We found no signs of oil sheen, oil or wildlife impact in our two day trip. The devastation further north has eluded us, despite what the media would have us believe. Unfortunately, many tourists, annual visitors and foreign travelers have cancelled their visits to our state for fear of oil spoiling the natural beauty our area has to offer. Small businesses are feeling the effects all along the Gulf shores.

As a side note and  more pleasant subject, the weather and fishing was spectacular. We limited out on Grouper, Red Snapper and Mangrove Snapper. A few Amberjacks, Sharks and Goliath Grouper kept our poles bent! The full moon brought squid, shrimp, flying fish and other marine life to the surface for a nightly show. If you have never ventured deep into the Gulf for a night of fishing, you are missing a lot of action!

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring and flavorless. That’s why Maggie Mae’s on the Bluffs is roasting turkey to offer unique menu items at a low cost. Try our new Turkey Breast Club Salad or our new Turkey Panini with cranberry mayo. Who else but Maggie Mae’s is roasting turkeys?

If turkey doesn’t satisfy those hunger pangs, try some of Maggie’s new subs including the Philly Steak and Italian Stallion. Remember, only fresh top quality ingredients go into all of Maggie’s menu items at breakfast and lunch.

You can view the new menu by clicking on the links  – Breakfast Menu - Lunch Menu.

This is a free family event for the whole family with live entertainment, food booths, sidewalk sales at The Shoppes of Sand Key and artists showing their skills. Maggie Mae’s will have a food booth. Come join us for a day of fun!

Al "Coffee" McDaniels' latest CD cover.

 Jazz recording artist, has been booked to entertain the crowd. The sounds of smooth jazz and contemporary music will fill the air along with tents of food from the restaurants on Sand Key including Maggie Mae’s and Backwaters.

The Shoppes of Sand Key will have sidewalk sales and local artists will be filling the walkways and boardwalk. Parking will be available at public lots on the island with a special Jolley Trolley to carry you FREE to and from the event from Sand Key Park to the Marina on Gulf Blvd.  If you like you can just stroll the boardwalk along the waterfront for a look at the best of Mother Nature.

Mark your calendar for April 17th as a family fun day from noon to 7 PM!

Two things happen when the weather gets cold. First, below freezing temperatures destroy crops almost ready to be harvested. Long periods of cold weather retard the growth of maturing plants which leads to market shortages and fewer harvesting dates for farmers.

In the restaurant business the effects are felt by huge wholesale price increases and local shortages. As an example, tomatoes are costing us $50-55 per case as compared to $17-25 per case under normal circumstances. We are being warned that corn, beans, mangoes, avocados and leaf greens will soon feel the impact of weather related damage. Many suppliers have looked to Mexican markets, but soon the demand outpaces the supply and prices rise quickly while supplies are stretched thin.

Some restaurants, primarily chains, are no longer offering tomatoes on sandwiches. Others, like Maggie Mae’s and Backwaters, are absorbing the price increases for now. Grocery store prices, already at record highs, will continue to rise until crops due to mature in mid April start hitting the market.

For the home cook there are some alternatives. Canned tomatoes and other vegetables may fill the gap. Fresh alternatives may be different varieties. In the case of tomatoes, there are Roma, cherry and heirloom offerings that can help satisfy the demand. Other vegetables and fruits that freeze well may be a way to fill in those recipes.

For a complete schedule and the headliner acts performing visit www.clearwaterseablues.com.

Both sides of the bridge waterway are accessible from the boat parking area under the bridge. Hopefully, the county will eventually have a few picnic tables and permanent restrooms. The Belleair Causeway project has been one of the most successful in the area and Pinellas County can be proud of this park.

It would be easy to say that our commitment to quality and friendly service was the reason for our success, but we know the people of Belleair Bluffs, Belleair, Largo, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair Beach and the entire area have supported us from day one with their patronage and encouragement. We will continue to listen to our guests and work hard to get better each day.

Some highlights this past year for Maggie Mae’s were:

• Just getting the doors open! The construction delays, red tape and licensing process was behind us on January 9, 2010 and we could focus on exceptional food and making our guest feel at home.
• Finding a staff that really cared about what they served and how they served it was fortunate.
• Seeing local celebrities and politicians use our restaurant as their new morning “hangout” was a good sight. You never know who may walk through our doors as our reputation for great food grew.
• Watching and anticipating the opening of the new bridge to expedite traffic flow in front of Maggie’s has come to an end with great results. The bridge is beautiful and functional.
• Of course, the highlight of the year as a restaurant was being named as “Runner Up – Best Breakfast” in one magazine’s reader pole for the entire Tampa Bay area. We were competing with many long time favorites in the area as well as large multi-unit chains, of which, one edged us out for the first place selection over in the Tampa area.

Please help us continue to grow by reminding your neighbors, family and friends about us. We can’t imagine a better year for Maggie Mae’s and hope 2010 brings all of our guests their wishes and hopes for the coming months.

And then there hundreds of people who died from drinking rubbing alcohol. Maybe we should ban alcohol. And then there are the people who died from salmonella from eating raw chicken. Maybe we need to ban chicken or make people cook it at least a couple of hours before selling it. Then there are the people who died from just plain over eating at one meal while indulging some food pleasure – those deaths in 2008 were in the dozens! E-coli killed a few dozen people from hamburger. We didn’t hear proposals to ban raw hamburger!

It is a fact that Gulf oysters MAY contain bacteria. It is also a fact that normal healthy people are not affected by low levels of bacteria. The elderly, children and people who already have low bacteria tolerance can get sick from oysters as well as numerous other foods.

Raw oysters are part of our heritage going back to the early settlers who relied on them for proteins. In fact, the accounts of all food consumption all along the coast since the 1700’s include oysters as a daily food.  Placing a ban on raw oysters will not keep people from harvesting and eating them – they will merely no longer buy them from reputable businesses who handle them properly.

In Florida, if the six month ban on raw oysters goes through, it will devastate an already suffering industry. The cost to add equipment to process the oysters will not only double the cost, but remove texture and flavor as we know them today.

Bigger government means more regulation. Personal responsibility is no longer necessary, since a great number people are relying on the government to provide, assist and properly regulate every aspect of our lives. Where does it stop?

For a complete schedule of participants, times, locations and events click on this link.

For a sure cure to the Jazz Classic morning after, visit either Maggie Mae’s restaurant. Of course, Backwater’s will be packed at dinner with Jazz Classic fans looking for fresh seafood and steaks. Reservations are suggested this weekend (727-517-7383).