Pictured: A chef prepares flatbreads in front of the pizza oven and appetizers at the VIP Opening Party last week.

Last Friday's VIP Opening party for Boca Kitchen Bar & Market was electric with elated energy, the air palpable with the crowd's eagerness to experience the menu in its full glory. With a packed house, craft cocktails and beers made the rounds along with inventive appetizers, signaling the sumptuous flavors to come. The obvious favorite came floating out of the kitchen on deep stained wood chop blocks—the brie and apple flatbread, a piping-hot crunchy slab topped with creamy brie cheese, tart Granny Smith apples, tender pickled red onions and hearty chunks of white meat chicken. According to Lydia Lopez, director of sales and marketing for the restaurant's parent company BE-1 Concepts, the first night of service (Monday, September 5th) had to stop taking reservations mid-way through the afternoon. "The community has embraced us with open arms," Lopez says. The flatbreads and other farm-to-table delights are now available daily for lunch and dinner as well as weekend brunch. 

Pictured: A chef prepares flatbreads in front of the pizza oven and appetizers at the VIP Opening Party last week.

Boca Kitchen Bar & Market, 21 South Lemon Ave., Sarasota, 941-256-3565.