GOOD TIMES WITH OUR GRANDDAUGHTERS
Our granddaughters, Eleanor and Frances, had not been to Florida since February 2020 just before Covid. That year we celebrated Frances’ March birthday (she would turn 4) super early with a heart-shaped, pink-frosted cake. The Chief Penguin, aka Grandpa, is the resident baker and works his wonders to create memorable birthday desserts.
This year, the weather was lovely and sunny all but one day, and the girls frolicked for hours, and hours, in the pool. They became quite good swimmers last summer and refreshed their water skills while having oodles of fun. F dove for rings and swam underwater. Using a pink (what other color is there!) noodle, she created a mini zipline effect on the pool stairs railing. E jumped in the deep end, swam across the pool, and had timed races with her dad to see how fast she could swim.
Besides the appeal of the water, there was the matter of food. F loves strawberries and cherry tomatoes! She devoured a couple of pints of each. E, an increasingly accomplished baker and cook, loves all kinds of cheese, and helped with meal preparations and making pancakes, all with the occasional assist from Frances. It not being Maine, these pancakes were made special with the addition of mini chocolate chips.
The entire family likes pasta, so noodles and penne were featured in several dinners along with turkey chili, Italian Sunday sauce, and sauteed shrimp. Going to Tide Tables Restaurant, a cozy spot on the water with inside and outside dining, is a tradition so, one day we braved the crowds to arrive for an early dinner. Despite what was a packed parking lot, the elapsed time between arriving there, parking, waiting with drinks, and being escorted to a table was just 30 minutes! The staff deserve credit for efficiently organizing the whole process.
This is a family all of whom love clams. Lunch at the Cortez Clam Factory on Saturday fit the bill. A cousin visiting from Colorado joined us, and we were able to sit outside on the patio. While only one person ordered clams, the brisket Reuben, Cuban sandwich, shrimp, and fried haddock were very tasty. A true success!
On the home front, there were several opportunities for tennis, the girls and I kicked around a soccer ball, we did a fish puzzle, and we read books together and silently. The girls also played with a favorite dollhouse plus blocks, Legos, and Calico Critters. And we made time for going to Sarasota with a look at the boats in the marina and visits to two shops.
For the finale, we celebrated Frances’ upcoming 6th birthday with a unicorn-themed cake and cupcakes made by you know who. It was a magical visit, full of fun for all of us!
SARASOTA TREATS
Most of my regular readers know that I am passionate about two stores in downtown Sarasota. One is Artisan Cheese Company located in the Rosemary District and source of an array of cheddar, Swiss, Camembert, and other delectable cheeses from here and abroad. The shop also sells distinctive butters and crackers, chocolates, Rancho Gordo beans, and unusual condiments plus homemade soups and delicate feta from Lesbos, Greece.
My other favorite is Bookstore1Sarasota, a marvelous independent bookstore with a great selection and a very helpful staff. They are now in a new location on Pineapple St. in The Mark, a new condominium building. The shop is spacious and attractive with big windows and a colorful tropical flower graphic naming the sections. From Staff Picks to the latest in fiction and nonfiction plus classics and books for kids, it’s fun to browse. I always find at least one new title to buy! There’s also have an upstairs area for events which might include a café at some point. Both stores are worth the trip!
SOPHISTICATED DINING IN BRADENTON
Chateau 13
Chateau 13, in our opinion, still serves the best, most sophisticated cuisine in the area. At a recent dinner there, the Chief Penguin and I were re-impressed with the caliber of service (the bread plates even came with a bread-and-butter knife, almost unheard of these days!) and the food. We indulged in historic Champagne cocktails followed by the charcuterie cheese plate for the Chief Penguin and the French Caesar salad for me. He then had the salmon rillette salad and the stuffed piquillo pepper appetizer while I savored the salmon en croute. To top it off, we shared an order of truffle fries, but no dessert. Everything was delicious!
Note: Photos ©JWFarrington. Header graphic courtesy localjaw.com
I loved the photos of your granddaughters! It sounds like a very fun week!