Taste of the Beach back on island
The 2010 Taste of the Beach is back where it belongs… on Estero Island.
Sponsored by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, the 15th annual Taste of the Beach will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, at centrally located and neutral site Bay Oaks Recreation Center on Oak Street.
The focus of the 2010 Taste of the Beach promises something for the entire family. To date, 21 Beach restaurants have signed on to feature their specialties as they compete in a variety of food categories with celebrity judges. There will also be a servers competition where waiters and waitresses compete in an obstacle course for the right to be crowned champion.
Tickets for the event are $5 per person with a family package of $10 per family. Parking is free.
“We’re very fortunate to have this event, and we’re very happy to bring this event back onto Fort Myers Beach,” said FMB Chamber of Commerce President John Albion at a recent Town Council meeting. “We think having it at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus is a perfect location.”
The 2010 Taste of the Beach will feature entertainment from Bluesman Sean Carney who, along with his band, won the 2007 International Blues Challenge. In 2010, The Sean Carney Band will perform in twelve countries, including debut concerts in Mexico and Czech Republic.
Unlike last year, the 2010 Taste of the Beach will have plenty of shade under the mossy oak trees at Bay Oaks. There will also be vendors inside the Bay Oaks Gymnasium for a break from the humidity.
Children will have two playgrounds on site for outdoor fun. Come and enjoy some of the best restaurant food and beverages the Beach offers.
Back in April, Albion said he hoped Bay Oaks would be an annual home for the chamber event.
“We’re hopeful that finally after 14 years we can actually have a permanent home for Taste of the Beach which has been a very nomadic event,” he said.
“It’s a very, very important event for our area restaurants and, due to this economy, it’s important to continue to show off some of the wonderful elements of our island.”
The following is a list of participating restaurants and their menu items.
Charley’s Boathouse Grill: BBQ Ribs, Teriyaki Kabobs, Shrimp Cocktail; Rita’s Ice Custard Happiness: Rita’s Italian Ice, Sugar Free Italian Ice; Italian Cream Ice; Pietros Pizzeria: Meatball Slider, Toasted Ravioli, Chicken Parmigana Slider; Lin’s Garden: General Tao’s Chicken, Crab Rangoon/Pork Fried Rice, Chicken Stick; The Fish Monger: Grouper Cakes, Mary’s Calamari, Keylime Tartlets; Matanzas Inn Restaurant: Carribean Pork Shank, Crab Cakes;
Luna Rossa: Haddock Fingers, BBQ Bacon Shrimp, Salmon Cakes; Nemo’s on the Beach: Shrimp Mancini, Smoked Tuna Dip, Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Burgers
Big Game Bar & Grill: Fried Pickles, Chicago Hot Dog; Junkanoo on the Beach: Pizza, Buffalo Shrimp, Chicken Wings; Truly Scrumptious Ice Cream Caf: Ice Cream; Alpine Fruit Ice LLC: Frozen Lemonade, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade;
Yucatan Beach Stand: BBQ Ribs, Ahi Tuna; Pincher’s Crab Shack: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Homemade Key Lime Pie; Minerva’s Grill Inc.: Italian Greens, Pulled Pork; The Fish House: Smoked Fish Dip, Coconut Shrimp, Seared Ahi Tuna; Surf Club: Cuban Sandwich, Pulled Pork, Chili Verde; NTL Catering: Gator Bites, Bronzed Grouper, Shrimp & Crab Salad; Chloes: Pistachio Grouper;
Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille: Pulled Pork Sandwich, Fish Tacos, Tacos; JoJo’s on The Beach.