Chef of the Week: Todd Kelleran, The Bearded Clam Waterfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar

Name: Todd Kelleran

Title: Chef

Restaurant: The Bearded Clam Waterfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar, 7150 N. Tamiami Trail

Contact Info: 941-355-2600, www.thebeardedclamsarasota.com

Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday brunch, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Specialty: Specialty sandwiches, burgers, seafood, and dinner entrees

How long have you been cooking? 36 years, I started at the Pirates Galley on Longboat Key, which is now Ophilia’s. I started cooking by watching my mother. She was a great cook. I would tag along behind her and see what she was doing.
Do you cook at home? Sometimes. I like to barbecue more than anything else.

What is your favorite comfort food? Fried chicken, I just love fried chicken.

Other than your restaurant, where else do you like to eat in Bradenton? Working in the restaurant business I don’t get out much.

A message from Chef Todd: I've been doing this for 36 years and just want people to enjoy my food.

Other information: The Beaded Clam is named after the groovy surf shacks of the 1960s. Located in the Ramada Waterfront Hotel, two miles north of University Parkway, the restaurant has a tropical theme. From the Tiki Bar on the deck you can watch the beautiful sunsets. There are daily dinner specials, which can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors. Happy hours are everyday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. There is live entertainment every evening. The restaurant is accessible by boat, and there is a heated swimming pool.