SRQ DAILY Mar 10, 2026
Tuesday Dining and Food Edition
"We share everything, and talk loud; we eat a lot of bread, and drink wine; we have dessert, and then we go."
“Say we are in Madrid…” Fátima Soriano is mid-sentence when she notices one of her six guests struggling with an eggplant. She guides, without breaking stride. “We share everything, and talk loud; we eat a lot of bread, and drink wine; we have dessert, and then we go”.
Soriano ensures everyone gets acquainted. Then, aprons donned, the cooking lesson begins. In her snug galley kitchen, she curates a charcuterie board while assigning tasks (all hands on deck). Pan tomate first: toasted baguette rubbed with raw garlic and ripe tomato, finished with Spanish EVOO and sal de Ibiza. Every class, tapas change, so long as they’re “authentic and easy to make at home.”
Here comes pulpo, Galician octopus warmed with onion and bay leaf, then sliced and piled over potatoes, doused with olive oil and sweet pimentón. A montadito of Roquefort and Cava over ciabatta bursts with fizzy flavor, demanding seconds. Fried, salted eggplant with sticky honey follows. As everyone nibbles and Rioja flows, Soriano advises: “Don’t expect a chocolate martini. You get wine with steak.”
History threads her stories: Andalusian tavern-keeers once covered wine glasses with bread to keep out flies and dust—tapar, to cover; those makeshift lids became Spain’s exported food craze. Her Tarta de Santiago, a flourless Galician almond cake circa 1577, is a staple here.
The market half of Taste of Spain, in its third year, stocks what Soriano couldn’t find when she moved to Sarasota in 2004. Bottles of Tempranillo line wooden wine racks. Shelves hold jarred conservas and canned seafood: sardines, mussels, scallops. “Even when we have parties, we just open cans,” she says. Charcuterie includes serrano and jamón Ibérico de bellota, acorn-fed, lineage unbroken.
Moorish tiles and woven baskets awaken a hunger for Spain. Soriano offers one last piece of advice for visiting. “Don’t go if you can’t follow it,” she says, referring to late-night meal timing, “or you’ll miss everything.” Luckily, she brings Spain to Gulf Gate—Wednesday nights, at a reasonable 6 pm. Show up hungry.
Taste of Spain Gourmet Market, Tues-Fri 10:30am-5pm, Sat 10:30am-4pm, Tapas Cooking Class Weds, Grab-n-Go Paella Thurs, 26667 Mall Dr, Sarasota.
Pictured: Spanish cooking lessons with Fatima Soriano. Photo by Sarah Emily Miano
Sarasota-Manatee Originalsinvites guests to raise a glass to the region’s vibrant culinary community at the return of Set the Bar,the organization’s signature cocktail competition celebrating the creativity and craft of local bartenders. Taking place Sunday, April 19, from 4 to 7 PM at Ed Smith Stadium, Set the Bar brings together talented mixologists from Sarasota-Manatee Originals member restaurants for an evening of spirited competition, exceptional cocktails, and interactive experiences. Tickets are limited and available to guests 21+. Purchase online at eatlikealocal.com/set-the-bar.
The sights, sounds, and flavors of Florida take center stage this spring as the Manatee County Seafood & Music Festival returns to G.T. Bray Park for three full days of coastal-inspired fun, March 13–15, 2026. This free, family-friendly festival invites locals and visitors alike to gather for an immersive weekend where fresh seafood, live music, and artisan shopping come together in one iconic outdoor setting.
G.T. Bray Park, 2910 51st St. West, Bradenton, March 13–15, 2026, Friday: 4:00pm-10pm, Saturday: 11:00am-10pm, Sunday: 11:00am-6pm, Admission: Free
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is thrilled to announce a FREE sensory-friendly production for our youngest patrons and their families: Feisty Flamingos, written by Nicholas Perez-Hoop. Low on granola and self-esteem, the Feisty Flamingos have lost every softball game this season! They can't seem to agree on anything—who should be up at bat, who should be pitching, or even what stretches to do. This fast-paced comedy about conflict, communication, and confidence proves that teamwork takes the whole team to work. Can they win the final game of the season? Feisty Flamingos is a Creative Arts Theatre Company production in partnership with The City of Tampa, and is a part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days, sponsored by the Patterson Foundation. Best for ages 5 and up.
The Sarasota Players invites audiences to experience one of the most powerful dramas ever written as The Crucible takes the stage March 25 – April 5, 2026, at The Crossings at Siesta Key Mall (3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239).
Ringling College of Art and Design (Dr. Larry Thompson, President) and The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO) announced today that Ringling College has transferred ownership of the former Englewood Art Center to the Hermitage, a fellow nonprofit organization and a leading national arts incubator based in Englewood. The center is located directly across Lemon Bay and just a ten-minute drive from the Hermitage’s existing home on Manasota Key. For more information, visit Ringling.edu.
The Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships is proud to announce that Simone Jardim, professional pickleball player and longtime US Open supporter, and her foundation will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Franklin US Open Junior Championships taking place April 11-12, 2026 in Naples, Florida. The US Open celebrates its 10-year anniversary April 11-18,2026 in Naples, Florida at the USOP National Pickleball Center, also known as the Pickleball Capital of the World, with 65 courts available for play year round. The Franklin US Open Junior Championships presented by Simone Jardim further strengthens the US Open’s commitment to youth development during a landmark anniversary year. Junior athletes will compete on one of pickleball’s most visible stages, gaining valuable experience, exposure, and the opportunity to be part of the event’s enduring legacy.
On Saturday, March 21, from noon-5 p.m., the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota will present its annual fundraising concert, My Hometown Fest. This year's event, which takes place at Nathan Benderson Park, features bands Sweet Fleet, JSanti & The Vital Groove, and Hell in Heels. Additionally, there will be more than 30 food vendors, 60+ craft beers, spirits and THC drinks, and family-friendly activities. My Hometown Fest is an annual fundraiser for Sertoma Club's subsidiary organization, Seroma Kids, which helps to support children facing speech and language challenges. The earlier children with hearing and communication challenges start receiving therapy services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential. The Sertoma Club helps children to build better futures by learning critical skills that will help them in school, in their relationships, and throughout their lives.
If you are oyster curious or just craving the fresh coastal seafood & hand-crafted cocktails from your new Rosemary District favorite, join us at Lefty's for our daily Happy Hours Monday - Friday from 4 pm - 6 pm and our Late Night Happy Hours every night from 9:00-Close. With seafood offerings from the Steamer and Buck-A-Shucks on oysters plus our extensive wine, specialty and seasonal cocktails and draft beers, Lefty's has your recipe to get happier and explore our menus. Join us every day for Lunch, Happy Hours or Dinner and for our downtown neighbors and Hospitality industry colleagues, we'll have live music and keep the light on for you on the weekends!
Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar, 428 N Lemon Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Mondays, 1pm. Join Jerome Chesley as you explore more than 60 pieces of public art located in downtown and St. Armands.
Saturdays, 1pm. This tour led by circus historian Bob Collins explores the fascinating legacy of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Stelliferous is your monthly guide to the night skies and the latest news from the world of astronomy. You can enjoy our upgraded Planetarium system and feel like an astronaut as you experience our 50-foot dome!
Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W, Bradenton
This exhibition highlights contemporary Native design, craftwork, and art that employ the formal and aesthetic elements of abstraction as meaningful motifs and coded tools of Indigenous expression to communicate tribal cultures and histories, ancestral knowledge, and the lived experiences of the artists and their communities. Explored in a variety of media, including basket weaving, beadwork, collage, clay, textiles, photography, metalwork, and printmaking rooted in ancestral technologies, their work shares similar stylistic and social concerns, such as vibrant color, hard-edged geometries, curvilinear patterns, and bold mark-making, all infused with personal stories and those of their kin.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Crabapalooza is back at Anna Maria Oyster Bar, arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day and bringing a seasonal celebration of crab to the table. While oysters may be for lovers, crab is for romantics, and this limited-time menu is designed for sharing, cracking, and savoring together. The Crabapalooza lineup features three signature highlights, including a show-stopping Seafood Tower, a drool-worthy Seafood Boil, and a Maryland-style Crabcake Salad. Each dish is crafted to spotlight premium ingredients, generous portions, and the kind of hands-on dining that turns a meal into a memorable night out. To round out the experience, Crabapalooza also introduces a curated lineup of featured drinks, including the Mai Oh Mai Tai, Paloma, and Passionfruit Aperol Spritz, along with a featured wine, Maddalena Chardonnay, selected to pair beautifully with the bold, coastal flavors of the menu.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar
Calder’s work is a great source of interest to the team at Selby Gardens. His fascination with energy and motion, coupled with his exploration of suspension and equilibrium, provides creative inspiration for the dynamic display of epiphytes, or air plants. Selby Gardens is a leading center for the study of air plants and is home to the best scientifically documented collections of living epiphytic orchids and bromeliads in the world. The Calder exhibition at Selby Gardens will highlight the artist’s use of abstract forms rooted in nature and emphasize his interest in science and engineering. The exhibition will also explore Calder’s enchantment with the circus, stemming from his studies of performers and animals at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1925.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
When President Kennedy vowed to put a man on the moon, the task landed in the hands of a band of maverick engineers – once the misfits of American science. With no rulebook, they embraced “blue-skying,” drawing inspiration from Buck Rogers, Greek myths, Louis Leakey, and even Snoopy and the Red Baron.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
A Hollywood film star and her entourage descend upon a quaint English village to film an epic period drama. But when the glamorous opening reception ends in a chilling murder, everyone becomes a suspect. Leaving Agatha Christie's beloved sleuth, Miss Marple, to untangle a web of ambition, deceit, and stage fright. One of the Queen of Mystery's most celebrated novels finally makes it to the stage in this new adaptation by Rachel Wagstaff.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
An exhibition showcasing the recent work of Sarasota-based artist and Ringling College alumnus Tom Stephens (Class of 1996). Known for his expressive use of color, gestural brushwork, and emotionally charged compositions, Stephens’ paintings explore the tension between abstraction and representation. His dynamic surfaces reveal a deep engagement with process and intuition, resulting in works that resonate with both personal introspection and universal human experience.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
This historical group exhibition revisits the creative legacy of the Sarasota Artist Colony—a vibrant and visionary community of artists who helped shape the region’s post-war cultural identity and laid the groundwork for Sarasota’s emergence as a thriving arts destination. Drawn to the Gulf Coast for its climate, light and Ringling School of Art, these painters, printmakers, and educators established studios, taught classes, and exhibited widely, fostering a collaborative spirit that flourished between 1945 and 1965. Origins is a visual tribute to this remarkable era—highlighting the innovation, camaraderie, and enduring influence of the colony’s members.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
Celebrate the legendary artistry of Lino Tagliapietra—widely regarded as the world’s foremost living glass artist. With a career spanning over seven decades, Tagliapietra has transformed the centuries-old traditions of Venetian glassblowing into a dynamic and expressive contemporary art form. Renowned for his unparalleled technique, vibrant color palettes, and sculptural finesse, Tagliapietra’s work bridges history and innovation. This landmark exhibition features over 40 exquisite works by Tagliapietra, offering a rare opportunity to experience the full breadth of his mastery.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
As the New Year begins, Jack Dusty, the waterfront restaurant and bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, is bringing back its popular Sunday Brunch beginning January 11, inviting locals and hotel guests alike to ease into Sundays with live music, waterfront dining, and a menu designed for lingering. Designed as a leisurely afternoon experience, Jack Dusty’s Sunday Brunch runs from 11AM to 4PM with live entertainment throughout, creating an upbeat yet laid-back atmosphere perfect for enjoying delicious food and drink. The brunch menu blends elevated classics with seafood-driven specialties and indulgent favorites, including a Maine lobster roll on toasted butter brioche, crab and avocado benedict with yuzu hollandaise, sticky toffee griddlecakes, and a decadent truffled croque madame. Heartier offerings range from wagyu steak frites topped with a sunny-side egg to confit pork belly char siu with scallion pancakes, alongside a robust raw bar and sushi selection featuring oysters, stone crab, crudo, nigiri, and maki rolls.
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236
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