SRQ DAILY Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Dining and Food Edition
"Beer is food."
“Beer is food,” says Darwin Santa Maria, the chef and owner of Almazonica Cerveceria, a Peruvian-inspired eatery in south Sarasota that puts equal emphasis on the quality of the food and craft beer served to guests. Santa Maria, a longtime figure in the Sarasota dining scene, opened Almazonica in 2017 after spending time doing consulting work in Washington, D.C. and traveling back to his native Peru.
Peruvian flavors ground the restaurant’s menu. “We never forget our roots,” he says, referring to the way the country’s cuisine is highlighted in everything from the restaurant’s craft beer to the meals prepared with local ingredients. The menu changes based on trending flavors and guests’ preferences. “As customers’ habits change we develop as well. Right now, poke is popular, so we’re putting poke on the menu for a Peru meets Hawaii twist.” More traditional dishes include the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce and ceviche. The restaurant also offers vegan options and seeks to be accessible to all diners. While Santa Maria remains loyal to his culinary heritage, he’s eager to celebrate the traditions of other countries. One dish that will soon grace the tables at Almazonica is the molcajete, a hot stew-like meal served in a volcanic rock bowl. Instead of the typical Mexican mixture, he plans to serve Peruvian seafood.
He enjoys surprising guests with authentic flavors that they might not have tried before. “We have beef hearts on the menu, but it says ‘corazon meal’. People don’t read the whole description, they order it and love it. They say ‘Oh chef it's wonderful’ and I tell them ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it; it’s beef hearts.’ We really get to change their concept of the food.” Santa Maria also introduces new varieties of beer to his customers. His craft beers, currently brewed in Tampa, incorporate a taste of Peru in the form of purple corn, amazonian peppers, cacao and other ingredients. “One element from Peru has to be in all our dishes, but we let our customers guide the way.”
Almazonica Cerveceria, 4141 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, almazonicacerveceria.com 
Pictured: Lomito al jugo saltado, stir fry beef, aji soy sauce, onions, cherry tomatoes and fried potatos at Almazonica Cerveceria. Photo by: Pascal Koch.
The 2023 TGIF Best of SRQ Local Party took place on Friday, April 7th at Aloft Hotel in Downtown Sarasota. Attendees celebrated the winners as recognized and voted on by SRQ Magazine readers who came out in unsurpassed numbers for this year's Best of SRQ Local Competition. Guests at the sold-out event were able to mingle, enjoy music provided by Joey D Entertainment and cocktails provided by Aloft, while tasting and experiencing some of this year's "Best of SRQ Local" restaurants and dessert shops, including Brick's Smoked Meats, Gecko's Grill & Pub, JPAN & Kore Restaurants, Krewe du Sno-Ball, Kurtos, Mi Pueblo El Restaurante Mexicano & Cantina, Five-O Donuts, Ophelia's on the Bay, Rise & Nye's, Suncoast Cookies, Tsunami and Valentino's. It was a hip evening and fun celebration with our area’s passionate localvores and foodies. Congrats to the winners!
Pictured: Five-O Donuts added a sweet touch to the Best of SRQ Party. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.
This month’s Epicurean Adventure was inspired by Chef Lior Lev Sercarz, an Israeli-born master of spices and cookbook author, who recently worked with the Michael’s on East team for a special event. Chef Lior has a deep understanding of Israeli cuisine and the cultural and historical roots of spices that are used. The Epicurean menu showcases his unique approach to flavor, with each dish featuring a carefully crafted spice blend that reflects the rich and diverse culinary traditions of Israel. From start to finish, diners will embark on a sensory journey that pays homage to Chef Lior's Israeli heritage. The Michael’s On East team is proud to present this special experience!
Pictured: The Salatim Platter is featured this month at Michaels on East. Photo courtesy of Michaels on East.
Join Chef Paul Mattison for a very special wine pairing dinner featuring gold medal recipient Jacquart Champagnes and the Big, Bold Reds - Dei Vino di Montepulciano and Obsidian Ridge Cabernet. Experience the best of both champagne and wine at this unique dinner Saturday, April 22, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm at Mattison’s Forty-One Galleria, 7275 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota. The dinner is part of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals Forks and Corks multi-day food and wine festival centered around promoting locally owned, independent restaurants and encouraging people to “Eat Like A Local”. The evening will be highlighted by special guest and featured speaker, Joelle Weiss, the Chief Winemaker at Jacquart. Joelle, along with Robert Schafer, a fine wine consultant, will be telling the interesting stories behind the gold medal award-winning champagnes and amazing wines. Throughout the evening, all four Jacquart cuvees will be paired perfectly with the chef crafted, 5-course menu. The only two cuvees Jacquart entered into the Forks and Corks Wine judging were the Mosaique Brut and Mosaique Rose. They both won gold medals. The evening begins with a reception of lite bites and bubbles featuring the gold medal winner, Champagne Jacquart Mosaic Brut Rose, followed by a 5-course dinner created by Chef Paul Mattison and his team of classically trained, expert chefs and culinary creators. The first course, a Florida Sun Shrimp Vol Au Vent with a Beach mushroom and leek butter, will be perfectly paired with Forks and Corks Gold Medal winner Champagne Jacquart Mosaique Brut NV. The second course, a Butter Braised Pompano, with a citrus beurre blanc, will be matched with the Champagne Jacquart Blanc de Blancs 2013. For the third course, a Cherry Glazed Crispy Pork Belly will be featured to compliment one of the big, bold reds, the Dei Vino di Montepulciano 2018 rated 94 from James Suckling. The next course treats guests to a Syrah Braised Beef Short Rib matched with the other big red, Obsidian Ridge Cabernet 2019 hailing from Red Hills Lake County, Obsidian Ridge Vineyard 93 WE. The Obsidian Ridge is the highest vineyard in the Mayacamus Range making it the most sought after vineyard site in all of California. Unique volcanic soils mixed with Obsidian stones, that dominate the mountain, make for the highest quality California mountain vineyards. The evening’s finale will feature a divine Opera Cake dessert with Joelle showing the Tete du Cuvee - top of the line - Alpha 2010 96 Decanter which is something to behold! Seating is limited for this dinner with reservations required. Tickets are $175++ and can be purchased by calling Mattison’s Forty-One at 941-921-3400 or at https://mattisons.instagift.com/bubbles-big-reds.
Ready to win some rockin’ prizes? Join Hamlet’s Eatery on Friday, April 14 from 5-8pm for Music Bingo. Music Bingo is a fun and exciting take on classic bingo where anyone can play. Hostess Myra Mains will entertain you while you enjoy great food and drinks from Hamlet’s Eatery. Free to play and open to all ages and dog friendly. Hamlet’s Eatery will open at 5pm for food and the games will be begin at 6pm. Prizes include gift certificates from The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, Hamlet’s and more! Located outside with seating under a covered patio, 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. For more information visit www.hamletseatery.com or call 941-445-1938.
Hard Heart Burlesque is back at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre April 16, 2023 at 8pm for an evening full of strip tease, live vocals and variety acts that will make you feel like spring has sprung. Flowers are in bloom, and so is Hard Heart Burlesque this April. Created by your producers "the sweetheart with a switchblade," Miss Marina Elaine and "the quadruple threat," Karma Kandlewick, April’s performers feature Rogue River, Le Belle Michele, Gale Bright, Barbarella Brown, vocal stylings of Nicole Dreger, variety by the Distinguished Daredevils and our emcee BurlyNathan.
McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, Tickets: $37.
Pictured: Marina Elaine will perform on April 16, Photo courtesy of McCurdys Comedy Theatre.
Enjoy a night of fun at Waterside Place during Ranch Nite Wednesdays. The event features food trucks, live music, a night market, a vintage mobile bar and cornhole. Visit lakewoodranch.com to learn more. Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota.
This monthly gathering of car enthusiasts brings together automobile lovers from every walk of life, not to mention a wide array of spectacular cars. Bring your own vehicle (all makes and models are welcome) to show off, or check out the hundreds of cars on display. Each month, the event sponsors a different charity, and attendees are encouraged to donate $10 to benefit the charity. The event, occuring on the second Sunday of each month, will feature live music, complimentary coffee and more. To learn more, visit facebook.com/carsandcoffee941. Sarasota Cars and Coffee, The West District at University Town Center near Ford’s Garage, 295 N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota.
The 2023 Forks and Corks Food and Wine Festival will return for its 16th year. The Festival is scheduled for April 20-24, 2023 and offers a world-class weekend of winemaker dinners, interactive wine seminars and wine tastings that culminates with the alfresco Grand Tasting event at The Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard. Guests will savor delicious dishes presented by over 40 members of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals restaurant group and sample from a collection of more than 300 unique wines from across the globe. There will be live musical entertainment and an expansive silent auction of rare and collectible wines and experiences. Due to the unprecedented demand this year, there are three available ticket levels: VIP, early access and general admission. For more information on Forks and Corks and to purchase tickets, visit EatLikeALocal.com. Follow Forks and Corks on Facebook and Instagram.
FSU and the Asolo Conservatory are thrilled to bring back the beloved Shakespeare in the Gardens series to The Ringling Museum grounds with the Conservatory production of Love's Labour's Lost. Originally performed at Selby Gardens, this year the production of Love's Labour's Lost will be set in the remarkable Ringling Museum of Art Bayfront Gardens, surrounded by a lush banyan grove, with views of the stunning Sarasota Bay. Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, asolorep.org.
Florida Studio Theatre presents the original music revue, Reel Music, celebrating the movies that helped create the soundtrack to the last century. Featuring classics like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Circle of Life,” and “My Heart Will Go On,” this new Cabaret traces how films—and the music highlighted in them—have evolved over the past one hundred years. Created by Richard Hopkins, Rebecca Hopkins, and Sarah Durham with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser, Reel Music begins playing February 15, 2023, in FST’s Court Cabaret. Single tickets for Reel Music
range between $18-39 and are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000.
SHE ENGINEERS is a bilingual (English and Spanish) poster exhibition highlighting eight women in various engineering fields. In their own words, the women share their passion and what inspired them to become engineers. If we support a woman in STEM, then she can change the world.
This walking tour led by volunteer guides will introduce you to interesting botanical specimens on the estate while providing a historic overview of the development of the estate. The Ringling Arboretum has been accredited at Level II through ArbNet and there are over 2350 trees within the arboretum representing native, exotic, historical, and culturally significant trees. Garden Tours are available Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays and take place entirely outdoors. It is 90 minutes in length and covers approximately 1 mile. We encourage visitors to bring bottled water, and wear appropriate footwear, preferably closed-toe, sunblock, and hats. There will be a maximum of 10 participants per tour. Tours are subject to weather conditions. Please check it at the Visitors Pavilion prior to your tour. Tickets will be available 30 days prior to each tour.
A Place in the Sun – A Tribute to Stevie Wonder, will begin playing in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret on November 16, 2022. The new music revue celebrates the legendary musician whose catalogue spans six decades and multiple musical genres, taking audiences through the beloved songbook of musical pioneer, Stevie Wonder. Created by Jason Cannon, Richard Hopkins, and Sarah Durham, this all-new Cabaret features such timeless hits as “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” “Isn’t She Lovely?,” and “Superstition.” Tickets are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000.
The Sarasota Concert Association announces its 2023 Music Matinees concert series. These four free noon-time concerts showcase exceptional regional musicians performing a variety of musical styles, including classical and folk music. Scheduled this season: Passerine; Wednesday, January 4 at noon. With inventive vocal harmonies and song-writing skills, supported by the sounds of acoustic strings, Passerine offers a fresh take on traditional folk and bluegrass music, as well as a repertoire of original songs that range from ballads to contemporary Americana. Duo Pianists Michael Baron and Priscila Navarro; Wednesday, February 22 at noon; The Baron-Navarro Piano Duo performs a wide range of music, from classical to popular, for two pianos and piano four–hands with electric energy and melting lyricism. Their New York City debut as a piano duo at Carnegie Hall in March of 2022 was sold out and met with critical acclaim. Soprano Hein Jung and pianist Gregorios Zamparas; Friday, March 17 at noon Soprano Hein Jung has performed in recitals and with opera companies in major cities throughout the U.S, Italy and South Korea. She will be accompanied by pianist Gregorios Zamparas who has been praised for his versatility as a recitalist, orchestra soloist and chamber musician throughout the U.S. and Europe. Cellist Natalie Helm and Pianist Jesse Martins; Wednesday, April 19 at noon Principal Cellist of the Sarasota Orchestra, Natalie Helm is a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and educator. For this performance she will collaborate with pianist Jesse Martins, who also serves as conductor and vocal coach with the Sarasota Opera. The concerts are free but pre-registration is required and available 30 days before each concert at SCAsarasota.org. Performances take place at David Cohen Hall in the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Trail. Visit www.SCAsarasota.org or call the box office at 941-966-6161.
Join Sarasota Art Museum for Jazz Thursdays featuring live jazz music, contemporary art, and sips and bites from Bistro. Hosted by the Jazz Club of Sarasota. Jazz Thursday happens on the second Thursday of each month, 5:30-8 p.m. Galleries, Bistro, and SHOP open. FREE for Members, $20 for Not-Yet Members.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ 2023 Jean and Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature showcases the creativity and innovation of American artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933). The first exhibition of its type to be presented in a botanical garden, the exhibition highlights the inspiring connection between Tiffany Studios and the natural world through unique horticultural displays in the Tropical Conservatory and the Gardens, accompanied by seminal examples of Tiffany’s work on view in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. To learn more, visit selby.org. Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota.
The hilarious new play CHICKEN & BISCUITS introduces us to the Jenkins family, as they gather to celebrate the life of their beloved and recently deceased father and grandfather, the Revered Bernard Jenkins. When an unexpected guest reveals a secret, they all discover that nothing brings a family together like a big side of drama. This side-splitting new Broadway comedy explores the tenderness of family, the joy of reconciliation, and the nourishing power of love. Written by Broadway newcomer Douglas Lyons and directed by the talented Bianca LaVerne Jones, who was associate director of the 2021 Broadway production, CHICKEN & BISCUITS proves that while family may drive us crazy, we’re lucky to have each other.
Asolo Repertory Theatre
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. Single tickets range from $18-39 and are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or 941.366.9000. FST's Bowne's Lab Theatre, 1265 1st St., Sarasota.
BACKWARDS FORWARDS BACK by Jacqueline Goldfinger. A World Premiere. March 24 - April 23, 2023. Urbanite Theatre. When a soldier returns from war carrying the ghosts of his tour, he’s faced with a sobering decision: address his alarming PTSD with Virtual Reality therapy, or risk losing access to his family forever. Can this new technology recalibrate the brains and bodies of wounded soldiers? This electric, vivid, one-man drama studies the power of healing and finding strength in vulnerability. For tickets and info contact phone (941) 321-1397, email info@urbanitetheatre.com, website www.urbanitetheatre.com
Urbanite Theatre , 1487 2nd Street Sarasota FL, 34236
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