Essential Eats in Charlotte County, Florida

Harvested from the Gulf of Mexico only one claw at a time, stone crab rules local menus during its Oct. 15 through May 15 season. Steamed fresh to a brilliant red and cracked by an expert, these claws are best served chilled with mustard sauce, although melted butter is perfectly acceptable.

The ultimate local dessert is a creamy, tangy treat (with no hint of sweetness if it’s made right). Purists will insist on a graham cracker crust, but coconut macaroon is also delicious.

Charlotte County is among the top producers of this Florida icon with sweet Valencias, navels and tangerines available late October through March. Look for juicy Honeybells in January.

Many area restaurants serve this beer crafted in the Charlotte County town of Punta Gorda, but the opening of the brewery’s tap-room lets you try small-batch introductions and order tasting “flights.”

Locally, Gulf-caught grouper is considered premium fish, revered for its mild flavor and moist white meat. Blackened, grilled, fried, dusted in Cajun seasonings — this fish is prepared and served many ways, whether as an entrée, atop a salad or as a sandwich.

Locals love Cubby’s pressed Cuban sandwiches and extra-large scoops of 20-plus traditional and exotic ice cream flavors (imagine coconut orange pineapple and caramel cashew). Cubby’s quaint building in downtown Punta Gorda feels like a trip back in time.

Pink and sweet, these plump beauties come right from the Gulf to your table — cocktail sauce optional.

Gator meat, usually battered and fried, is just one of those foods you have to try. It’s chewy with a taste of its own (and some say, low in cholesterol).

A “Melon 1” sticker on your watermelon means it was harvested locally by Punta Gorda’s C&L Farm and Packaging. (Florida is the top watermelon producer in the U.S. — you’ll find it fresh in Charlotte County late fall through Memorial Day.)