First Annual Grouper Week in St Pete, Clearwater

Who needs Shark Week when we have the first ever Grouper Week in St Pete / Clearwater! From July 5-July 12, we are celebrating a friendlier, tastier denizen of the deep during its first-ever destination wide seafood promotion, Grouper Week.

From grouper dishes at area restaurants, to fishing charters that let you catch your own, to a selection of original grouper recipes from Florida's top chef, Grouper Week has something for every seafood lover around.

"Rather than highlighting a wide range of dishes during a generic restaurant week, we wanted to focus on what makes our culinary scene unique," said Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Executive Director David Downing. "And one thing we have in abundance is grouper, prepared in many different styles and presented at all price points."

My husband and I attended the kickoff to this week long celebration at the brand new Stillwaters Tavern. Executive Chef Jeffrey Jew cooked up some delicious seared black grouper while Chef Justin Timineri from the Florida Department of Agriculture discussed the white flaky fish. "Grouper is a great example of the incredible bounty of high-quality seafood we have here in Florida," said Timineri, who is the only state-appointed chef in the country. "Not only is our Gulf seafood a truly authentic local offering for visitors, but it's a major economic driver for Floridians as well."

There are 31 area businesses participating in Grouper Week.

1 Caretta on the Gulf | Grouper Tacos

2 Caretta on the Gulf | Black Grouper

3 Sea Sea Riders | Crab Crusted Grouper

4 Mystic Fish | Seared Black Grouper

5 Tate Island Grill | Caribbean Grouper Sandwich

6 Current's | Poached Grouper

7 Current's | Grouper Picatta

8 Sea Sea Riders | Beer Battered Grouper Sandwich

9 Sea Sea Riders | Tempura Grouper Cheeks

10 Sea Sea Riders | Vanilla Rum Glazed Grouper

11 Castile Restaurant | Gulf Black Grouper

12 Castile Restaurant | Black Grouper Cheeks

13 Sea Porch Cafe | Blackened Gulf Grouper

14 Parkshore Grill | Pan Roasted Grouper and Grits

15 SHOR | Black Grouper

16 Aqua Prime | Oven Roasted Imperial Grouper

17 RumFish Grill | Bronzed Grouper Sandwich

18 TradeWinds Island Grand Resort | Florida Grouper

19 TradeWinds Island Grand Resort | Grilled Grouper

20 Bon Appetit | Grouper

21 Bon Appetit | Grouper Sandwich for Two

22 Frenchy's | Famous Grouper Sandwich

23 Maximo Seafood Shack | Grouper Salad

24 Maximo Seafood Shack | Grouper Sandwich

25 Maximo Seafood Shack | Grouper Bites

26 Stillwaters Tavern | Seared Black Grouper

27 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House | Toasted Macadamia Crusted Grouper

28 Fresh from Florida's | Pan Roasted Grouper Stack

29 Hubbard's Marina | Grouper Tabbouleh

30 Hubbard's Marina | Snowy Grouper Oscar

31 Salty Dog Charters | Stuffed Grouper

- See more at: www.GrouperWeek.com