My yearly winter trip to my sister’s Florida home always features great food. This year, we revisited old favorites and tried some new places.

© THE FISH HOUSE RESTAURANT

The first dinner stop is always The Fish House. Opened in 1994, the original Fish House is located on the water in Bonita Springs and is pet-friendly. More importantly, the food is outstanding. Our meal starts with the fried calamari. My favorite is any of the shrimp dishes with the shrimp and corn chowder. The fish tacos, full of big chunks of super fresh fish, are also awesome, but I can say that for everything on the menu. Finish it with a frozen mango margarita and watch the sunset for a perfect evening. This is a great way to unwind after the flight and to ease into the vacation.

After a day at Fort Myers Beach, we stopped at Nervous Nellies for a snack and beverages. The “famous fried fish tacos” live up to the billing. Overflowing with fish chunks, cabbage and pico de gallo, the tacos are a taste and texture sensation. The soups are hearty, delicious and a perfect accompaniment to any meal. An underrated star on the menu is the mozzarella planks. Lightly fried and deliciously gooey, these are way too big to be called “sticks.”

We made our first visit to Maguro Sushi and Steakhouse. The chef entertained us with his cutlery mastery while preparing our food tableside. This was a fantastic place for my dad to have his first such experience, which he thoroughly enjoyed. We started with a wonderful tuna and avocado roll. Fresh sushi is such a delightful treat. I loved the shrimp fried rice with yum yum sauce and the vegetables were cooked perfectly.

© DeRomo’s Gourmet Market & Restaurant

I am a cannoli elitist. The key to great cannoli is the ricotta filling with a light, slightly crisp shell, and DeRomo’s Gourmet Market and Restaurant nails it. Made fresh daily, the cannoli sell quickly, so we always get there early. DeRomo’s offers a wide selection of sweets as well as a full menu in the restaurant. Despite being surrounded by all sorts of goodies, I have tunnel vision for the cannoli.

One last meal I have to mention wasn’t on any menu, but it was highly enjoyable. Scott and Jean prepared a feast that we ate poolside at their home. It was a relaxing and fitting way to end another trip filled with fantastic food and great fun.

— John Wroblewski, online writer