Floribbean cuisine

Gonzalez Kirby, Diana. Fresh from Florida: Six Decades of Recipes--Featuring Everyone's Favorite Fruits. Houston, Tex.: Gulf Pub. Co., 1996.

Speir, Elizabeth, and William Schemmel. Florida Citrus Cookbook. Atlanta, GA.: Marmac Pub. Co., 1985.

Van Aken, Norman, and Susan Porter. Norman Van Aken's Feast of Sunlight. New York: Ballentine Books, 1988.

By the 1980s, the state rethought its approach, replacing the bulletins and brochures with impressive-looking cookbooks.  While the authors and publishers did not work directly for the Florida Citrus Commission, such associations can be identified in the fine print.   It took chefs such as Norman Van Aken to create a “Floribbean” style of cooking that relied on fresh and light preparations built around the vibrant flavors and colors of South Florida’s produce.  Van Aken and his cohorts dubbed themselves "The Mango Gang" because of their interest in tropical fruits, including citrus.