It’s one of the prime reasons we love living here so much. Sunday brunch at the beach, a sunset celebration with an amazing dinner, or just a lazy cocktail for two whenever you feel like it...as long as you can take a walk on the beach together. The food along the beach is diverse, delicious and this week we celebrate Clearwater Beach Restaurant Week. It’s an opportunity to finally sample the cuisine at that restaurant you’ve wanted to stop in and enjoy specially priced three course menus that are well within anyone’s budget. The prix fix menus range from $15-$35, and you’ll find that some that will offer lunch as well from $10-$15. It’s also an opportunity to help some of our local non-profits like the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, along with the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce. My intent this week is to check out at least one of the many participating restaurants that I haven’t visited before. The list is long, the prices are good, and it’s also a great chance to support our local businesses. Very much a win-win, wouldn’t you say? I’ve already enjoyed dining at Crabby Bills, The Lobster Pot Bistro and Frenchy’s, so there’s work to be done for Kelly’s Kitchen! Want to see who’s part of the fun this year? Check their site or like them on Facebook. You can even get a peak at the chef’s bio. Love that!

  They’re also offering you a chance to vote for your favorite menu item and chefs; you’ll get a passport when you dine at a participating restaurant which will be stamped when you visit. When you have four stamps, that’s your chance to register to win a Dream Beach Getaway. There’s full information on the site, and it’s a very nice package. Clearwater Beach Restaurant Week runs May 13th-19th, and they welcome new participants each year. Enjoy, and if you find some particularly good menu items let us know in Kelly’s Kitchen at ann.kelly@coxmg.com.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KELLY’S KITCHEN

There is nothing is more musical than a sunset. He who feels what he sees will find no more beautiful example of development in all that book which, alas, musicians read but too little - the book of Nature - Claude Debussy