Are you a Foodie? The Sanibel area will not Disappoint!

We all know that Sanibel is a natural paradise.  A place where children of all ages find delights of all kinds.  The sea, the shells, the wild life, the Island ambiance: all of these attract visitors from around the world to our Gulf waters, our beaches, our nature preserve.

But one does not have to pack a brown bag in order to eat well and eat uniquely on Sanibel.

There are more than enough culinary pleasures on the Island and close to the Island to please the most demanding palates.

And we are not just going to round up the usual suspects in this post.

Surely, such eateries right on Island have become familiar to those seeking a breakfast, lunch or dinner out.  Among such favorites are the Bubble Room, Amy's, Traders, Matzaluna, Gramma Dot's, Cips as all stand out for ambiance, specialties of the house and overall catering to the hungry traveler.

But there are some discoveries to be made that are not static but dynamic experiences.  Not restaurants per se, but special places to taste the best of the Islands, some times solid pleasures and sometimes liquid ones.

One of the sweetest treats in the area is a moving target, generally held some time in summer when Mangoes are ready for eating.    The Mango Mania Fruit Fair is a quirky festival  held on Pine Island. 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.

And then there are the liquid heavens that surround the Island.

For the beer and wine drinker, exciting experiences are just a causeway away.

The 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 opened recently 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.

These are just the tip of the savory seekers Sanibel.  We will post further suggestions in the future!