Taste of the Beach heads to Salty Sam’s June 21
Stirring things up a bit in the cooking world, Fort Myers Beach’s Taste of the Beach, hosted by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, is heading off-island this year, taking place at Salty Sam’s Marina, Sunday, June 21.
John Albion, president of the local chamber, speaks on the festival’s progress.
“We’re definitely making progress and excited about the event,” he said.
For the 14th year, Taste of the Beach is a dedication to the local food industry, with several nearby eateries offering samples of their cuisine, competing in contests (physical and flavorful), and showing the public how their fantastic concoctions are made.
Of course, experts are needed to decipher which of the competitors truly are the cream of the crop.
“I’ve got confirmation on five judges for food,” John said. “All but one has a culinary status of some kind, so they’re excited about it.”
A new section of the event will contain a cooking demo and wine-tasting retreat.
“The idea is we’re trying to expand the event, make it more exciting and fun,” John said. “It really gives people a different type of a look expanding the theme of Taste of the Beach, making it bigger and better than that.”
Also during the event, plenty of food and non-food vendors will be set up to offer the best from all around town, from jewelry and clothing to knick knacks and collectibles.
“It’s a lot different (as opposed to years prior), and it’s doing well. Comparitevly speaking, it’s going to be an exapansion of what we’ve been building for 13 years. Our commitee’s working hard to do just that,” John concluded.
Admission is $4 for adults, kids under 12 free. They can be purchased in advance at the Fort Myers Beach Chamber for $3. Kids can ride the festival rides for $2 per ride or $10 for the whole day. Parking is available for $3 at the gate.
For more information on the festival fare, call the chamber, 454-7500 or visit FMBChamber.org.