Celebrate Fathers Day at the 14th annual Taste of the Beach
Where can you bring dad to enjoy Shrimp Cocktail, Maryland Style Crab Cakes, Grilled Flank Steak, Banana Rum Bread Pudding and much more all in one place?
The 14th annual Taste of the Beach event -sponsored by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and presented by Bayfront Bistro- will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 21, by Salty Sam’s Marina at 2200 Main St.
Nineteen of Fort Myers Beach’s finest restaurants will be gathering to provide attendees with samples of their tastiest cuisines. Each participating restaurant will have their own booth to sell a few of their specialty dishes. To help wash down the food there will also be plenty of beverages, beer, soda, water, teas and even a wine garden where samples of various delectable wines will be offered. The tasting cost is $10 and will include a brief presentation on 6 different kinds of wine. Full glasses can also be purchased from $5-7. There will be a great amount and great variety of food and drinks to please every palate.
Admission for the event is $4 for adults; kids under age 12 enter for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the FMB 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.
Keep your eyes open for the event sponsor Bayfront Bistro. “As one of the newest on the beach, we want to give the public the opportunity to experience the culinary excellence of Bayfront Bistro,” General Manager Wilke adds. “We hope to aid in the success of this year’s event and bring to the forefront the specialties of our local beaches, bay and businesses.” Opening up this past January, Bayfront Bistro has fantastic views and delicious cuisine such as: Pan Seared Andouille Stuffed Day Boat Scallops accompanied with fresh local micro greens and Truffled goat cheese, wrapped in a Carpaccio of beef all which can be sampled at the this year’s 14th annual Taste of the Beach.
Other local favorites participating this year are: ABWA; Beach Doggie Dog; Bourbon Street Bar & Grill; Dixie Fish Company; The Fish House; Francesco’s Italian Deli & Pizzeria; Hooters; J Bistro; NTL Catering; Parrot Key Caribbean Grill; Pinchers Bar & Grill at Holiday Inn; Jo-Jo’s at Pink Shell; The Sandy Butler; The Sandy Parrot Tiki Bar & Grill; South West Roasters; Surf Pie; V & J Bistro; and Yucatan Beach Stand.
From 11:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., there will be a Chefs Competition going on in the ‘Sunstream’ International Demonstration Kitchen. Various restaurant chefs will take turns showing the crowd how to prepare their dish in this stadium style kitchen. Dishes must utilize lime, key lime, lemon orange, and/or pineapple. Not only will they be judged on their use of those ingredients, but will also be judged on originality, flavor, and overall presentation. This years judges are Hayden Pigott, Karen Feldman, Marguerite Burns, Kari Hendry, Drew Sternwald, and Ivan Seligalman. Awards will be presented for the best appetizer, entree, and dessert under the main tent at 4:30p.m.
While the chefs are battling it out in the ‘Sunstream’ International Demonstration Kitchen, judges will also be visiting the restaurants booths and choosing Taste of the Beach awards. Winners will be selected in categories such as best soup/chowder, appetizers, shrimp, sandwich, sea dish, land dish, dessert, best booth, and best in show. There will also be chance for everyone to cast a vote in the Peoples Choice for the best restaurant. There will be an award ceremony under the main tent from 4:30 to 5 p.m.
In addition to the appetizing food and beverage, there will also be no shortage of entertainment. There will be an exciting waiter-waitress obstacle course, stadium kitchen style cooking demos, and live bands throughout the event including a five-piece group called Smokin Torpedoes, one of Florida’s premiere blues and swing band. Smokin Torpedos will be playing from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.; 1 to 2 p.m.; and again from 3 to 4 p.m. The Edge -a break dancing group- will also be performing at the main tent, you can catch their moves from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. and again from 2:30 to 3:00. Between all the excitement of the band and the dancing there will also be several raffles, catch all this under the main tent.
Don’t forget about the kids, there will be a section devoted kid’s area, where there will be plenty of fun activities for children to participate. There will be face painting by Miss Buttons, spin art, a Young Chef event and much more. The Creative Events Kids sponsored area will have several rides and inflatables to keep the little ones entertained including an obstacle course, a blue monster slide, dino-zone, golf challenge and an octo-bounce.
Parking will be available along Main Street and at Summerlin Square Shopping Center with transportation to the event.
In addition to presenting sponsor Bayfront Bistro, other sponsors include Florida Weekly, Suncoast Beverages (Budweiser & Landshark beer), Sunstream, Island Sand Paper and Synovus. Proceeds help support Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and are contributed to other local causes including the local Boy Scouts, the American Business Women and the town’s Fourth of July fireworks display. For more information regarding Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, call (239) 454-7500 or visit www.fmbchamber.org.
Friends of the Taste of the Beach
It’s not too late if you haven’t already signed up yet. You can still participate in the 14th Annual Taste of the Beach event being held June 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For as little as $100, you can join as a Friend of the Taste.
If you’re interested in participating, please contact Haley Meeks at 239-226-0040 or Earl Quenzel at 239-410-3484.