Foodie fun in Florida for Jimmy

JIMMY’S TASTE OF FLORIDA Mon-Fri, 2pm, ITV1

Jimmy doherty is swapping his Suffolk farm for sunny Florida as the keen foodie travels across the US state to visit its culinary hotspots.

However, the ITV1 series isn’t just a regular travel show for Jimmy – as he finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of ticking Florida off his list of must-see holiday destinations.

“Growing up, my view of Florida was Miami Vice, Gentle Ben, Flipper and all that kind of stuff. I got to tick a lot of those things off my bucket list,” said Jimmy, 48.

Jimmy explores the dishes on offer across the Sunshine State. And while most people tend to think of greasy burgers, over-sized portions and stacks of fries, Jimmy was surprised by Floridian kitchens’ unique twists on classic cuisine.

“In Pensacola, a chef introduced me to boiled peanuts,” he smiled.

“I then went to Panama City Beach and met one of the fastest oyster shuckers out there.”

“You walk into a sports bar and there are guys and girls coming back from work – fishermen, policemen. They rock up and work half a dozen oysters with their beer while watching the game.”

Jimmy ate his strangest meal of the trip at Bradenton Beach with restaurateur Ed Chiles – crab claws but the crab is still alive in the sea.

He said: “When crabs fight, they shed their claws – they can release them and it breaks off. Ed would catch crabs, take just one claw and then the crab goes back in the water where its claw grows back. It’s an amazing way of harvesting crab.”

Spending four weeks in the US, Jimmy found it “difficult” leaving behind his Suffolk farm, run by his wife Michaela in his absence.

But his four daughters came for a trip to Universal Studio. He said: “They loved it – every day is an adventure for them.”