Commencing last week, phase 1 restrictions were expanded a bit. Restaurants were allowed to open for more than take-out food. They were allowed to Seat at 25 percent occupancy if a safe distance of 6 feet was in-place. The outdoor seating was also allowed at the same spacing. Our beaches have reopened with controlled parking. The rules for being at the beaches loosened up and people were allowed in small Family groups. People are allowed in the water and again distancing was expected. Also hair salons and barbershops as well as nail salons were allowed to reopen with many safeguards in place. Retail stores were allowed to reopen with certain restrictions With regard to space and numbers.
On Wednesday I suggested to John that it would be nice to take a ride along our beautiful beaches just to see the Gulf of Mexico again. Our local beach and the nearest beach is on beautiful Anna Maria Island. We cruised along the beach and every parking spot was full. We can drive all the way along the coast from Anna Maria Island to Sarasota. It is a 17-mile coastal drive. I cannot describe how wonderful it was to once again see the beauty that surrounds us. We decided to drive all the way along the gulf through Long Boat Key and into Saint Armands Circle on Sarasota Bay.
As we approached St. Armand’s circle, I suggested that we have lunch at my favorite Cuban restaurant, Columbia. They have covered sidewalk tables and umbrellas. Unfortunately, it was not yet open. As we rounded the circle to head over the bridge into the city, there were people eating al fresco at patio tables placed along the front sidewalk and side garden of Crab and Fin Seafood Restaurant. It’s a pricey restaurant and we had not ever eaten there before. It looked so wonderful, like a scene from an old Grace Kelly movie with everyone sitting on the patio and sidewalk enjoying their lunch. John and I decided, “what the heck? Why not.“ We parked the car and walked up. There was a man sitting on a stool playing classical guitar. At the entrance there was A table with mask gloves and hand sanitizer. We had our own masks on. Almost all of the patrons had masks on removing them only to eat. We were shown to our seats and were warmly greeted by a server. He had a beautiful Italian accent. He was masked and gloved. He brought us the menu which was printed on a legal size piece of paper and was thrown away after we ordered. We ordered drinks and perused the seafood choices. The Great Brit, being a great Brit, ordered the fish and chips and I ordered Cobia that had been caught that morning and brought in straight from the docks. The Cobia was served with fresh asparagus and roasted fingerling potatoes. I ordered the fish pan seared with a brown butter sauce. I’ve had lots of fish in lots of places all over the world, but this was the best fish I have ever had. It was so fresh it was practically flopping around on my plate. There were no condiments such as salt, pepper, or malt vinegar on the individual tables. There was no bread and butter brought to the table in a basket. Individual tiny loaves of bread we brought out on a plate with our meals. When requested, the server brought out salt, pepper, and malt vinegar in little sort of take-out packets. After we had eaten, we have no room for dessert. However, when the server brought our bill, he also brought two good-sized wedges of grilled pineapple dipped halfway in melted chocolate. It was heavenly. Cash was not accepted for payment only credit cards as paper money is unsanitary. It was very strange to look around at other tables seeing people in masks except when they were eating.
Everything about our luncheon dining experience was wonderful. In the past three months we have had only one pizza delivered and nothing else. After sitting in the sun underneath a beautiful market umbrella over a wrought iron table and eating such food, I felt human again. I felt free. It was amazing to me. Oh my spirits were lifted by such a thing as a lunch outside. I didn’t realize that I had just come to accept the restrictions placed on us by state regulations and our own desires to stay safe. It’s difficult to adequately describe what a difference this experience made. We went home, refreshed in both body and spirit. It gave me renewed hope for the future.
On Wednesday I suggested to John that it would be nice to take a ride along our beautiful beaches just to see the Gulf of Mexico again. Our local beach and the nearest beach is on beautiful Anna Maria Island. We cruised along the beach and every parking spot was full. We can drive all the way along the coast from Anna Maria Island to Sarasota. It is a 17-mile coastal drive. I cannot describe how wonderful it was to once again see the beauty that surrounds us. We decided to drive all the way along the gulf through Long Boat Key and into Saint Armands Circle on Sarasota Bay.
As we approached St. Armand’s circle, I suggested that we have lunch at my favorite Cuban restaurant, Columbia. They have covered sidewalk tables and umbrellas. Unfortunately, it was not yet open. As we rounded the circle to head over the bridge into the city, there were people eating al fresco at patio tables placed along the front sidewalk and side garden of Crab and Fin Seafood Restaurant. It’s a pricey restaurant and we had not ever eaten there before. It looked so wonderful, like a scene from an old Grace Kelly movie with everyone sitting on the patio and sidewalk enjoying their lunch. John and I decided, “what the heck? Why not.“ We parked the car and walked up. There was a man sitting on a stool playing classical guitar. At the entrance there was A table with mask gloves and hand sanitizer. We had our own masks on. Almost all of the patrons had masks on removing them only to eat. We were shown to our seats and were warmly greeted by a server. He had a beautiful Italian accent. He was masked and gloved. He brought us the menu which was printed on a legal size piece of paper and was thrown away after we ordered. We ordered drinks and perused the seafood choices. The Great Brit, being a great Brit, ordered the fish and chips and I ordered Cobia that had been caught that morning and brought in straight from the docks. The Cobia was served with fresh asparagus and roasted fingerling potatoes. I ordered the fish pan seared with a brown butter sauce. I’ve had lots of fish in lots of places all over the world, but this was the best fish I have ever had. It was so fresh it was practically flopping around on my plate. There were no condiments such as salt, pepper, or malt vinegar on the individual tables. There was no bread and butter brought to the table in a basket. Individual tiny loaves of bread we brought out on a plate with our meals. When requested, the server brought out salt, pepper, and malt vinegar in little sort of take-out packets. After we had eaten, we have no room for dessert. However, when the server brought our bill, he also brought two good-sized wedges of grilled pineapple dipped halfway in melted chocolate. It was heavenly. Cash was not accepted for payment only credit cards as paper money is unsanitary. It was very strange to look around at other tables seeing people in masks except when they were eating.
Everything about our luncheon dining experience was wonderful. In the past three months we have had only one pizza delivered and nothing else. After sitting in the sun underneath a beautiful market umbrella over a wrought iron table and eating such food, I felt human again. I felt free. It was amazing to me. Oh my spirits were lifted by such a thing as a lunch outside. I didn’t realize that I had just come to accept the restrictions placed on us by state regulations and our own desires to stay safe. It’s difficult to adequately describe what a difference this experience made. We went home, refreshed in both body and spirit. It gave me renewed hope for the future.
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