Around the Island with Anne

Local Restaurants To Showcase Menus During Culinary Celebration

by Anne Mitchell

Traditions on the Beach is one of 20 local restaurants – of which four are on Sanibel - taking part in the

Lee County-wide Restaurant Week from October 5 to 14.

Restaurant Week is a local and sustainable culinary celebration where favorite local hot spots offer a great deal on their menus. Special three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus have been designed to showcase local chefs.

Other Sanibel restaurants participating are Thistle Lodge, The Blue Giraffe and Sweet Melissa’s.

Traditions on the Beach, which is located on the beachfront at the historic Island Inn on Sanibel, has developed a specially selected menu which includes a wild gulf black grouper and a veal escalope for this event.

“Restaurant Week is a great time to not only be a local, but also to be a restaurant – we get to spoil our guests with a special menu and a special price, just for them,” said Andrea Mucciga, owner of Traditions on the Beach.

Traditions, Thistle Lodge and Sweet Melissa’s have been designated “green” restaurants, which means they have made a commitment to implement sustainable business practices that might include purchasing locally grown produce or locally harvested seafood when available, conserving energy and recycling.

Thistle Lodge blends American, French and Asian cooking traditions with fresh Florida seafood. It is located at 2255 West Gulf Drive, phone 472-9200.

The Blue Giraffe offers casual island dining and serves fresh local seafood, chowder, salads and steaks. Dine outside on the boardwalk or inside at hand-painted tables, inspired by a local artist.

The Blue Giraffe is in Periwinkle Place, 2075 Periwinkle Way, phone 472-2525.

Restaurant Week also features one-ofa-kind culinary experiences by some of the restaurants, including wine tastings paired with live music, cooking demonstrations, tours and classes.

All you need to do is show up at one of the 20 participating restaurants during the 10 days of the event and ask for their special prix fixe menu. Reservations are strongly recommended.

For more information, log on to www.TasteDeliciousLee.com.

Chip’s Sanibel Steakhouse is celebrating Martini Monday with two-for-one martinis from the entire martini list from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mondays. The steakhouse is at 1473 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel,

phone 472-5700.

LIVE ON THE ISLANDS

Traditions on the Beach at the Island Inn has live entertainment most nights. This week’s lineup ncludes:

Friday, dancing to Joe McCormick and singer Barbara Smith; Saturday, Joe McCormick and singer Marvilla Marzan; Wednesday and Thursday, dancing to Joe McCormick with popular favorites and smooth vocal stylings, R&B, jazz and pop. Traditions is at 3111 West Gulf

Drive, phone 472-4559.

The Crow’s Nest at ‘Tween Waters Inn will feature The New Vinyls on Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m.

to 1 a.m. Crab races are Mondays and Thursdays. Twice weekly crab races will resume October 1. The Crow’s Nest is at 15951 Captiva Drive, phone 472-5161.

Sweet Melissa’s Café features Michael David playing light acoustic background music Wednesday through Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sweet Melissa’s is at 1625 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, phone 472-1956.

George & Wendy’s Sanibel Seafood Grille has live entertainment as follows: Friday, August 24, Anthony

Wayne; Thursday, Karaoke. The restaurant is at 2499 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, phone 395-1263.

The Jacaranda has entertainment from 7 to 11 p.m. as follows: Friday and Saturday, various artists are featured; Sunday, Jamaica “Dave” & Co., reggae and dance; Monday, Renata, jazz, contemporary music and dance; and Wednesday, Buckeye Ken, contemporary, Top 40 and blues. The Jacaranda is at

1223 Periwinkle Way, phone 472-1771.

The Mucky Duck on Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, features music by Mark Dupuy on Mondays; Rich Lancaster, Wednesdays; Gene Federico, Thursdays and Saturdays; and Buckeye Ken, Fridays.

The Island Cow on Periwinkle Way has live entertainment on Friday with Dan Confrey; Saturday, Diana Lynn; and Sunday, Buckeye Ken. Phone 472-0606.

RC Otter’s, 11506 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, has live music daily with dining inside and out, phone 395-1142.

Keylime Bistro features live music days and nights seven days a week. New to the line-up is Ken Limeri playing jazz sax from 6 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday. The bistro is located at 11509 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, phone 395-4000.

Island Sun (September 21, 2012)