CROW set to kick off monthlong Taste of the Islands for 40th year
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife will host its 40th annual Taste of the Islands beginning in November, and event passports are available for purchase at select locations on and off the island.
They can also be purchased online for pickup at a designated “will call” location.
“Modifying Taste of the Islands from a one-day event to a month-long event allows people to enjoy our restaurant partners at their convenience and for more of our wonderful island restaurants to participate,” CROW Executive Director Alison Charney Hussey said.
Participating restaurants will offer at least one Taste item to showcase their cuisine. A portion of the proceeds from those designated food and beverages sold will be donated to CROW toward its mission. Participants can enjoy their Taste items in-person, or order them for take-out to be enjoyed at home.
“The safety and welfare of those supporting CROW is our first and foremost concern,” Hussey said. “We were pleasantly surprised as to the increased participation in 2020 with the COVID modified format and with the success of CROW’s longest running fundraiser. We cannot thank the community enough for their support.”
Participants can purchase a passport with restaurant listings and a map, along with details of the items offered by each restaurant. Restaurants will stamp the passport so patrons can track their progress around the islands. Only passport holders will be eligible to vote for their favorite restaurant to win the coveted People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Rosier Insurance. They can also turn-in their ballots by Dec. 4 to be entered into a drawing for prizes like vacation stays, jewelry, gift certificates and more.
Passports are available at CROW’s Visitor Education Center, Bank of the Islands/Edison National Bank branches, Bailey’s General Store locations, Huxter’s Market & Deli and select participating restaurants.
Participants may also purchase their passport online at www.CROWClinic.org for pick up at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce or CROW’s Visitor Education Center.
Also during November, “CROW Crawls” will be held every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., featuring restaurants in different areas of the islands. CROW’s Animal Ambassadors will be at the CROW tent in front of one of the restaurants, with Taste sponsors featured outside other restaurants.
For a complete list of restaurants and CROW Crawls, visit http://www.crowclinic.org.
Bank of the Islands/Edison National Bank is serving as the presenting sponsor for its 12th year.
Additional sponsors include Waterman Broadcasting NBC-2/ABC-7 as lead media sponsor, The Silverman Organization and VCA Sanibel Animal Hospital as executive chef sponsors, Waste Management as a sous chef sponsor, and the Island Reporter/Sanibel-Captiva Islander and Santiva Chronicle as supporting media sponsors.
For more information, visit http://crowclinic.org/articles/40th-taste-of-the-islands and RSVP on the Taste of the Islands Facebook event page for live videos from restaurants, judging and more.