by SC Associate Publisher/Photographer Chuck Larsen
For the third straight year, The Clam Shack won the People’s Choice Award at CROW’s Taste of the Islands event. The Clam Shack offered Lobster Roll, Clam Strips and Chowder to those in attendance at the annual fund-raising event on Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Sanibel Community Park.
Well over 3,000 attended the event with food category wins going to Sandollar for Best Appetizer, Thistle Lodge for Best Meat, Matzaluna for Best Vegetarian, and Sanibel Fish House for Best Dessert. Thistle Lodge also earned the Taste of the Taste traveling trophy and judges voted a tie for the first time in the Best Seafood category — The Clam Shack and Sandollar were awarded the honor. In all, 13 restaurants participated from Sanibel and Captiva.
Food choices ranged from grilled oysters, fusilli primavera, crunchy shrimp and hurricane roll to the ever-popular dessert Bubble Room cake.
“It was great to see the community come together for CROW’s 38th Taste of the Islands. The weather was fantastic, the food was amazing, and everyone enjoyed the live entertainment provided by the Private Stock Band” said Debra Neri, event chair. Funds raised benefit CROW’s mission to save wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine.
They deserved it!