Backwaters News
December 2006 - Waterfront Steaks and Local Seafood
Healthier Fried Foods
0% Trans Fat in Fryer Oils
Chef Mark Carey has announced that all deep fried foods will be prepared with fryer oils that do not contain any trans fat. Conscientious restaurants are concerned about healthier options for customers without sacrificing flavor.
Backwaters has actually been using the new oil for several weeks without any noticeable difference or customer complaints about foods tasting different. A process called hydrogenation produces “bad” fats (trans fats) that seem to be the culprits associated with clogged arteries and high cholesterol counts. Researching and testing oils that are not hydrogenated can be challenging. The vast majority of all oils contain trans fats including margarines and many common cooking oils. Trans fats also have been found to flush “good” oils from your system which multiplies their damage.
Chili Cookoff Date Set
January 28, 2007—Second Annual Chili Contest
The word is Carl is adding a few “tweeks” to his blue ribbon chili recipe. Many others are already practicing their skills and trying out new flavor combinations for the Chili Cookoff. Can Carl hold his title? Find out January 28th at 3 PM. Join the fun at Backwater’s Second Annual Chili Cookoff. Rules and entry forms will be available the first of January.
The St. Petersburg Times ran this headline on December 6th.
The Truth about Grouper!
Restaurants try to fool customers.
The headline below was one of several depicting the lack of regulation in the sale, labeling and false representations made about Florida’s prize fish resource - gulf grouper. Early in the fall Time’s reporters investigated many well known restaurants who advertised grouper on their menus. DNA tests showed that the majority of fish tested were NOT gulf grouper despite ads to the contrary.
Many of the restaurants tried to blame suppliers for mislabeling the products. While suppliers DO intentionally sell fish that are falsely labeled grouper, any seafood restaurant who is knowledgeable about fish, cannot mistake Gulf grouper for Pollack, Asian “grouper” and other species being substituted for grouper. There are distinct differences in texture, taste and size of gulf grouper fillets. More likely than not, the restaurants were substituting the products in the name of profits and their dumb-founded excuses make you wonder about the rest of their menu!
One of our local competitors who got caught ran a weekly special offering “All You Could Eat Grouper” on Friday nights for $10.95. It’s highly unlikely that a restaurant would be serving real gulf grouper that costs them about $9.00 per pound as an “all you can eat” special for $10.95!
The first defense to assure yourself you are getting real gulf grouper is common sense. Chances are that you won’t find a fresh grouper sandwich for under $8 to $10. Grouper filets are generally 1/2 inch thick with white flakey texture and mild flavor. Local regulations require a grouper be 22 inches before harvesting.
Backwaters serves only fresh Gulf grouper unless the season is closed in February and parts of March. We then rely on frozen gulf grouper until fresh is available. We inform our customers when this occurs. Eat at restaurants that don’t mislead diners!
BCS Title Game Forces Choice
Backwater’s divided loyalties!
Do you root for the team where you live or your alma mater and the alma mater of your children? The picture below answers the question! The Ohio State - Florida matchup for the national title in college football will be played on January 8, 2007. Join us for a lot of fun and a lot of controversy. It’s all in fun and of course bragging rights for a year. We will have food specials including gator!
Backwaters is not a sportsbar, but hopefully customers will understand this one night departure from normal.
Quiet New Years Eve Planned
Just great food, friends and our “normal” chaos!
The Chef will have exceptional fresh seafood and steak for the evening. The Champagne will flow and friends and neighbors will wish each other the best for the coming year. No bands or entertainment other than the annual television specials. All of us will have the best intentions of making it until midnight for the hats and noisemakers, but alas, most of us won’t! If you are at the stroke of 12, here enjoy a toast on us along with the streamers, confetti and horns.
A Gift on Your Birthday in 2007
Backwaters offers FREE dinner on your birthday!
Just fill out a birthday card to receive a certificate for a FREE dinner on your birthday. We will mail or email a reminder to you before the big day. Your certificate will be good three days before or after the day of your birthday.
See any staff member for your information card or you can go online and send us an email at
backwatersonsandkey.com.
Gift Cards Available
Simplify your Holiday shopping
The gift of great food and fun with friends and neighbors is always the perfect gift. You can purchase gift cards in any denomination from $15 up. We can even mail them for you! Any staff member can assist you or order them online at
backwatersonsandkey.com.
Dates to Remember
December 13th -
Backwaters will close at 6 PM for employee Christmas party.
December 24th -
Annual Eggnog Christmas Eve Cocktails starting at 5 PM. Join us for complimentary homemade eggnog appropriately spiced and spiked for the season.
December 25th -
Backwaters will be closed on Christmas Day so that our staff may enjoy this special day with their families.
December 31st -
Our “Quiet” New Years Eve celebration with great creations from Chef Mark Carey.
January 8th -
Second Annual Chili Cookoff starting at 3 PM. Don’t miss the fun!
National BCS Title Football Game - 7:30 PM, Ohio State University versus Florida University
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