A slab of hot bologna sizzles under melted American cheese on a kaiser roll, piled with shredded iceberg, a fat beefsteak and spilling Duke’s mayo. Four counter seats and some four-tops, a cooler with shellfish, a tank of lobsters, a case of deli meats, another with fresh local fish. Welcome to Happy Clams & Hams, the new specialty seafood market and deli on Bee Ridge Rd.

The three partners bought a boat together to test the partnership. “Brian's the happy. I’m the clam. And Carlyle's the Italian ham," says co-owner Scott Dolan, who has operated Big Water Fish Market on Siesta Key for 15 years. Dolan remembers childhood summers shucking clams with his parents in upstate New York; he wanted to recreate that feel east of 41, his own neighborhood. “To do stuff that you can't get every day, and make it affordable, because we felt that was important with the economy now.”

Co-owner Carlyle Veale, who managed Big Water, brings an Italian-American streak. The Carlito's Way packs a sub roll with hot ham, boiled ham, prosciutto and salami with fresh mozzarella, sweet and hot peppers, oil-n-vinegar. Meats come off the steamer, not a flat top. ”We've been talking about doing something like this for years," Veale says.

Third partner Brian Paetsch is a carpenter turned loyal Big Water customer. From the raw bar, he recommends Louisiana oysters with horseradish and mignonette. “We took a leap of faith, and it's gonna work out because we've got all the right people.”

Pastrami on rye arrives, NYC-style, with oozy Swiss. The grouper sandwich gets tangy tartar sauce and New England-style potato salad. Retail cases sell fish spreads, seasonings and hot sauces. No license yet, so BYOB.

Happy Clams & Hams, Mon-Fri, 11 am-6 pm, Sat, 11 am-4 pm, 4110 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, 941-271-4546, happyclamsandhams.com 

Pictured: Tuna Ceviche of the Day, Carlito's Way Sandwich, and a Rory Mcilroy's Reuben with Corned Beef. Photo by Alex Alfaro.

State Street Eating House + Cocktails has been named Best Woman-Owned Business of the Year at the prestigious Frank G. Berlin, Sr. and Sarasota Business Awards event. The event was attended by more than 500 of Sarasota's business and community leaders. Founder Chris Voelker accepted the award on behalf of the restaurant and its team. Located on State Street, guests can get a taste of the award-winning craft cocktails and chef-driven cuisine by visiting the location or viewing the website at  statestreetsrq.com/. 

The Oaks Club, Sarasota’s premier private golf and country club announced the appointment of Saravanan Appadurai as their new Executive Chef. Chef Saravanan brings more than 25 years of culinary excellence to The Oaks Club, including distinguished tenure as Executive Chef with The Ritz-Carlton and the PGA Tour. His career spans an impressive range of concepts from sushi bars and high-end steakhouses to luxury seafood venues and world-class event execution, always with a hallmark of team development and an unwavering commitment to the member experience. For more information: www.theoaksclub.com 

Provided photo.

Osteria 500 has been honored with Wine Spectator’s 2026 Award of Excellence, recognizing restaurants that offer at least 75 wine selections with a well-chosen assortment of quality producers and a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Remarkably, Osteria 500 has earned this prestigious recognition every year since opening — three consecutive wins in just three years. The award is part of Wine Spectator’s annual Restaurant Awards program, which this year recognized 4,012 restaurants worldwide across three tiers. Led by owner and wine director Carmine Ussano, Osteria 500 joins a distinguished global list celebrating excellence in wine service. The special Restaurant Awards issue hits newsstands July 21st, with full coverage at WineSpectator.com and through the Restaurant Awards app. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO) is pleased to announce a new partnership with one of New York’s preeminent nonprofit theaters, Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC). This partnership is designed to support the development of new musicals commissioned by MTC by providing invaluable space, time, and inspiration to develop these new works at the Hermitage. This collaboration will provide an opportunity for some of the leading voices in musical theater to take the next step in advancing their creative process and vision. Through these commission-specific residencies, MTC and the Hermitage continue their commitment to supporting visionary artists and developing ambitious new work that reflect the richness, complexity, and diversity of contemporary storytelling. For more information on the Hermitage and upcoming programs, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Pictured: Andy Sandberg, Lindsey Ferrentino and Sam Beam on the Hermitage Beach. Provided photo.