bowman's beach

It was Ashley's 29th birthday and our last night of vacation. We popped champagne and watched the sunset at Bowman's Beach on Captiva. Then we ate a big Italian feast and drank bottles of chianti at Matzaluna, I had frutti de mare and tiramisu.

   I am so grateful for this time. And for them.

Jacaranda & The Timbers

Our night out at Jacaranda and visit to The Timbers should wrap up Sanibel adventures once and for all. (This doesn't count Captiva Island, though!) It is fun keeping up with Boston life + events and flashing back to island life.

Vacation going friends and I made our way to Jacaranda, also know as The Jac for drinks and live entertainment one evening mid-week. Named for the purple flowered Jacaranda Tree, they boast an extensive drink menu ranging from martinis, to tropical concoctions, to frozen bevs to margaritas. I happily chose a Key Lime Martini ($9) to start.
I loved the vibrant lime green swirls. This martini was at once frothy, sweet, tangy and creamy. 

Apparently I was into creamy drinks tonight as I also enjoyed a Berries-n-Cream: Berry vodka, cream and Amaretto. This large plastic cup of booze is reminiscent of a White Russian - but instead of coffee based liquor think fruit flavored! I absolutely loved it and even remembered the ingredients weeks later, so that's saying a lot. These two enjoyed whatever it was they were drinking as well! The Jac boasts a patio lounge / tiki garden of sorts. 
Inside the bar I was into the old school paraphernalia - multiple neon Coors Light advertisements and a cigarette machine.The Jacaranda is located on none other than 1223 Periwinkle Way. (Gotta love an island with one main road.) Actually, the only spot in Sanibel we ventured to not on the main road was The Sanibel Grill and adjoining neighbor The Timbers owned by the Prawnbroker Restaurant Group. The dueling establishments are located at 703 Tarpoon Bay Road. We wandered into a packed Sanibel Grill on the last night of vacation for a night cap and ended up down the hall at The Timbers raw bar shooting oysters and chowing down on Seafood Gumbo. Comes to Florida, gets oysters from home: East Coast Menemesha Pond Oysters from Martha's Vineyard, MA. And then West Coast Sister Point Oyster from Washington State.

Our friend Tuck's first oyster. Cheers!

The featured oysters were briny and fresh, washed down with a cold glass of House Chardonnay ($5) and followed up with a cup of Steve's Seafood Gumbo ($4). It was brewing in the crockpot right in front of us and the weather just so happened to be slightly cooler than normal. Basically, the stars aligned for a rich hearty bowl as just the thing to compliment the evening. Plentiful bites of shrimp, hunks of sausage, pulled chicken and tender crab meat were packed into this hearty, spicy N'awlins style gumbo. As I devoured this, I checked out the framed autographed photos that adorn the walls. In every shot owner Matt Asen is posing with with famous celebrities; TV personalities, actors, Major League ball players, NBA and NFL Athletes - apparently he is quite the guy. After I read a bio article, also framed on the wall, I was super impressed and decided I had to meet this restaurateur / local celeb by default for myself. Just my luck, he was hanging out on the porch a few tables over from us. I headed over to give a hand shake and introduce myself and before you knew it him and his Golden Doodles were one of the gang.With an infectious personality, a zest for life, and an evident passion for sports and fishing, it's no wonder he's established the islands most popular seafood restaurant and sports bar respectively, The Timbers and The Sanibel Grill. So glad we paid them a visit!

Schnappers Hots, Oh Boy!

So far I've recommended The Lazy Flamingo and The Island Cow for fresh seafood eats and local Island fun. Both are quality restaurants to visit if you happen to spend any time on Sanibel. As far as must eats go, Schnapper's Hots makes the top of my list. What I'm saying is, if you miss all the rest or if you choose other restaurants to dine out at, do not bypass this gem of a hot dog stand. Located on the main strip at 1528 Periwinkle Way, Schnapper's boasts a front porch painted in the familiar island pastels of yellow, pink, blue and green with a contrastingly bright yellow awning. You can't miss it. (No really, you can't.) A plethora of options await you inside and they claim to have the Islands best pizza. I looked no further than the hot dog menu. (Specialty dogs are in abundance, do not be fooled by the below three.)I have never been to Chicago but am a huge fan of Chicago Dogs. Go figure. Right away I decided on "The Capone" ($4.50). 

I appreciated the sarcastic humor as displayed in a "Same Day Service" sign. They also proudly display index survey cards with customer comments. (Where they're from, what they ate, what they thought.) Hopefully mine made it up, with the blog address of course! Adam got his favorite combo - sauerkraut, mustard and onion. (I think this one had a fun name, but it escapes me.)

"The Capone"

Best hot dog I've had in my life, hands down. (Sorry Fenway Franks. But you just can't get this in the ballpark.) Schnapper's serves a quality char-grilled dog and then loads it with the freshest ingredients of your (or their) choosing.The cold crunchy cucumbers and soft juicy tomato slices are in brilliant contrast with the warmness of the char-grilled dog. Freshly diced onions and a smother of relish provide a welcome dose of sweetness. The potent mustard and the incredibly spicy-hot sport peppers pack a final punch. All this goodness is barely contained in a soft chewy bun.

Happy satisfied customers:Oh Boy! is right. If that hot dog isn't heaven on an island already deemed heaven on earth, I don't know what is.

The Island Cow

Vacation is invigorating.

Exhibit 1: Tan faces and huge smiles on display at the condo before heading out to dinner one evening.
Exhibit 2: Dining out with a fun party of ten at a relaxing, casual restaurant called The Island Cow.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in a lively and friendly atmosphere, encouraging you to "come as you are". Straight from the beach, showered with a couple drinks in you, children in tow; the staff here accommodate all types of crowds with ease. They were patient as members of our party staggered in at different times, seating folks and taking drink orders before everyone arrived. Our waitress asked who would be needing separate checks, and I was pleasantly surprised that she offered before we even had to ask. It was also comforting to know at the end of a big meal we wouldn't have to spend more time dividing up the bill.Other memorable touches at The Island Cow included $1.99 Coronas, cups full of crayons and a plate full of blueberry, cranberry and corn muffins to snack on.
Adam and I shared an appetizer and an entree, beginning with the Buffalo Shrimp ($9.99) Finger lick'in Gulf Shrimp - wow spicy! We passed the basket around the table - the portion was plentiful and the sauce was spicy without overpowering the fresh crispy battered shrimp. Another app of Frickles ($5.99) A heap'in helping of fried pickles was passed around.I definitely could have eaten a whole basket of these. A must order when they dine here, Tricia's cousin Karen commented. I concur!
Our dinner was fantastic. And reasonably priced too! Cowrazy Kabobs ($17.99) Over 1 lb. of skewered satisfaction. Gulf pink shrimp, tender cuts of steak, bacon wrapped bay scallops, bell peppers, sweet onions, all flame grilled. Served with sweet corn and smashed red bliss potatoes. Inside you'll find white walls collaged with framed photographs of the island and a plethora of cow-themed decor. Worn wooden booths line the perimeter and pastel blue, yellow and pink chairs surround the tables nestled into the center of the restaurant. Outdoor dining is offered on the front porch flanked by green vegetation and shell lined paths. Guests may choose to relax with a drink at the bar, or outside where colorful Adirondack chairs are set up about the grounds.
Serving up "Udderly Great Food" at reasonable prices in a bright and colorful atmosphere that is bustling with positive island energy; another solid spot to dine at on a Sanibel vacation discovered!