Beni Cwiakala, age 12, and winner of TV's Master Chef Junior Season 6, was on hand to teach aspiring young local chefs the tricks of the trade this past Saturday morning as part of a special culinary weekend hosted by Element Modern Mediterranean Grill in Downtown Sarasota. The restaurant was converted into a make-shift culinary studio for about a dozen young food connoisseurs ages 9 to 12 years who gathered to learn how to craft Chef Beni's signature recipe for crepes. 

Chef Beni told SRQ DAILY that she chose crepes to demonstrate for the youth master class because, "they are simple to learn and once you know how, you can make them forever, like riding a bicycle. And they can be both sweet and savory, so you have a lot of options with them."

As the gas burners lit up and crepe pans started to sizzle, Chef Beni walked around the room sharing enthusiastic accolades such as "gorgeous!" when she saw crepes getting perfectly browned and flipped. While the young chefs watched Beni attentively as they mastered creating perfect, warm discs of happiness slathered with whipped cream, berries and Nutella—it seemed the adults were the only ones who were star-struck.

Chef Beni's father Mark Cwiakala was on hand to support his daughter for the special culinary weekend produced by the team at Element. "We've been treated so well. Not everyone gets that Beni is a kid too. They really have taken care of her."

As the demonstration came to to close, Beni shared the custom wooden crepe tools that the students would now be taking home with them, along with a professional crepe pan, encouraging them to upgrade their rubber spatulas. "I think it's more diffcult [to use the wooden ones] and when you're learning, sometimes it's better to use more challenging tools," she said.

In addition to the cooking demonstration for kids Saturday morning, Chef Beni also worked with the Element culinary team throughout this past weekend, creating a custom dinner service and chatting with guests about her experiences on Master Chef Junior. 

Photo by Wes Roberts.

Representatives of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals organization recently released details on its 3rd annual signature cocktail contest Set The Bar on Friday, October 4, 2019 at the Universal Flight Training Hangar at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. “The bar program is a highly integral part of the health and innovation of today’s dining industry,” says SMO Executive Director Sarah Firstenberger. “Like the Chefs in the kitchen, our bartenders are driving the guest experience, delighting guests with thoughtful and creative cocktails and perfect pairings. Set the Bar was created as a playful platform to showcase their enormous contributions.”   

And with the announcement of the friendly competition’s return, Sarasota-Manatee Originals will bring together the area’s best bartenders, distillers and accomplished mixologists—representing establishments from the northern tip of Anna Maria Island to the southern shores of Venice Beach. The 20 contestants set to compete is nearly double of last year’s field of competitors. Set The Bar is designed to showcase the creative beverage talents behind the area’s locally-owned and operated, independent restaurants including: Blasé Café & Martini Bar, Café Gabbiano, Element: Modern Mediterranean Grill, Fins at Sharky's, GROVE, Jack Dusty, JPAN Sushi & Grill, MADE, Mattison's, Michael's On East, Ophelia's on the Bay, Overture Restaurant & Gallery Lounge, Pacific Rim, PIER 22, Pop's Sunset Grill, State Street Eating House + Cocktails, The Sandbar Restaurant and Tsunami.

“The field of competitors is fierce,” says Firstenberger, “with last year’s top winners The Waterfront Restaurant (People’s Choice) and Duval’s (Judges’ Choice) returning and determined to defend their coveted designation.” 

This year, the contest will feature craft concoctions blended with one of the four spirits: Plymouth Gin, Absolut Elyx Vodka, Smooth Ambler Contradiction Bourbon or Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila. “The Best” libations will then be decided by an expert panel, as well as event attendees, who will be tasked with sampling and savoring each creation before judging the competitors on “flavor, appearance, bartender presentation and imagination.” In addition to the exclusive showing given by the group of skilled beverage innovators, guests of Set The Bar will also enjoy live entertainment and prizes, as well as dishes presented by three of SMO's members: Jpan Sarasota, Icon Eatery & Bar at Legacy Hotel and Eliza Ann's Coastal Kitchen. 

The event takes placed on Friday, October 4, 2019 from 6:30 to 9:00pm at the Universal Flight Training Hangar in Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, 8140 15th St. East, Sarasota. To host the special annual event, SMO is partnering with Child Protection Center Sarasota to whom event proceeds will benefit. Space is limited. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend this event.  

Photo courtesy of Cocktails by Spence Consulting.

Tickets for Set The Bar Cocktail Competition available for purchase here:

If you didn't think your hump day plans included rooftop drinks downtown with the Italian heiress of a world-renowned distillery, think again. "For one night only," Sage SRQ is hosting an intimate evening on its rooftop lounge as its first day back open from a month-long hiatus gearing up for the incoming season. Special guest, Francesca Nonino, happens to be 6th generation of Grappa Nonino De, a distillery founded well before your time—1897 to be exact—in the Friuli region of northeastern Italy.

After producing inumerable bottles of the Italian-exclusive, grape-based pomace brandy for over a century, both the Nonino brand, and the family, have garnered a cult-like following, with recognition airing on the realm of royalty in the world of spirits. Its exquisite offerings innovated the field of grappa production, won several achievements and been made famous by celebrities of Italy, as well as boozy grape-lovers worldwide.

An Evening With Nonino will feature three award-winning Nonino Grappas, the Amaro Nonino Quintessentia digestif and its newest addition to the collection L’Aperitivo Botanical Drink. And in true European style, eat late and indulgently, with paired bites collaborated with the Nonino family and Chef Covelli of Sage. Bon appétit. 

An Evening With Nonino- Wednesday, September 25 at 6pm. Admission is free and is first come, first served.  

Photo courtesy of Nonino Grappa.

Sage SRQ, 1216 1st St., Sarasota, 941-445-5660, @sagesrq.

The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School announces four new board members: Michael J. Shelton, Chairman, a retired Real Estate and Bankruptcy Attorney who has over 20 years of experience serving the Sarasota non-profit community in positions such as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Embracing Our Differences as well as Managing Director of the Sarasota Ballet; John Simon, Vice-Chairman, a Business Consultant with over 40 years in real estate development who has held various Senior Vice-President and Director positions for publicly traded companies and currently sits on the board of Corporex Companies LLC and also served on multiple non-profit boards including the Sarasota Ballet; Mary Anne Servian, Treasurer, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida who brings over 20 years of non-profit experience serving on several boards and in management having been the Managing Director of the Sarasota Ballet also serving as a Sarasota City Commissioner, Vice-Mayor, and Mayor; Terry Romine, Secretary, a retired attorney, lobbyist, business owner, consultant, publisher, editor, writer and educator who has extensive experience serving as an officer on non-profit boards such as the Sarasota Ballet, the Arts and Cultural Alliance, and the Westcoast Black Theater among others; and Peter Kretzmer, Board Member, a Senior Economist at Bank of America who relocated to Sarasota a year and a half ago after visiting for thirty years bringing with him a strong family tradition of interest and philanthropy in cultural fields, especially music, opera and dance. Ian Tanzer also joins the staff as the new Administrative Director. He retired from a career as a professional ballet dancer, performing with Boston Ballet, Ballet West and the Sarasota Ballet. After his work in ballet he transitioned into academics, accounting and non-profit financing.  

Manatee County is now accepting applications for four vacancies on the Construction Trades Board which regulates state and local contractors and licensed local contractors within unincorporated Manatee County. The Construction Trades Board has the authority to discipline anyone who violates applicable local code, State Statutes or Florida Building Code provisions pertaining to the activities of licensed contractors, including the authority to suspend and or revoke their licenses and impose monetary fines. Vacancies include a Certified General Contractor, Licensed Electrical/ Mechanical/Air Conditioning Class A or B Contractor and two Consumer Representatives. Applications are due Oct. 21 and may be found online at www.mymanatee.org/advisoryboards. 

Apply Here

CEO Erin Cigich of Clickbooth, LLC has been named an honoree of the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award. Cigich oversees Clickbooth’s four divisions offering a comprehensive suite of performance marketing solutions. Clickbooth, ranked the #1 Performance Marketing Network worldwide (mThink), is headquartered in Sarasota, FL and has offices in Denver, CO, as well as Banja Luka, Bosnia. Cigich has been integral in establishing Clickbooth as the premier source for performance marketing needs, and has successfully led two acquisitions in recent years. Cigich started at the company in 2007 and has previously held the titles of President (2011-2015), Vice President of Marketing (2010-2011) and Director of Sales (2007-2010). Clickbooth’s “Think Bigger” vision - led by Cigich - is a future in which all digital advertising has shifted to a performance-based model. 

Clickbooth

Join the City of Sarasota Parks and Recreation District on Tuesday, October 1 for the official opening of the brand-new playground equipment at 9 am in Pioneer Park. The past playground was destroyed back in February 2019 by a suspicious fire. The new playground by Playcraft Systems encompasses a treehouse theme and will include multpiple slides, tree climbers, Spider Net Climber, SpinMAX Spherical Spinner (first of its kind according to the manufacturer), age-desginated play ares, freestanding musical components of drums and flower-shaped harmony bells, numerous moving activity panels for sensory play and plenty of ground-level components for accessibility. For more information please contact the Project Manager at 941-329-6149.  

Pioneer Park, 1260 12th St. Sarasota, 34236.