When Monty came flying in

This year's first delivery of fresh stone crabs was delivered to Coconut Grove on Thursday morning by Coconut Grove's own Monty Trainor, founder of Monty's Seafood Restaurant and president of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. Monty flew into Peacock Park, via HMC Helicopter Services, with the first batch of stone crabs, to announce the Coconut Grove Seafood Festival, which is Sunday, October 18, at Peacock Park. 

That's Javi Zayas, playing the part of the security guard, keeping an eye on those stone crabs, with Monty.

Monty's been busy this week, he was up north, closing his inn down (I always tell him I picture him as Bob Newhart answering the phone behind the desk at his New England inn) and the Arts Festival is wrapping up this week's judging for February's Arts Festival.

Stone Crab Season officially starts today. The first delivery of the season is such a treasure, that Monty arrived in style with his security detail carrying the beloved stone crabs in a metal suitcase, handcuffed to his wrist.

“This scarcity of stone crabs during the off-season is finally coming to an end, which means we can go back to boosting our local economy and enjoying every bite,” said Tony Albelo, Seafood Festival organizer.

For three years, the festival has brought together all kinds of seafood vendors offering bushels of shrimp, oysters, crawfish, lobster, fish, clams and of course, stone crabs. The Casablanca Fish Market will overflow with fish from around the world that folks can select, purchase and take home after they’ve had their fill at the festival. The Kitchen Lab will feature cooking demos by popular South Florida restaurants, and the Shipwrecked Oyster Lounge presented by The Rum Line and Lure Fishbar will offer live oyster shucking and bites by Chef John Iatrellis and cocktails by Rob Ferrara.

Javi, Monty and Tony Albelo show off the first catch of the season.

The Family Fun Zone makes this festival good for the entire family, who will also enjoy the constant stream of live music including calypso, steel drum, island escapism and reggae.

To access the festival, there is a $20 fee at the door. Children 12 years and under enter for free. For up-to-the-minute news, “Like” their Facebook page at facebook.com/CoconutGroveSeafoodFestival. Follow them on Twitter at @GroveSeafood.