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My HIDDEN CULINARY GEMS co-host Chef Ruth Manchester and I traveled to legendary Everglades City Florida recently for its Annual Seafood Festival held each year in early February. It’s definitely a “not to be missed” event for seafood lovers! Our first stop was the historic Rod & Gun Club established in 1864. It was a favorite fishing trip location for former Presidents Herbert Hoover and Dwight Eisenhower, plus countless other notables and celebrities, such as Ernest Hemingway. Nestled deep in the 10,000 Islands area of the Everglades, this worn two-story wooden structure is a 19th Century time capsule.
Next, we were off to the festival a few streets away from where dozens upon dozens of seafood vendors were lined up selling mouth-watering arrays of delectable seafood. Folks were sampling crab cakes, crawfish, etouffee, stone crab claws, alligator nuggets, bacon-wrapped scallops, fried grouper, and jambalaya among dozens of other awesome delights! And trust me, Ruth and I were right there with them!
The Annual Seafood Festival in Everglades City is one of those special events that celebrate our rich Florida heritage. Be sure to mark your calendars for next year. And, don’t forget to check out the old Rod & Gun Club!


Annual Seafood Festival in Everglades City, Florida.





