Greetings!  
EScapes continues our coastal coverage with some great Gumbo recipes that are just perfect for November's cooler weather. Just in case you don't feel like cooking, we also spotlighted some of our favorite Gulf Coast food festivals around the coast.
Abandon Land!!! Ever thought about living on a boat? If you've ever dreamed of trading in your Crocs for flippers (see below), you won't want to miss our next issue of Gulfscapes. We talked to folks from around the Gulf and we'll tell you everything you'll need to know to get started.
 Just Released!!! Tim Dorsey has released a new book - When Elves Attack. If you like Dexter, Bad Santa, Christmas Vacation and black humor, give yourself an early present and grab a copy of Dorsey's latest.
Enjoy the cooler weather and keep having a fantastic fall. Let us know what you think of our newsletter email us.
*ABOVE: Paul Schietekat, an artist from Belgium, combined the elegance of stiletto heels with flippers to come out with a shoe innovation known as 'High Tide Heels' for sun-seekers who don't want the hassle of changing footwear every time they cool off with a dip in the sea. Sadly, they were only created for an exhibition with no plans of releasing them commercially.
|
Quick and Easy Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo Recipe - Perfect for Cool Coastal Weather!
|  |
 | | Quick and easy Andouille Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo. Smoked sausage may be used in place of Andouille Sausage. |
Gumbo originated in southern Louisiana during the 18th century. Gumbo is often categorized by the type of thickener used: the African vegetable okra, the Choctaw spice filé powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves), or roux, the French base made of flour and fat. Our recipe today is a Andouille Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo that uses a Cajun-style roux.
Ingredients
 | |
Visit our NEW Gulf Seafood Recipe Site!
|
1 cup oil
1 cup flour
2 large onions, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
4 ribs celery, chopped
4 - 6 cloves garlic, minced
4 quarts chicken stock
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning, or to taste
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 pounds of pealed shrimp 2 pounds andouille or smoked sausage,
cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 bunch scallions (green onions), tops only, chopped
2/3 cup fresh chopped parsley
File powder to taste
Wine choices for Gumbo - Depending on the thickness of Gumbo flavor layers - spicier equals sweeter, less spicy, less sweet. With this recipe we suggest a Riesling, Gewurztraminer, or Scheurbe... any ripeness, even up to some Auslese.
|
|
| Ever Thought About Living On A Boat? Coming in November in Gulfscapes Magazine. | |
Take a quick "yes" or "No" Survey:
Anyone who has ever lived near the Gulf Coast has at one time or another entertained the following thought ... Wouldn't it be neat to live on a boat!
With that thought in mind, we ventured down to the marinas, crawled around the docks and gathered information about this alluring lifestyle. We spoke to old salts, new salts and no salts. We looked at sailboats, houseboats and powerboats. What we came away with was a new understanding of, & a new respect for, those adventurous souls who live in houses that float.
Our Winter 2011 issue will feature interviews with marina supervisors and several liveaboard couples who were kind enough to share their experiences with those considering taking the leap off land. We'll tell you what we found out about the benefits and the obstacles to living aboard, from the kinds of boats commonly lived on to the social activities available. Be sure to pick up an issue! Subscribe and have it delivered to your home.
|
|
| Florida Writer Tim Dorsey Releases New Book - When Elves Attack | |
 | When Elves Attack by Tim Dorsey
William Morrow Publishing |
Our favorite Florida serial killer is back! The often imitated, never duplicated Serge A. Storms returns just in time to spread a little Christmas cheer to anyone who hates looters, organized crime bosses, oil company profiteers, purse snatchers . . . well, you get the picture. Serge distributes justice to people who really, really need it. With his faithful sidekick Coleman, Serge travels the highways and byways of his beloved Florida, dispensing copious amounts of trivia about the Sunshine state, along with the occasional, extremely creative murder.
When Elves Attack finds Serge in Santa mode, judging who has been naughty and nice. His sleigh is a '72 Chevelle. And Coleman adds a whole new meaning to "White Christmas." If you like Dexter, Bad Santa, Christmas Vacation and black humor, give yourself an early present and grab a copy of Dorsey's latest. More about Tim Dorsey
|
|
|
Gulfscapes' Readers Aren't the Only Folks Who Think Naples is Great ...
| |
 | |
Naples was selected in Gulfscapes' top 10 best Gulf Coast Cities in 2011
|
Florida's Paradise Coast region that includes Naples, Marco Island and the Gulf Coast portion of the Everglades earned five spots on the annual list of Top U.S. Resorts compiled by Condé Nast Traveler magazine.
The five resorts are:
Gulfscapes' readers voted Naples as one of the top 10 best Gulf Coast cities in our 2011 Readers' Choice contest. The Marco Island Beach Music Festival was one of our featured picks.
Oct 29, Marco Island's 2nd Annual Beach Music Festival - Enjoy a fun filled day and evening with great live music, food and great activities, with one of the most spectacular beaches in South Florida as the setting! This is your chance to see Casey Weston, star of NBC's The Voice, live and in person, along with some other great music from the Landsharks, Scott Kirby and more. 8am - Skimboard competition; 10 am - Music starts, plus Sandcastle competition; 11 am - the Best Burger in Paradise competition gets underway; Entertainment continues throughout the day and evening; 9 pm Fireworks. Proceeds will go to support local charities. Excellent room and ticket packages available.
|
|
The holidays are coming ... Gulfscapes Magazine makes a great gift for friends or a great thank you present for business clients. Give Gulfscapes Magazine as a gift today and get your holiday shopping done early! Order here
If you are a business owner and would like to find out about giving Gulfscapes Magazine as a gift to your customers or placing our magazines at your business, please email us.
Our next print issue will hit the stands around Thanksgiving.
|
| Food Festivals Along the Gulf - Crab, Cheese, Cajun, Chili, Pecan Pie ... | |
Oct. 29-30, Stone Crab Festival - Naples, FL - An action-packed weekend at various locations on the historic Old Naples Waterfront celebrating the Paradise Coast's native crustacean, the Stone Crab Festival will have plenty of fresh stone crab claws, music, events of all kinds, art and a ton of fun activities for the whole family. The event is free for admission. www.stonecrabfestival.org
 | |
Yaga's Chili Quest & Beer Fest January 20-22, 2012
|
Oct. 29, Marco Island's 2nd Annual Beach Music Festival - Enjoy a fun filled day and evening with great live music, food and great activities, with one of the most spectacular beaches in South Florida as the setting! This is your chance to see Casey Weston, star of NBC's The Voice, live and in person, along with some other great music from the Landsharks, Scott Kirby and more. 8am - Skimboard competition; 10 am - Music starts, plus Sandcastle competition; 11 am - the Best Burger in Paradise competition gets underway; Entertainment continues throughout the day and evening; 9 pm Fireworks. Proceeds will go to support local charities. Excellent room and ticket packages available. www.marcoislandmarriott.com
 | |
Braman Winery has expanded
to the Houston area. Click here.
|
Nov. 4-6, 23rd Alabama Pecan Festival - Mobile - A three-day festival with children's activities, entertainment, pecan pies and direct from Dollywood Theme Park, peforming live, the Wood Brothers Band. Free admission and parking. www.alabamapecanfestival.com
Nov. 5 - 4th Annual Gulf Coast Oyster Cookoff - Gulf Shores - Fun, Food, Games & Prizes, Live music, SEC football, & Hangout Music Festival ticket giveaway!
Nov. 4-5 , 48th Annual Florida Seafood Festival. Apalachicola, FL - The Apalachicola-based Florida Seafood Festival is the State's oldest maritime festival. This event, held the first weekend of November, draws thousands annually to the historic town of Apalachicola, along North Florida's Gulf Coast. The festival features booth after booth of fresh seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood contests (oyster shucking, oyster eating, blue crab races) and top name musical entertainment. www.floridaseafoodfestival.com
Nov. 4-5, Louisiana Swamp Festival (Swamp Fest) - New Orleans - Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA - See your favorite swamp critters; chow down on Cajun food and dance to your favorite Cajun and Zydeco music at the Audubon Institute's annual Louisiana Swamp Festival, held the first weekend in November at the world-class Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Hear some of your favorite Cajun, Zydeco and Country performers. Sample some genuine Cajun jambalaya and gumbo, fried alligator, boudin, crab cakes with crawfish sauce, catfish po-boys, crawfish bread, and cracklins from some of the best restaurants and caterers in Southern Louisiana. www.auduboninstitute.org
Nov. 10, Bleus Brews&Schmooze Cheese Fest Charity Bar Night - Sarasota, Polo Grill - Come get your blues on at a fun-filled event with fabulous bleu cheeses from around the world. Micro-brews will be flowing as you get jiggy on the dance floor to the hottest jazz music in town. This will be a bleu cheese and blues music themed charity bartending night at Polo Grill and Bar from 6:00-10:00pm. The cheese-a-holic bartenders will include Molly Klauber, Roger Capote, and a few other cheese lovers! Admission is complimentary. All tips collected during the party will benefit the festival and GWIZ. Each guest wearing blue will be entered to win a $25 certificate to Polo Grill and Bar. The winning raffle ticket will spoil the winner with great cheesy items. Free Admission. More info |
|
|
