It’s flirty, it’s fun, it’s mid-century modern, elevated tiki bar bliss. Yes, there’s something special happening at Wink Wink Modern Lounge, the restaurant connected with the Rosemary District’s Sarasota Modern Hotel, and judging by its new menu, we’re all in for a long love affair.

There’s a dish on Wink Wink’s new menu that is a requisite for any and all local foodies — heck, as I’m remembering it, I would say it’s necessary for any living human.

On the menu, the rabbit confit is listed as “wascally wabbit” (told you they’re having fun over there!), and for it, the Wink Wink wizards pack a rabbit leg in herb salt for 24 hours to let it dry out a bit. It’s then slow roasted with duck fat, shallots and herbs at 220 degrees for 10 hours. It’s served on a bed of shiitake mushroom duxelle, and the indulgent duck-fat roasted carrots act like exclamation points to this masterpiece. The rabbit meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. I ate mine with my fork, never touching my knife. Its flavor is rich and complex, bolstered by a lingonberry sauce that does not overpower.

The dish lacks the gaminess that rabbit can sometimes betray, but chef Donald Robinson put it best when he said, “It's like the best Thanksgiving dinner.” Robinson told me this as the smell of the roasted meat and duck fat gave me a sneak preview of what I was about to enjoy. He knew I was moments away from culinary divinity.

With no exaggeration, the Wink Wink rabbit confit is one of the best things I’ve eaten in my life. Since trying it, I have spent considerable time plotting when I can experience it next.

And the rest of the menu? If duck-fat roasted rabbit is somehow not your thing — and I’m slack-jaw shocked if it isn’t — you’re in luck. There’s a vegan kale caesar salad that I’m told has inspired a couple from North Port to make a weekly pilgrimage. Having tried it and loved every crunchy, tangy bite myself, I get it.

Wink Wink also has its take on the pork belly bao bun. Every dish at Wink Wink — including the bao buns themselves — is scratch-made. Making the Cantonese-style pork belly is a 72-hour slow-cooking process that caps the meat with a puffed chicharron exterior that couples amazingly well with its pickled garnishes.

Robinson has been working with Sarasota Modern director of culinary and beverage Joe Brugh for nearly three years (pre-pandemic!) to perfect this menu. Together, they’ve created an something that would do as well on Miami Beach as it certainly will in the Rosemary District.

Wink Wink Modern Lounge, 1290 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, (941) 906-1290, thesarasotamodern.com/dining/wink-wink-modern-lounge. 

Pictured: The rabbit confit (wascally wabbit, as it is called on the menu) is a slow-roasted rabbit leg with mushroom duxelle and duck-fat roasted carrots. Photo by Kevin Allen.

Local beer lovers, rejoice! Fat Point Brewing is coming to University Town Center (UTC) in Sarasota. The craft brewery originally founded in Punta Gorda will produce and serve its flavorful and original beers from a 2,500-square-foot venue in the West District at UTC. The new brewery, taproom and restaurant will be located along Cattlemen Rd. between Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar and Ford’s Garage. The new location will enhance the emerging nightlife scene taking root along the Cattlemen corridor. The menu will offer coastal-inspired bar fare that’s sure to please everyone, and beer drinkers will be able to find everything from Fat Point’s flagship ale, Big Boca, to site-exclusive small batches. Fat Point gets its name from Punta Gorda, which literally means “Fat Point” or the area where the pristine waters of Peace River and Gasparilla Sound meet. Since first launching in 2012, the Brewery has won critical acclaim for its original beers inspired by the Southwest Florida region. Fat Point’s Bru Man Chu, a Belgian Trippel; its rye IPA, Ryeght Angle; and Oatmeal Stout won gold, silver and bronze medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship and Best Florida Beer Championships. Benderson Development’s UTC is a premier mixed-use destination off I-75 and University Parkway on the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Spanning over 4 million square feet, the property features more than 250 specialty stores, 80-plus restaurants, three hotels and over 250,000 square feet of premier office space. Fat Point Brewery is among an exciting lineup of new bars and restaurants coming to UTC. Other new additions to the dining scene include Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar; Yard House; farm-to-fork concept Naked Farmer; Orlando’s famed Foxtail Coffee Co; 3Natives Acai and Juicery; locally owned Anna Maria Oyster Bar; Boston-area staple Kelly’s Roast Beef; acai and coffee shop Raining Berries; and The Breakfast Company. 

To learn more click here.

Sarasota Orchestra is one of 30 orchestras taking part in the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program, an initiative of the League of American Orchestras. The unprecedented national consortium ensures that new works by women composers, each commissioned through the League, will be infused in orchestra seasons to come, with multiple performances throughout the country. The consortium’s initial six lead orchestra-composer pairings were previously announced: Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Diego Symphony and Sarasota Orchestra. More than 80 orchestras applied for additional spots. Sarasota Orchestra will partner with composer Sarah Gibson for the world premiere performance of her new work “to make this mountain taller” as part of its final March 31 – April Masterworks program A Hero’s Life. Sarasota Orchestra was previously selected by the League of American Orchestras and American Composers Orchestra as a partner for EarShot 2019, in which four composers traveled to Sarasota for mentoring and workshops, which culminated in public “readings” of their new works with a chamber-size orchestra. The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program is an initiative of the League of American Orchestras, in partnership with American Composers Orchestra (ACO) and supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. The program seeks to increase the programming of works by women and nonbinary composers on orchestra stages. Networking, mentoring, career development, and community engagement opportunities are built into the program. Consortium orchestras were required to demonstrate a commitment to engaging the composers in rehearsals, networking opportunities, and education or community engagement activities, and orchestras receive funds for marketing efforts and to support composer attendance at performances.As with the original Women Composers Readings and Commissions program, the new program is embedded in EarShot, an initiative of American Composers Orchestra in collaboration with American Composers Forum, the League of American Orchestras, and New Music USA. The six commission recipients were selected from women and nonbinary composers who have participated in EarShot residencies.

To learn more click here.

Dr. Rishi Patel, CEO of CAN Community Health, has been selected for membership in the Florida Council of 100. Dr. Patel joined CAN Community Health as Chief Pharmacy Officer in 2015 and has served as its President and CEO since January 2022. Dr. Patel holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy from Nova Southeastern University, an
MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology from the University of Florida. As a state-wide educational research not-for-profit, The Florida Council of 100 membership organization is comprised of the President’s & CEO’s of some of Florida’s largest corporations and industries; provides direction for policy research, represents the Council before civic and community groups, and advises the governor, presiding officers of the legislature and the Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court on the Council’s policy research findings. 

To learn more click here.

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce the agency’s 4th annual open house on Saturday, December 10, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Citizens are invited to visit the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office headquarters to enjoy a free, family-friendly event with food, music, demonstrations, and giveaways. Members of the agency’s SWAT and Emergency Response teams, Mounted Patrol, K-9, and Aviation units, among others, will display their equipment, offering attendees an inside look at the Special Operations Bureau. The Human Resources and Emergency Operations Bureaus will provide information about career opportunities, and the agency’s Animal Services Section will bring adoptable animals. Santa Claus will also make an appearance. The annual open house coincides with the agency’s 6th annual holiday toy drive benefitting the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida’s Guardian ad Litem program, Teen Court of Sarasota, and All Star Children’s Foundation. The first 500 people to donate a new, unwrapped toy or gift card during the event will receive a free sheriff’s office t-shirt. Clothing and stuffed animals will not be accepted. T-shirts are limited to one per person per gift. The sheriff’s office headquarters is located at 6010 Cattleridge Boulevard in Sarasota. Parking is limited, so attendees are encouraged to carpool if possible. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact the agency’s Community Affairs Office at 941.861.4005. 

To learn more click here.

Luxury homebuilder Lee Wetherington Homes is proud to announce it has been selected as one of four preferred home builders for the new Wild Blue at Waterside community, located east of Lorraine Road and south of University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch. Created by Stock Development, Wild Blue will offer a one-of-a-kind living experience with amenities tailored for today’s homebuyers, all conveniently set near Waterside Place — one of Lakewood Ranch’s award-winning town centers. Lee Wetherington Homes will begin building its models, known as inspiration homes, in the first quarter of 2023. The newest neighborhood in Waterside encapsulates a modern Florida feel intertwined with natural landscapes. Four thoughtfully designed architectural varieties – Transitional, Coastal, British West Indies and Modern Farmhouse – can be found throughout this 507-home development. The homesites nestle against pristine lakefront and preserve views, with each custom home package over $1.5 million. Lee Wetherington Homes will offer five incomparable design styles across Wild Blue.Wild Blue plans to allot 36 homesites during the first phase of development, with 79 sites available in the second phase and 14 throughout the third. The longtime local homebuilder’s newest floor plans incorporate exquisite features its customers have come to expect, including spacious great rooms designed for casual living and entertaining, dramatic ceiling heights, beautiful kitchens with immense islands, pool baths, sweeping primary suites, private guest retreats, broad closets, and three-car garages. 

Pictured: An innovative 2,727-square-foot, single-story design, the Cyan is one of five custom home styles Lee Wetherington Homes will make available to buyers in Wild Blue at Waterside.

BAKED IN | Atticus Bread Company is carving a name for itself in the local food scene.

Learn more about the little bread company that could through this link, on our social media, or in the November edition of SRQ Magazine! 

Read Here!