Diners looking to taste the ocean enjoyed an evening of inventive Japanese cuisine on March 22 and 23 at JPAN Sushi Bar and Grill’s University Town Center location. The night kicked off with the cutting of a 170 lb bluefin tuna. “That fish is actually pretty small,” says Daniel Dokko, the owner and chef at JPAN, “and the average size tuna we use is about 250 lb.” Curious guests crowded around the chefs’ station to watch them carve up the fish, known for its ability to speed through the ocean. According to Dokko, the bluefin tuna can hit maximum speeds of about 45 miles per hour.

Attendees rushed to their tables at a similar speed to sample the eight-course tasting menu prepared by Dokko and his team. The community-style seating arrangement encouraged everyone to engage in discussions about the fish and the meal. Many diners anticipated the sashimi course, which featured three different cuts of raw tuna. For the first course, Dokko served beef tartar with caviar and toast presented on a bed of ice. Guests challenged themselves to spread the caviar and beef onto the toast using chopsticks, the night’s star utensil. The second course refreshed the palette with a shrimp salad topped with shiso, a Japanese herb. Dish number three, a sushi handroll, incorporated the toro, a fatty section of tuna. The seaweed that enclosed the roll was thin and had a pleasant crispiness, making it easy to gobble down without being too chewy. In the fourth and fifth courses, the presentation wowed the diners. A plate of tuna noodles and edamame puree sat atop a bowl of smoked and seared tuna cured in soy sauce. The smoke pouring out of the bowl and the edible flower atop the tuna created a beautiful visual contrast. A spicy tuna and warm crab salad hand roll followed as the sixth course and a grilled seabass with ginger scallion sauce for the seventh course ushered in the main event, the sashimi cuts of tuna. Guests devoured the sashimi, then tasted a bite of sushi with wagyu beef and a brilliant orange sea urchin nigiri. Fresh cantaloupe cleansed diners’ palettes at the end of the night.

“We want to be fun for the community and increase our events throughout the year,” says Dokko, “and people love seeing a big tuna getting cut up and tasting it.” Anyone who missed the tuna cutting should fear not, as JPAN has plenty more fish in the sea for hungry patrons. In April, the restaurant will host a similar event featuring nine different fish. From longtime sushi enthusiasts to newbies to Japanese cuisine, JPAN welcomes everyone to sample the rich bounty of the sea.

JPAN Sushi Bar and Grill, 229 N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota, jpanrestaurant.com. 

Pictured: The bluefin tuna cutting at JPAN. Photo by: Wyatt Kostygan

This Easter, gather at Sarasota’s newest go-to restaurant, Tzeva, for a celebratory brunch buffet. The modern Mediterranean restaurant will serve an extraordinary spread, featuring a Chef’s Carving Board with options such as Tenderloin of Beef, Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder, and Aleppo & Fig Glazed Ham. Plus, there will be a build-your-own salad bar, an omelet station, seafood options like Shrimp Cocktail and Marinated Atlantic Salmon, and breakfast staples such as Avocado Toast and Mediterranean Frittata. And don’t forget to save room for dessert and assorted pastries! Seatings for Easter Brunch will begin at 11 AM with the final seating taking place at 5 PM. The buffet is $55 for adults and $25 for children ages 6 to 12. Alcoholic beverages like mimosas, blood marys and champagne can be enjoyed with the meal for an additional charge. There’s no better way to celebrate the holiday than being surrounded with great food, great ambiance and great people! Book your reservation via OpenTable. Please note, Tzeva will be offering its standard breakfast from 7 - 10:30 AM and will be closed for standard dinner service. 

To learn more click here.

"Enjoy The High Life, The Real Life, But Never Medium Life." 

If you're looking for a luxury experience in the heart of downtown Sarasota, look no further than The Sarasota Modern.

This gorgeous 89-room boutique hotel is located in the Rosemary District, in the heart of the arts district, downtown attractions, and some of Sarasota's most popular restaurants - including its own, Wink Wink Modern Lounge. Its expansive pool deck is equipped with a cold plunge, hot tub, and resort-style pool so you can relax while enjoying plenty of fresh air and sunshine.

The Modern also offers a variety of fantastic venues for creatives, entrepreneurs and groups seeking an authentic, inspiring setting for all events and meeting desires.

Whether you're staying here with your family, joining us for business or as part of a romantic getaway with your significant other, there are plenty of ways to customize your trip. Whether you want to stay in the exclusive 1800 square-foot Rosemary Suite or add some extra amenities like a romantic dinner at Wink Wink Modern Lounge—The Sarasota Modern has got you covered!

The Sarasota Modern Website: https://www.thesarasotamodern.com

Wink Wink Modern Lounge Website: https://www.winkwinklounge.com

Link to Resort Pass for Sunday Funday Tickets https://www.resortpass.com/hotels/the-sarasota-modern  

The Miss Florida Mid-Season Softball Tournament, hosted in partnership by Miss Sarasota Softball, Visit Sarasota County and Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources returns to Sarasota March 31 through April 2, 2023 for the first time since 2016. More than 100 girls’ recreational softball league teams from around the state, ages 4 through 17, will compete at Sarasota’s Miss Sarasota Softball Complex, 17th Street Park and Fruitville Park, with admission free for spectators. The annual, mid-season tournament serves to generate excitement and support for recreational softball, which empowers young women in communities all around Florida. All participating teams fall under the umbrella of the Miss Florida Softball organization; local leagues include Miss Sarasota Softball, Miss Venice, Miss North Port, Miss Englewood, Miss Palma Sola and Miss Manatee. Funds raised over the weekend will go toward preserving and expanding recreational softball programs both locally and throughout the state for young women. This year marks the first time Sarasota has hosted Miss Florida’s annual statewide, mid-season tournament since 2016, and it comes as the county moves forward with plans to expand the 17th Street Park, the area’s first softball facility, built over 40 years ago. Phase I of the expansion, which broke ground late last year, will feature eight new youth and women’s softball fields and four artificial turf multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football. The first phase, valued at $46 million, is expected be completed in 2025. Future phases will include three adult softball fields, a community event lawn, a destination playground and a destination playground.For more information, visit www.misssarasotasoftball.org. 

Temple Sinai’s Social Action and Social Justice Committee presents “Antisemitism in the 21 st  Century” on April 13, 2023 at 7:00pm. Lindsey Mintz, Director of Community Engagement at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota- Manatee, will discuss the current state of antisemitism today, how to confront the world’s longest hatred, its history, various manifestations and impact, and what each of us can do to help combat the spread of hate. Lindsey has multiple degrees in Jewish history and has been a Jewish communal professional for nearly 20 years working to combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism through relationship building and education.  After Lindsey’s presentation, participants will break into small groups for discussion and role playing with time for reflection and Q&A at the end. This event is free and open to the community. Register at templesinai-sarasota.org. Temple Sinai is located at 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Road (enter only from Proctor Road). For more information, call 941-924-1802. 

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is hosting their annual “March for Meals” celebration starting March 28 to raise awareness of the needs of homebound and food-insecure individuals in Manatee County. The annual March for Meals event commemorates the historic day in March 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. This March, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country are joining forces to celebrate more than 50 years of success and garner the support needed to ensure these critical programs can continue to address food insecurity and malnutrition, combat social isolation, enable independence, and improve health for years to come. “Having our Community Leaders join us this week to deliver meals will showcase the importance of our program and how much it means to seniors in need. The March for Meals event enables us to put the spotlight on how Meals on Wheels PLUS is much more than a meal; it is a friendly face, a safety check, and comfort to our older adults,” said Maribeth Phillips, President & CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. “All of our PLUS programs are critical, life-saving efforts benefiting thousands in Manatee County,” she added. Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee operates four main programs in Manatee County which include: Home-delivered Meals, The Food Bank of Manatee, Daybreak Adult Day Center, and Friendship Dining Center locations.  

A SLICE OF HEAVEN | Jim Angus of Atria Cafe dishes on putting together the perfect pizza, March 2023. 

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