I don’t think I’ve met another human who doesn’t love biscuits, and the ones that Buttermilk Handcrafted Food offers are some of the best you’ll find in Sarasota. They’re crispy on the outside; fluffy, fresh and chewy on the inside. But when it comes to Buttermilk, it’s what happens in between the top and the bottom of the biscuit that makes it truly special.

My wife, Janet, and I ate breakfast there Saturday morning. It was one of those days where you’re reminded why you live here. The sun was high and bright, the temperature was light-jacket-and-shorts worthy. It was the perfect backdrop for our first trip to Buttermilk, where natural light pours into the handsome interior that harkens that would make Chip and Joanna Gaines proud.

We opted for the pimento cheese and ham on a biscuit and an order of the baked egg, Benton’s bacon and cheese with gravy. Both were outstanding for several reasons, mostly because each ingredient was top-notch by itself.

The gravy wasn’t too heavy, and had just the right amount of kick to the sausage. And the bacon … most breakfast sandwiches at Buttermilk come with Benton’s bacon. For the uninitiated, Benton’s purveys some of the smokiest and most flavor-bursting bacon that the state of Tennessee has to offer.

For breakfast dessert — because you deserve a treat for leaving the house before 9 a.m. on a Satuday — we enjoyed a bread pudding core. If heaven were has a food that it serves at the entrance, I think it would taste like this. Imagine the core of a cinnamon roll, which we all know is by far the best part, and then smother it with a praline sauce that hardens into a frosting. I guarantee it tastes even better than you’re imagining.

East Sarasota isn’t always top of mind when it comes to breakfast destinations, but if you haven’t made it to Buttermilk Handcrafted Food yet, call it a holiday gift to your taste buds.

Buttermilk Handcrafted Food, 5520 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota, (941) 487-8949, facebook.com/buttermilksrq. 

Pictured: Buttermilk Handcrafted Food offers some of Sarasota’s best biscuits, but it’s the ingredients in between that really shine. Photo by Kevin Allen.

On December 1st, Michael's on East launched the Epicurean Tuscany menu.

"The culinary team at Michael’s On East is challenged to create new dishes inspired by the world’s most exotic destinations each month. Join us to experience ever-changing, palate-pleasing global cuisine with Michael's Epicurean Adventures," says marketing director, Billy Hoyle. "The three-course dinner menu is available Tuesday through Saturday evenings for $42.95 per person." 

Pictured: Prosciutto di Parma & Aged Fontina-Stuffed Chicken Breast Creamy Tuscan Artichokes & Oven-Dried Tomato Sauce Crispy Capers and Toasted Fennel Oil, Broccolini and Creamer Potatoes. Photo courtesy of Michaels on East.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce the lineup for its 2023 Stage III Series, dedicated to presenting edgy new work that is challenging in both content and form. The 2022-2023 Winter Season marks the first time in three years that FST has been able to present its three-show Stage III Series for Sarasota audiences. FST’s 2023 Stage III Series lineup features three premieres of contemporary plays penned by award-winning American writers.

Series at a glance: Babel by Jacqueline Goldfinger | January 18 – February 10, 2023. In this version of the future, expectant parents learn within the first few weeks of pregnancy which traits their child will have and what behaviors it is likely to exhibit. This intriguing new play follows the extreme lengths two couples go to in order to have a baby. Babel probes the world of modern eugenics, explores the societal value of a baby, and asks us what we are willing to risk for love. NNPN Rolling World Premiere. The Last Match by Anna Ziegler | February 22 – March 17, 2023. Regional Premiere. It’s the semifinals of the U.S. Open. Sergei Sergeyev, an up-and-coming Russian phenom, and Tim Porter, a great American superstar in the twilight of his career, go head-to-head under the lights of the tennis court. Journey into the minds of these two extraordinary players as they consider the shots they didn’t take, the sacrifices they made for success, and the legacy they may leave behind. By match point, much more has been won and lost than a game of tennis. Paralyzed by Etan Frankel | March 29 – April 21, 2023. World Premiere. Leigh and Lee are two strangers who have little in common besides their names—she is a Type A statistician and he is an aggressive former athlete. But the discovery of a mysterious suicide note in a hotel bathroom sets their lives on unexpected paths that go anywhere but according to plan. Paralyzed tells a striking story of guilt, personal responsibility, and the power of forgiveness. 

To learn more click here.

A new Multiuse Recreational Trail, or MURT, has opened along the perimeter of Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. The 800-linear-foot MURT gives pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, and others safe access to the campus as well as to the Sarasota Bayfront from neighborhoods south and east of the Gardens. The paved trail runs the length of the northern and eastern borders of Selby Gardens’ property, along Mound Street/US Highway 41 to the north and South Orange Avenue to the east. It is the first component of Phase One of the Gardens’ Master Plan for its Downtown Sarasota campus to open, and it represents just one of several improvements being contributed to the community as part of the project. The new pathway significantly widens the previous sidewalk that bordered Selby Gardens’ campus, running a maximum of 12 feet wide on Orange Avenue and adding width on Mound Street as well. It meets the requirements of a multimodal trail, meaning it can be used for walking, jogging, cycling, and in-line skating. In addition to installing a wider sidewalk, Selby Gardens has provided some of its property along the northeast corner of its campus to accommodate off-site traffic improvements near the corner of Orange Avenue and Mound Street without affecting the planned building setback for that area. A future highlight of the MURT, according to Rominiecki, will be the garden views that pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy when using it. “When Phase One construction on our project is completed next fall, everyone who utilizes the MURT will gain wonderful, sweeping views of new garden features and historical elements of our campus,” said Rominiecki. “The design is intended to make the Gardens look and feel more open, not hidden behind a fence or a wall. That’s something people will be able to enjoy on either side of our property line.” The landscaping plan for the MURT involves adding an irrigation line and new plantings to be maintained by Selby Gardens’ horticulture staff. Additionally, a small area near Palm Avenue on Mound Street is temporarily covered with asphalt, but that will be replaced by pavers at the time that the original Augusta block is reinstalled on historic Palm Avenue within the campus. While those elements will come later in the project, Rominiecki says that opening the MURT in the meantime for multimodal access is a major milestone. “All of us at Selby Gardens are deeply grateful to our Chair, Marianne McComb, and her husband, Bill, for their important support of our campaign, which has made this element of the Master Plan possible,” said Rominiecki. The entirety of Phase One of Selby Gardens’ Master Plan is expected to be complete in October 2023, less than a year from now. 

To learn more click here.

Thirty years ago, Drs. Michael Mullan and Fiona Crawford who co-founded the Roskamp Institute with Bob and Diane Roskamp in Manatee County, were members of the team that found the first ever genetic causes of Alzheimer’s Disease. Their identification of genetic errors in the gene for the amyloid protein, which results in its build up in the brain, showed that amyloid could cause Alzheimer’s Disease. Finally, a drug built on that premise, is heading for approval by the FDA. The drug, made by Eisai and called Lecanemab, has been shown to reduce the amount of amyloid in the brain and results in clear benefit for patients, with better retention of memory and other mental functions in the early stages of the disease. Importantly, common daily activities such as socializing, caring for oneself and communicating were all preserved better in those Alzheimer patients taking the drug compared to controls. FDA approval for the drug is expected next year with availability for patients soon after.  

To learn more click here.

The 3rd annual Big Bill Big 5K will take place at a new location, the Robinson Preserve in Bradenton on Saturday, January 21st, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. The Big Bill Big 5K will benefit the Big Bill Foundation which was created in memory of Bradenton native and co-founder of Fit2Run, Bill Robinson after he lost his battle with Leukemia in 2020 at the age of 70. The Big Bill Foundation’s mission is to provide scholarships to survivors of childhood cancer. At this year’s Big Bill Big 5K, multiple scholarships will be awarded during a heartfelt ceremony on race day. Awardees will be presented with a scholarship check and will be recognized for their perseverance and bravery. In addition to the scholarships, race awards and various prizes will be presented to race winners! Fit2Time is the race management division of Fit2Run. The memory of Big Bill Robinson is commemorated in the Fit2Run Bradenton store which just celebrated its first year of business. Since the opening of the Bradenton store, Fit2Run has opened numerous stores in both Florida and Puerto Rico with huge growth goals for 2023. Stop by your nearest Fit2Run location to say “Hi” or shop online at fit2run.com. Be sure to stay up to date with all things races and Big Bill by following us on social media @Fit2Time, and keep up with the latest gear by following @Fit2Run_therunnerssuperstore. 

Pictured: Big Bill Foundation, Tyson Odom Family. Photo courtesy of Fit2Run.

DreamLarge, the first registered benefit corporation on the Gulf Coast of Florida, is excited to announce a RADD Holiday Bash, a purposeful evening event in the Rosemary District celebrating the holidays and supporting those in need through a toy drive for local nonprofit, Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties. On Thursday, December 15 from 5-8 pm, multiple free events will take place around DreamLarge (513 Central Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236) including a festive group bike ride (pre-registration required), a live performance by the Sarasota Music Conservatory, DJ Ba$$god slinging holiday tunes, plus drinks and local food trucks including Great Heights Creamery, Cookies by the Graham, and Sarasota Eatz. All are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to DreamLarge in support of the Boys and Girls Club. Since 1970, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties have played an integral role in the Sarasota County community, providing daily programs and services to thousands of young people. The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The entire community of visitors and bike riders can support the Boys & Girls Club by bringing new, unwrapped toys to the party and participating in the free evening festivities. BLVD Bike Rides, a group bike ride, will offer free participation and VEO bike rentals in exchange for toys. Thanks to the generosity of the City of Sarasota and its new VEO program, all VEO bikes are being provided free of charge. 

Pictured: BLVD Bike Rides, a community outreach initiative of DreamLarge, aims to bring residents, neighbors, and friends together to celebrate the community and cycling in downtown Sarasota.

To register for any of the festivities and to pre-register for the bike ride click here.

CONVIVIR | The search for authentic Mexican cooking and culture runs through La Primavera.

Amalia Flores owns Sarasota-based Chef Amalia Private Chef & Catering Services and appeared on the first “Master Chef Latino” that aired in the United States. Find out what sets Chef Amalia's cuisine apart through the link, on our social media, or in the December Edition! 

Read Here!