Lofty Pursuits — Restaurant in Tallahassee

I’ve wanted to visit since I saw the rose candy demonstration on YouTube. While breakfast is probably not the reason I would come here, this is the only time I could come. I got a candy demonstration and the owner politely let me know they had more candy flavors upstairs if I needed any that they could get them for me. My husband LOVES fruity hard candy... and we will have reason in the future to visit more so this was a recon trip. I had a tasty breakfast and delicious coffee. Pancakes were light and fluffy and syrup was delicious. Coffee was high quality drip and I enjoyed both cups I had. Now... the reason for my visit was to pick up some candy. I got for my husband, a package of Old Glory, Apple, and Forbidden Fruits 2. I got the rare flavor assortment for myself as I love black currant, rose and nectar flavors... and LOVE horehound. My husband loved the Old Glory flavor and we were excited to find the video online that showed us the making but also clues us in to the tase we were tasting. I didn’t ask before I left what flavor it was. I guessed blueberry vanilla and by husband guessed strawberry shortcake. So we were close, but had a lot of fun with that bag! The apple was gone nearly 20 minutes after opening (he doesn’t savor- just eats). The Forbidden Fruits is still around for a few reasons. We prefer the candy without tartness. So the citric acid added flavors we probably won’t buy again, but that is personal preference. I loved my choice in the rare assortment. The nectar is delicious and smooth as you savor. So is the rose. The rose however is so finely balanced in rose flavor that it is my new favorite candy. The square shape is so pleasing on the tongue, it really lets the flavors come through. Horehound was too anise forward and I lost the herbal, rootiness, or menthol I’ve gotten from any of my past encounters with the candy. Black currant was tasty but again had the citric acid for tartness and it was not to my liking. (Personal preference, black currant flavor was good.) A word to the wise... do not leave these in your car. It was not in the heat of summer, it was not particularly sunny, they were insulated in the car rest. Yet, they still melted somewhat together when we got home from our trip. It’s okay. They tasted delicious still... just a bit odd for the shape (I say shape has a lot to do with flavor, however). We will be back and can’t wait to taste the ice creams and other treats...

Always such an excellent experience. Phenomenal art image candy. They use exotic flavorings and traditional methods.

Greg the owner is quite a famous YouTube personality there are dozens and dozens of videos over the years made right here in the kitchen at Lofty Pursuits, and they have a worldwide fan base. I am a fan also!

I began watching these videos a few years ago and have been able to come to Tallahassee several times during my cross country trips and other business here within Florida. This is a long distance from where I live - literally four and a half hours away and yes it is definitely worth the trip!

They have a little Luncheonette with light lunch fare and ice cream and of course along with the amazing selection of candy, you will not be disappointed. It is sort of a magical thing to have your little pilgrimage visiting the shop after seeing so many of the videos online. I think once you visit and you buy some candy you'll want to go back again and again.

Lofty Pursuits is definitely a wholesome, interesting, colorful, flavorful slice of Americana that deserves your visit. It literally is just one minute off of I-10 and in a neighborhood of other interesting places to shop.

A special treat that you may experience will be meeting the famous owner, Artist and Confectioner Extroidinaire, Greg. When he's not there, the staff is always kind, friendly and very knowledgeable and happy to share their enthusiasm about this business with you.

If you're in Tallahassee during the business day, this is a place not to be missed once you go, you'll want to return whether it's for the candy, gifts, or for the lunch experience you'll love the whole place - it has a significant retail section as well with offbeat unusual...

Dairy and I are no longer on speaking terms, so I was super excited when I saw a dairy-free option on their menu that wasn't just another sorbet. Their vegan ice cream is made from almond milk and, since it's made in house, I was expecting awesome things. They also have a homemade almond milk based whipped cream that I was antsy to try. The whipped cream was spot on and absolutely delicious, as was my son's strawberry ice cream; even though the strawberry was full dairy, I still snuck a taste. With his permission, of course. 😉 Their vegan ice cream was a complete miss, though. The flavor was good - I got a scoop each of vanilla and chocolate - but the texture was all wrong. I kept thinking that there was too much gelatin in the recipe even though gelatin doesn't make sense; it had a kind of sticky-gooey-gelatinous texture that got worse as it softened and melted. Except, it never really melted, it just got soft and warm and more gelatinous. I tried to like it. I really did. My son was across the table from me enjoying his delicious strawberry ice cream and I was hungry. Every few minutes I would try another bite of my vegan ice cream, only to be turned off by that weird gelatin texture again. Eventually I got up and circled the ice cream counter, looking for something else I could eat, but the raspberry sorbet was sold out and all that was left was lemon and watermelon, neither of which was appealing. So I sat back down empty handed and simply enjoyed watching my son enjoy his strawberry ice cream. If we ever go back, I still want to try a non-dairy milk shake. I haven't had a milk shake in soooo long because of the dairy thing, and maybe the weird texture of the vegan ice cream will be diluted by the other...