Dalia Colón, host of “The Zest” and author of “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook,” is The Commodore’s guest storyteller for Salud and Happy Days on May 9 in Ybor City. Credit: daliacolon/Facebook

You don’t have to be full-on vegan to enjoy vegetarian fare, and a new collection of Florida-centric recipes is here to give you more plant-based inspiration.

Multimedia journalist and host of WUSF’s local food podcast “The Zest” Dalia Colón published her first book “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook” earlier this year, and it features over a hundred recipes as well as commentary on Florida food culture.

Coastal Creative ( 2201 1st Ave. S) hosts a discussion between “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook” author and Tampa Bay Times’ Michelle Stark on Wednesday, July 17 where the two will discuss the ins and outs of the newly-released work, favorite recipes, and the ways in which various fruits, vegetables and grains are woven into Florida’s food history.

“The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook” explores the endless, plant-based possibilities that the Sunshine State’s year-round harvests can offer—from chocolate-dipped avocado paletas and Tarpon Springs-inspired spanakopita to buffalo cauliflower, collard green pasta and a strawberry clementine salad.

In addition to the variety of Southern-inspired vegetarian recipes, Colón’s recently-published cookbook also includes a dozen essays about Florida’s “cherished food traditions” and issues impacting its current food and produce industry.

Tickets to see Dalia Colón talk about “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook” on Wednesday, July 17 at Coastal Creative in St. Pete are still available for $5.

Head to Colón’s Instagram at @daliacolon for more information about this month’s event and how to pre-order her debut cookbook. Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.