Carol Bernard – Page 6 – Island Real Estate Blog

May 21, 2018July 19, 2022

Top 5 Local Restaurant French Fries on Anna Maria Island

One of the best parts of exploring new places – especially when considering a possible move – is trying different foods, new tastes and local spins on old favorites. But let’s not dismiss some of the lunch and dinner side dish staples that may get overshadowed by new dishes. For me, a good French fry can make or break a casual meal. On Anna Maria Island we are out of the “cookie cutter” restaurant corporate formula and local reigns supreme. You can expect to see some variations on the popular fry, and here are my Top 5 Favorite French Fries on Anna Maria Island:

Island Grill: SORRY – CLOSED….these fries are made in house, served hot and sprinkled with a unique spice blend the owner created. He won’t tell exactly what’s in it, but I can tell there is both black and white pepper, some paprika and sea salt. Delicious! (UPDATE: Island Grill has closed, no information on reopening).
Hurricane Hanks: I CRAVE these fries! There is a yummy crunchy coating on them that compliments the soft potato inside. I’ve actually ordered just a side of Hank’s fries before and didn’t share. These fries are unique and I have not had anything like them around here.
The Ugly Grouper: This one surprised me. I was too focused on my shrimp and didn’t touch the fries but once I did I proceeded to eat them all. Larger than regular fries yet smaller than steak fries, these were a perfect combo of crispy outside and soft inside. There was no special seasonings yet hardly needed salt, they were good on their own.
Peach’s: Peach’s started in Bradenton and has expanded to several locations in our area, one here in Holmes Beach. Most people get breakfast at Peach’s and miss the fries. Coated with a (slightly) spicy crispy crust that is perfect with ketchup. Their home fries have this same coating so if you must have breakfast instead of lunch you can have the next best thing!
AMOB (Anna Maria Oyster Bar) on the Pier: Rounding out my top 5 is AMOB. Their fries are simple, just no muss, no fuss delicious fries you can count on every visit to be a great addition to your meal. Not greasy, nothing fancy but good potatoes fried up and served hot. Make sure to add them to your order!

Carol Bernard

Learn More about Carol Bernard, Sales Support Expert at Island Real Estate in our Marina Drive office. Carol has been with the company since 1994 and has worked in early every department across our company – from rentals & reservations to sales support & more!

During her off hours, you’ll find her nose buried in a stack of reading, likely with one of her three cats curled up on her lap. She’s an avid local sports fan, often donning Buccaneer, Tampa Bay Rays, or Lightning gear when out of the office.

www.islandreal.com/blog/meet-carol-bernard/

July 8, 2014January 22, 2021

Beach Fun Anna Maria Island – Best Beach Toys!

Beach Fun Anna Maria Island is a day at the beach with toys! With these five small, and light to carry, toys you can ensure not even a whisper of “I’m bored” uttered! These fit easily in a beach bag and can be found in local shops around the island. Some even at the dollar store too!

Make sure to grab a Frisbee.

Played either in the sand or in the water a Frisbee is fun at any skill level or age.

Noodles!

Can you believe these are a relatively new invention? Wish we had beach noodles when I was a kid –I would have floated all day without having to blowup a raft first. Noodles are a must for the beach! Plus, bonking someone over the head with one will never get old.

Waboba Ball

Barefoot Traders on Gulf Drive carries a ball that actually bounces ON the water! A “Waboba Ball” is made of unique materials that will make the ball actually bounce once it hits the water instead of sinking. Grab one on before you park for the day and you’ll be surprised at how well it works – yet obviously better on calm water days.

Traditional Bucket and Shovel.

Even if you prefer making a drippy castle as opposed to a more “engineered” structure, a bucket and shovel can help dig wet sand needed for proper castle construction. The shovel is useful searching for buried treasures (shells or sharks teeth) also.

Bubbles!

Fun any time of day, yet sunset is especially great for bubbles (and snapping photos of them with the sun setting in the background). Grab a bottle with a silly oversized wand and see who can make the biggest bubbles, whose bubbles last the longest without popping or if you can “catch” one on your finger. Then the grumpiest member of your gang has to crack a smile when the bubbles come out.

Carol Bernard

www.islandreal.com/blog/meet-carol-bernard/

July 2, 2014August 18, 2021

Best Desserts on Our Sweet Little Island!

Anna Maria Island – You can buy a t-shirt that says “Life is sweeter on vacation” and I totally agree, but vacation is the best time to relax your regular diet a little and enjoy a treat after a delicious island meal. Anna Maria Island has some of the best dessert offerings around and here are a few of my personal favorites that I hope you can try.

Eat Here: Sean Murphy was mixing salty and sweet before it was trendy! The “pot de crème” is what I always order – a delicious thick decadent chocolate pudding served in a cute little glass jar with a sprinkling of sea salt on top. The combination of creamy, sweet and salty is just perfect. Kind of reminds me of the salt from the gulf (their Pecan Cheesecake is featured in the image above) .

Blue Marlin: Bring a friend so you can each order one of my favorites and taste – best of both worlds! The tropical bread pudding puts a fruity spin on a southern classic. The pineapple and orange sauce is amazing all on its own. Blue Marlin also makes a Guinness Chocolate cake with real Guinness stout beer in the mix! The chocolate is rich and the cake perfectly moist yet the hint of stout at the end of a bite is what makes this cake so different. Of course you should wash it down with a cold Guinness instead of milk!

Carol Bernard

www.islandreal.com/blog/meet-carol-bernard/

May 28, 2014November 20, 2020

How NOT to Spend a Day at the Beach Anna Maria Island

This is our guide on how not to spend a day at the beach Anna Maria Island. Our coastlines are a serene oasis for people all over the world. In order to keep them this way, here are a few tips on what to avoid when spending a day on the surf:

1. Please no smoking on the beach!

Yes, it’s technically outside yet our wildlife is accustomed to our fresh clean salt air. Please do everyone a favor and don’t light up on the sand.

2. As tempting as it can be, please do not feed the seagulls.

If you’ve ever been the victim of a seagull swam fighting over a Cheeto, you’ll thank me for this warning.

3. If you see a turtle nest – please do not touch!

The nesting turtles are endangered and protected by law. Not only will harassers get a fine, the dirty looks from surrounding beachgoers may haunt your entire vacation!

4. Don’t be loud!

The natural sound of the waves crashing, the salty wind and sea birds calling is music to our ears – no loud radios necessary! Please leave the boom boxes at home and enjoy the soothing sounds of the Gulf of Mexico live in concert!
And Finally…

5. Don’t leave trash

When heading home after your glorious beach day, please make sure to gather all your belongings as well as any trash. Most beach access roads have large trash cans provided that you can use. Strive to leave your area of the beach even better than when you arrived – maybe start a game offering treats for the kids in your party to find extra trash!

When we all do MORE than just our share we can ensure the beautiful beaches of Anna Maria Island will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. If we are lucky enough to spend a day on the beach, then we’re lucky enough!

Carol Bernard