Stop counting calories: It's time for the Taste of Collier

Save your appetite for the 26th annual Taste of Collier coming up Sunday, May 3, at Bayfront. From noon to 4 p.m., 35 area restaurants will serve samples of their most popular menu items. In between bites of things like lobster salad sliders and Fenway franks, feast on cooking and ice-carving demonstrations and live entertainment throughout the afternoon.

At 1:15 p.m., Naples Mayor Bill Barnett will conduct a live auction of this year's poster art by Nora Butler depicting a colorful shrimp and stone crab cocktail with sunset over the pier at its center. The day's live entertainment schedule includes Queen Sheba and the Lemon Heads from noon to 1 p.m.; the Seagate Elementary School Drummers, 1-1:30 p.m.; Casey Weston, 1:30-2:30 p.m., and Mike Simons' World Fusion, 3-4 p.m.

Participating restaurants are: Bella Maria, Bianchi's, Bonefish Grill, The Capital Grille, Costco Bakery, Dish and Escalante Hotel, Emack and Bolio's, Fernandez the Bull, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, Foxboro Sports Tavern, The Greek Gourmet, HB's on the Gulf, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Jet's Pizza, The Keg Steakhouse, Long John Silver's, M Waterfront Grille, McCormick & Schmick's, Miller's Naples Ale Houe, Moe's Southwest Grill, Olio, P.J. Skinny's, Pincher's, Planet Smoothie, Roy's, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Sam Snead's Tavern, Shark's Cavern, SMH Catering, Stoney's Steakhouse, Tavern on the Bay, The Pub at Strada Place, Tropical Ice, UFood Grill and ZiZi.

COURTESY PHOTO The crowd at Taste 2008. Admission to the Taste of Collier is $5 per person, with children 5 and younger's admitted free; tastes cost anywhere from $2 to $5.

Taste of Collier started 26 years ago when a few local members of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association decided they wanted to express their gratitude for the year 'round residents who patronize their dining establishments. In the years since, the event has raised more than $600,000 for area charities.

Proceeds from this year's Taste will benefit the Collier County chapter of the American Red Cross and St. Matthew's House, as well as scholarship funds for local culinary and hospitality students. For more information, visit www.tasteofcollier.org.

If you go

>>What: The 26th annual Taste of Collier >>Where: Bayfront, corner of Goodlette-Frank Road and Fifth Avenue South >>When: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, May 3 >>Cost: Admission, $5 per person (children 5 and under admitted free); tastes, $3-$5 each

>>Parking: Free at the site of the former Grand Central Station >>Info: www.tasteofcollier.org .. Eat up!

>>Here's a taste of what's on the menu: Boneless chicken wings Baby back ribs Tacos and burritos Roasted garlic purple mashed potatoes with Cajun shrimp Grilled chicken Caesar salad Crab and spinach dip Mozzarella caprese Sliced filet with cippolini onions and fig essence Lobster mac 'n' cheese Maryland style crab cakes Fenway franks Lobster salad sliders Lollipop lamb chops Southwest rib eye with black bean salsa

>>Save room for dessert: Chocolate hazelnut mousse Mediterranean monster smoothie Chocolate raspberry mousse cup Captain Jack's Buried Treasure ice cream cake Baklava