Fort Myers and Sanibel are known for their beaches. But the tranquil vibe, white sand, blue skies and seashells aren’t the only reasons to visit this summer.
The Gulf Coast region of Florida has a handful of food and drink treats up its sleeves too. Here’s our rundown of the top five foodie delights near the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel.
Mango Mania Tropical Fruit Fair
This quirky festival is held on Pine Island. The 2013 event is scheduled for the weekend of July 13-14. A celebration of all things mango, the fair includes mango cook offs, mango pie-eating competitions, mango juggling competitions and the longest mango throw competition. Local chefs whip up mango-based drinks, starters and desserts for visitors. Those with a taste for variety will be relieved to hear lychee, carambola, longan, papaya and chocolate pudding fruit – all grown on the island – are also available.
Fort Myers Brewing Company is the city’s first brewery. Centrally located, it produces a number of award-winning craft ales ranging from Gateway Gold to Cypress Strong. The tasting room is open on Fridays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Beecher Brewing Company is set to open in downtown Fort Myers in June. The microbrewery is located in the large, historic McCrory Building, near the waterfront. At the time of writing, Beecher planned to have 25 craft beers on tap, with a regularly rotating menu of beers depending on the season. They also asserted visitors will be able to enjoy tastings with complimentary food pairings.
Eden Vineyards is the southernmost bonded vineyard and winery in the United States. It’s located just east of Fort Myers in the rural region of Alva. The family-run, old-Florida-feel establishment has been running for more than 30 years. Today it produces six wines ranging from the dry white Lake Emerald, to the sweet white Eden Stars. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the venue gives visitors a chance to choose from tutored tastings with the owners or a drive through the vineyards, sampling wines along the way.
The Bubble Room restaurant on Captiva Island is probably known as much for its eccentric look and feel as it is for its food. But, don’t let that put you off. It first opened in 1979 as a few tables in front of the owner’s family home. Today, the place has the kind of colorful cobbled-together character and charm you’d expect of a toy store in a Disney movie. Old toys from the 1930s and 1940s abound. One room has a Christmas theme. Trains move from one room to the next and the walls are plastered with vintage posters and photos of celebrities. The background music — from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s — creates a relaxed old-fashioned atmosphere. The eccentricity extends to the menu, which is graced with items like flaming Socra cheese and Bubble Bread (both were on the original menu in 1979).
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: Matthew Straubmuller)
