The Gasparilla Inn & Club will once again open the island season with its popular open house.
Featured changes include the newly refurbished arrival area, living room and Presidential Suite. The Inn's newest shopping venue, the Inn Boutique, will be open featuring designer resort wear and jewelry.
"Join us from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, to experience 'Florida as it was meant to be' at The Gasparilla Inn & Club," said Kristi Fowler, public relations and special events manager of the Gasparilla Inn & Club
Article Photos
Gasparilla Inn General Manager Jack Damioli with Sarah Farish.
The historic resort will play host its seventh annual community open house the night before its 99th grand opening Oct. 11.
Executive Chef Peter Timmins and his culinary team will once again lead a behind-the-scenes tour of the renovated main kitchen.
The island season unofficially opens each year as the Gasparilla Inn & Club resumes full-scale operations. Many snowbirds return to the island just to attend the open house and hundreds of rounder residents stroll in to see what the Inn has in store.
Fact Box
To Go (W/Gasparilla Inn & Club logo)
What: The Gasparilla Inn & Club open house
When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10
Where: 500 Palm Ave.
Why: Insight in Inn operations and renovations
Contact: (941) 964-4500 or (877) 403-0599
The stars of the show tend to be the creative team of Timmins and last year was a good example. The crowds filing through the gleaming kitchen were treated to tapas-style appetizers, entrees and desserts from a kitchen crew that took three days to prepare the bounty.
Six separate hors d'oeuvres were offered with 350 portions apiece and all were gone before two hours was up. Same for the 350 dessert portions and 1,000 cookies.
Highlights included rabbit confit on white bean puree, crab fritter with yellow tomato gazpacho, a seared tuna carpaccio with garbonzo bean salad, exotic fruit panna cotta and pineapple upside-down cake
Fowler said island residents and anyone from the surrounding communities is welcome to enjoy the Inn's hospitality and explore the newest restorations.
Information will be available about The Inn and related facilities such as the Main Dining Room, Pink Elephant Restaurant, The Inn Bakery, BZ's or The Outlet Restaurant at The Innlet on the Waterfront Motel.
