Living Bradenton Area Winter 2021 | Published by SRQ Magazine

BRADENTON AREA AND BEYOND | LIVE LOCAL, LOVE LOCAL

PUBLISHED BY SRQ MEDIA | 2021 WINTER EDITION

LIVING BRADENTON AREA

TM

COASTAL HOLIDAY GIFTS AT THE TABLE | THE PORCH CORTEZ FISHING VILLAGE

POTATO PANCAKES, THE PORCH

HOLIDAY MACARONS, MACARONAGE

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Below: Cortez Historic Fishing Village, photography

by Wyatt Kostygan.

Winter 2021

LIVING BRADENTON AREA TM

Love It Like a Local

A Trip Back in Time

Welcome to Living Bradenton Area! As the Bradenton Area’s tourism department, it is our job to share all that makes our home special. Fortunately for us (and readers like you), that list goes on and on. Our world-class beaches are found on the idyllic barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, offering 16 miles of sugar-white sand and low surf. Here, cozy beachfront cottages, intimate resorts and smaller, low-rise condos dot the shores but never block the views. Just minutes away, the City of Bradenton provides a break from the beach, offering a vibrant arts and culture scene, award-winning dining options, nature preserves and more. Easy to get to (thanks, in part, to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport), but with an off-the-beaten-path feel and an unwavering commitment to preserving Real.

Authentic. Florida, the Bradenton Area is worth discovering and exploring again and again. We hope you agree!

Time travels differently in Bradenton, Florida. Whether it is a walk on the beach, a day on the water, or time spent shopping and enjoying, it’s easy to turn an afternoon into an adventure. And not just any adventure, but a trip back in time, to a Florida that is lost to much of the state. It’s fantastic to find a town where strangers still smile at each other, and everyone who wants to can turn themselves into “a local.”

It just takes shorts, a comfy short-sleeved shirt, suntan lotion, and, for a real local, a profound appreciation of our responsibility to care for our beautiful natural riches so that their wonder outlives us. Precisely on this track, we explore, in this issue, one of the unique treasures of the Greater Bradenton Area. We have a community within our community, Cortez Fishing Village, one of the last remaining, selfcontained fishing villages in all of Florida. Nothing tastes quite like a fish caught in the gulf, processed and packaged at A.P. Bell’s, and then driven about three blocks to the almost adjacent restaurants that circle the village. Join us as we sit on the sea wall, crunch into a perfectly fried fish feast. Then, with a cold drink in hadn’t, turn your eyes to the water, that defining characteristic of our coastal paradise, and watch as the dolphins swim by and the fisherman head back out to secure their next catch. Each day drifts by like a dream-and if this is a dream, don’t wake me.

E L L I O T T FA L C I O N E Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director

WES ROBERTS SRQ MEDIA | Executive Publisher

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COMPILED BY BRITTANY MATTIE + CHLOE CUYLER

COASTAL GIFTS

FANCIFIED HOMEWARE Blush Linen Cocktail Napkins, $8/each; Surfing Road Coconut Shell Candle - Bougie, $68; Conch Shell Home + Design, 425 Pine Ave., Anna Maria Island, conchshellami.com, @conchshellami. Meyer Lemon Infused Olive Oil, $17; Olive Oil Outpost, 401 Pine Ave., Anna Maria Island, 941-896-3132, oliveoiloutpost.com, @oliveoiloutpost. Linen Tea Towel, $14; Luffa Soap On A Rope Made With Oatmeal/Shea Butter - Dried Coconut, $9; Painted Songbird Figurine, $12; Garden Mint Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera Hand & Body Lotion, $12; The Bungalow, 2419 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, 941-216-4530, thebungalowofbradenton.com. Zodiac Perfume Travel Spray Gift Set, $42; Pink & Navy Boutique, 216 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 941-567-4000, pinkandnavyami.com, @pinkandnavyboutique. Holiday-dyed pampas grass, berries and dried lavender arrangement, courtesy of Kinspoke, hello@ kinspoke.com, kinspoke.myshopify.com, @kinspoke.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.

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COMPILED BY BRITTANY MATTIE + CHLOE CUYLER

BOHO BEACH BABE Olive & Pique The Debbie Cognac Hat, $68; Rainbow Candle, $34; Macrame Knitted Handbag in Ivory, $42; Charley’s Boutique, 5761 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, 941-345-4603, charleysboutique.com, @charleys.boutique.

Assorted flavored Macarons, one for $2, six for $11.75, dozen for $22.8; Macaronage, 4816 14th St W, Bradenton, 941-807-2571, lovemacaronage.com, @lovemacaronage. Thread Vertical Card Holder Wristlet and Chapstick holder, $11; Kris Nations Palm Tree Necklace, $40; Silver Girl Wave Earrings, $38, Kris Nations Rainbow Earrings, $24; West Coast Surf Shop, 3902 Gulf Dr., Holmes Beach, 941-778-1001, @westcoastsurfshop. Chindi Placemat in Aquatic and Pottery, $12; Conch Shell Home + Design, 425 Pine Ave., Anna Maria Island, conchshellami.com, @conchshellami.

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CAMPFIRE COZIES Peaches & Cream Plaid half Zip Crop Pullover, $42; Charley’s Boutique, 5761 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, 941-345-4603, charleysboutique.com, @charleys. boutique. Pink and Yellow Martini Glasses (comes in a set of four), $70; DOT, etsy.com/shop/ShopDotOnEtsy, @ shop_dot. The Paws Pet Bandana - Mowgli, $16; Cranberry Martini and Hot Toddy by Camp Craft Cocktail Infuser, $25/ each, Pink & Navy, 216 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 941-567-4000, pinkandnavyami.com, @pinkandnavyboutique. The Hygge Conversation Card Game, $20; Books-A-Million, 4225 14th St W, Bradenton, 941-748-3911, booksamillion.com.

WEST COAST FLORIDA WATERMAN RipCurl Elite Anti Series Camo Print Rain Jacket, $65; Ulu Lagoon Surf Wax Car Fresheners, $3/each; Speaqua Cruiser H2.0 Bluetooth Speaker in Sea Palm, $30; Corkcicle, 20oz Mermaid Canteen, $40; Pukka Florida Hat, $27; West Coast Surf Shop, 3902 Gulf Dr., Holmes Beach, 941-778-1001, @westcoastsurfshop. Aviate Blue Bandana, $2.5; BruMate Liquor Canteen in Army Green, $26; Pink & Navy, 216 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 941-567-4000, pinkandnavyami. com, @pinkandnavyboutique. Deep Sea Aqua Glide Open-Heel Diving Fins, $36; Scuba Quest, 3318 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, 941-745-2511, scubaquest.com, @bradentonscubaquest.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.

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WRITTEN BY BARBIE HEIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

VILLAGE BY THE SEA

Cortez Village Fishery

Cortez fishing folks are not afraid of hard work, they never have been. And Nathan Meschelle, local commercial fisherman, born and raised in Cortez is no exception. Like the Cortez fisherman that came over one hundred years before him, he’s ready to wake up at 3 am if that’s when the fish are biting. And after a long, hot day working out in the sun, he’s prepared to come back to shore and work some more, cleaning and prepping for the next day. “Being a commercial fisherman is definitely not a job. It’s a way of life,” he says. “Before I go to bed, I’m anticipating my day, the different variables with the weather, what equipment might need to be fixed or repaired—there’s a lot of thought and meditation that goes into it. But when that time comes, when I wake up in the morning, I’m excited, I’m ready to go to work. And when I have my boat loaded with my boxes full, coming home to the dock is probably the best feeling in the world.“ CORTEZ, FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE VERY LAST SMALL COASTAL FISHING VILLAGES. Unlike many areas of

Florida that have been transformed into crowded tourist destinations, it has managed to retain much of its antiquated charm. There are no waterfront condos or luxury homes. Instead, you will find weathered white bungalows, working boatyards and restaurants offering some of the freshest and tastiest fish in Florida. It can be a colorful community with so many people and places to see, or, the most relaxing, laid-back place in the world where you can enjoy the simple pleasures of a modern life that is very similar to what it was over a century ago.

A historian who considers herself more of an anthropologist studying humans from hundreds and thousands of years ago, as well as the people of today, Tori Chasey, supervisor of the Florida Maritime Museum, works

to make visitors appreciate and understand the heritage of the village. “Cortezians are the salt-of-the-earth kind of people,” says Chasey. “They’ve always been very hard workers.” Originally occupied by a thriving Native American population, Cortez has provided for its residents for many generations. “Cortezians have always lived off the coast, as we know from the fish bones and other artifacts found in the mounds left behind,” says Chasey. The Cuban Ranchos came next and they were the first seasonal residents. The earliest permanent residents in Cortez were mostly people from Cateret County, North Carolina who migrated south hoping for a new way of life. They were already fishermen looking for a bountiful coast, and since the waters in the area provided well for them, they ended up settling here and becoming prosperous. Many of today’s residents are actually descendants of those original folks from North Carolina.

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This page left to right: Nathan Meschelle, commercial fisherman; fishing boat the docks of AP Bell; mullet, the staple fish of Floirda; diners enjoy a meal with a view of Starfish Co.; and, the docks of AP Bell.

The common bond between the original settlers and today’s residents seems to be the sea life, specifically, a jumping species of fish called mullet. With an abundance of mullet and shellfish, Cortezians have long been able to earn a living and feed their family, while enjoying the simplicity of residing in a picturesque village where everyone knows their name. Karen Bell grew up in this fishing village and is in fact a descendant of the earliest residents from North Carolina. Her grandfather, Aaron Parks, started AP Bell Fish Company back in 1920. Her father took it over in 1963, and when he passed in 2012, Karen started running it. He tried to discourage her from going into the business, but she was determined. “It’s a man’s world with a lot of regulations—it’s tough work,” he said. But Cortez was her home, where her family was and she wanted to continue the legacy. So she shadowed her dad for over 20 years, learned all the ins and outs of the business, and is now running a very successful seafood dealership. “I think the most unique thing about this business is the people,” she says. “Commercial fishermen are very independent and their work is difficult. Being a woman telling a bunch of guys what to do is not your norm, but it works well because I have a lot of respect for them, and in turn, they respect me. We work well together and we sell our product all over the world.

I’m super proud of Cortez fishermen. This little community feeds the world.”

Bobby Woodson, co-owner of Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina couldn’t agree more.

“Cortez is the largest fishing community on the west coast of Florida,” he says. “We can actually see the group of boats come by in the morning and go to Karen’s over at AP Bell where they unload. And we go over daily and get whole fish, bring it back here and cut it right on the dock out behind Tide Tables. So every day we’re getting fresh-caught, local fish, and that’s something that you don’t find anywhere else. It makes a big difference when it’s that fresh.” Woodson has been living and working in the village for over 60 years.

He knows that a hard-working, tight-knit community is what it takes to keep a fishing village alive and running well. “I’ve been buying fish from the Bells for 45 years now. So we go a long way back. I know everybody that lives here, they know me. It’s a very special place. There aren’t that many places in the world that are like this anymore,” he says.

Visiting Cortez pretty much daily since starting his business in 1984, Brian Bochan, owner of Captain Brian’s Seafood Market and Restaurant depends on the thriving fish market to get his product. Brian credits his success of 37 years to his ties in the community. He gets his fish directly from fishermen, where other markets and restaurants have to rely on distributors. “Being in the fishing industry this long, I know all the fishermen in Cortez, all the bait people, and I’m able to get all the fresh fish I want.” And the fish that Brian primarily wants is mullet. “Mullet is the staple fish of Florida. It’s a readily available, sustainable and healthy fish because it’s a vegetarian fish. Right now, they are big and fat and really delicious.” Brian believes that Cortez and the Florida Gulf Coast waters are special for a few reasons. “We have such a long continental shelf so there are abundant areas to fish. Also, our water temperature makes for a really rich fish. Our clean waters allow the mullets to be packed with nutrients.” While grouper and snapper have gained in popularity over the years, Brian wishes that more folks would try mullet. “It’s a great local fish and it’s a shame that more people haven’t discovered it,” he says. At his restaurant, they cook mullet several different ways: smoked, grilled, fried and in dips. He encourages everyone to visit and give it a go. “If you haven’t fallen in love with mullet already, come on down to Captain Brian’s and try it. We’ll cook it the way you like it.” Whether it’s the mullet, the people or the simplicity of the village, Cortez is certainly a charmed destination. Tori Chasey enjoys watching visitors walk through the doors of the museum and discover everything about the old authentic Florida fishing village, then and now. “Welcome to Cortez,” she says. “If you stay long enough, we’ll consider you a local.” LBA srq magazine_ DEC21 live local | 85

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WRITTEN BY ANDREW FABIAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

Old Florida Fancy Endearing and wistful, the term “Old Florida” manages to celebrate the warm glow of a bygone era while simultaneously lamenting the end of said era. But “Old Florida” has no agreed-upon, codified meaning, no standardized set of colors or designs—it’s just some version of Florida in some indeterminate past. Maybe it’s a pastel-colored home on stilts, maybe it’s a mid-century roadside attraction, perhaps it’s embodied in a dockside seafood shack. Or maybe it’s all of those things. But whatever “Old Florida” means, you know it when you see it, as they say. And at The Porch on Anna Maria Island, Old Florida is alive, well and ready to be eaten.

OPENED IN A FAITHFULLY RESTORED CENTURY-OLD STRUCTURE that has served as a home, a restaurant and

a daycare, The Porch first strikes a guest with its charm.

From the sandy two-lane road of Gulf Drive, its yellow façade, teal door and crushed shell landscape give it more the feel of a shabby beach shack with a fresh coat of paint than a restaurant with elevated fare. The interior is a cross between fishing shack-chic and history museum, with great attention paid to the island’s history and the building’s original design elements, like all-original windows and remediated hardwood floors.

Owners Brianna and Joshua Foster were so committed to maintaining as much of the original building as possible that they even kept the kitchen tiny to avoid

tearing walls down. “We don’t even have room for a freezer back there,” jokes Brianna, “so you know all of our food is made fresh and never frozen.” And it seems the whole concept is carefully tuned to the sensibilities of its context and its beach-going clientele.

Those sandy sensibilities call for refreshing beverages, first and foremost. An assortment of spritzes, sangrias and mimosas offer something sweet and cool to beat the heat, but The Porch adds small touches that make these their own. The Pasubio lemonade spritz features an amaro from the Dolomite Mountains of Italy’s Trentino region that, unique among amari, makes use of berries. Still, like many amari, Pasubio has pine and herb undertones to go along with a touch of bitterness and

Left to right:The mix of crispy exterior and creamy interior make these potato cakes unfathomably tasty.

Pasubio amaro makes this spritz a little more than a sweet treat. The Porch Chef’s Board features a charcuterie board, including many kinds of cheese, meats, honeycomb, olives and fruit. By staying true to the original building, the Fosters retained its Old Florida charm.

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The Porch, 9707 Gulf Dr., Anna Maria Island, 941-7828683, theporchami.com, @ theporchrestaurant_ami

smokiness. Lavender accents finish the drink and make it an olfactory delight. The rosé sangria takes the trendy wine cocktail and adds blood orange, fresh orange slices and orange bitters for a bright and light iteration of the Spanish staple that feels distinctly Floridian.

Appetizers are eclectic but deliciously accessible. The coastal calamari comes tossed in the restaurant’s scratchmade ginger sesame sauce and has all the snackability of a potato chip, which means the mound they come served in is best shared with two or more—lest the sweet sauce inspire a diner to eat themselves into guilt.

A chef’s-choice charcuterie board also makes for a great first course and conversation starter on account of the glowing, dripping honeycomb, but the potato cakes will assuredly ruin one’s dinner. Stuffed with creamy mashed potatoes inside a crispy exterior, these bacon-topped treats pack all the savory punch of a bacon and sour cream potato skin but go down much more decadently.

Standout salads include a sunshine summer salad that comes with mango slices and a lime dressing, or the blackened Cobb salad, which comes piled high with mixed greens, a hardboiled egg, julienned carrots, grilled corn, half a Hass avocado, enough bacon crumbles to make you forget it’s a salad, and blackened shrimp.

The practice of taking the spirit of something familiar and elevating it continues with the fish and chips, available on the restaurant’s lunch menu. The entrée comes with a diner’s choice of one or two 6-ounce hunks of beer-battered mahi mahi, with hand-cut fries on the side. A far cry from the mystery fish sticks found in your nearest frozen aisle, these lean and perfectly seasoned

morsels have all the comfort of a dockside fish fry but with a more palatable dose of protein. Though salmon is hardly a Florida-centric fish, the tamari and maple glazed salmon warrants a nod as well. Served with a wild rice and farro blend, the glaze’s sweet and tropical profile takes the salmon away from its more conventional dressings and puts it in a Hawaiian button-down.

But it’s not all fish feasts at The Porch. Cattle ranching in what would become the continental U.S. began in Florida with the arrival of Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto, who is believed to have landed somewhere near the mouth of the Manatee River in the 16th century. So, there is, in fact, something undeniably Floridian about The Porch’s USDA prime steak offerings.

An 18-ounce ribeye will challenge the hungriest of homesteaders, but the filet mignon is a tasty little beef cupcake. Seasoned with salt, pepper and a touch of garlic, the outer sear adds a touch of crispiness to a cut cooked perfectly medium-rare. A traditional accompaniment of mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus make this an easy pick for the picky eater.

The Fosters could easily have chosen the kitschy route with their restaurant. They could have stuck with a menu of fried-from-frozen everything, trafficked primarily in pitchers of cheap beer and still made a killing. But rather than sell Old Florida like a cheap commodity, they chose to cherish it like an heirloom. It’s in the carefully restored fireplace, the small, oddly shaped rooms, the cheerful but not cheesy colors, the simple foods dressed up for a fancier and honest Old Florida experience. LBA srq magazine_ DEC21 live local | 87

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GET YOUR OUTDOOR MARKET ON

DESTINATION | FARMERS MARKETS An unsung, hidden treasure on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The Bradenton downtown and coastal areas teem with things to do and places to go including beaches, shops, museums and galleries. But let’s not forget about the farmers’ markets—a gathering where members of the community can come together and support small, local businesses and farms while securing an assortment of organic provisions and original, handmade goods. Here are the ones to stop by this season.

Downtown Bradenton Public Market Open from October to May,

this shopping and music event is held on Old Main Street in Downtown Bradenton every Saturday morning from 9am-12pm. Visitors can expect an exciting environment filled with fresh produce, hot coffees, desserts, handmade chocolates, jewelry, candles, soaps and freshcut flowers. And on the neighboring Fourth Avenue West, guests can enjoy art, cra s and live music as Mainly Art hosts its weekly gathering of local artisans and artists showing and selling their works. Parking is free and—because leashed dogs are allowed—bring along your adorable fur-baby and make it a Saturday morning outing for the whole family.

101 Old Main St., Bradenton, 941-9329439, bradentonpublicmarket.com, @bradentonpublicmarket.

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Gamble Creek Farms Farm Market Operating five days a week

(Wednesdays - Fridays, from 11am6pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, from 9am-1pm), this market is an earth-lover’s slice of heaven. Gamble Creek Farm is all about sustainability and living a clean lifestyle. Because of this, the Market only offers the freshest, locally grown and 100% organic produce. Shoppers can choose from an extensive range of products including baked goods, plants and even meat and seafood.

Gamble Creek Farms Farm Market, being an indoor market, also provides visitors with the luxury of air conditioning as they shop—a welcome feature to combat the inevitable Florida heat. 14950 Golf Course

Rd., Parrish, 941-548-4805, gamblecreekfarms.com, @gamblecreekfarms.

Beach Market at Coquina Beach

If sand between your toes and sea breeze tickling your nose wasn’t enough reason for you to visit the beach, this market sure is. Beach Market at Coquina Beach is a weekly outdoor market taking place from December to March on Wednesdays and Sundays, April to July on Wednesdays and Fridays and a er a brief closing, reopens for its next season every Sunday in November.

Every market is open from 10am to 4pm, no ma er the day of the week.

Overlooking the beautiful island beach, this market hosts vendors selling handbags, jewelry, po ery as well as health and beauty products.

And while dogs are not allowed in the park, the market is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Anna Maria Farmers Market at City Pier Park Every Tuesday,

beginning in October and continuing through May, the City of Anna Maria hosts a small farmer’s market at waterfront City Pier Park at the corner of Pine Avenue and South Bay Blvd. Baskets and bins of fresh Southwest Florida produce is always available, along with local baked goods, jams, honey, gourmet foods and more. Market hours run from 8:30am to 2pm. 103 N Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 941-708-6130 ext 121, cityofannamaria.com.

2650 Gulf Dr., S. Bradenton Beach, 941-518-4431, @beachmarketatcoquinabeach.

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