Located about a mile south of Bee Ridge Road, tucked into the Chili’s Plaza, a new Peruvian restaurant has emerged. A clever play on words, derived from the Spanish word “encanto,” which means “charm,” and “Inka,” referencing the ancient people and culture of the Andes, Inkanto brings the charm of Peru to Sarasota. A true “strip mall surprise,” Inkanto initially stands out with creative and colorful signage. One step inside the restaurant and you are warmly greeted and seated. The décor is simple, yet casually upscale, with granite-topped tables, drop lighting, [...]

The Background: Chef and owner Diana Durand opened Canta Rana in December 2011 after more than seven months of renovations. To make the historic Fruitville Road house into a vibrant restaurant, Durand moved the kitchen, creating a private room for receptions, events and business lunches. Using vivid colors, a beautiful mural by local artist Yulner Diaz Amaro and modern chandeliers, Durand created a series of intimate seating areas as well as a lush backyard that is perfect for meals with friends or date nights as well as parties and Sunday morning brunches. The Menu: [...]

Chef Darwin Santa Maria and flavorful food may be synonymous in Sarasota. Darwin has created and served his version of Latin fusion cuisine in a number of Sarasota venues for over a decade. Although a number of stories have been written about Darwin’s culinary skills and talent, I wanted the backstory on Darwin’s culinary evolution. Here is what I found. JLQ: Many things have been written about you, so I would like to focus on something you would like the Sarasota area to know about you but has not yet [...]