The champagne mousse glistened beneath a bright blue sky, loosed from the bottle by the sabered hand of none other than Michael Klauber, co-owner of the legendary Michael’s on East and regaler of culinary tales from around the globe. And—with all the pomp and pageantry of the fêtes of old—thus began the 18th annual Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival Grand Tasting. Produced by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals (SMO)—an association comprising more than 60 locally-owned area restaurants that pool resources to elevate the region’s dining scene—the annual event draws thousands of epicureans, vintners and local culinary artisans to the Ringling Museum’s courtyard for an afternoon of wine, food tastings and entertainment. But this year’s event sought to do a little more than satisfy the appetites of the region’s enthusiastic gourmands. In the shadow of last year’s destructive hurricane season, event organizers partnered with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) to support its Rapid Response Fund. Proceeds from a special raffle for Grand Tasting tickets netted $26,000, presented on an oversized check from current SMO president Marc Grimaud (owner of Café Gabbiano on Siesta Key) to GCCF’s President of Philanthropy, Joe Carter, and Board Vice Chair, Anand Pallegar. The funds are earmarked for hospitality workers, whose livelihoods were especially impacted by storm-related restaurant closures. Still, with the regionally renowned cover band Kettle of Fish taking the courtyard stage, the event was anything but a dirge. There was, after all, food and wine to be had in celebration of our region’s best dining establishments. Lined up along the courtyard’s breezeway and beneath tents in the courtyard itself, chefs from Anna Maria Island to Venice offered little plates of big flavor to complement diverse wines from Napa Valley to Italy. 

Sage’s Asian Sesame Pork Belly Skewer and Ancien Pinot Noir: Chef Chris Covelli of Sage has made a name for himself exploring culinary traditions from around the globe. His Asian sesame pork belly skewer was glazed in a soy-based sweet and sour sauce, with just a whisper of heat from red chilis. That heat was complemented nicely by the Ancien red, which started off light and smooth before developing a touch of acidity that approximated heat. VIP guests in the courtyard were further spoiled by a second Sage table where a crispy pork belly preparation featured a heavy drizzle of white truffle aioli.

Riverhouse Ahi Tuna with Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir: The Willamette Valley in Oregon produces some of the most celebrated Pinot Noirs in the country, closely resembling those produced in Burgundy, France. The Whole Cluster Pinot Noir out of Willamette Valley Vineyards has a dark, fruity bouquet and pronounced acidity. The ahi tuna from Riverhouse, with its sesame seed crust and light drizzle of soy glaze, has its umami enhanced when paired with the wine. The soy in particular gets a bump in volume.

Bevardi’s Agnolotti and Boich Family Cellar Chardonnay: One of downtown’s most beloved Italian restaurants, Bevardi’s dazzles with its pastas. Grand Tasting attendees were treated to the restaurant’s agnolotti, homemade half-moon shaped pasta filled with ricotta cheese and spinach in a light cream sauce. The cream sauce is rich and savory, practically a blank canvas for the incomparably full-bodied, honeyed profile of the Boich Family Cellar chardonnay. Together, they evoke a marsala sauce. Notably, this 2021 chardonnay deserves plenty of sips on its own. It’s a special one.