SRQ DAILY May 5, 2026
Tuesday Dining and Food Edition
"Step by step, every day, we created our perfect sourdough recipe."
Someone has probably told you about the sourdough. That’s how fast word travels when a bakery nails it. The Bakero opened on that newly popular stretch of Main Street near the Regal Hollywood a month ago, and there’s already a line at the counter.
A Ukrainian stay-at-home mother of three, owner Natalia Legowski cooked constantly, and eventually staged at a bakery she adored in Warsaw. In 2024, she and her husband moved to Sarasota after years of vacationing here and making friends.
Legowski bakes without commercial yeast or additives. Finding the right flour took time—many American brands contain glyphosate—till she landed on Central Milling Company, an organic producer. Long fermentation does the trick. “It was a game changer for me,” Legowski says, citing better digestion and flavor. "Step by step, every day, we created our perfect sourdough recipe,” she says. An experienced baker from Hungary joins her at the bench. “And the same with croissants.”
Those croissants: start with plain, then graduate to pistachio, filled with house-made cream, topped with Belgian white chocolate, calibrated so the nut shines. “I didn’t want to kill the real pistachio taste,” Legowski says. The cinnamon bun gets an American twist from a Polish recipe. A raspberry cream brioche traces back to her grandmother. “It’s exactly how she did it. Very homey.” Their most coveted breakfast, The Bakero Plate, is continental cooking at its best: sourdough (white, whole wheat, seeded) with whipped European butter, organic soft-boiled eggs, aged gruyère, half-avocado and ham or smoked salmon. “People are happy to have such an option.”
The interior channels Copenhagen: glossy concrete floors, bentwood chairs, textured walls wth abstract art. Floor-to-ceiling windows open to sun-n-street. There’s a cookook library and a kids’ corner. One side moves fast; the other entices you to linger. Legowski designed it herself. “I just felt there was a place for me,” she says. The sourdough, turns out, is worth the hype.
The Bakero, Mon-Fri 6:30am-2pm, Sat 7:30am-2pm, 1900 Main St. Ste 104, Sarasota, 941-404-5565, thebakero.com. 
Pictured: Natalia Legowski with her long-fermented sourdough. Photo courtesy of The Bakero.
Celebrate Mother’s Day amid Mother Nature at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus! Enjoy a delicious brunch buffet catered by Michael’s On East! Treat mom to a stroll through our Downtown Sarasota campus for a viewing of our Spring Exhibition before and/or after your seating – included in your Mother’s Day Brunch ticket!
Enjoy live music, a brunch buffet catered by Constellation Culinary Group with a coffee, tea, and juice station, and one complimentary mimosa for every mom! After Brunch, join us for family art activities in the Studios (until 4 pm). Includes Museum admission to view the latest exhibitions, Something Borrowed, Something New and Penumbra: Maria A. Guzman Capron.
Gecko’s relaunches its Summer Lunch Menu with a sizzling value you won’t want to miss. Every item is just $10, featuring a tasty variety drawn from our full Gecko’s lineup. Savor crowd-pleasers like the 1/2 lb Burger, Cuban Combo, Tacos, Ragin' Cajun Pita, and more. The Summer Lunch Menu is available at all six Gecko’s locations for Dine-In only, Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Catch the flavor wave this season at Gecko’s. Available through September 30th. www.geckosgrill.com
Selby Gardens is honored to announce the continuation of the Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year. The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation envisions a world in which all individuals have an opportunity to reach their full potential and achieve success. It carries forward the legacy of its namesake, the late Sarasota-area philanthropist whose generosity made a lasting impact on countless organizations and charitable initiatives. The scholarship creates a pathway to effective leadership in both the business and nonprofit sectors by offering mentorship, opportunities to observe leadership in action, and financial support. It is awarded to high-achieving juniors or seniors in the greater Sarasota region who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5. Additionally, the scholarship will be awarded in honor of and in partnership with a distinguished leader from the Sarasota community. That recognition has been bestowed upon Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer O. Rominiecki, who served as the scholarship’s inaugural mentor during the 2024 award cycle and has continued in that role for the 2025 and now 2026 cycles. For more information visit www.selby.org.
Thursdays, 10am. Discover with our expert guide, Kendra Cross, why Sarasota is the only place in the world that the Amish and Mennonite communities come to vacation en masse. In Pinecraft, enjoy the tour stops at Alma Sue’s Quilt Shop, The Carlisle Inn and Der Dutchman Amish Kitchen Cooking Restaurant for shopping and a pie shooter sample of their delicious pie!
2nd Fridays Creative Happy Hour brings the party to the gallery and transforms ArtCenter Sarasota into a vibrant hub of creativity, conversation, and connection. These lively monthly gatherings feature rotating themes, interactive art activities, live music, dance, film, and collaborations with local artists and arts organizations. It's a fresh take on the classic art salon, welcoming all ages to mix, mingle, make, and experience art in motion.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits delicious Sunday Brunch is from 11am-3pm. Guests are invited to indulge in a delightful brunch experience on the beautiful covered patio or casual dining room with nautical touches. The brunch menu features a variety of mouth-watering dishes created by Chef Cesareo Cardenas, including his decadent Crème Brûlée French Toast, savory Steak & Eggs, succulent Lobster Benedict, the flavorful Tripletail Brunch Burger and Crab & Shrimp Omelet. Guests will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa with the purchase of any entrée. Prices range from $13 to $26. Reservations can be made through Open Table or by calling 941-529-0555.
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, 4870 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Think while you drink! Gather your friends, co-workers or family and join us for a fun-filled evening. Prizes and specials each night. Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm. Gecko’s on Clark – Monday ; Gecko’s on SR64 & Stickney Point – Tuesday ; Gecko’s on Hillview – Wednesday.
Café on St. Armands is introducing Prime Rib Sundays, a new weekly dining feature available every Sunday beginning at 11 AM. Guests are invited to enjoy a classic prime rib dinner, thoughtfully prepared and served as part of Café’s elevated all-day dining experience. The featured Prime Rib entrée includes chianti herb and Dijon-crusted prime rib, garlic confit mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, rich au jus, and creamy horseradish. The dish is available for $46.
Cafe on St. Armands, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL
A magical and deeply moving musical that celebrates the power of storytelling, the love between father and son, and the extraordinary hidden in the everyday. As Edward Bloom’s fantastical life unfolds—featuring witches, giants, mermaids, and more—his skeptical son embarks on a journey to separate myth from memory. What he discovers is a story far richer than he ever expected. Based on the beloved novel and Tim Burton film, Big Fish is a whimsical, emotionally rich production filled with humor, heart, and unforgettable stagecraft.
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
This Cinco de Mayo, Rufa will set the scene with coastal inspired décor, irresistible taco specials, and a specialty Patron cocktail menu designed to keep the fiesta going all night long. It’s the ultimate mix of laid back luxury and high‑spirited celebration, perfect for margaritas, mingling, and making memories.
Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Rufa at The Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota
This Mother's Day, treat the mother figure in your life to a beautiful waterfront experience at Rufa. Set against stunning Sarasota Bay, guests are invited to celebrate the women who make life blossom. Moms can create something uniquely their own with a DIY flower bar, selecting fresh stems to design a custom bouquet to take home. Sip, stroll, and savor the moment with refreshing drinks, gentle coastal breezes, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere made for creating meaningful memories with someone special. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Rufa at The Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota
Art immersion class for children ages 6-18. Small classes with fine arts materials. Visit linarinconart.com for more information and to register.
Creative Liberties Artist Studios, Gallery & Creative Academy, 927 N Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237
Wednesdays, 10am. Go back in time to the 1920’s in Sarasota to hear from three leading ladies (Bertha Palmer, Marie Selby and Mable Ringling) as portrayed by Kathryn Chesley, who shaped Sarasota into a cultural icon.
Sundays, 1pm. Join psychic and tarot reader, Deni Dreazen on a metaphysical exploration trolley tour of Sarasota. Visit Pixie Dust gift shop, experience a sound bath at the Crocker Memorial Church with sound healer, Kaylene McCaw, and then walk the labyrinth.
Wednesdays, 10:30am. Explore Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern (the Sarasota School of Architecture) and Mediterranean Revival Architecture buildings, homes and structures of Sarasota on this 90-minute mainland tour.
Juana Romani (1867–1924) was one of the most fascinating and successful painters in late-nineteenth-century Paris. Born in Italy, Juana—whose given name was Giovanna Carlesimo—moved to Paris with her mother and stepfather at the age of ten. She took up painting, studying under the well-known painters Jean-Jacques Henner (1829–1905) and Ferdinand Roybet (1840–1920). Romani quickly earned both critical praise and significant fame for her deftly painted, richly colorful depictions of strong, sensual women adorned in lavish textiles.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
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