Last night, overlooking some of the most romantic real estate in Milan, journalists and leaders were invited to taste and celebrate the unique cuisine of the Sanibel Island – Fort Myers region of southwest Florida.
Under the leadership of American Chef Paul Sanguinetti, an estimated 90 invited visitors gathered to dine on cuisine inspired by the local culture and much directly imported from the region for the occasion.
This event was coordinated in conjunction with a pop-up restaurant that the New York City based James Beard Foundation is hosting in the city in conjunction with the Expo Milano 2015, a world exposition dedicated to the art of healthy, sustainable food. According to the online blog Fine Dining Lovers, “The six month pop-up restaurant will be hosted at the Penthouse Suite of the Seven Stars Galleria Hotel overlooking some of the most famous locations in Milan.”
For one night, this restaurant was dedicated to the unique flavor of Sanibel, Fort Myers, and the surrounding areas. Among the seafood on the menu: none other than the region’s famous fresh caught pink gold shrimp. According to PR Newswire, The Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau partnered with local businesses Trico Shrimp and Star Fish Co. to source their ingredients.
In addition to this highlight dinner, local cuisine will be featured in the American pavilion’s “Food Truck Nation” food court celebrating the growing popularity of American food trucks and mobile kitchens. One of the food trucks at the American Pavilion will feature regional recipes from the Fort Myers and Sanibel areas. This will be food for the masses as crowds walk through the pavilions and taste food from around the globe.
While the food brought to Milan will be superb, visitors will also be encouraged to visit the islands and beaches of Southwest Florida for themselves. Compared to the fast-paced city life of Milan, the nature, sunshine, and breeze of Sanibel will complete the picture of the culture that keeps us coming back.
