Floribbean cuisine is found in varying forms in both high-end Florida restaurants and in the homes of many Floridians. The essence of what makes a particular dish "Floribbean" is similar to many other aspects of Florida culture: that it is heavily influenced by visitors and immigrants from all over the world, but especially from the Caribbean and the American Deep South. State nickname: Sunshine State, Everglade State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... The Deep South is a subregion of the American South, differentiated from the Old South as being the post colonial expansion of Southern States in the antebellum period. ...

Typical features of Floribbean cuisine include:

• An emphasis on extremely fresh ingredients
• Complex medleys of spices, especially powerful flavors that are softened by milder ones
• An emphasis on seafood and poultry
• Generous use of fresh fruit and juices, especially citrus and sweet tropical fruits
• Special care in presentation, especially when seeking a more natural effect rather than an ostentatious one

Floribbean cooking often uses somewhat less heat than the Carribbean dishes that inspire it, but there is extensive use of several kinds of peppers. This spicyiness, however, is almost always moderated by a more gentle flavorings such as mango, papaya, rum, almond, coconut, key lime, or honey. Species Mangifera altissima Mangifera caesia Mangifera camptosperma Mangifera casturi Mangifera foetida Mangifera indica Mangifera kemanga Mangifera longipes Mangifera macrocarpa Mangifera odorata Mangifera pajang Mangifera pentandra Mangifera persiciformis Mangifera siamensis The mango (Mangifera spp. ... Binomial name Carica papaya L. The papaya, also known as mamao, tree melon, or pawpaw (not to be confused with the true pawpaw), is the fruit of the tree Carica papaya. ... Caribbean rum, circa 1941 Rum is a spirit made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation. ... This article refers to the plant. ... Binomial name Cocos nucifera L. Also a song by Harry Nilsson The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family). ... Binomial name Citrus x aurantifolia (Christm. ... Honey honey comb A capped frame of honeycomb Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid produced by bees and other insects from the nectar of flowers. ...

It is common in many homes to see traditional Southern foods (such as gumbo, black-eyed peas, or crabcakes) served in the same meal as a more nuanced Floribbean dish. In most Floribbean restaurants, however, entire meals are carefully planned around a succession of delicate, complex flavors and so most dishes have been altered from their traditional forms. A particularly sticky form of clay till is called gumbo. ... The Black Eyed Peas are an American hip hop crew from Los Angeles, who have lately enjoyed massive international pop success. ...