09 Sep 2013
Stone crab season returns to Florida's Gulf Coast in October
Every year on 15 October, St. Pete/Clearwater's local eateries welcome back the hotly anticipated taste of freshly caught Florida stone crabs to their menus. Although the stone crab season lasts from October to May, to ensure this tasty dish is not missed, trips to St. Pete/Clearwater should be planned for the start of season.
Sustainably caught, fisherman catch the stone crabs, remove their claws and then return the crabs back to the water allowing them to grow new claws within 18 months. The stone crab offers a snowy white meat which is sweet, rich and delicate and several eateries in St. Pete/Clearwater offer up generous helpings of this delectable dish.
An ideal first stop would be Frenchy's, a local chain of casual seafood diners offering open-air beachfront dining and daily live music at various locations throughout the destination. Frenchy's sources its stone crabs from specialist independent crabbers, promising fresh-off-the-boat claws for customers to enjoy, and celebrates the start of stone crab season each year with its annual Stone Crab Weekend block party. Taking place this year 25 and 26 October, the party will offer live music, entertainment and the opportunity for customers to dig into heaps of the delicious crustacean.
Cooter's Restaurant & Bar is a Clearwater Beach institution attracting locals as well as tourists. Its waterside location and weekly seafood specials such as Monday and Tuesday's 'All You Can Eat Snow Crab', makes this chilled out eatery a must-visit spot. To kick off the stone crab season, Cooter's holds an Annual Crab Fest, a four-day event that celebrates all things crab, which will be held from 24-27 October in 2013. Now in its 20th year, customers get to indulge in a wide variety of crabs from Cooter's special Crab Fest Menu, which of course includes copious amounts of stone crab.
Offering a homely atmosphere, Crabby Bill's is an established restaurant that has been serving up tasty seafood dishes for more than 27 years. Its beachside locations are popular with locals and tourists alike who can enjoy food and cocktails on its tiki deck on St. Pete Beach or take in the spectacular sunset views over Clearwater Beach. As well as the seasonal stone crab, this laid-back eatery offers a wide range of seafood to tickle any seafood lover's taste buds with Gulf oysters, New England clams and rock lobster to name but a few.
For those seeking a more upmarket venue to sample seafood, The Lobster Pot Bistro is an award-winning restaurant providing a wide range of seafood from Maine lobsters to Alaskan king crab to, of course, the Florida stone crab. A premier seafood dining experience, it also has live entertainment, juicy steaks, creamy pasta dishes and an extensive wine list to match the seafood delights on offer.
Holidaymakers can get their teeth into stone crab season with British Airways' seven night stay at the 3* Dolphin Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, offering 173 spacious guest rooms, a swimming pool and 400ft of sandy beach. Departing on 21 October 2013, the package is priced from £932 per person and includes return flights from London Gatwick to Tampa and room only accommodation based on two adults sharing.
To book, please visit www.ba.com/stpete or call 0844 493 0758. For more information on the destination, please visit www.visitstpeteclearwater.com.
-Ends-
For further information and images please contact:
Jill Duffell / Linda Cerminara / Laura Jackson
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0) 20 3440 8930
E: jill.duffell@rooster.co.uk / linda.cerminara@rooster.co.uk / laura.jackson@rooster.co.uk
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater (VSPC) is the official destination marketing organisation of Pinellas County in Florida and covers 26 municipalities in the area.
The region is located on a beautiful peninsula on Florida's west coast, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Tampa Bay to the east.
Just 30 minutes away from Busch Gardens and 90 minutes away from Walt Disney World, the area offers 35 miles of white-sand beaches and uniquely colourful communities to explore.
The destination is renowned for sunshine and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the longest run of sunshine days, a massive 768.
The Clearwater Marina is home to the famous dolphin, Winter, who featured in the smash-hit Dolphin Tale. The film dramatizes the real-life story of how Winter recovered from having her tail removed with the help of a prosthetic.
St. Pete/Clearwater is becoming a set-jetting hot-spot as films Magic Mike, Spring Breakers and Sunlight Jr. have all shot scenes at various locations throughout the destination.
Also home to the largest collection of Dali artwork outside of Spain, the county has culture, wildlife and beautiful beaches with a semi-tropical climate making it the perfect holiday destination for families, couples and singles.
Tampa International Airport is 30 minutes from St. Pete/Clearwater and many international airlines fly direct from the UK. Orlando International Airport is less than an hour's drive from St. Pete/Clearwater.
For more information: www.visitstpeteclearwater.com.
