Stock up on those tasty Christmas treats at one of the farmers markets being held in Bradenton.
The Community Farmers Market at New Medicine Community at Health Park East, 6040 State Rd. 70, Bradenton (761-9816) runs through April 2010.
This market features local, organic and sustainable goods from Florida farmers and friends. 2:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday.
Farmers Market. Along Main Street, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton (907-943 or shoplakewoodranchmainstreet.net). This seasonal market returns to Lakewood Ranch for its third season and runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday.
So get out there and support our farmers. And you might even get the odd free sample - well it is Christmas after all...
Friday, 18 December 2009
Friday, 27 November 2009
Crab craw, made easy
So it's stone crab season down here in Florida, and everyone's eatin' the little critters.
But for the first-time chef, just getting through the shell can be something of a trial. Well, perhaps the easiest way to show you how to do it is to, er, show you how to do it.
Here's expert Bert Davis to show you how. Bert has been cutting fish for 18 years. He is the sales and marketing manager for Waterstreet Seafood, one of the largest import/export companies of fresh and frozen seafood.
Enjoy!
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, Fl, stay there. For the very best in luxury rental accommodation, visit www.annamaria.com
But for the first-time chef, just getting through the shell can be something of a trial. Well, perhaps the easiest way to show you how to do it is to, er, show you how to do it.
Here's expert Bert Davis to show you how. Bert has been cutting fish for 18 years. He is the sales and marketing manager for Waterstreet Seafood, one of the largest import/export companies of fresh and frozen seafood.
Enjoy!
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, Fl, stay there. For the very best in luxury rental accommodation, visit www.annamaria.com
Friday, 20 November 2009
Fun, folk, fish ... and ice cream!
Like your folk music? Like eating some of the best seafood on the west coast of Florida? Well if the answer to just one of those questions is yes then you really need to be heading over to Crotez for this weekend's second annual Cortez Folk Festival.
The festival starts at 10am and runs to 4pm. Admission is free.
As well as some great folk music, the festival also features nearly 30 vendors offering crafts, food and fun for all the family. Several area bands will be performing, from folk, to bluegrass and country tunes, among them Hatch Motley's Sea Chanties, Myakka, Something Special, Eric Von Hahmann, Maple Mountain Music and Cortez String Band, as well as Glen Hines, Tony Polidori, Heather Doig and Culbreath.
The Florida Maritime Museum will also host guided tours, several vessels of the museum's wooden boat fleet will be on display, and there will be a special demonstration at the F.I.S.H. Boat Shop.
Along with an ice cream eating contest, organizers plan to raffle off a 19-foot sailboat.
For more information, call 708-6120 or visit www.cortez-fish.org
Sorry, we really should mention that again in big letters: AN ICE CREAM EATING CONTEST! Actually, forget the fish and the folk, that is reason enough to clear your diary. See you there, big spoons at the ready...
Come to Anna Maria Island and stay with us. Visit www.annamaria.com for details of how you could be spending your next vacation in paradise.
The festival starts at 10am and runs to 4pm. Admission is free.
As well as some great folk music, the festival also features nearly 30 vendors offering crafts, food and fun for all the family. Several area bands will be performing, from folk, to bluegrass and country tunes, among them Hatch Motley's Sea Chanties, Myakka, Something Special, Eric Von Hahmann, Maple Mountain Music and Cortez String Band, as well as Glen Hines, Tony Polidori, Heather Doig and Culbreath.
The Florida Maritime Museum will also host guided tours, several vessels of the museum's wooden boat fleet will be on display, and there will be a special demonstration at the F.I.S.H. Boat Shop.
Along with an ice cream eating contest, organizers plan to raffle off a 19-foot sailboat.
For more information, call 708-6120 or visit www.cortez-fish.org
Sorry, we really should mention that again in big letters: AN ICE CREAM EATING CONTEST! Actually, forget the fish and the folk, that is reason enough to clear your diary. See you there, big spoons at the ready...
Come to Anna Maria Island and stay with us. Visit www.annamaria.com for details of how you could be spending your next vacation in paradise.
Friday, 9 October 2009
Reggae rhythm hits Bradenton Beach
A taste of the Caribbean has come to Anna Maria Island.
Next time you go back to Anna Maria Island you might notice something new on the strip. Actually, this new restaurant is halfway along Gulf Drive North (opposite the Bradenton Beach Club, at 1700 Gulf).
It is already proving popular with the locals, and more than once I spotted a steel band outside treating the patrons to some real sounds of the Caribbean.
The menu looks varied, but very much Caribbean cuisine, and should make a nice change for the island.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Ice cream, nice cream
We know the season is kind of officially over with the passing of the Labor Day weekend, but the sun still shines on Anna Maria Island. And what better way to quench your thirst than a traditional ice cream from Dips on Gulf Drive.
Dips is an old fashioned creamery and still serves penny candy, Italian ices and homemade ice cream. Choose from over 150 candies which line the walls and pull up a stool at the counter and order up classic flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip, Vanilla or Chocolate ice cream topped with an enormous selection of toppings, including chocolate sprinkles, marshmallow, and cappuccino!
Malted milk shakes are also available, and they might give you two straws if you want to share. We can't imagine you will, though!
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.annamarianetwork.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
Dips is an old fashioned creamery and still serves penny candy, Italian ices and homemade ice cream. Choose from over 150 candies which line the walls and pull up a stool at the counter and order up classic flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip, Vanilla or Chocolate ice cream topped with an enormous selection of toppings, including chocolate sprinkles, marshmallow, and cappuccino!
Malted milk shakes are also available, and they might give you two straws if you want to share. We can't imagine you will, though!
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.annamarianetwork.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Heaven's Kitchen on Cortez
Not far from Anna Maria Island is the delightful fishing village of Cortez. You really should pay a visit when you come to Anna Maria - and while you're there you have a choice of places to eat. All of them, however, specialise in seafood, which is hardly surprising given their surroundings.
A recent review of one of them, the Cortez Kitchen, gave it two very definite thumbs up. Here is a sample from it:
What’s on the menu?
Appetizers include several sushi rolls featuring tuna, grouper, shrimp or you can be adventurous and try the Cortez Roll which features mullet ($7.50-$8.99). Other offerings are coconut shrimp, Buffalo wings, chicken tenders, fried mushrooms and more. Sandwiches and baskets include the grouper or Buffalo grouper sandwich for $10.99, soft-shell crab sandwich ($8.99), Cubans, hamburgers and more. Entrees include stone crabs (market price/in season), steamer pots ($17.99), shrimp ($14.99) and the popular grouper dinner ($15.99), which features fresh domestic Gulf grouper filleted in-house. Don’t forget to check the specials board, which usually contains items such as lobster bisque (rich and creamy), catch of the day and the Cortez specialty — smoked mullet.
Read the rest of the review here
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamaria.net for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
A recent review of one of them, the Cortez Kitchen, gave it two very definite thumbs up. Here is a sample from it:
What’s on the menu?
Appetizers include several sushi rolls featuring tuna, grouper, shrimp or you can be adventurous and try the Cortez Roll which features mullet ($7.50-$8.99). Other offerings are coconut shrimp, Buffalo wings, chicken tenders, fried mushrooms and more. Sandwiches and baskets include the grouper or Buffalo grouper sandwich for $10.99, soft-shell crab sandwich ($8.99), Cubans, hamburgers and more. Entrees include stone crabs (market price/in season), steamer pots ($17.99), shrimp ($14.99) and the popular grouper dinner ($15.99), which features fresh domestic Gulf grouper filleted in-house. Don’t forget to check the specials board, which usually contains items such as lobster bisque (rich and creamy), catch of the day and the Cortez specialty — smoked mullet.
Read the rest of the review here
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamaria.net for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
Friday, 7 August 2009
Beer and sun - perfect combo
Got a dry mouth? Need refreshment? Well, you could just pop a soda and quench your thirst, or you could seek out Anna Maria's very own microbrewery and sample some of the finest brew known to man...
Little is known about the mysterious Little Giant Brewery, located in Tarpon St, Anna Maria Island. You might know even less about it after reading the blog at http://littlegiantbrewery.blogspot.com/ but it's worth seeking out.
There are regular Anna Maria beer tastings at the Waterfront where you can try out the beer in safety and have some great island fun in a good-time atmosphere.
Seek and ye shall find ... beer!
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.annamarianetwork.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
Little is known about the mysterious Little Giant Brewery, located in Tarpon St, Anna Maria Island. You might know even less about it after reading the blog at http://littlegiantbrewery.blogspot.com/ but it's worth seeking out.
There are regular Anna Maria beer tastings at the Waterfront where you can try out the beer in safety and have some great island fun in a good-time atmosphere.
Seek and ye shall find ... beer!
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.annamarianetwork.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
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