As if we needed another reason to love Michael’s on East, a standard bearer of Sarasota fine dining since the Reagan administration, its culinary wizards are proving they’re getting even more innovative and inventive. Proof positive is this month’s epicurean prix fixe menu: three brazen courses of Brazilian cuisine.

Owner Michael Klauber travels the world so you don’t have to, bringing back ideas and inspiration for these special month-long menus. He works with friendly chefs and winemakers in far flung corners of the globe to give Sarasota foodies a global taste of the good life.

Anyone operating under the misconception that Michael’s on East is unapproachable should mark the Florida casual dress of its youthful patrons on a recent excursion — not to mention the inflation-friendly $40 price tag for three extraordinary courses that are unlike anything you’ll find here.

For the appetizer, you could choose linguica sausage and spicy shrimp skewer, coated in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce, with a bright and inviting jicama Slaw with lime vinaigrette and coriander. Or you could go with the pastel de queijo Brazilian, a cheesy empanada with a spicy mayo drizzle and salsa criolla — the two are a combo that could stand as its own appetizer. The cheese was a delightfully flavorful surprise, with a tasty finish akin to a saganaki.

If this is how Brazil does fine dining, I’m begging you to put me on the next plane. “Brazilian food is all about pops of color and flavor,” Executive Chef Jamil Pineda told me, as my mind wandered back to the crackle of pork belly he had just served us as part of the carne de porco duas maneiras (pork two ways) entree. The pork belly, Pineda said, is cooked first, and a tenderloin joins the party shortly after to mix with all the wonderful things that happen in a pan when the right amount of heat is added to the pork belly.

The result is served on a bed of smoky black eyed peas and black bean hash, with a side of tostones, and topped with the same criolla salsa that elevated our empanada.

The moqueca — Brazilian fish stew — stood out for its African influence and more than a mere suggestion of coconut flavor. The shrimp was tender and the American snapper was fresh and flaky. And before you come at me with any hint of a summer-stew skepticism, know that I found it to be an ideal concoction for these balmy days (and besides, it’s winter in Brazil!).

If neither of those raise an eyebrow, then perhaps picanha na grelha — or spiced grilled flat iron steak — will. Served with crispy yucca and a rosemary sprig that doubles as a skewer to a trio of heirloom tomatoes, our steak was perfectly medium rare and topped with a fried egg and a salsa that I can only describe as a marriage between the best elements of pico de gallo and chimichurri.

If it’s date night, come prepared to swap dishes and know that it’s OK to lick the plate clean of guava sauce after devouring the Brazilian pave. With layers of Brazil’s famous Marias cookies, plus custard, all topped with chocolate curls, it alone is worth the sticker price.

Next month, Pineda will turn his sights to a Moroccan menu, but I urge you not to sleep on Brazilian fine dining. By the time this piece is published, you’ll only have 19 days — 19! — to make it happen. It may sound like plenty of time, but chances are you’ll want to return soon.

I know I do.

Michael’s on East, 1212 S East Ave., Sarasota, 914-366-0007.

Pictured: Michaels on East offers an epicurean prix fixe menu that changes monthly; July focuses on Brazilian cuisine, including the fish stew. Photo by Kevin Allen.

For full menu click here

Approximately 130 staff at Home Helpers Home Care agencies in the Tampa Bay area were able to fuel up, compliments of their employers as part of their Appreciation Miles Project. On July 8, 2022, four Home Helpers agencies from the Tampa Bay Area held a “Gas Party” to help their staff “fuel up” amid the current gas prices. The Gas Party was held in coordination with four local gas stations that supported the event by providing free soft drinks for the healthcare workers. Home Helpers staff from across the Tampa Bay area simply pulled up to one of four participating gas stations. The Home Helpers franchisees pumped $30 of gas for each of them to celebrate them and show appreciation for everything they do. The following is a statement from the four Home Helpers franchisees involved in the effort: “The message we wanted to send to our employees was simple: ‘We appreciate you.’ What started as a simple idea turned into something much more than we could have ever imagined. The Gas Party event was very successful, bringing many smiles and happy tears. It also allowed us to connect more with our staff and them to connect with each other. We highly recommend that other employers follow this trend. A special thank you goes out to all participating gas stations that supported this effort. Without them, the Gas Party would not have been possible.” The participating Home Helpers locations in the Gas Party were Home Helpers of Bradenton, Home Helpers of Clearwater, Home Helpers of Tampa Bay, and Home Helpers of West Saint Petersburg. 

To learn more, visit

The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC), the non-profit organization responsible for overseeing the redevelopment of 53 acres of City-owned land along Sarasota Bay into an iconic public park, is thrilled to announce the hiring of three new team members to support the park’s continued growth, Derick Kitson, Mykenzie Johnson, and Jordan Allison. In a newly created role, Derick Kitson joins as Director of Operations and will oversee all aspects of operations for The Bay Park, helping to manage, maintain and operate the park as it grows. Kitson will work closely with the leadership and Activation & Programming team to ensure a delightful experience for all park guests. Kitson, a certified Facility Management Professional, spent the last eight years working with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall as Director of Technical Production & Facility Manager and later as General Manager. During that time, Kitson managed all operations and oversaw facilities, technical and production, safety and security, patron relations, IT, and risk management. Mykenzie Johnson joins the team as an Activation & Program Manager, strengthening and expanding The Bay's free programmatic offerings to the community. A Sarasota Native, Johnson graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Events, Tourism, and Recreation Management, and is currently working toward a master’s degree in Sports Management. Jordan Allison, a longtime Sarasota resident, joins the team as Development Project Manager and will work closely with Chief Operating Officer Bill Waddill to build the growing park, manage design and construction teams, and coordinate with contractors and project consultants.

The Bay Park Conservancy expects to open Phase 1 of the park in October 2022, which will include award-winning features such as the Common Ground lawns, the Mangrove Bayou Walkway and outdoor Reading Room, an ADA-accessible paddle launch, an artistic playspace and concession pavilion, restored and preserved mangroves and shorelines, and more. 

To learn more, visit

Fishman & Associates recently worked with the staff at Berkeley Hall Country Club in Bluffton, South Carolina to design a new kitchen to support their 35,000 square-foot Jeffersonian style Clubhouse. Bob Daly, the president and owner of Fishman & Associates, made the announcement today. Berkeley Hall is one of the most popular golf communities in the Coastal Carolina region with two world-class Tom Fazio golf courses. Located in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Berkeley Hall is the lowest density private course in the Southeast U.S. with an average of 5.3 homesites per hole. Fishman & Associates was established in 1986 to provide food service design support to diverse clients nationwide. The business sectors they support include top restaurants, assisted living and retirement centers, private clubs, resorts, clubhouses, hospitals, other healthcare facilities, hotels, schools, churches, and more. The Fishman team has supported more than 360 senior living projects in 25 states. Its expertise includes kitchen design, bar and dining room layout, equipment specification, cost budgeting, refrigeration, and fabrication for new and remodeled food service facilities. 

Pictured: Berkeley Hall, one of the most popular golf communities in the Coastal Carolina region.

Debi Reynolds, with Florida SunCoast Real Estate was recently awarded the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) Green Designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by NAR.Reynolds achieved this prestigious designation after completing topic-specific course work designed specifically for REALTORS®. The designation courses were created in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of industry experts from across the country; ensuring designees gain comprehensive knowledge of high-performance properties and issues of resource-efficiency in relation to real estate and homeowners. More specifically, Reynolds was trained in understanding what makes a property green, helping clients evaluate the cost/benefits of resource-efficient features and practices, distinguishing between industry rating and classification systems, listing and marketing green homes and buildings, discussing the financial grants and incentives available to homeowners, and understanding how buyer and seller preferences may be inspired by resource-efficiency. As an NAR Green Designee, Reynolds has gained the knowledge and the tools necessary to become a trusted green resource for Manatee and Sarasota Counties. For more information about Debi Reynolds, please visit www.thedebireynolds.com or email debi@thedebireynolds.com.