A taste of Florida
Eat, drink and hang out at foodie hotspots in Fort Myers and Sanibel, says
1 SUPER FOR SUNSET
Old Captiva House, ‘Tween Waters Inn, Captiva SOUTH-WEST Florida is packed with restaurants serving sensational seafood in impressive locations, and Captiva House is one of the best.
Whether the oysters Alexander or the blue crab bisque are your choice of starter, you won’t be disappointed. Time your visit for sunset over the Gulf of Mexico; front of house, outdoor tables are perfectly positioned to watch the honey-yellow disc slip below a watery horizon.
The Caribbean spiced grouper is a popular main course here, but be a bit daring and try the exquisite Lobster spaghetti.
Pay around £46 for a two-course meal. Visit captiva-house.com
2 PERFECT FOR INSTAGRAM
Cabbage Key Island Restaurant, Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve, Pineland CABBAGE Key supposedly inspired American singer Jimmy Buffett to pen his 1978 hit ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise’ so it would be rude not to sample one of the meaty delights at this quirky spot.
The Stone Crab Claw Lunch and Shrimp Deluxe are also popular choices, but whatever you choose at the only restaurant on this small, car-free island, make sure you follow a tradition stretching back to the 1940s.
Back then, a thirsty fisherman left his autographed dollar bill taped to the wall, guaranteeing him a drink the next time he stopped, even if times were not so good.
Thousands have followed suit ever since, and the wall is papered with signed notes, so finding a space is a challenge – and then you’ve got to make it stick. Charity benefits when time takes over and the money drops to the floor, so everyone really is a winner here.
Pay around £25 for a two-course meal. Visit cabbagekey.com
3 BEST FOR BURGERS
Ford’s Garage, Cape Coral THIS eatery may not be able to compete with the location of Cabbage Key but it offers a bigger selection of burgers – and they’re excellent.
Modelled on a 1920s service station/prohibition bar, Ford’s pays tribute to one of the area’s most famous winter residents, motor magnate Henry Ford.
Curiously, some of the dishes are named after local dignitaries – including (bizarrely) Lee County tax collector Larry Hart.
If you get bamboozled by the choice, keep it simple and enjoy a Ford’s Signature burger with Black Angus, cheese and bacon. It’s all you really need.
Pay around £10 for a burger. Visit fordsgarageusa.com
4 A RUM TREAT
Wicked Dolphin, Cape Coral MORE than half the sugar cane produced in the United States comes from Florida – with the rich and fertile fields just 35 minutes away from the home of Wicked Dolphin, an award-winning, family-run distillery making an impressive range of rums.
Enlighten yourself with a free 60-minute tour of the distillery, which produces around 100,000 bottles a year. The smooth Coconut Rum is the favourite, accounting for almost half of sales – but the Barbados Spiced Rum is also worth investigating.
Bottles are available to buy – although according to Florida state law, you can purchase no more than two directly from the distillery.
5 PULL IN FOR A PINT
Big Blue Brewing, Cape Coral CRAFT breweries are big in Florida, with the number rising from 75 to more than 720 in just 10 years. Big Blue has been open barely six months but it’s already making the right impression.
Located in an old bingo hall, there are nods to its previous life in the decor.
Head brewer James Retzler has come up trumps with some fine