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New TV show shoots island living on Sanibel

3 min read

Shelling and dining on yummy shellfish-inspired soups are something that tends to come naturally to islanders.

But the island way of life apparently has caught the attention of a new Florida television show.

“How to Do Florida” a show based on pointing out the state’s natural assets and fun things to do has set its sights on Sanibel.

The program had its first show last Sunday on the Sun Sports cable channel. Ted Chandler, the show producer and its crew shot on Thursday about how to go shelling and how to make Periwinkle soup, said Mark Greenwald, a producer with the group. The show filmed at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and the Timbers Restaurant and Fish Market.

“We’re very excited about the opportunity to do the show,” said Timbers marketing director, Mark Blust.

During the show chef Teh Peng demonstrated how to make Periwinkle soup and jerk seared grouper with orange butter sauce and citrus salad.

At the Shell Museum Dr. Jos Leal, Executive Director/Curator for The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum will take viewers on a personal tour of the beach, providing shell collection tips and museum staff and volunteers showed viewers how to make crafts using shells and also how to clean shells – a vital procedure in protecting them.

“We are very excited about serving as “shell experts” for the upcoming “How To Do Florida” television segment featuring Sanibel Island,” said Shell Museum public relations manager, Kathleen Hoover.

And with staycations being the target family getaway this year over pricier out-of-state and abroad travel, the show can draw more visitors to venues like the non-profit Shell Museum.

“According to the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau, comparing 2008 and 2009 February visitation figures demonstrates a 112 percent increase in the number of Floridians visiting Lee County. Families interviewed revealed that they still plan to take a vacation this year but they plan to travel closer to home and spend less on this year’s vacation than they did in 2008. The Museum is employing several strategies designed to attract Florida residents so this was a perfect match for us.”

“How to Do Florida” producers are excited about the opportunity to fill the area’s natural resources and activities.

Greenwald, a producer with the Crawford “How to Do Florida” group, said the show’s main purpose is to get people – specifically families out of the living room and outside to enjoy natural Florida.

“It’s a real get out and do it show,” Greenwald said. “It’s not frilly.”

The host of the show is Chad Crawford.

The segment shot on Sanibel will air in July. The show airs on Sun Sports network 13 times a month and on WRBW-TV Channel 65 (My 65) in Orlando every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.

To learn more about the new show visit online at www.howtodoflorida.com.