Serving Up Souper Bowl 2025

Delectable soups aren’t piping hot and ready to serve yet, but the time for Souper Bowl 2025 is just around the corner.  

The annual fundraiser for the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce and its Leadership Marco Scholarship Fund benefits the island’s graduating seniors who are moving on higher education. 

As always, Mackle Park will be the setting for the February8 community event, which is marking its tenth year. From 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, attendees will be able to purchase one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls, hand-crafted and painted by Marco Island school children, as well as community members. The bowls can then be filled with sumptuous soups prepared and donated by the Marco eateries which have volunteered to be part of the event.  

Hear from four of the restaurants taking part in this year’s Souper Bowl with a glimpse into their soup selections, as well as the restaurants themselves. 

Anthony Newton, Corporate G.M. for Sandbar and 844 Gulf & Prime 

When did your restaurant open: Sandbar has been open for 39 years on Marco Island. It has been a go-to spot for the locals and tourists alike, providing live entertainment and sports, and first-class food and drinks. 

How would you describe your restaurant: Sandbar is a classic sports bar, with numerous televisions, the coldest beer in town, happy hour seven days a week, and late night food and live entertainment weekly. 

Why do you take part in Souper Bowl: We take part in the event because of the scholarship fund that it provides to the children of the island. Deserving students need to be recognized for the hard work they put in. 

Why are such events important to the community: These events matter to us most as the children are our future. They need to see how organizations like this benefit others and hopefully they carry the tradition on for future students 

What soup will you prepare: Sandbar will be preparing turkey lasagna soup again this year. We made it last year and it was a huge hit. We sold out early, but we were fine with it because of the response we received. 

Can you provide any information on the soup’s ingredients: This particular recipe is kept private, as it has been in our family for generations. 

What makes your restaurant stand out: Locals, locals, locals make our restaurant stand out. It’s kind of like “Cheers,” where everybody knows your name. Our food is top quality, staff outstanding, cocktails are built for the restaurant and the live entertainment brings everyone together in the evenings. 

What are some of your favorite dishes on your menu: All-you-can-eat crab legs, buffalo wings and jalapeno-crusted grouper are just a few of my favorite menu items. But mind you, the whole menu is very good. 

What are your restaurant's hours and days of operation: Sandbar is open seven days a week, 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM except for Friday and Saturday, when we close at 2:00 AM. Happy hour is seven days a week, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. There’s also a late-night happy hour on Friday and Saturday from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM. 

Mango’s Dockside Bistro Management Team 

When did your restaurant open: Mango’s has been local family owned and operated since 2011.  

How would you describe your restaurant: Mango’s is family friendly with a fun tropical atmosphere. We’re a come-as-you-are kind of place but expect the food to be great!  

Why do you take part in Souper Bowl: Marco Island is our home and we love to give back in any way we can, especially when it comes to supporting the youth on our island.  

Why are such events important to the community: Events like the Souper Bowl are so important because they remind the youth and families of our community that they’re valued! We love coming together and seeing familiar local businesses, year after year, supporting each other and our community.  

What soup will you prepare: Chicken tortilla soup. 

Can you provide any information on the soup’s ingredients: Certainly. We use a variety of vegetables, such as diced tomatoes, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, corn, carrots, peppers, cilantro, chicken meat and broth, and spices and we top it with corn tortilla strips.  

What makes your restaurant stand out: Mango’s is one of the very few waterfront restaurants on Marco Island. We have panoramic views of Smokehouse Bay and the marina, and we are known for having an extensive menu with something for everyone!  

What are some of your favorite dishes on your menu: We’re definitely known for our fresh black grouper and salads like the Key West and Honey Sesame, but if you ask me - get the sushi! Our Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl is by far the best on the Island.  

What are your restaurant's hours and days of operation: Currently we are open seven days a week, 11:00 AM to9:00 PM, Monday through Friday, serving lunch and dinner, and from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Saturday and Sunday, serving breakfast too. After Easter, we’ll stop serving breakfast, but stay open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.  

Chef Joe Gargano - The Italian Deli and Market 

When did your restaurant open: The Italian Deli and Market has been open on the island since 1997. We've been at our 902 Park Ave. location since 2021. 

How would you describe your restaurant: A casual pizzeria, Italian restaurant and deli, with your favorite Italian foods available for dine-in, delivery, or carry-out, and a full bar. 

Why do you take part in Souper Bowl: We love supporting our city and Marco Island's next generation. 

Why are such events important to the community: The best of Marco Island is when we come together to support common causes. Marco Island is a special place to live, work and visit. We want Marco Island's next generation to love our island as much as we do! 

What soup will you prepare: Stracciatella all a Romana soup. 

Can you provide any information on the soup’s ingredients: Eggs. pasta, cheese, vegetables and more. 

What makes your restaurant stand out: We offer a casual and fun atmosphere with top-quality food for lunch and dinner, with live music in the evenings. 

What are some of your favorite dishes on your menu: Our three pizza varieties of NY-style thin crust, deep dish Sicilian-style and Neapolitan-style will keep you coming back for more! Our Italian sandwich on ciabatta, Penne ala Vodka and Fire Roasted Wings are longtime customer favorites! 

What are your restaurant's hours and days of operation: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Friday and Saturday. 

Corey Hepburn, Executive Chef, Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa 

When did your restaurant open: The Hilton Marco Island Resort and Spa opened in 1985, but recently underwent a $60 million transformation that was completed at the end of 2019. 

How would you describe your restaurant: A boutique style resort with a restaurant focused on local, sustainable seafood and produce offerings, rotating seasonal ingredients -island style redefined! 

Why do you take part in Souper Bowl: The Hilton has been considered by many to be a part of the very fabric of our community here on Marco Island. We intend to carry on that notion by helping to support the youth of our community through this important event. We are honored to have been invited back to take part year after year.  

Why are such events important to the community: Community events foster a sense of belonging and help to build relationships that nurture and strengthen those bonds. In this case, I think it supports the youth of our community by providing an opportunity for self-growth and a means for building their future.  

What soup will you prepare: Cream of Mushroom Miso with Wild Rice (**Vegan **Dairy Free)            

Can you provide any information on the soup’s ingredients: A vegan-friendly recipe that is plant-based and dairy-free. It contains cashews that are used to help create the creaminess in this soup.  

What makes your restaurant stand out: Gulf and beachfront views across the entire restaurant. 

What are your restaurant's hours and days of operation: We are open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily, including holidays.