Doc Ford’s Rum Bar – Sanibel

It seems like our trip to Sanibel Island was ages ago, when it was really just a couple of weeks. So much fun has happened this summer, but the Sanibel trip, because I got to experience it with my family, will stand out always as one of the highlights of 2012. I miss them!

The second we decided to join them in Sanibel, I started doing some research on food and cocktails. . . obviously. One of the places that stood out to me on the island was Doc Fords Rum Bar and Grille. If Sanibel is all about the rum cocktails, who am I to say no?

After looking over lots of menus, my family kindly agreed to go to Doc Ford’s for our last dinner in Sanibel. On a very hot and humid evening after a gorgeous beach day, we arrived for an early dinner that gave us time after to view the Captiva sunset.

Doc Ford’s has a tropical themed entry with lots of overgrown trees and plants. We even saw a giant bird on a telephone, eating a freshly caught fish. Not part of the décor, but kind of interesting, nonetheless!

I wanted to stick to local food, so I started with a taste of Doc Ford’s hot sauce. We also shared a plate of buffalo shrimp, happily doused in said sauce.  I can not say no to buffalo shrimp.

Mojitos also happen to be a local favorite. I sampled a couple of the mango mojitos and, while they were good, Lin makes them better.

Vacation always leaves me feeling a need for veggies, so I started with the tropical salad: fresh baby greens, grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, mandarin oranges, sundried cherries, spiced pecans, homemade crispy onions tossed in our very own secret balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I devoured every bite, enjoying the freshness of the salad and the delicious dressing.

I also got my fill of peel and eat Gulf shrimp. This was the night we shared a bunch of plain shrimp with Old Bay and the amazing Yucatan shrimp that I later recreated. I do believe that shrimp are my favorite protein, so I was a happy camper to see them on the menu everywhere in Sanibel with all sorts of preparations.

Our last dinner in Sanibel was delightful, right down to the free ice cream sandwiches for the kids. Doc Ford’s, though a place with a great cocktail menu and local bar scene, is also a fun place for families.

Happy almost Friday!