The Yiddish word meshugana means nonsense or silliness, and it’s clear why the husband-and-wife team of Adam and Liz Woldman used it when naming their Jewish deli: Their food is insanely delicious.

I had been craving a proper deli sandwich ever since I had returned from a whirlwind work trip to New York City in mid-December where I had no time to visit some of my favorite eateries. That’s when I remembered that I had yet to try Meshugana Deli in Sarasota’s Gulf Gate neighborhood.

Meshugana is open mainly for carryout and catering, but there are a few two-top tables outside, which is where my friend and I sat to catch up and enjoy some of the best deli sandwiches I’ve had since moving here.

I opted for the pastrami, which was, of course, piled high on fresh and flavor-bursting rye bread. The pastrami is lean and smoky with an outside bark around its rim that retains so much of the spice flavoring. I adore the simplicity of Jewish deli sandwiches. There’s never an overabundance of vegetables to distract from the flavor of the meat. It’s simple, fresh ingredients with a nod to abundance.

When it was handed to me, I remember thinking, oh great … this is huge and I’ll be able to have leftovers. Nope. I devoured it entirely. I had to know what goes into the pastrami, so I reached out to Liz and Adam, who told me the pastrami comes from New York. It’s smoked, slow cooked and, Adam says, “the meat is marbled enough to offer both fatty and lean cuts, and we hand-cut. It would be blasphemous to put it through the slicer.”

The recipes come mostly from Adam Woldman’s mother and grandmother.

“I have years of culinary training,” Adam Woldman says, “but it takes an emotional connection — not just the mechanics — to really produce the product that we want to produce.”

There was a fast-moving line out the door the day I ate there, and the staff was smiling, friendly, and quick with a recommendation. The sandwich offerings in addition to the pastrami include corned beef, brisket and turkey. They’re served with a garlic-forward, flavorful kosher pickle and a side of coleslaw, macaroni salad, or potato salad. You’ll also find a bevy of traditional Jewish side dishes like chopped liver, latkes, knishes, kugel, matzoh ball soup and egg salad.

Adam tells me they’re not just trying to make good food — they also hope to evoke memories of the Jewish deli food that so many of us experienced in the big cities like New York, Philadelphia and Chicago before moving here. And with food this high quality, I wouldn’t be surprised if they start to make a wave of wonderful new culinary memories for Sarasota diners along the way.

Meshugana Deli, 6609 Superior Ave., Sarasota, 917-410-3397, meshuganafla.com/ 

Pictured: Meshugana Deli offers traditional Jewish delicatessen favorites, including pastrami, brisket, and turkey sandwiches piled high. Photo by Melissa Toye, Gray Photography.

99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop was recently named one of the best beer shops in the United States by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. In the article by John Holl, craft beer expert and editor of All About Beer Magazine, 99 Bottles was at the top of the list for the designated South region and one of only two Florida shops recognized. The list was curated by beer industry professionals including brewers, writers, social media enthusiasts, chefs and drinkers – all of which know what goes into a great beer shop. Since opening in April 2019, 99 Bottles is all about the experience of extraordinary liquid. Located in downtown Sarasota on 2nd Street, the narrow, intimate space has been built by a team of passionate hospitality professionals. It isn’t a brewery. It is not a bodega. Or a grocer. It is a taproom and bottle shop. It’s where someone who loves great beer has let their imagination run wild. 99 Bottles has created a drinkable gallery in an arts-driven town. With a well-curated selection of craft beers from all over the world, there is something for everyone: bottles and cans of lagers, pilsners, IPA’s, sours, saisons, berliner weisses, lambics, porters, stouts and more. It is where world-class pilsners share a tap list with rosé and hazy IPA’s. A world where both kombucha and prosecco have taps. Equally as important as the liquid and the space is the 99 Bottles staff.  The list, based on geographic designations from the James Beard Foundation included just over 40 shops from Brooklyn to the Pacific Northwest. 99 Bottles has 34 drafts, 30 wines by the glass, and 99 bottles of beer on the wall. It offers daily specials, events, pop-up kitchens and their well-known Real Deal New York Bagel Brunch every weekend. For more information on 99 Bottles including the always up-to-date beer list, all weekly specials and events, visit www.99bottles.net and follow the bottle shop on Facebook, Instagram and Untappd. 

Travel lovers are invited to attend the 3rd Annual Sarasota Luxury Travel Forum on Tuesday, January 24 from 4-7:30 PM. This free event is being held at the Meadows Country Club, 3101 Longmeadow, Sarasota, FL. The travel forum will feature 14 well-respected luxury travel brands, each presenting a 15-minute talk about topics of interest to guests. The comprehensive Presentation Schedule for this year’s Sarasota Luxury Travel Forum can be found at https://www.bookthatescape.com/Speakers. In addition to their presentations, representatives will meet guests one-on-one to answer specific questions and provide information about destinations and their travel offerings. Guests can enjoy refreshments while learning about travel options, and everyone in attendance will receive a gift from the event’s sponsor, Marc Bokoff of Cruise Planners. Luxury travel has rebounded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, and informed travelers will want to learn more about travel trends, popular destinations, and getting the most value and enjoyment from their vacations. As in 2022, Allianz Travel will be on-hand to provide information and guidance about travel insurance options. The travel companies known for their high-quality offerings and customer service that will be on hand include: Abercrombie & Kent, Alexander & Roberts, Allianz Travel Insurance, American Cruise Lines, Cunard, Kensington Tours, Lindblad Expeditions, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Rocky Mountaineer, Scenic Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, and Tauck. 

For more information and to RSVP, visit

For the 13th straight year, Icard Merrill has been named to the list of “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers ® . The firm has achieved this ranking every year since the program started in 2010. The 2023 edition recognizes the most elite firms across the nation, identified for their professional excellence with consistently positive feedback from clients and peers. In addition, Icard Merrill is regionally ranked in seven practice areas: Tier 1 in Construction, Family Law, Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law, and Real Estate Litigation; Tier 2 in Land Use & Zoning Litigation; and Tier 3 in Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. The Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process. To produce the 13th edition, the Best Lawyers research team analyzed almost 124,000 client responses, 12.2 million evaluations of more than 115,000 lawyers from more than 22,000 firms and conducted hundreds of interviews with law firm leaders. 

Join us on March 7, 2023 at Michael's On East for a dynamic luncheon symposium centered on conversations focused on regional philanthropic topics. The luncheon will include a panel discussion to explore the ever-changing world of non-profits and honor outstanding individuals who have made a meaningful impact within the community. 

Reserve Your Tickets Here