Weekend alert: If you’re headed to the beach this week, bring something more with you besides your bikini and towel – a huge appetite!
All along the coast, Pinellas County celebrates Taste of Beaches week once more. The 13th annual festival features more than 50 eateries from Tierra Verde to Clearwater, and continues to grow in popularity among both locals and visitors.
“They find it exciting. They create a tour, it goes on for a full week, so you can go one day and do it with a group of friends, or go out the next few days with some family members, or you could even go and sneak away from the office and have lunch,” said Robin Miller, CEO for the Tampa Beaches Chamber of Commerce.
Restaurant owners say it’s a very slow time of year, and they appreciate the boost.
“It’s definitely been challenging, to say the least, whether it’s the storm, pandemic, staffing,” said Suzanne Brown, owner of SLYCE.
“It’s great exposure for all of us, and we are small businesses, and so maybe we don’t advertise a whole lot,” said Heidi Butler, owner of The Helm.
Each ticket costs $10 and includes one speciality dish. For this event, very restaurant is crafting something unique, and in some cases, something never seen before on its menu.
“Tampabaybeaches.com/taste there is every taste described, the location, a map, and pictures,” said Miller.
Beyond that, Brown of SLYCE said it’s nice to remind people they can make more than just pizza, but Butler said it could be that one lobster roll or espresso martini that will keep people coming back again and again.
“To bring this to the beaches and bring people over here that probably wouldn’t be here normally, its a great, great revenue generator for everybody,” said Butler.
“And we do get feedback that they found a hidden gem on the beaches, and they do come back the following year or weekend to experience it,” said Miller.
And amid the sumptuous dishes, the best thing is that a portion of every ticket sold benefits charity – Parc Centre for Disabilities is this year’s honoree. These eateries also enjoy mutual support and can’t wait to test each other’s speciality meals.
The event runs until Sunday, 15th of October. For more details and if you wish to purchase tickets, visit their official website here.