us in some great places, and Carabelle Junction Cafe is sure to be a great stop for food and a .$50 cup of coffee along the way. Make sure to stop in on your next fishing trip!
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