National Rum Day With Jumbie Splash

Today is National Rum Day, a perfect time to celebrate the spirit that screams party. 

With deep respect for the sanctity of such a day as today, I could not help but experiment with two flavors of Jumbie Splash; coconut and pineapple. 

The Caribbean rum is barrel-aged and infused with natural fruit creating a sweet and festive mixer or an equally good sipper, on the rocks. This was a new brand for me so I tried it both ways, in the interest of science of course.

Using Pina Colada as an inspiration, I mixed equal parts of the Coconut Splash and the Pineapple Splash, a squeeze of lime and some club soda for tropical treat. If I had had some cream and vanilla, the combination of these would be a great Pina Colada-type cocktail indeed.

Jumbie also has a mango and vanilla flavor and runs about $15 a bottle. It's a fun spirit for home mixologists who like flavors and like being creative, especially in these hot summer months. I'll be perfecting a rum punch next so stay tuned. 

Summer Grilling Specials at Brio

August is National Grilling Month and to celebrate, BRIO Tuscan Grill has created a special three course summer dining special; the Art of Grilling. I sampled the prix fixe selections at the Waterside Shops, Naples, FL location last week, leaving with a full belly and a smile.

First course choices are a soup of the day, it was Italian Wedding on our day, or salad. While there are traditional salads like Caesar, there is also a Kale Caesar with pancetta and chopped egg, and a chopped salad with feta among others.

Grilled seasonal catch

Main course options cover the range of fish, pork, beef and a tender combination of grilled beef medallions with with black pepper shrimp. The pork was tender and juicy, the steak cooked to the perfect temperature and the shrimp naturally sweet, with a good amount of heat.

Grilled strip steak with rosemary and lemon

It was hard to focus purely on the meat as the sides were flavorful and delicious. We couldn't get enough of the crisp fingerling potatoes. Opt for the creamy parmesan sauce on the side so you can taste the potatoes naked too. The Sicilian cauliflower had a pleasant spicy kick that included peperoncinis and capers.

Roasted Strawberry Shortcake

Dessert is literally the icing on the cake for this three course extravaganza. The roasted strawberry shortcake is a seasonal delight, but it was the creamy, dreamy caramel marscarpone cheesecake that put us over the edge.

There are specials on wines to match these dishes as well. This portions are more than generous especially when considering the $27.95 price tag. The Art of Grilling at BRIO Tuscan Grill runs through August 21 so be sure to take advantage of it.
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Wine Down Wednesday at Matanzas on the Bay

Photo Courtesy: Matanzas on the Bay

Summer in Southwest Florida is hot! But there are so many refreshing wining and dining deals that make these months more tolerable. Wine Down Wednesday at Matanzas on the Bay on Fort Myers Beach, FL is one of them.

Every Wednesday every bottle under $70 is half off, and don't be fooled into thinking that a beach restaurant doesn't have good bottles. The new wine list is out and it has gems from Van Duzer, Swanson, Frog's Leap and more. 

Photo: Gina Birch

I particularly like all of the selections from California's Central Coast and Paso Robles. There are some fantastic early dining specials here too. Between  4:30 and 7:30 Sunday through Thursday enjoy a four-course dinner for $60 a couple and that includes a bottle of wine. 

Bay Bread, loaded with cheese, artichoke and crab

Fish is the specialty here. Its local and some of the freshest on the beach. The sauces are made in-house and even the breading for the delicious coconut shrimp is made from scratch.

The upstairs deck is famous for it's pizza and live music. But regardless of where you sit, you can't beat the view; sun up or sun down.

Photo: Gina Birch

The staff is hospitable and the outside deck is dog friendly. Check out this inviting local spot at the base of the Matanzas bridge before the winter tourists come back, and take advantage of these spectacular summer deals.