Find your own Kokomo with these tropical treats and island-inspired sips

My mom once frequented the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort on Longboat Key, a place so legendary that it practically shimmered in the Florida sun. One particular evening, she and her gal pals were busy minding their own business and sipping champagne. 

Suddenly, Mom felt someone behind her. Simultaneously holding her glass and clutching her purse, she inched closer to the Monkey Bar in an effort to avoid the stranger. The bartender calmly leaned in and whispered, “Do you know who that is? He's not trying to steal your bag."

It was Brian Wilson. Not a pickpocket. Just a Beach Boy looking for a seat and perhaps a conversation with a woman who I imagine was one of the most beautiful at the bar.

Wilson had left the Beach Boys by the time "Kokomo" climbed the charts in 1988, fueled by the movie "Cocktail" starring Tom Cruise. Kokomo is actually a town in Indiana, but according to the hit song, it's a place "off the Florida Keys" filled with "cocktails and moonlit nights."

In honor of National Coconut Day (June 26) we’re raising a toast to the late, great Beach Boy, who died June 11, and the endless summer that lives forever in my mom's heart.

Duck Donuts

1580 Lakefront Drive, Unit 102, Sarasota; 941-357-4400; DuckDonuts.com

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Coco-nuts for: the Sand Dollar ($2.75) donut made with vanilla icing, topped with toasted coconut and powdered sugar. If you're one of my three loyal readers, you know I just wrote about donuts. While it's tough for me to admit, I missed this delicious donut spot. So here we are: dig in. 

Beach, please: Get your tastebuds happy with the Lemon Coconut ($2.75) donut with lemon icing and toasted coconut or the Coconut Island Bliss ($2.75) with chocolate icing, peanuts and more layers of tasty toasted coconut.

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar

6562 University Parkway, Suite 110 Pad D, Sarasota; 941-337-0568; TommyBahama.com

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Coco-nuts for: the coconut cloud cocktail. Made with 1.5 oz. vanilla-flavored vodka, 1.5 oz. coconut-flavored rum, 1 oz. white rum, 1/2 oz. Coco López and rimmed with toasted coconut flakes for garnish, this cocktail will have you reeling in some good vibrations or feeling like you're surfin' U.S.A. right there in Lakewood Ranch. Good news? Happy hour at the bar is 3-6 p.m daily.

Beach, please: Not feeling the cocktail scene this summer? We (not necessarily me) but some other local foodies would totally understand. Bite into the world famous coconut shrimp with papaya-mango chutney ($14) for a tangy, crunchy and coco-nutty taste of the tropics.

Siesta Key Rum

2212 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota; 941-702-8143; SiestaKeyRum.com

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Coco-nuts for: a local distillery. Pick up the Siesta Key toasted coconut rum 750 ml ($26.99) bottle to make a cocktail as fun as summer should be. Mix 9 oz. Siesta Key toasted coconut rum, 12 oz. cream of coconut, 12 oz. water, 9 oz. whipped cream vodka, 9 oz. key lime juice and 3 oz. hazelnut liqueur and — boom, you're in a place called Kokomo.

Beach, please: Want to take your cocktail up a notch? Add dollops of whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs and all the tart key lime slices you can get your hands on.

Duval's Fresh. Local. Seafood

435 Main St., Sarasota; 941-312-4001; DuvalsFreshLocalSeafood.com

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Coco-nuts for: coconut curry mussels ($17 and up) with scallions, sesame seeds and toasted coconut red curry. This downtown hot spot serves up this crave-worthy dish that brings on the heat and island vibes with the perfect sprinkle of toasted coconut for the right hint of tropical crunch.

Beach, please: If you've gotten this far in the article as a non-coconut fan, here's your moment — join Duval's for Savor Sarasota now through June 30 and enjoy non-coconut feature courses for both lunch and dinner. 

Passion Roots

7650 S. Tamiami Trail, No. 1, Sarasota; 941-706-1361; ToastTab.com/online/passionroots

Coco-nuts for: the Island Matcha ($7). This energizing, tropical sip is made with crisp coconut water and ceremonial grade matcha, crowned with a light, dreamy coconut cloud. It's a refreshing, vegan-friendly escape in every glass.

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Beach, please: Fuel your day with an ocean bowl ($15) blending banana, pineapple, coconut water and spirulina into a nutrient-packed base. It's finished with crunchy gluten-free granola, fresh fruits, almond butter and a sprinkle of coconut flakes.