Pictured: Through the end of September, you can support food service workers by enjoying an espresso martini at Blase Martini Bar/3.14 Pi Pizza, Cask and Ale, Pie on Main and Lefty’s Oyster and Seafood Bar. Provided photo.

Sarasota is a celebrated tourist destination and a bona fide foodie town, where visitors and locals alike indulge in everything from beachfront cocktails to fine dining. But behind the scenes there are tens of thousands of food service workers who keep the city’s restaurants, cafes, and hotels humming. Watershed Hospitality Concepts is a local family of restaurants comprising Blase Martini Bar/3.14 Pi Pizza, Cask & Ale, Pie on Main and Lefty’s Oyster & Seafood Bar. This month, they have partnered with Giving Kitchen by participating in their nationwide Dining With Gratitude initiative which supports food service workers who find themselves in times of crisis.

“Giving Kitchen is an incredible organization. They’ve helped people facing homelessness and food insecurity. Since their inception they’ve helped over 30,000 food service workers,” says Mike Quillen, president of Watershed Hospitality Concepts. “We certainly want to do anything we can to help our employees, so we’re really proud to support this organization.”

During the month of September, for every plate of oysters sold at Lefty’s Oyster & Seafood Bar, one dollar will be given to the Dining With Gratitude initiative. Watershed Hospitality will also contribute proceeds from every espresso martini sold at one of their restaurants (they chose one of their most popular cocktails to maximize donations).

“We’ve also gotten Atlas Insurance who does our insurance and Zenith Insurance that does our workman’s comp to match all of our donations,” Quillen adds.

This promotion runs through the end of September, so be sure to visit any of the Watershed Hospitality Concepts restaurants to enjoy an espresso martini in support of a great cause. You can also learn more about Giving Kitchen’s mission at givingkitchen.org.

Pictured: Through the end of September, you can support food service workers by enjoying an espresso martini at Blase Martini Bar/3.14 Pi Pizza, Cask and Ale, Pie on Main and Lefty’s Oyster and Seafood Bar. Provided photo.