What if I told you that everything you thought you knew about the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3 may be wrong? Though modern day depictions and references suggest Eve partook of an apple, Genesis never stated the specific fruit. That association derived from tradition, art, and a twist of language. While the exact origin is unknown, it is speculated to have evolved from the Latin word “malum.” It all comes down to language symbols. In some languages, textual symbols are used to

Before all the modern diet debates, before meat was even part of the story, Eden was the original garden menu. Veganism didn’t start as a trend. It started in Creation. In the first chapter of Genesis, God gave Adam, Eve, and even the animals every seed-bearing plant and every green plant for food. There was no mention of animals being part of the human diet. Genesis 1:29-30 ESV “And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the

Long before modern cookbooks, there were the Yale Culinary Tablets — ancient Babylonian clay tablets that preserve some of the world’s oldest known written recipes. Housed at Yale University as part of the Yale Babylonian Collection, these cuneiform tablets open a window into the ancient kitchen. While little is known about their origin, it is presumed that they were likely excavated from Southern Mesopotamia or modern day Iraq. Written in Akkadian text, they were first belie

Today, our focus draws attention to the topics of dominion and stewardship. In Genesis Chapter 2, we find the final day of Creation week and a more detailed account of the creation of man and woman from day 6. While at first glance they appear to be two independent subjects, I will show you how I see they tie together. In 3 short verses, the 7th day is summarized as the day God rested from his work of Creation. In verse 2 it is stated, “And on the seventh day God finished his

While this restaurant was not on my list to review, it is hard to ever turn down an opportunity to see an intracoastal waterway sunset in St. Augustine, FL. Since this was an unplanned trip, this review will be short and sweet. Recently, my beloved and I stopped in at Aunt Kate’s for a quick bite for dinner while we were in the area. The reason it wasn’t on my list was that I could tell from mixed reviews and the menu that it wouldn’t be a good fit for what I typically look f

Genesis. The first book of the Bible and where our journey begins. Genesis Chapter 1 could seemingly be the most influential chapter in the Bible. It is the first words God appointed to have communicated to the reader and likely the most read chapter in all of scripture. Where do you start when reading a book? In the beginning, of course. So every unbeliever who ever picked up a Bible out of curiosity perhaps read at least the first chapter of Genesis. If given one chance to

Beginning June 2026, Taste and Sea Reviews and Reflections will be moving in a slightly new direction. The coastal Florida restaurant reviews and biblical reflections will remain, but destination reviews will be replaced by Food Facts and History. This will bring greater cohesiveness to the content by primarily relating to food and hospitality. It will also allow for a wider range of unique and informative content to be shared. I look forward to all the new and exciting w

Upon leaving Sarasota, we once again stopped in Apollo Beach to enjoy lunch at another coastal restaurant before bringing our winter getaway to a close. Circles Waterfront Restaurant was established back in 1998. For years it has been serving the community and faithful visitors some of the best surf and turf dishes Florida has to offer. Most everything on their menu is made to order. If the seafood is not local, then it is flown in overnight. Even their beef and chicken are r

The iconic attraction that Sarasota is most known for is The Ringling. It is mostly identified as a circus museum, but to my surprise, it was so much more than that. The Ringling is the full estate of John and Mable Ringling, the famous Barnum and Bailey owners and circus entertainers of the early 1900s. Situated on 66 acres, the property consists of the Circus Museum, the home and gardens of John and Mable, a Museum of Art, and the Historic Asolo Theater. I must admit, I hav

In addition to being known for its artistic community, Sarasota is home to an extensive network of parks, preserves, and trails. It has far more than the average city its size. Whether you like to walk, hike, bike or run, there is anything from waterfront paths, long-distance paved routes, nature trails, and boardwalks to choose from. If you prefer to spend your time on the water, there are many access points to launch a kayak or take a guided tour exploring the mangrove pres

Today, we are going to take a quick look at the culinary hot spots that made the cut for our brief visit to Sarasota back in January. When researching restaurants, I was looking for what I am always on the lookout for, a place recognized for its great food, made with quality ingredients, and in a desirable setting. While you wouldn’t normally think of Indian food when visiting a coastal community, this restaurant caught my attention when it revealed a Google rating of 4.9 sta

We have finally arrived to my first accommodation review. When looking for a place to stay in Sarasota, I came across this interesting hotel concept that immediately caught my attention. They refer to themselves as a boutique hotel, an a la carte brand. A boutique hotel is a small, stylish hotel that focuses on personalized service. So, what is the name of this one-of-kind hotel? Kompose. The first Kompose Hotel opened it’s doors in Sarasota in 2020. They have since added loc

Apollo Beach is a small, but growing community. Ironically, it is not a beach community, at least in the sense of what you think of in regards to a Florida beach. While there is a few points of sandy beach access to Tampa Bay, Apollo Beach is predominantly known as a residential canal waterfront community. Nestled in the midst, is a newly discovered restaurant fave for me. Finn’s Dockside Bar & Grill checks off most of my boxes when it comes to a dining establishment with gre

While summer is the most desirable season for most people to visit Florida, there are many unique events and attractions that just can’t be experienced during the summer months. One of those such events is the annual migration of manatees that flock to warmer waters during the winter months. One of the best places to see these gentle giants corralling together is the Tampa Electric Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach, Florida. Hundreds of manatees have been gathering here

I needed a quick getaway in January. Something that would be easy on the wallet but not lacking in intrigue or relaxation. So, I asked myself, what coastal city comes to mind that may have a lot of options during an unpredictable winter month? One of the first places that came to mind was Sarasota. Having lived in the Tampa Bay Area for several years, I was familiar with its beauty and heavy focus on the arts. That means lots of indoor options for art museums, music venu

Everyone knows that the beach is the main attraction when it comes to Florida. But what do you do in the off season when the temperatures are cooler, and the water is even colder? Florida weather can be unpredictable, especially in the fall and winter seasons. One week it feels like a beautiful spring day and the next week you are piling on layers of clothing. Case in point, welcome to January in Florida. Last week I was enjoying lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s with

I was exceptionally busy this past holiday season, so it made it very hard to produce the kind of content that I wanted to. Now that the holidays are behind me, I hope to start producing on a more consistent basis. As I look ahead to what is to come for 2026, I will be making some minor changes as I continue to explore my style of presentation and the information I desire to share with you. The addition of my YouTube channel will play a big part in guiding my creativity an

We began this reflective journey to discover why the end of the year is so “festive” for many religions and cultures and why it leads to a greater tendency to do good and be less self-centered. I propose to you that we may be able to trace it back to the Tower of Babel. I will explain. First, let us come full circle and summarize what we have seemingly learned about the “holiday spirit” so far. It is a real enough phenomenon to make it into a dictionary. It is the “feel

Have you heard the phrase “Why can’t every day be like Christmas?” in a song, movie, or conversation? What are they referring to? Is it a longing for peace that comes from the unity of celebrations? Is it the joy that comes from giving gifts or serving others? Is it the feeling of gratitude that reduces stress? Bigger question, why is it only associated with the Christmas season? In Part 1, we posed the question as to why does the end of the year seem to compel people

There is an intensity of celebrations that happen all around the world and in every season. It amazes me the unity holidays bring, even in unexpected places and unexpected ways. Thanksgiving, for instance, is an American holiday, yet the influence of American culture and Americans living abroad have impacted other countries to recognize and celebrate with us. Having lived in the Cayman Islands for a number of years, I can attest that many local island restaurants will offe