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Captivating Cuisine
Find culinary bliss on a small slice of Florida's Gulf Coast
By Kate Pursell

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At the Mangrove Grill, experience upscale cuisine in a smart, laid-back setting

the Beach Bistro waiter approached our table with my steak au poivre, the glorious aroma wafted through the room, catching the attention of a couple seated nearby. The man gazed longingly at the steak and whispered to his wife, "I knew I should have ordered it!"

Beach Bistro owner Sean Murphy smiled. "It's one of our most popular entrées," he said. Could it be the demi-glace that takes three days to prepare that makes it so special?

Even those born and raised in the Sunshine State don't always realize that Florida's Gulf Islands of Anna Maria Island & Longboat Key and the Bradenton Area are home to dozens of independently owned restaurants, many of them some of the state's finest. These establishments – members of Dine Across America and the Council of Independent Restaurants of America – cook up truly inventive, sublime cuisine. Think truffled scallops and pistachio-encrusted snapper served with a key lime-jalapeno buerre blanc. In other words, bliss.

Award-winning Beach Fare
Beach Bistro has earned the highest Zagat rating in the state and one of the highest in the country. Add to that the induction into Florida Trend's Golden Spoon Hall of Fame, the honor of preparing a dinner for the James Beard Foundation in New York City and earning the Wine Spectator's award for 11 years in a row, and it's easy to see why reservations are a must at this Holmes Beach gem on Anna Maria Island.

If you time it just right, you can catch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico while you savor Bistro Bouillabaisse or a butter-poached lobster tail with a hint of citrus and star anise. Pair these with a selection from the Bistro's superlative wine list and you've entered culinary nirvana.

Murphy modestly accepts accolades for his restaurant, which turns 22 in November, while lavishing praise on other Manatee County restaurants. But we've just started our culinary tour.

Island-style Indulgence
At Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key, I


At Mar Vista, savor fresh seafood and steaks in a come-as-you-are, waterfront setting

started with the fried green tomato fusion, savored their much-beloved Caesar salad and then feasted on fresh Gulf snapper encrusted with seasoned pistachios, baked to a flaky white perfection, and served with key lime-jalapeño beurre blanc and red pepper curls. The intimate dining rooms define understated elegance.

In the upstairs dessert room, I tried the Southern pecan pie with a cup of freshly ground Venezuelan coffee. And I didn't stop there: A few steps away in the lounge, I settled into a comfy chair and sipped a glass of vintage port.

Harry's Continental Kitchen, also on Longboat Key, is sensational in its own right. Try the crispy volcano roll stuffed with crab, cucumber, avocado and green onion, followed by Veal Française or maybe the Seafood Pescatore with fresh grouper, sea scallops and shrimp, lightly battered and sautéed with leeks in a lemon and garlic butter sauce over angel hair pasta. And they have a take-out market across the street! Ditto the sentiment for Anna Maria Island's Da Giorgio Ristorante, where you'll swear you're actually in Italia (a friend of mine is tasting his way through the entire menu).

For fresh seafood and steaks in a come-as-you-are, waterfront setting, head to North Longboat Key's Mar Vista, nestled on the Intracoastal Waterway. Or, drive to Anna Maria Island, where you can sit on the Sandbar's Gulf-front deck and enjoy live music and a grouper sandwich. The Sun House, also on the island, is also a favorite for great food and Gulf views.

For a tempting treat, go for a chocolate croissant at Anna Maria Island's Ooh La La! Bistro.

Cool & Casual Mainland Dining
At MacAllisters in Lakewood Ranch, you might want to start with a malt whiskey while you peruse the menu. This golf-themed restaurant features American classics with Scottish twists.

How about afternoon tea at the upscale Chef's Table just outside of Lakewood Ranch? Scrumptious dinners include Ahi Tuna, made


Harry's Continental Kitchen is one of several independently owned, foodie-celebrated restaurants in the area

with balsamic pesto sauce and toasted pine nuts.

In Palmetto, my favorite thing to do is sip a glass of chardonnay at the gleaming semi-circle bar at the Mangrove Grill overlooking the Manatee River. I always get the Braised Lamb Shank with minted mashed potatoes, ratatouille and a caramelized onion sauce – and I don't share!

Bradenton's Sweet Spots
In northwest Bradenton, Ezra's eclectic menu draws raves, and with good reason (try the vegetable slaw with tomato firecracker sauce and basil whipped potatoes. At nearby Via Italia, Chef Anthony Lombardi works his magic on authentic, rustic Italian recipes.

Just down the road at Sweet Berries, the Cuban sandwiches rival those in Ybor City. Save room for the fabulous frozen custard (my pick is usually pistachio).

Tucked in a charming brick building in downtown Bradenton, Central Café offers simple but delectable dinners like a bleu cheese and bacon hamburger. The perfect end to this meal? A homemade coconut cream pie – or any pie – from Miller's Dutch Kitchen.

Diet? What diet? The only one you'll need in Manatee County is the "see food diet.'' It's destined to win as many fans as the area's restaurants.

For more information on culinary adventures on Florida's Gulf Islands of Anna Maria Island & Longboat Key and the Bradenton Area, contact the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 941-729-9177 or visit www.floridasgulfislands.com.


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