While living a life reminiscent of the past, the Brinkleys sat around their kitchen table compiling a list of all their favorite foods and recipes, and at the same time joking, “We should really open a restaurant !” Being surrounded by swaying palm trees just outside their expansive sliding doors, stood the panoramic view of the tall, majestic Skyway Bridge. Quietly tucked away on Joe Island in Tampa Bay, the Brinkleys lived the life of Robinson Crusoe.
Daughter Devin, at age 10, and Kyle Jr, age 8, began their young lives on this secluded island. It was lots of fun collecting shells, soaring through the air on 40 ft. tree swings, and enjoying all the water sports imaginable. Not so much fun was their daily chores, among them the worst: fueling the generator every 6 hours to power the 3 story house. During 2004 - 2010, as they resided on Joe Island, the two siblings were homeschooled by their mother, Deanna. Schooling sometimes consisted of writing reports while sitting on the white sandy beach, romping through the island's vegetation looking for a variety of leaves for a science project, or running out to the nearest oyster rock on jet ski to gather up lunch.
Dinners on the Island consisted of freshly caught oysters, clams, and whatever kind of fish Kyle Sr. speared or caught in local waters. Nothing went to waste. The smaller fish were fried whole to utilize all the meat - hence- "The Thai Fry" was born.
With the enactment of new regulations and fishing restrictions, Kyle was forced to diversify his fishing industry. In 2004, he went on the hunt for a waterfront location which was zoned for his commercial activities. Joe Island seemed the perfect place to locate his operation, thus the birth of "Joe Island Clams."
Being raised on Long Island, Kyle grew up with opportunities similar to those of his father, who was also in the clam industry. In 1984, a set of clams sprouted in Melbourne, FL. Kyle packed his gear and headed south - Florida or Bust! Eventually he relocated to the west coast of Florida, adding a new endeavor to his bag of tricks; offshore fishing. By bringing his northern tenacity with him, Kyle built and equipped his own boat, which allowed him to head offshore and return to land all in the same day. This bit of ingenuity made his catch the freshest, most desirable and lucrative around.
He built quite a name and reputation for himself, so much that the local Japanese and Asian restaurants sought his product and advice. After many years of business dealings, a strong relationship was formed, ultimately resulting in 30 years of mentoring on Japanese cuisine, specializing in sushi.
After leaving the island life, Kyle was once again looking for a location to house his ever-growing clam business. Looking for a market to sell his clams, he thought, “Why not also sell fried fish sandwiches and sushi rolls, just like we made while living on the island?” Finally, the decision was made to purchase what was known as Tony D's Sub & Pub, in Palmetto. Utilizing our old recipes and all that was taught by his Japanese mentors, Kyle set forth to see if sleepy Palmetto might be interested in his brand. His ulterior motive was to be able to get a good meal for his family without having to drive either north or south. I think he accomplished his task!!
Stop by THE CLAMHOUSE, wholly owned and operated by the Brinkley family, and check out the variety of cuisine that is served after many years of experimenting and perfecting.
www.theclamhouse.com
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