We finally got a chance to explore some of Ocala’s finest eateries.
And by “finest eateries” I clearly mean Tas-T-O’s Donuts and Fat Boy’s BBQ.
Let’s just say Ocala isn’t exactly overflowing with healthy food options.
When Ryan and I first drove past Tas-T-O’s Donuts, I said it looked like the kind of place that should be featured on Man v. Food. It’s a total hole-in-the-wall shop, but aren’t those the kind of places that have the best food?
Tas-T-O’s definitely delivered. They delivered BIG.
I ordered a chocolate frosted doughnut topped with coconut and shared a fritter with Ryan as well.
Both doughnuts were fantastic, but the fritter was out of this world.
It was like pull-apart monkey bread… but in doughnut form!
Lunch
After eating our doughnuts, Ryan, Ross and I hung out at our house and watched A Time to Kill before heading out the door to try another place that we’ve been meaning to try for lunch.
Fat Boy’s BBQ!
I opted for a pork sandwich while Ryan and Ross both ordered all-you-can-eat ribs.
I was really hoping the pork would be pulled pork but it was still decent. There were a lot of chewy and greasy fatty pieces, but I powered through.
I also helped the boys with their ribs. And by “helped” I mean I ate enough to feel “Thanksgiving full” and kind of sick. Ooph.
Ryan and Ross felt the same way…
That’s the look of a man in a total food coma.
When we arrived home from lunch, it was puppy playtime!
Sadie and Ross’ adorable chocolate lab Kona had a ball playing with the boys and hanging out in Sadie’s kiddie pool.
Isn’t Kona such a sweetie pie? I actually think she looks a little like Sadie.
I thought you lab lovers might enjoy some Kona pictures since Sadie and my love for vizslas is featured on this blog every so often every day.
We laughed because Sadie acted all sassy and wouldn’t get in the pool when Kona was in.
What a princess.
September 11
I cannot sign off without taking a minute to recognize September 11.
I am so proud to be an American… today and every day. Ten years ago on this day, the horrific events of September 11, 2001 unfolded before our eyes, changing the United States forever.
I will never forget that day. The family, friends and loved ones of those lost and the men and women who serve our country every day are in my thoughts and prayers.
From the lakes of Minnesota,
To the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea
From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there’s pride in every American heart,
And its time we stand and say,
That I’m proud to be and American,
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me
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Glad to see you found some good places to eat in Ocala 🙂
I love donuts!! Those looks amazing! Yum!
I wish my puppies liked water so we could play with a puppy pool! I don’t know if its because they are so little but they are really afraid of water. Bailey loves the snow though. All twenty pounds of her dives in head first as soon as the first snow hits. Its the most adorable thing! ;p
Oh, I mean to comment before and thank you for blogging about the thunder shirt! Andy is officially getting one for christmas! He hyperventilates every time he’s in the car and cries when there’s a thunderstorm or the vacuum or blender is on. I’m really hoping it works for him!
i hope it works for andy!
This is pretty much my ideal day of eating, haha. If only I could do it all the time! Kona looks SO much like Sadie! I actually thought it was her at first until I realized how much darker she was. 😉
Sadie? More like Sa-DIVA!
All you can eat ribs I think would be a very very dangerous establishment to have nearby. Thank goodness for Ocalas distance, becuase monkey bread and donuts are both a major weakness.
those donuts… omg. that’s all i have to say about that.
and kona is ADORABLE! i really want a chocolate lab, and those pics make me want one even more! that is my fav kind of dog.
I have one and she is an amazing dog…but SO dang hyper bc she is still a puppy!! They are the best!
Fritters are AMAZING. They taste so buttery, soft, and doughy and practically melt in your mouth! You’re so lucky to have a great donut shop near by! I wonder if Diners Drive-Ins and Dives has been there? Do you watch that show?
What a fun day!!
I love that Sadie has a kiddie pool by the way!
Those donuts look beyond incredible! Can you send one up to Canada for me? 😉
It was interesting to go back and read your recollection of what you were doing on September 11, 2001 – my coworkers and I were reflecting on our own stories all day today. It’s interesting because I grew up in New York and was in seventh grade in 2001. There was scarcely a person in my school or community who didn’t have a friend or family member who lived or worked in the city or WTC themselves. Living in North Carolina now, it was interesting to hear how differently the experiences were of people outside NY.
I love how people seem to be focusing remembrances on the wonderful acts of humanity, kindness, and courage that were shown that day, though. The worst situations bring out the best in people 🙂
Those donuts look amazing 🙂
Kona is such a sweetie– how cute 🙂
Sounds like the perfect Sunday– Sun, dogs, water, donuts and BBQ 🙂
I can’t remember the last time i felt ‘Thanksgiving full’, but since Thanksgiving is only a couple months away it won’t be too long before I experience the feeling again!
There’s a place down the shore that we go to called Colonial Bakery that seems similar to Tas-T-O’s- appears to be a hole in the wall but has the absolute best pastries and doughnuts around! Everytime we visit, we make it a point to get breakfast there!
You know I am a lab lover, but I have a soft spot for Sadie and your beautiful pictures of her. Dante has his kiddie pool, but he would love to have his own pool.
I think is sooo cute how much the doggies love the kiddie pool 🙂
Doughtnut mania! Our dog Murphy (a lab/rottweiler mix) also has a kiddie pool (and loves it).
This is totally unrelated, but I know you are a big smoothie fan. So I have a question for you. I too partake in the joy that is smoothies, but I’m bummed that I can never pack them to carry to work for lunch. I do have a fridge at work, but the problem is that any smoothie I make in advance is a sludgy mess by the time I try to eat it for lunch (a few hours later). I’ve tried freezing them, but then eating them becomes slow and semi frustrating. Do you have any ideas or tips for maintaining a smoothie’s consistency for a few hours so that I can enjoy them as a work lunch? Is this an unrealistic dream I have, of enjoying a smoothie a few hours after blending it? Oh, I hope not…
oh my gosh! i tried figuring that out myself when i was dying to make smoothies in the work breakroom. i never quite did. have you thought of using an immersion blender? they’re much smaller than a regular blender – but they’re less powerful, so if you wanted to blend fruit, you’d likely have to let it thaw a bit first.
I also preferred pulled pork over sliced pork. Glad you found some tasty (although maybe not as nutritious) dining options in Ocala!
Seeing those two dogs in action is heart-warming. They are so cute! I overdosed on BBQ this weekend, too. It was a lot, but it was oh-so-good!
Man oh man, those donuts look DELICIOUS!
Those donuts look incredible – yum!
Thanks for including the words to that song — I swear I cry every time I hear it.
Oh my, pull apart monkey bread. I don’t eat doughnuts very often but that sounds heavenly! Glad you had a great day Julie!
Just read your 9/11 post from last year. I was also in my American history class when the attacks happened—it’s something I’ll never, ever forget.
Those donuts look seriously amazing!
And my husband’s parent’s dog is like Sadie… he’s very picky about doing certain things around other dogs & he most definitely would not share a kiddie pool with another canine… no way!
Those doughnuts look out of this world! I wish we had a good local doughnut place around here and not just the regular Dunkin Donuts.
Ryan looks like he might puke at any minute in that picture, a sign of a good all you can eat 😉
YUM! Those doughnuts put Dunkin’ to shame! Now I am craving doughnuts! 🙂
Looks like you ate well this weekend, those are always the best ones surrounded by loved ones!
Welllll those restaurant names are quite….unique. haha. Love pulled pork…and ribs! I can never leave a BBQ joint without feeling stuffed.
I love hole in the wall restaurants – they are always THE BEST!!!
Donuts and BBQ…
Sounds like the PERFECT day to me! 😀
Just went to Fat Boys in Kissimmee and fell in love with their garlic toast and baked beans — so good!! If they’re the same owner I’d suggest the “sloppy pork” which is their pulled pork. The smoked turkey is lean and quite delicious.
I am such a donut fiend- I would have loved to try one of those! On Fridays at work, someone usually brings in munchkins & i can’t resist…but these take donuts to a whole new level! 🙂
Btw I think I just had to change the email address I type in before commenting, for some reason, in order to post a comment. Weird! Have you ever experienced that?
no! that’s so strange!
It made me laugh when you described being full as “thanksgiving full”…I feel like that every time I eat ribs. Do I regret it? Heck no! Love me some BBQ!
oh my goodness, all i can think about are those donuts now! I don’t think I’ve had a donut in years… gotta come up with a good excuse.
Kona does look like Sadie! Those two eateries look amazing!
Okay that should said THING my computer auto corrected it.
I love monkey bread but try not to make it because I will eat the whole thong.
Oh my, drool worthy food!
I am such a sucker for a good donut! 🙂 You mentioning monkey bread made me think of these super healthy pull apart rolls my mom and I used to make. They consisted of ice cream, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter all melted together for the sauce, pillsbury biscuits dippend in the sauce and then baked together. Yikes! lol.
I actually don’t like donuts, but your pictures made me WANT one! haha.
Proud to be an American—and my heart goes out to those who lost loved ones!
I want to get Edie a kiddie pool since she loves swimming but she is so afraid of the sprinkler, hose and baths. I’m not sure if she would even get in the pool.
Hole in the wall local donut places never disappoint. I love Kona (and Sadie too)! I have a chocolate lab, who’s a whole lot tubbier than Koda, so I have a soft spot for labs.
Love Donuts, they are my weakness!
Totally off topic – Do you ever put sun cream on Sadie’s nose? I know this may sound like a really weird question, but I have lost a cat to skin cancer and since then I always do the ears and nose. These days I guess we have to look after our 4 legged family members as well as ourselves when it comes to sun fun 🙂
no! i never even thought of that. how scary. thanks for the comment!
Dude, your yard is ginormous!
Donuts are like bits of heaven. Oh so good!
I love seeing dogs in baby pools, they’re so cute!
I love the movie A Time to Kill! (and I LOVE donuts – those look delicious!)
OMG those donuts look so good- I love plain glazed ones! Ryan looks defeated- as though he’s about to be sick any minute ha!
Hmmm those doughnuts look sooo good! And that is one beautiful poem.
I’ve actually driven by fat boys bbq many times! My older brother has had diabetes since he was one (he’s 22 now) so we used to drive from Spring Hill to Gainesville every three months and for a while there was an office in Ocala that we went to instead because it was closer. We used to giggle about the name of that bbq place every time we passed by.
I know what you mean about lack of healthy options-my fiance, Ryan, and I are moving to a larger place in Odessa (kind of the middle of nowhere) from Tampa this week and the only restaurants nearby are McDonalds and Chili’s! lol
The donuts look AMAZING. Especially that coffee roll looking thing. And the dogs are too cute. We got Annabelle and Solo (our two big babes) a baby pool one year and they wouldn’t go near it.
I just found a recipe for monkey break muffins. CAN’T WAIT to try it.
Nicole
The Kidless Kronicles
Wag More, Bark….
The donuts make me think of Big Donut in L.A. My dad worked there during college and we bug him about it to this day. Haha. Looks like you had a day full of good food 🙂
Hole in the wall places are often the best finds! You have to find a good taco truck… those are normally incredible.
Now THAT is a good day of eating. We have the Doughnut Plant by us and we can never escape without trying one of each (okay, one of MOST). I’m not really even a huge doughnut fan but when they’re staring you in the face it’s hard to say no!
Welcome to my town , with that food selection!
Does it really get any better than donuts and ribs?