Shortcake or biscuit?
Visit the Florida Strawberry Festival and you’ll be asked this question at least once (twice or three times if you’re doing it right). Personally, I’m a shortcake kind of gal but I’m no biscuit hater.
The Florida Strawberry Festival takes place in Plant City every March, overwhelming the small town for a little over a week. Parking is difficult, traffic can be intense, but for the shortcake, I power through.
The festival is 90% fair and about 10% strawberry, but that 10% is tasty and worth driving for. Each year I load up on strawberry flavored goodies and, always up for a challenge, this year I was prepared to sample more than ever before. The post-festival strawberry food baby was, as always, completely worth it. The festival continues through the end of this weekend, so read up on my favorite treats and then sample for yourself.
Strawberry Shortcake
A staple of the Strawberry Festival. If I’m being honest, this is the reason I make the drive every year. One important thing to note: there are several spots throughout the festival where you can get shortcake but they are not all the same! The obvious solution here is to go hungry and sample them all in the name of “research” so you’ll know your favorite for next year.
The St. Clement Catholic Church shortcake is my personal favorite – it’s a buffet style shortcake assembly line in which you can pile on the strawberry sauce and whipped cream to your heart’s content. Don’t forget to top it with a fresh strawberry or two :).
Smitty’s Original Hand-Dipped Buttermilk Corndogs
There are information booths all around the festival grounds and I took full advantage of the closest booth to ask the all important question: “Where can I find the tastiest corndog?”
The man behind the desk gave a short chuckle as his eyes lit up. Apparently I’d come to the right place and found myself face to face with a fellow corn dog lover. He proceeded to draw me a highlighted route to the best of the best – a corndog stand which uses a buttermilk batter. The verdict? As a self-pronounced corndog connoisseur (should I add that to my business card?) it was one of the best I’ve ever had. Crisp on the outside, warm and doughy on the inside. And no wimpy hot dog inside – this was the real deal.
Strawberry Ice Cream
You’ll know you’re in the right place when you spot this strawberry booth (no really, it’s a strawberry) boasting REAL strawberry ice cream. It’s soft serve ice cream that’s creamy, light, refreshing and not too sweet. Perfect for cooling down if you’re visiting on a warm day (which is every day in Florida).
Brandon Farms Strawberry Milkshake
I’m a chocolate girl through and through but strawberries are my favorite fruit so I couldn’t resist trying the Brandon Farms strawberry milkshake. The serving size was just right (although a bit pricey for the size at $4) and after a few hours of walking around in direct sun, it was a welcome treat for cooling down. I had the Brandon Farms version, but there’s another version available at Polar Bear Ice Cream.
Fresh Strawberries!
If you want to bring home a souvenir from the festival, make it a half flat or full flat of fresh berries. There are several farms both inside and outside festival grounds which sell fresh berries. I waited until leaving the festival and picked up a half flat to take home. It’s only been 5 days and I only have 1 pint left. Oops… Fresh strawberries can’t be beat and this is the place to get them – just $7/half flat.
For a full listing of strawberry goodies to be found at the festival, check out this helpful guide on the festival’s website.
The festival really is a treat! We tried the other church’s shortcake and it too was very good…more a pound cake than shortbread. There are also strawberry t-shirts and jewelry (all glittery).