Food & Drink
Ringling Picnic – Food Truck Lot in Downtown Sarasota!
By TWIS Street Team on February 21, 2012
Ringling Picnic - An Outdoor Dining Experience - is a collection of the area's finest food trucks. No fair food here - just artisan, gourmet food served simply, to be eaten outside at our picnic tables or taken with you. They keep things interesting with new menus and trucks rotating in and out, so like their page so you can keep up with them! [yframe
People Are Talking About Maximo’s South African Fusion Cuisine
By Jack Littman-Quinn on February 16, 2012
[caption id="attachment_8166" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Durban Lamb Stew"][/caption] Everything old is new again ... such is the case with Maximo. Originally located on Siesta Key, Maximo was a local favorite which closed a number of years ago. Now reopened in a charming old building next door to the Sarasota Opera House at 1296 1st St., Maximo is
Join TWIS for Belles at the Shell
By Blonde out of Water on February 16, 2012
Photo by Cliff Roles. You know me as Blonde Out of Water, a single gal trying to find her way in this quirky little town by the sea. I have a group of girlfriends who have few precious hours unchained from their desks, and we have decided we're tired of Little Black Dress night! Blonde faithfuls know I hosted a girls’ night out at the Half Shell Oyster House on
Get to Know the Sarasota Opera: Kathleen Kim
By Kaye Warr - The Dining Diva on February 16, 2012
Kathleen Kim will debut as Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti on Saturday at The Sarasota Opera House. The beautiful and vivacious performer sits across from me smiling and a little breathless. She’s been rehearsing and I’ve had the pleasure of her voice as background music during my previous interviews. Dining Diva: Where are you from? Kathleen
Jpan to Open Second Location in Lakewood Ranch
By Candice McElyea on February 15, 2012
If you live in Sarasota and are a sushi fan, you have most likely been to J-Pan. This super yummy sushi and Asian/Brazilian fusion restaurant is getting ready to open a second location on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. We decided to talk with Jane, one of the owners, and of course sample some sushi. I can tell you this: Lakewood Ranch is in for amazing flavors and great
A Preview of Darwin’s On 4th Brewery
By TWIS Street Team on February 14, 2012
This Week In Sarasota gets a backstage pass to downtown Sarasota's only brewery, coming soon to beer aficionados at Darwin's On 4th. Brewmaster Jared Barnes gives us a preview of the tasty original libations he's busy crafting to complement the amazing food---which you've surely sampled by now? If not, the plates presented in this video may inspire a beeline to 4th
Fourteen Restaurants for Valentine’s Day Dining
By TWIS Street Team on February 12, 2012
“Cooking is like love: it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” - Harriet Van Horne, Vogue 10/1956 How true for all the lovers of food and the people who love them! Choosing a special place to dine on Valentine's Day can create a dilemma for fervent foodies. Where to go? What special menu to taste? Depending upon the couple, many factors may be
A Love Letter to Sarasota and to Brendan Carroll
By Kaye Warr - The Dining Diva on February 10, 2012
[caption id="attachment_7619" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="A kiss outside the Sports Page."][/caption] Today it has been five years since we met for drinks at Mattison’s City Grille. You were impressed that I was drinking a Guinness at the bar when you arrived (I studied your facebook pictures beforehand and noticed your penchant for the dark Irish
Savory Never Tasted So Sweet
By Kaye Warr - The Dining Diva on February 9, 2012
Nestled on the corner of an unassuming street one block north of downtown Sarasota is a charming gem known as The Savory Street International Café and Bakery. I have yet to visit Savory Street during daylight hours, though I am told that the bakery is superb and that the breakfast is as delicious as the lunch is delectable. So far, I've only had the pleasure of sampling
Forks, Corks and Disheveled Hair
By Blonde out of Water on February 6, 2012
The bacchanalia were rites originally held in ancient Greece to honor the god Dionysus. By the time these festivals spread to southern Italy, though banned by the Senate, they were held in secret and attended only by women. The historian Livy described the shenanigans that took place at these raucus girl-power celebrations. These wild women danced around with “hair
Darwin’s on 4th
By Kaye Warr - The Dining Diva on February 4, 2012
Darwin Santa Maria is a man in a state of constant motion. Even when standing still, he exudes an energetic passion that causes the air to ripple and hum around him. He is a talented and dedicated chef, and his latest venture Darwin’s on 4th is finally the perfect showcase for his unique culinary point of view. My first visit to Darwin’s on 4th is a blur of
Get to Know the Sarasota Opera: Michael Sakir
By Kaye Warr - The Dining Diva on February 4, 2012
Michael Sakir is the assistant conductor that will be helping to bring both Otello and Carmen to life this season at the Sarasota Opera House. Sakir is a dynamic and innovative musician whose collaborations with living composers have yielded pieces that challenge conceptions and conventions about age and contemporary relevance in classical music. Dining Diva:
The Dining Diva’s Big Game Picks
By Kaye Warr - The Dining Diva on February 2, 2012
My criteria for any sporting event viewing are as follows: Wall-mounted TVs Delicious food Plenty to drink (must stay hydrated) Social atmosphere With that in mind, on Sunday I will be at one of the following three locations: 1. Fleming’s – a personal must-do for any celebration, Fleming’s is doing Sunday right with a three-course prime rib
2012 Forks & Corks Grand Tasting: Sarasota’s Showcase for Food, Fun, Wine and Weather
By Jack Littman-Quinn on February 2, 2012
Everyone loves a party, especially one done in grand style. Such was the case for the 2012 Forks and Corks Grand Tasting held on Sunday, Jan. 29. The 5th Annual Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival was hosted by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals and made possible through event sponsors, donors and business partners. Sarasota’s culinary creativity, range and
Get to Know the Sarasota Opera: Carlos Monzón
By Kaye Warr - The Dining Diva on January 31, 2012
Carlos Monzón will be playing the role of Escamillo in Georges Bizet’s Carmen, opening on Feb. 11, 2012 at the Sarasota Opera House. I sat down with the man who will perform as the sexy bullfighter who romances the leading lady (with tragic consequences), and discovered a warm, dedicated family man with a passion for food, music and travel. Dining Diva:
