DELIGHTFULLY DIFFERENT
Dunedin is a distinctive stop in Sunshine State
“Delightfully different” Dunedin (done-ee-din, located in Florida), the often-stated words used by Julie Ward Bujalski, the mayor, best sum up what it’s like to both stay and live in this distinctive locale. It truly is an “eden” you’ll want to visit. After more than a year of “lockdown,” it’s time to start exploring what our great country has to offer.
From nearby Caledesi Island (voted one of the best beaches in America by Dr. Beach) and Honeymoon Island, to a Major League spring training stadium (home to Toronto Blue Jays) to an unrivaled fine arts center, including Food Arts programs where you can learn from chefs, tips and tricks that make artful food preparation a breeze, Dunedin has it all. The quaint yet excitingly vibrant downtown, voted “Best Little Walking Town in America” by Walking Magazine, percolating with unique boutiques and shops, art and eclectic dining experiences, is worthy of being on your bucket list of places to visit in the Sunshine State.
This charming “city” feels more like a historic town that celebrates community and legacy with the same zeal as it displays its stunning geographical location alongside the alluring Gulf of Mexico’s tranquil, turquoise waters. And part of that legacy includes the wonderfully located and beautifully appointed 83room boutique Fenway Hotel https://www.fenwayhotel. com/ .
The hotel reopened in November 2018 after having played many different roles in Dunedin’s history since it first opened in 1927. It is an icon of the jazz age, playing host to musicians and legends during the times it operated as a hotel. It was the home to the first radio station in Pinellas County, where broadcasting occurred from the roof. Today, the Fenways’s Hi-Fi Rooftop bar is the place to be and be seen, especially at sunset. The jazz theme carries on throughout the hotel.
Food plays a part of Dunedin’s history, too. In the 1900s, the Skinner family was involved in the citrus industry and developed machinery to process oranges as well as citrus concentrate — you know, add two cans of water to the concentrate and the result is orange juice with all of the vitamin C. Here’s more about Dunedin’s citrus history https://bit.ly/3dqA5Om .
I began my food exploration at the hotel’s HEW Parlor & Chophouse. The name is an ode to Herman Everett Wendell, The Fenway’s original architect. To “hew” also means to cut or chop. Executive Chef
Eric McHugh curated a menu including chophouse classics and his interpretation of comfort food. When asked what his specialty is, he responded, “cooking.” And, if you really want to see the cooking action, request to be seated at the chef’s dining bar. I started my HEW dinner with potato gnocchi, lightly tossed in a mixed mushroom ragu, topped with delicate homemade ricotta and pesto. The seared shrimp is accompanied by creamy polenta, slow roasted tomato, arugula salad, and corn with lemon caper butter. The soup du jour, Turkey Almandine, sounded like a strange combination, so of course I needed to try it. To my surprise, it worked. The broth-based soup is hearty, crunchy and has a complex flavor profile. Chock full of turkey, it had toasted almonds, Scottish rice, topped with chive oil, micro greens and tarragon. Chef Eric obliged my request for the recipe, at https://