'Celebration of Food' Coming to Bradenton

Attention all foodies! How would like to try out some of the most talked about restaurants in the area for a fraction of the cost? 

For the first time ever, the BACV is bringing Culinaria to Bradenton, an event where specially-designed prix fixe lunch and dinner menus will be featured at each of the 16 participating Culinaria restaurant with prices starting at $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner.

“Culinaria is a celebration of all of the food found right here in our area, as well as the farmers, fisherman and chefs who bring it to our tables,” said Debbie Meihls, executive manager of BACVB. “We have a vibrant food and dining scene, and we’re excited to showcase it during Culinaria.”

Featured restaurants in Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key area will be participating in the event from Sept. 14 – 28. 

The 16 participating diners are Alamo Steak House, Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Cedar Reef Fish Camp, Eat Here on Anna Maria Island, Gulf Drive Café, IMG Academy Grille Room, Island Gourmet Grill, J’s Bistro, Lazy Lobster, Michael Johns, O’Bricks, Peridia Golf & Country Club, Pier22, Polo Grill & Bar, Tarpon Point Grill and V’s Grill at Riviera Dunes.

The BACVB partnered with the Southern Living Test Kitchen to offer Southern Living-created recipes that each of the participating chefs will offer on their Culinaria menus during the restaurant week. 

Southern Livingmdessert recipes include Lemon Drop Squares, Honey-Apple Cake, Double Apple Pie with Cornmeal Crust Dough and Brandy-Caramel Sauce, Decadent Banana Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting, and Pralines-and-Cream Cheesecake. 

Southern Living cocktail recipes featured through Culinaria are Pomegranate Margaritas, Apple Pie-Bourbon Sweet Tea, Brewmosa (think mimosa with beer) and a Grand Old Fashioned.

In addition to tastings from special menus at participating restaurants, diners will have the opportunity to have their official “Culinaria Bradenton Area Restaurant Week Passports” stamped at each restaurant in which they dine. (Passports are available at participating restaurants). 

Once diners have 12 stamps in their passports, they can enter a drawing to win a trip to “Edible Escapes” in Manhattan in October 2013, compliments of Chefs Choice, Edible Sarasota/Bradenton and JetBlue. Complete contest rules can be found onwww.bradentongulfislands.com/culinaria/.

For more information on Culinaria, please visit www.bradentongulfislands.com/culinaria/.