Photo: Fred Lopez

Say cheese … burger

The Bistro at Grand Oaks Resort and Museum offers a great selection of food.

Legendary singer Jimmy Buffett would be proud. I recently enjoyed a cheeseburger in paradise.

It’s just that this Kentucky boy’s idea of paradise isn’t a laid-back beach party. I need something that reminds me of my roots—a place where white fences surround gently rolling pastures and horse-drawn carriages make their way around winding roads.

That’s precisely what I found during my visit to The Bistro, located at the Grand Oaks Resort and Museum in Weirsdale. The beautiful sights and delicious food both explain why a large crowd assembled there for lunch on a sunny February day.

Jimmy and I both love cheeseburgers. However, we don’t see eye-to-eye on what makes the perfect one. He likes his “medium rare” with “lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and French fried potatoes.” I prefer mine cooked medium with a liberal amount of mayonnaise and dipped in ketchup. And, unlike Jimmy, I leave off the “onion slice” and “big kosher pickle.” We do agree on “a big warm bun and a huge hunk of meat,” and The Bistro delivers both to perfection.

While Jimmy admits to “eatin’ sunflower seeds,” he’d likely find The Bistro’s crab rangoon much tastier. This popular appetizer is a deep-fried Asian dumpling stuffed with cream cheese and crab meat and served with a sweet chili sauce.

The only downside: I ate too much and likely packed on a few additional pounds. Unfortunately for me, there is no woman to blame. As Jimmy sang in another song:

“And I know, it’s my own damn fault.”

The Bistro // 3000 Marion County Road, Weirsdale // 352.750.5500