Sunday, November 10 is the day…to bring your appetite!
CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation Of Wildlife) presents the 38th Annual Taste of the Islands festival at the Sanibel Community Park, featuring no less than fourteen Sanibel and Captiva restaurants offering their finest selections.
The Taste (as locals call it) was originally held in late April or early May as an end-of-winter-season celebration, but eventually moved to November for the milder weather, which also helps attract the new season of visitors and gives them an opportunity to try several different restaurants at once while supporting the wildlife veterinary care CROW provides as well as public exhibits at their Visitor Education Center.
Gates open at 12:00 noon and continue until 5:00 pm. Admission is $7.00 per person (children under 12 are free). Upon entering, you exchange Cash for “CROW Bucks,” tickets to be redeemed at the restaurant vendors for sample portions of some of their finest dishes. Just enough so that you have room to try all 14 restaurants, if you’re up to the challenge. If you are crossing the Sanibel Causeway to attend, bring your toll receipt to redeem for an additional 2 CROW Bucks!
This year, the participants are:
The Bubble Room
The Clam Shack (authentic New England seafood)
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille
The Jac
Matzaluna
Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen (first time at the Taste)
Rosie’s Café & Grill (They’re back!)
Sanddollar Restaurant
Sanibel Deli & Coffee Factory
The Fish House Restaurant
Shima Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
Traders2
The Thistle Lodge
And The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market (so you know the fish is fresh)
Beverages are also available for CROW Bucks, from water to soft drinks or beer/wine to frozen cocktails.
You can also vote for your favorites and visit CROW’s booth for more information on their programs and meet their “Animal Ambassadors.” There will also be live music with Private Stock, whose wide range of music styles should be plenty of fun for the whole family! For more information (and if you would like to volunteer), please go to crowclinic.org/articles/38th-taste-of-the-islands.
The Taste of the Islands is a great way to kick off your November vacation on Sanibel Island and get a taste of what’s in store for you (see what we did there?). Book Direct and Save!