The Beaches Of Fort Myers & Sanibel Bring Local & Rare Flavors To Expo Milano 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla., May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, in partnership with Brand USA, will bring a taste of the natural, preserved destination to a global audience at Expo Milano 2015, the Universal Exhibition showcasing more than 140 participating countries and their commitment to providing healthy, safe and sufficient food. Under the core theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life," the destination will bring its Gulf seafood and local flavors to consumers through a variety of culinary experiences at the USA Pavilion from May 22 – June 11, 2015.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is renowned for its natural abundance, with miles of pristine white-sanded beaches, exotic wildlife, lush subtropical foliage, and fresh, wild-caught seafood, most notably the area's famous Pink Gold shrimp. The destination will be featured at Expo Milano through the following:

• Food Truck Nation, Expo's largest "food court," at the USA Pavilion will bring an American cultural phenomenon and regional street foods to all festivalgoers, with one of the trucks featuring seafood and tropical flavors from The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
    
• The destination will host a special media dinner for 90 journalists and influencers from around the globe, secured by partners MMGY Global, Ketchum and Ogilvy, at the pop-up James Beard Foundation Restaurant in central Milan outside of Expo at Seven Stars Galleria on May 28, 2015. Featuring a multi-course, destination-inspired menu developed by award-winning Chef Paul Sanguinetti, the event will introduce flavors from The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel to renowned James Beard Restaurant Diners, including the destination's famous Pink Gold shrimp.
    
  *Media who wish to attend this exclusive dinner can contact us for more information and to be placed on the guest list.

"The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is a special place, unique from other Florida destinations," said Tamara Pigott, Executive Director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. "Our presence at Expo Milano will place the destination in a global dialogue and showcase what makes our area so unique by introducing the area's fresh, local and rare seafood to a global audience."

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel partnered with local shrimper Dennis Henderson of Trico Shrimp to make the area's famous Pink Gold shrimp, which is fast-reproducing and thus a totally sustainable and renewable resource, available to the James Beard dinner guests. Henderson has worked in Florida's shrimp industry all his life and is deeply connected to the industry, the jobs it provides fishermen and consumers it serves. His mission is to provide safe seafood to consumers and spread the message of why wild-caught shrimp is the best choice, not only because it passes stringent inspections and isn't full of antibiotics and chemicals like farm-raised shrimp, but also because the product is more sweet and flavorful due to the way the shrimp was raised.

The destination also partnered with restaurateur and supplier Karen Bell of Star Fish Company, a wholesale seafood company, retail market and restaurant that was started in the early 1920's. A seafood star who operates 13 fishing boats and ships fresh, local Pink Gold shrimp all over the world, Bell was instrumental in getting the delicious product to Expo Milano for the James Beard Restaurant event.

Anticipated attendance at Expo Milano 2015 is 20 million over the six month run with more than a billion unique views expected to the Expo Milano website, which will feature information on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, including access to destination guidebooks in a variety of languages. Travelers can also visit www.fortmyers-sanibel.com for more information on the destination and vacation planning tools.

About The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel includes Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer Islands, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres. The southwest Florida destination goes beyond sun and sand, offering a variety of nature and outdoor, arts and cultural, as well as fun and educational experiences for visitors of all ages. It is a place to kick-back and relax; and a place to rejuvenate the mind and body whether by biking, birding, observing the bottlenose dolphin at play or shelling on Sanibel Island. Fishing enthusiasts will thrive on the miles of coastline and diversity of aquatic life, while history buffs and those who love innovation will enjoy a visit to attractions like the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Combining history, nature, culture, beauty, culinary invention and unlimited outdoor activities, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel beckon and inspire. For more information visit www.fortmyers-sanibel.com.

Contact
Francesca Donlan, Lee County VCB, [email protected] 239-338-3500
Nick Schweers, MMGY Global, [email protected] 646-442-6772

SOURCE The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Related Links

http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com

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