Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel celebrates National Yucatán Shrimp Day on May 24 with a little run for fun – a 7K race in honor of the seven key ingredients in its signature dish on its signature day.
“Doc Ford’s started National Yucatán Shrimp Day in 2020,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the restaurant’s parent company. “We applied to National Day Calendar as a unique way to recognize our popular Yucatán Shrimp and were selected from thousands of applications. As season winds down, this race is a fun and festive way for the local community to reconnect and have a great time.”
A mainstay on the restaurant’s menu for over 20 years, the iconic dish pairs steamed peel-and-eat shrimp with a savory spicy sauce made from butter, fresh Key lime juice, garlic, cilantro, Colombian chili pepper sambal, salt and pepper. The sauce also brings out the flavors in baked oysters, a bloody Mary and the new fried Yucatán chicken sandwich.
Runners and walkers can get an early start on the National Yucatán Shrimp Day festivities during the 7K race Saturday, May 24, at 7:30 a.m. The Sanibel run starts and finishes at the restaurant and includes live music, food, drinks and a photo booth. The entry fee is $40. Kids, ages 10 and under, race free. Race packet pickup is available 3-7 p.m. from Wednesday, May 21, to Friday, May 23, at the Doc Ford’s on both Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, as well as Fleet Feet Fort Myers in Bell Tower Shops. Race packets will also be available for pick up the morning of the race at 6 a.m. Everyone who signs up to participate in the race is automatically entered for a chance to win a Doc Ford’s customized YETI cooler.
Awards will be presented to the top finishers in each age group, overall winners and the most spirited runner. Costumes are encouraged, and net proceeds benefit the SCCF Sea School. The winner of the YETI giveaway will also be announced at the end of the race.
For more information or to register for the run, visit runsignup.com/docfordsnationalyucatanshrimpday7k. Additional details about Doc Ford’s National Yucatán Shrimp Day will also be announced in April.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Doc Ford’s is renowned for delivering a legendary guest experience. The award-winning restaurant offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim. Known for its sauces, spices and passion, Doc Ford’s is beloved by locals and visitors alike as a spectacular seafood restaurant and is a perennial Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner. The St. Petersburg Pier was named the No. 1 Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.
Philanthropy and community outreach are engrained in HM Restaurant Group’s company philosophy. Proceeds from specialty cocktails at Doc Ford’s raise money for children’s hospitals and water quality issues. HM Restaurant Group also supports local nonprofits dedicated to conservation, community and the environment. The “Ding” Darling Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has raised nearly $1.3 million for Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge since 2012. The 13th annual tournament is May 9, 2024.
