Diary of a Road Trip, Ep. 2: DeLand, the “Athens of Florida”
Most people see the DeLand signs on I-4 and keep driving. That’s a mistake.
In Episode 2 of Eat It Florida: Diary of a Road Trip in Search of Old Florida Treasure, we pull off the interstate into historic DeLand, a college town with 1800s architecture, Florida’s oldest private university, and a downtown that punches well above its size.
Jesse Blanco first got to know DeLand in the ’90s, covering Stetson basketball as a TV sports reporter out of Orlando. Years later, a local tourism friend named Georgia started showing him the food side of town, and he’s been coming back ever since.
This stop:
- Persimmon Brewing: the converted-garage brewery at the center of town, named for DeLand’s original name, Persimmon Hollow. It’s the “meet me at Persimmon” spot, and the beer is the reason why.
- Northwest Square: an old Southern church turned multi-room venue, with former sanctuaries now hosting events.
- Chapel Tap: a tiny taproom tucked inside that church, with rotating taps and a name Jesse calls the cleverest in town.
Plus a quick tour of DeLand’s food scene: Cuban that smells like Miami, a kiosk with the best restaurant name in Florida, and where to eat when you have more than a lunch stop.
Real Florida. Great Eats.
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