9 Glorious Reasons to Vacation on Sanibel Island

As we roll into summer, it's time to plan out a vacation that is well worth your money plus ensuring everyone will have a fabulous time. Do you need a family resort? A romantic getaway? A place to chill with your girlfriends for amusing days of GNO? 

Think about Sanibel island, Florida. It's on the Southwest side of Florida, stretched out into the Gulf of Mexico shaped like a little boomerang, with the Sanibel Lighthouse on the eastside and Captiva island to the North.

Here are 9 great reason why Sanibel Island should be your next vacation destination.

The Shells—Sanibel Island of the most sought-after locations for shelling in the world. Its geographical location out in the Gulf and salty tidal flows mean some of the most beautiful shells around (like scallop, whelk, and coquina) wash up on its white sandy shores, earning the phrase 'the Sanibel Stoop' for those who walk along and peer the shoreline for these amazing shells. Swim out into the Gulf for hidden treasures in the sand, or walk along the beach at sunrise.

The Food- Yucatan shrimp at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille, the Grouper basket at the Lazy Flamingo, shrimp and grits at The Island Cow, fresh coal-fired pizza at Dante's, incredible hot dogs and ice cream at Schnapper's Hots, plus so many other incredible places to enjoy island cuisine, this isle has so much on offer to please all your taste buds. 

Plan out your food travels in advance with the Sanibel Visitors Center.

The Feel- I love this island because it's so tropical and exotic, yet so domestic and familiar, all at the same time. 

The grocery store, the bars, the restaurants, the clothing stores, plus the everyday places you need- health clinic, vet, nail salons, even a Goodwill. You'll feel right at home as you relax on island time.

The View- on these islands, there's a view everywhere you turn. There are no high-rises, nothing is built higher than the tree line, giving this small island the feel of a jungle. You'll never know what you'll spy through the trees- a glimpse of a small lagoon, the Gulf of Mexico, a crocodile, perhaps. 

The sunrises and sunsets are amazing- especially the sunsets- right before the glorious sun sinks into the water, a green flash happens super-quick. Even a bar on neighboring Captiva Island is named after this phenomenon when the atmosphere causes the sunlight to 'flash' out into different colors.

The Wildlife- Manatees, turtles, sharks, dolphins, sting rays, fish, raccoons, alligators- keep your eyes open, you never know what you'll see in the wandering by on a trail or while you're relaxing on the pool deck. You can also visit the wildlife areas around the island for a super-close up look at local wildlife- the CROW Clinic – Caring for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife and the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Take a class at the Sanibel SeaSchool to learn more about the birds and aquatic wildlife of the Gulf.

The Activities- there is no shortage of activity on this island. You can get virtually anywhere by walking or biking, plus stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking and of course swimming and snorkeling with beautiful scenery everywhere you turn. There's always something new to delight in. A typical day includes shelling, boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, and hiking.

The Culture- The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, the BIG ARTS StraussTheatre, Island Cinema, bookstores, clothing shops, gift shops—there's something for everyone. Check out the Sanibel Island Light lighthouse at the South end of the island- one of the first lighthouses on Florida's Gulf coast.

The People— there are a lot of tourists, yes, but they're all here on vacation and super friendly. The locals are laid back and relaxed, and always pleased to see you. See everyone at the Sanibel School Seahorse Festival in May!

The Places to Stay- Sanibel Island Beach Resort, The Inns of Sanibel, Song of theSea, plus plenty of Airbnbs and VRBO brings a taste of comfy home to your stay. There are no high-rise or stuffy hotels to be found on the island of Sanibel. Here you are on island time, and that means restful rooms, easygoing places to eat, and down-home bars that locals and tourists both relax with their beers and island punch.

Vacationing here is a dream. Fall in love with the Gulf. Take a week, a weekend, or a month. Just be sure to pack your bikini and plenty of sunscreen, plus a little mesh bag for all those glorious shells you'll spy.

No vacation contemplation here- chose Sanibel Island.

The Melting Pot Just Started Their Restaurant Week Special Menu and You'd be Crazy to Miss These Fondues

The Melting Pot just started their 12-day restaurant week special -for only $35 per person! It’s running January 14th-19th & 21st-26^th, and let me tell you, you don’t want to miss this delicious event. 

There’s the 4 Course Experience with 3 different entree fondues to choose from, a new cheese fondue, a fresh salad and then to finish, chocolate fondues.

Sometimes when Steve and I go, I don’t order off the special restaurant week menu and opt for my menu favorites, but not this time. 

We ordered the whole lineup and it truly was the best MP fondues we have had!

These are the options and we started with …

We began with wine, a velvety Sav Blanc, which went well with the Pesto Walnut Swiss Cheese Fondue. It had creamy fontina, raclette, Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses swirled with white wine, garlic, fresh pesto and cracked black pepper, then topped off with chopped walnuts. 

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this, and Steve and I ate every bite- it was divine. The pesto gave it just enough of a kick, and the pepper and garlic blended well with the various cheeses. 

The walnuts added perfect crunch with the dippers of apples, pretzel bread and grapes, and our server, Bobby Joe, brought out a sublime balsamic to dot the top of the cheesy morsels, and that was the perfect complement to each bite.

The second course freshened our palates with a Pear and Arugula salad. Fresh arugula greens tossed with our homemade champagne vinaigrette, sliced pears, Gorgonzola cheese, honey roasted almonds and dried cranberries.

All entrees are served with fresh vegetables and a variety of unique dipping sauces as well as our court bouillon cooking style, which is what we got. 

More cooking style options are available for additional charge, and vegetarian and gluten free alternatives available upon request.

 Each guest can choose one of the following:

The Wayne: Jalapeno filet mignon, chicken & vegetable potstickers, herb coated chicken breast & pacific white shrimp.

The King of Prussia: Cold water lobster tail, filet mignon & sriracha lime shrimp- this! this! this! and some chicken too.

The Audubon: Herb-coated chicken breast, pacific white shrimp, atlantic salmon & sesame wasabi-coated ahi tuna.

The Fourth Course- dessert of course! We got two fondues for dessert, I enjoyed the flaming turle with a bit of sea salt and caramelized nuts and flambeed, and Steve enjoyed the Cookie butter crunch chocolate fondue- which was a dream! 

Silky, smooth white chocolate blended with sweet and creamy cookie butter, honey roasted almonds and a hint of caramel. it was gingerbready and smooth, and went perfect with our Melting Pot coffees ( always so great!).

All too soon, it was over. Truly a fabulous meal and you should get here too for the Restaurant Week specials. 

$35.00 per person

*tax, drinks and gratuity not included. Coupons and other discounts are not valid with this menu special with the exception of chocolate covered strawberry coupons.

610-265-7195

The Melting Pot is located at 150 allendale rd ste 2100

king of prussia, pennsylvania.

 get directions

Hours of operation

Monday-thursday: 4:30pm-10:00pm
friday: 4:30pm-11:00pm
saturday: 3:30pm-11:00pm
sunday: 3:30pm-9:00pm

Pictures by Stephen Trimble.

Special Thanks to the King of Prussia Melting Pot manager and team!

Pantry Escapades: Shrimp Salsa

I was trying to use up my CSA veggies and I ended up creating a lunch and dinner for two days!

I used a can of rinsed low-sodium black beans, three large yellow tomatoes chopped, two small red tomatoes, 2 small sweet peppers, chopped.

I then added the juice of two lines, fresh diced avocado, a handful of husked ground cherries ( little orange pearl 'tomatoes' that are sweet!) and sliced up an ear of corn kernels.

I tossed all the ingredients with sea salt, pepper, and cilantro, and added a handful of frozen cooked shrimp. 

I love making this recipe because you can use whatever is on hand! 

Melting Pot KoP Offers Seasonal Fondue

When it comes to a romantic meal that I wish to linger over with my fellow, I immediately think of The Melting Pot fondue restaurant.

Stephen and I decided to fall into the delicious new seasonal recipes at the King of Prussia Melting Pot.

We began with two amazing cheese fondues: Swiss and the lobster & cheese. Both of these were amazing. As we dipped our bread cubes, vegetables, and apples into the steamy cheese, we were commenting on how well the flavors came together for each pot. 

The Swiss is one of my favorite cheese fondues, and the seafood fondue, with small langoustines and lobster, were a tasty treat. Our server Marie was just fantastic! 

We then enjoyed salads- I always adore these chilled fresh salads- they make eating a salad fun! 

I enjoyed the greens with candied walnuts, blue cheese crumbles and veggies, while Stephen had the balsamic tomato salad. Yum! I would love to eat these daily!

For our main course, I went with Pacific shrimp, Angus sirloin, mushroom pot stickers, and fresh Atlantic lobster in the coq au vin cooking style. I truly loved this because everything got to marinate and cook in this heavenly mushroom and burgundy broth with spices.

Stephen went with the mojito cooking style, vegetarian platter- pot stickers, artichokes, mushrooms, potatoes, and broccoli.

We happily dipped our cooked edibles into all the scrummy sauces- fresh green goddess, savory bleu cheese, a gloriously spicy cocktail sauce, a rich curry sauce, a hearty plum sauce, and more. 

Dessert was the crown jewel of this meal! In honor of fall, the new menu features pumpkin white chocolate dessert fondue- like pumpkin pie with a really dreamy icing. AND- in addition to the bananas, strawberries, brownies, and marshmallows, we also enjoyed the gourmet add on of caramel sea salt cheesecake, vanilla cake rolls, and blondies.

The Melting Pot King of Prussia offering amazing food, with fantastic service, and the atmosphere is truly a factor. Stephen and I always sit in the side room in the back with a circular banquette and two burners. The atmosphere is always warm, inviting, and relaxing.

Special Thanks to Catie Bontempo!!

Photographs by Stephen Trimble. 

Top 10 Things You Need for the Holidays (For Yourself and As Presents)

 

10. Wine for All
If all else fails, buy wine...to drink and to gift. Cupcake Vineyards is home to my favorite wine of all time: Sauvignon Blanc. A clean mouth feel wine that pairs well with just about anything, but moreso shrimp and other seafoods, this wine hails from Marlborough, New Zealand. I love it so much I asked my mom to buy me a case for Christmas. I sure hope I find this under the tree! This juicy burst of fun in a glass is created from Key limes and Meyer lemons along with hints of grapefruit and gooseberry. And we'll definitely be drinking this on Christmas Eve with our shrimp and other Slovak foodstuffs.
 
 

9. Pamper Yourself!
Now I love bath products, so Mainely Cole's is no exception. This holiday season one must pamper herself! Trying out their line of soaps and scrubs was delightful! And my skin felt so smooth and wonderful! Their Cucumber Toner felt refreshing and did not leave my skin tight, a must in this cold and the harsh dry air. This whole line is organic and free of harsh chemicals. Anyone you buy this for will be soooo happy!

8. ElleLauri Dresses
I can’t say enough about this line. Liz and Laura Rymar are design geniuses. They have created some of the most elegant, fun, made in the US clothes around!! Plus, I'm not a stick, and their clothes fit all sizes and all styles. My personal fave is the Kayleigh Skirt, along with the Celeste Cape. Wear one of these numbers on New Year’s Eve and you’ll have plenty to sparkle about! Check out my video with the lovely designers as we discuss the upcoming holiday season.

 
 
 
7. Family Portraits
No time to get the family together for that holiday card? Make sure you have a Canon camera. I have my eye on the EOS Rebel T3 DSLR camera?  Friends say its ease of use, it's a great camera for amateur photographers, creating sharp photos, and has amazing versatility. get everyone together and say CHEESE!
 
6. Staying Healthy
With all this running around, working, buying and wrapping holiday gifts, trying to find time to work out, attempting to get enough sleep, you must MUST keep yourself healthy. One of my fave sites and Twitter pals is Chelsea Krost. She always has great ideas and health info that you need to stay healthy! Another site that I love for health info and great vitamins and yummy on-the-go bars is the SkinnyGirl brand by Bethanny Frankel.  I always keep a few delicious Banana Oatmeal Dark Chocolate On the Go Bars in my desk and purse for when I need a quick meal. I also love my Jack La Lanne Power Juicer- pop in any fruit or veg and instant juice! So healthy, so yummy! You can drink it straight, or add it to a smoothie. My personal favorite mix is kale, strawberries, apples and a peeled lemon (no pith.) Cleansing and yummy- go RELAX!
 
 

5. Get a Fun Manicure to Get Yourself in the Holiday Spirit
Do something that feels good! Grab Mom, your sister, your best friend or go yourself- get a fun holiday manicure from Avalanche Salon and Spa in Trappe, PA. It looks cheery and makes others smile, and is especially uplifting for you! Or, a massage from In Touch Massage Therapy in Schwenksville, or acupuncture from Gateway Bodyworks in Phoenixville, or a facial from Glow in Phoenixville. Just do something for yourself. Take a breather, because you can't help everyone else if you aren't rested.
 
 

4. SodaStream for Yourself or Others

Several things have changed my life - DVR, the iPhone, and the SodaStream. I do not have to buy diet soda. I have a varied selection to choose from depending on my taste. I don't have to worry about recycling, because I am not buying plastic bottles in the first place. It can be as sweet as I want, or crazy carbonated - or not. And the best part- since I love to entertain- I can make several kinds of drinks and not go out of my way to buy a ton of soda for a party. Plus, the canister is recyclable.

When the CO2 canister is empty, I turn it in to Staples, and save $10 off the $25 new one! Plug it in, set the carbonation level, attach the water bottle securely. Then add your soda flavoring and you are set! The special bottle keeps my soda fresh for weeks, doesn't go flat and retains its flavor. My favorite is the diet grapefruit. There are over 60 flavorings! And, I trust this brand. There are several soda-making type machines out there…don’t do it. Go with SodaStream, for yourself or as a great holiday gift!

 

3. A Good Meal
Staying in on Christmas? Going out? My family is Slovak, so we make Pirohy (Think Mrs. T's Pierogi ), Oblátky (thin Communion-type wafers) with garlic and honey to remind us of the sweet and harsh sides of life, nuts, cooked peas or French beans, dried fruit, mushrooms soup, Bobalky (poppy seed, honey and dough), sauerkraut bread, shrimp and fish. We've occasionally blend a few Italian items in such as lasagna, takeout from Maggiano's Little Italy. We don't eat meat on Christmas Eve, but on Christmas Day we will have a ham and turkey. I'm a fan of making a big Christmas Day breakfast, too. While on vacation, I plan to hit up a few of my favorite local restaurants, including Creole Daddy Mim's and the Melting Pot KoP, and just enjoy a few days off.  

 

2. Clean Up Clean the House, or get someone to do it for you- I'd love a Dyson under the tree for me, but until then, my pal Barb is the BEST for getting your place to sparkle. I love to entertain, so this is just perfect at any time, especially the holidays.

 

 

1. LOVE

And the Number one thing I can’t live without is friends and family around the fire for the holidays...maybe even a kiss under the mistletoe if I am lucky…anyone want to volunteer? ;) And a new job in social media or marketing for 2013!



Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year from
Engchik Eats!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

My Top 10 Things You Need for the Holidays (For Yourself and As Presents)

Avalon Rose on 8th (Avalon, NJ): Best of AV

In the quiet beach town of Avalon, New Jersey, we all know it’s cooler by a mile. This is one of my favorite spots on earth and not just because of the beach. The food in town makes me happy because of all the fresh seafood I could ever want. I’m usually cooking on my own or bopping around town, so I decided to venture off the beaten path and expand my culinary adventure.

Well, let’s just say I have struck Gastronomical Gold.

I found Avalon Rose on 8^th, in between First Ave and Dune Drive. Tucked within Avalon Condominiums, this gem of goodness offers delicious dining in a serene sophisticated atmosphere, where everyone is quite obviously enjoying themselves and happy to relax. 

The owner/ proprietor Lisa Agnew offers elegant casual American food with emphasis on fine seafood and meats, and if you dine here, you will be as happy as the proverbial clam. (And the clam chowder is award-winning!)

One caveat- it's a bring-your-own so make sure you stop by the wine shoppe and pick out your favorite vintage to enjoy with dinner. 

We began with shot glasses of she-crab soup and clam chowder, both white-based. I’m a huge fan of clam chowder, but I found it a touch heavy after the she-crab soup which was light, floaty and full of succulent crab and sprinkled with chives. It was perfectly seasoned, so my pal Bran and I each asked for a bowl which we scarfed down in record time.

Our next appetizer came in the form of scallops. Fresh blackened large sea scallops with a lime roasted sweet corn salsa which was sweet, tart and smoky, all unique ingredients which blended perfectly on the tongue.

At this point, Bran and I were feeling pretty mellow, so we relaxed, had some of our sauvignon blanc, and enjoyed the ambiance of the lowered lights and the quiet chatter of fellow diners.

And then, our entrées arrived. The gracious Lauren and servers brought of the most wondrous feast ever!

We each got lobster, although mine was stuffed with sweet crab. I also had the broiled seafood combo , consisting of giant shrimp, colossal scallops, and crab imperial baked en casserole with sherry butter. Everything was sweet and slightly smoky, and so fresh. The best part was the crab imperial- no filler, just lots of lump crabmeat. I loved baked shrimp, so much more robust and flavorful.

Bran enjoyed the veal medallions, franchaise-style with chardonnay lemon garlic butter sauce, jumbo lump crab over delicate angel hair pasta. Bran was excited because he rarely gets to eat veal and he said it was very tender and juicy, and delicious!

We only dined on about half our food as we were getting so full of yumminess! This really was the best meal we’ve had in a while.  We also knew we needed to save room for dessert….

Ahh dessert.

We each got cappuccino and gelato with chocolate and malted milk balls hidden in the depths. Served in a chocolate –rimmed wineglass, this dessert was like finding hidden culinary treasures! We also shared a slice of limoncello cake with creme fraiche.

MMM. Utter delectable decadence!

At this point, we had been at Avalon Rose on 8^th for hours. It was time for us to take our leave. So we chatted a bit more with Lisa, and her staff, and then, off into the Avalon night we went, full and sleepy.

So if you find yourself in Avalon, New Jersey, do yourself a favor and get to this adorable, yummy, very cool restaurant. Chef Grier makes the best food you’ll find – fresh, unique, and delicious.

Lisa Agnew, formerly of Sorella Rose Avalon, along with executive chef Grier Essick and her dedicated staff opened Avalon Rose on 8th on May 26, 2011. Avalon Rose on 8th is aptly named in memory of Lisa's parents, Rose and  Moon.

Avalon Rose on 8th is a B.Y.O.B. restaurant open year round and accepts reservations at 609-967-7708.  Private parties and off-premise catering are also available.

You can find Avalon Rose on 8^th on Twitter and FaceBook.

Special thanks to Lisa Agnew for hosting us for dinner, and thanks to her amazing staff!!!!