Dining at Namo Izakaya is like stepping through a portal to Japan’s popular pubs. Colorful signs written in Japanese line the restaurant’s brick walls, beckoning guests to whip out their phones and translate their hidden meanings. Bank Tansiri, the owner and chef of Namo Izakaya, modeled the establishment after eateries he visited while traveling through the country. “In Japan, I went to a couple of places like this. They were comfortable and relaxing places to hang out,” he says. Drawing upon Japan’s rich traditions, Tansiri incorporated them into the business, inviting patrons to experience the nation’s culinary culture in a manner that stands out from other local restaurants. As is customary in Japan, an oshibori, or hot towel, is presented to diners so they can clean their hands during the meal.

“We serve tapas-style Japanese food in small portions that guests can share with friends or family,” adds Tansiri. “Here, you can try different items without spending a lot of money on large portions.” The menu features something to please every palate, from scrumptious starters to Thai-Japanese fusion dishes. Crowd-favorite starters include the Gyoza Pork Dumplings and Sweet Corn Cheese. Certain starters, like Spicy Edamame and the Namo Fried Chicken, pack a subtle layer of spice. Classic flavors abound in the Tonkotsu ramen, with sun noodles, creamy broth, egg and vegetables. Tansiri blended his Thai background with his passion for Japanese cuisine to create Tomyummen, a spicy lemongrass ramen dish. Entrees, like Chicken Teriyaki and Shrimp and Veg Tempura, round out the menu, along with a selection of sake, Japanese beer and soda as well as other beverages. For dessert, don’t miss the Green Tea Ice Cream, a delightful way to finish off the meal.

Tansiri hopes that diners find the restaurant to be a welcoming space reminiscent of Japanese izakaya, or pubs. “Namo, in the Buddhist religion, means to pray before doing anything else, like eating,” he says, “and I feel blessed and grateful to provide great food to everyone.”

Namo Izakaya, 1439 Main St., Sarasota, namoizakay.com. 

Pictured: The Tomyummen Ramen at Namo Izakaya blends Thai and Japanese flavors. Photo courtesy of Namo Izakaya.

Michael's Wine Cellar is proud to be home to a portfolio of over 1,000 international estate-bottled wines. However, the star of the show this season is undoubtedly the 2022 Bordeaux futures. Recognized as one of the world's finest wine-producing regions, Bordeaux's 2022 vintage is anticipated to be one of the most exceptional in recent decades. Bordeaux Futures, or "en primeur," as it's known in France, provides a sneak peek into the future of these legendary wines. Wine critics taste barrel samples and release their “scores” for the wines each April. In May, the Chateaux begin to set prices and offer their wines to the world market. Consumers can purchase the wines through selected retailers while they are still in the barrel, before they are bottled, and before they are released to the general market. This method allows wine enthusiasts and investors to secure potentially highly sought-after wines at a lower price than upon arrival. James Suckling, the esteemed wine critic, named nine potential 100-pointers in the process and has been quoted saying "the quality of the wines in 2022 is exceptional" while gushing about the vintage, saying it is “a new benchmark” that produced “astonishing wines.” His words capture the excitement and anticipation surrounding this release. Wine enthusiasts are captivated by the promise these Bordeaux futures hold – before these wines arrive in 2025. For many consumers, the wines can commemorate significant dates in people’s lives such as a child’s birth or a special anniversary. The Michael's Wine Cellar staff’s expertise can guide consumers through their 2022 Bordeaux futures purchases, as Bordeaux wines are a particular focus of the store. Proprietor Michael Klauber has spent decades visiting Bordeaux and purchasing futures. “We are able to offer "premier tranche" (first prices), because of our history in Bordeaux and we have the ability to purchase the wines at the very first and best prices!” quoted Michael Klauber. Michael is always available to answer any questions. 

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On Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. the Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival will take place at Sarasota Opera House. Local restaurants will gather to serve tasty bites, wine, and other treats as a benefit for Sarasota Youth Opera. Throughout the event, there will be performances from the Youth Opera chorus and Sarasota Opera artists, as well as raffles and other activities. Tickets are now available for $75 per person and can be purchased online at www.sarasotaopera.org/foodandwinefest, or at the Box Office located at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236, or by calling the Box Office at (941) 328-1300. All proceeds go to support the Youth Opera & Education programming. This season, Sarasota Opera’s events are produced by Mary Kenealy Events. Restaurants interested in participating in this event can find registration information at www.sarasotaopera.org/foodandwinefest-registration.

Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival, Saturday, September 23, 2023, Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. Tickets: $75 purchased in advance, $85 purchased on the day of the event. 

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All three Mattison’s will be open on Tuesday, July 4th and ready to help you celebrate Independence Day with family fun, great food, cold drinks, and live music. Enjoy Happy Hour or Dinner before or after the fireworks celebrations at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille in Bradenton, Mattison’s City Grille in Downtown Sarasota, or Mattison’s Forty-One in South Sarasota. Happy Hour is 3-7 at the Grilles and 4-7 at Forty-One. Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille in Downtown Bradenton is the perfect spot to watch the fireworks from the beautiful Bradenton Riverwalk right on the Manatee River. Mattison’s has covered, outdoor seating and live music from Mark Unbanded, 5-9. There are plenty of menu items perfect for the July 4th holiday - the FreeBird Farms Firecracker Chicken, Niman Ranch Baby Back Ribs with Knob Creek bourbon BBQ sauce, the Herb Buttered Filet Mignon, 5-spice slow cooked Brisket, Burgers, Brick Oven Pizzas, Chicken Wings, and an array of salads and appetizers. Mattison’s Riverwalk is your July 4th party spot in Bradenton. Mattison’s City Grille, in the heart of downtown Sarasota, is party central for July 4th in Sarasota. Fireworks will be at Bayfront Park just a short walk from Mattison’s City Grille. Start the party with Happy Hour or Dinner with pre-fireworks chef specials like the Wagyu Cowboy Burger, BBQ Trio of Knob Creek BBQ brisket sliders, Carolina Gold BBQ tossed chicken wings and street corn salad. Don’t forget about the drink specials like house made Hard Lemonade with choices of puree mango, strawberry or coconut. The Island Hoppers will get things fired up at 7:30 and keep it going until 10:30. Mattison’s Forty-One is the perfect low-key spot to dine before the festivities begin. Newly renovated, Forty-One offers inside and outside seating. Dine in casual elegance on menu items such as the Rosemary Honey Glazed Salmon, the Bertha Palmer Filet Mignon, Ribeye Steak with truffle mashed potatoes, the Mojo Marinated Brick Seared Chicken, the Pot Roast Reconstructed or Pork Tenderloin just to name a few. Call your favorite Mattison’s for reservations. For more information and to view complete menus visit mattisons.com. We wish everyone a safe and happy July 4th. Mattison’s is chef-owned and operated by Chef Paul Mattison. 

LWR Communities is proud to announce the formation of the “Sights and Sounds at Waterside Place” performing and fine arts series. The program is meant to introduce arts and culture into the rich array of lifestyle offerings at The Ranch, which will help expand the relationships between these organizations and the residents, and the arts’ patrons and contributors. The series is part of Lakewood Ranch’s signature programming, led by Nicole Hackel, events and resident experience manager for LWR Communities. “With performances to be held at the pavilion at Waterside Place, Sights and Sounds will bring arts and organizations that are part of our Cultural Coast to Lakewood Ranch,” Hackel said, “which will be a mutually beneficial partnership for our community and the local arts organizations.” It began as individual events, which were successful with both audiences and the performing arts groups, and morphed into a permanent series, with events scheduled into next year. Upcoming performances include Easterseals “Rock the Spectrum” in July, West Coast Black Theatre Troupe in September; the Sarasota Ballet Studio Company in October, Asolo Repertory Theatre in November, Out-of-Door Academy’s group concert featuring sounds of the season from chorus, band and orchestra students in December; and Jazz Under the Stars in February of next year … with more to be announced. The events are free and open to the public; there is limited seating at the Plaza, but attendees are welcome to bring their own seats. Food and beverages will be available from numerous Waterside Place merchants.  

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Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announces that single tickets for the 13th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival are now on sale. The premier Festival of its kind in the southeastern United States, the Sarasota Improv Festival will feature over 20 of the top improv troupes from across the country and as far as Canada and the United Kingdom. Taking place July 20, 21, and 22, the 13th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival features more than 29 performances, 80 artists, and 16 workshops. Single tickets for this year’s Festival range from $5-25 and are now on sale at SarasotaImprovFestival.com or 941.366.9000. A full Festival schedule and pricing breakdown follows the end of this release. “Helping put this Festival together has been a real highlight of 2023 for me,” said Will Luera, FST’s Director of Improv. “Over the years, the Sarasota Improv Festival has become a destination event, introducing the community to some of the best improvisers in the art form. I’m eager to see audiences new and old experience the limitless creativity and impressive talent of these groups.“ 

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