Jenna Foster wears her father Ping’s lucky hat while cooking at Funky Fusion, Sarasota’s first Filipino restaurant. Ping never saw this brick-and-mortar home for his recipes, but his presence is palpable. “Whenever I think about a dish, I go back to how my dad did it,” Jenna says. “He is always my inspiration.”

Her wife Jackie takes orders as families line out the door. Though technically takeout, a few tables allow eager customers to dig in. “I do the front. I talk,” Jackie says. “She does all the cooking.” After six years running a popular food truck outside local breweries like Bluelife, Calusa and Big Top, the Fosters spent two years building out their kitchen while running Bluelife’s. When Funky Fusion opened in September, they’d built a following.

Jenna layers her culinary training and modern sensibility onto Ping’s traditions. Sisig—crispy pork belly, jowl and ears sautéed with garlic and chili—sizzles alongside fragrant rice and a runny fried egg, with vinegar for drizzling. Starchy noodles soak up a shrimp palabok gravy hinting of smoked fish. Sticky BBQ chicken with mushrooms brightens amid scallions and mango. Weekly specials inked on the wall calendar (with space for customer requests) feature silky lugaw porridge with ginger broth. Remarkable food for under $18.

The first Saturday each month brings lechon, succulent eight-hour roasted pork belly and neck, skin crackling with umami down to the chicharon whispering lemongrass. Pungent atchara—green papaya salad—cuts the fatty deliciousness. Friday Fish nights before Lent will rotate through the season. Valentine’s Day presents their unique spin on romance. “Who needs chocolate and roses? Get a box of lumpia instead!” Jackie declares. Crunchy cigar-shaped rolls stuffed with pork and vegetables come with a house-made sweet-n-sour. They bottle their sauces, too.

Pins crowd a wall map, marking Philippine hometowns over islands and provinces. The tagline says it all: “Kain na—Let’s eat. Good Food, Great Friends.” Guaranteed.

Funky Fusion Filipino Kitchen, Thurs-Sun 10am-2pm, Fri-Sat 5-8pm, 1940 12th Street, Sarasota. 

Pictured: Sisig Pork and a Box of Lumpia. Photo by Sarah Emily Miano.

Join us at Culver's on University on Tuesday, February 24th from 5pm-8pm for BMS Spirit Night! Enjoy your dinner at Culver's and part of the proceeds will go back to Booker Middle VPA! Have your meal hand-delivered to your car or table by one of our three amazing BMS administrators, Mr. Leal (Principal), Mr. Elsey (Assistant Principal), or Mr. Delude (Assistant Principal). And enjoy activities inside the restaurant all night long! 

Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar Presents: The Perfect Pair.  Join us Valentine's weekend for a Tenderloin & Lobster Chef's Special. Featuring a Two River 8 oz Tenderloin filet & a cold water lobster tail, potato & fresh veggie for $49.  Celebrating the coastal seafood and specialty butchers cuts you've come to love at Lefty's. Proudly named one of the "10 Best Downtown Restaurants in Sarasota" by Ticket Sarasota and a "Best New Restaurant" by SRQ Magazine.  Reservations are recommended via Open Table: bit.ly/4rpptmN.  www.LeftysOysterSeafood.com 

In honor of American Heart Month, Ocean Prime Sarasota is proud to support the American Heart Association by donating a portion of proceeds from every Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake sold in February. Created for the occasion, this indulgent dessert features an Oreo crust, tart cherry–swirled cheesecake, and a vibrant cherry compote, finished with whipped cream and rich chocolate sauce. Available for a limited time, the Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake offers guests a delicious way to give back while celebrating heart health. 

One of the Chamber’s most meaningful gatherings of the year, the Annual Dinner serves as a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect around the work that moves the Tampa Bay beaches community forward. This year’s theme, “Our People. Our Purpose. Our Progress.”, underscores the collective effort behind the Chamber’s impact and the shared commitment to building a strong, resilient local business community. Sponsorship opportunities remain available for businesses seeking meaningful visibility and alignment with the Chamber’s mission and values. For ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, and EXPO details, visit the https://business.tampabaybeaches.com/events/details/2026-annual-dinner-29037 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is thrilled to announce that the limited return engagement of Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground has already been extended by popular demand. The acclaimed solo drama by Richard Hellesen – an intimate examination of leadership, legacy, and responsibility – will now run through March 29, 2026. Performances begin on March 11 in FST’s Bowne’s Lab. 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce that it has been nominated for “Best Botanical Garden” in the United States through USA Today’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. Nominees for the category were submitted by a panel of experts whereby Selby Gardens was selected as one of the final botanical garden nominations from around the country by 10Best editors.  Readers can vote once per category, per day, until March 9, 2026. Explore and vote here: https://10best.usatoday.com/qr/56903/ 

Classical conductor Giancarlo Guerrero – known for his contagious enthusiasm on the podium and his “interpretive creativity” (Chicago Tribune) – lent his talents to this year’s Superbowl Halftime Show, headlined by Puerto Rican pop star Bad Bunny. Guerrero is the first classical musician to be featured in the Halftime show since Gustavo Dudamel’s appearance with YOLA in 2016.  A globally celebrated conductor, Guerrero serves as Music Director of Sarasota Orchestra, the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago, and the Music Director Laureate of the Nashville Symphony.    

To learn more, visit