SRQ DAILY Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Dining and Food Edition
"The cheesemaker cannot be here to tell customers the backstory of the product, so we work to share that story with the customers"
Dairy delights abound at Artisan Cheese Company, located in Sarasota’s Rosemary District. Opened in 2012 by owner and cheesemonger Louise Converse, Artisan Cheese supplies Sarasotans with a massive variety of domestically and internationally produced cheeses. The shop also has a small cafe with cheese-based items for customers to enjoy. It has become a staple for cheese enthusiasts eager to expand their palettes and branch out into trying new varieties. This March, Wine Enthusiast named the store as one of the top 10 most iconic cheese shops in the U.S. The store’s stock changes on a seasonal basis, allowing customers to sample different flavors all year round. “We have classics from all around the world,” says Converse, “and our focus is about 60 percent U.S. artisanal and then we pick from across the Atlantic. We rotate out 400-500 cheeses throughout the year.”
Whether customers are avid cheesemongers or are getting their first taste of unique types of the product, Converse and her team help them find a cheese to fit their taste. “We want to take the intimidation away from cheese because it can get scary with lots of different shapes, colors, sizes, name, categories and regions. It can get really daunting, so we gauge customers’ levels and try not to get too didactic. We want them to know that there’s a right cheese for everyone.”
For customers eager to go beyond the basics, the shop offers exciting classes at the beginner, or 101 level, and advanced, or masterclass, level. In Cheese 101, students learn the essentials, while the Cheese Masterclass delves into the myriad categories of the product. The June masterclass will focus on cheddar cheese. Aside from the formal courses, Monger Mondays provide a more interactive and informal approach. Other fun food-based events are springing up this summer, including a talk with a local author and Tellings Stories, an event that brings people together through their experiences with food.
For Converse, Artisan Cheese Company is more than just a shop. It provides her and her team with an opportunity to tell stories through the medium of cheese. “The cheesemaker can’t be here to tell customers the backstory of the product, so we work to share that story with the customers.”
Artisan Cheese Company, 550 Central Ave., Sarasota, artisancheesecompany.com. 
Pictured: Artisan Cheese Company celebrates all things cheese through in store events, classes and even a cafe. Photo courtesy of Artisan Cheese Company.
Amore Restaurant is now serving the Pre Savor Sarasota Menu a 3 course dinner for $40.00 per person. Pre Savor Menu is available all night long on Wednesdays and Thursdays and as a Early dinning Menu until 5:45 (orders need to be send to kitchen by 5:45) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A 5 course Wine pairing dinner is scheduled for Thursday, May 25th at 6:30 pm for $125.00 per person (all inclusive).
Amore Restaurant, 180 N. Lime Ave, Sarasota, www.amorelbk.com, 941-383-1111.
Ford’s Garage, where diners fuel up on handcrafted burgers and beer while savoring automotive nostalgia, is serving the electrifying action of The Kentucky Derby© as an official watch location for the storied event. The restaurant brand invites racing fans and friends to taste 10 days of excitement April 27-May 6 with a full program of race coverage, commemorative merchandise, special giveaways and themed menu items at all 22 locations. The Kentucky Derby themed events are engineered in a collaborative partnership between Ford’s Garage, Ford Motor Company, Churchill Downs Racetrack and The Kentucky Derby. Ford’s Garage guests can enjoy a special commemorative menu throughout the 10-day event. Each location is mixing up custom cocktails including the Mint Julep, featuring Old Forester bourbon, and the Woodford Reserve Spire, with Woodford Reserve bourbon. Complimentary keepsake glasses will be available in limited quantities for Ford’s Garage MotorClub members and for purchase at participating locations. The Kentucky Derby Day events culminate on May 6 for the 149th Kentucky Derby, where the world’s top Thoroughbreds compete for the first leg in horseracing’s Triple Crown. A branded Ford vehicle will be on display at select Ford’s Garage locations, in keeping with the restaurant brand’s service station theme. Ford’s Garage locations are filled with memorabilia from Ford Motor Company, which has granted the brand the exclusive rights to use its logo. The watch parties are the starting bell for a year of celebration leading to the race’s 150th anniversary in 2024. Keep up with us on social for more news about the countdown to Derby 150 at Ford’s Garage.
Celebrate the mother-figure in your life at Tzeva, a lively, modern Mediterranean restaurant, with a special buffet. Chef Ken Shiro Lumpkin has thoughtfully planned out the perfect menu for mom, featuring an Omelet Station, breakfast classics like Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, seafood options such as Smoked Salmon, Florida Shrimp Cocktail and Butter Poached Halibut, as well as speciality meats like Sirloin of Beef, Farmland Hickory Smoked Pit Ham En Croute and Twice Fried Chicken. Mom will also be served a complimentary glass of Mandois Champagne. Seating for Mother’s Day will start at 11 AM with the last seating taking place at 5 PM. The buffet will be $65 per person. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Ready to win some rockin’ prizes? Join Hamlet’s Eatery on Friday, April 28 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 5:30pm. 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.
Tierney Lane, an event venue located off Manatee Avenue, has officially opened for guests to create, celebrate and cultivate. Rana Tierney purchased the refurbished historic 1924 bungalow in summer 2022 as a rental space for bridal or baby showers, birthdays, small business gatherings and creative studio for photographers/videographers. “As a photographer and creative, the building stole my heart and spoke to my soul immediately,” said Tierney, owner of Roohi Photography, a Bradenton-based business since 2008. “This is the space I always wish existed for creatives and I’m honored for guests of all types to experience the charm of the building.” With multiple rooms and a commercial kitchen, Tierney Lane can cater to nearly any small event need. The natural light studio is also available for photographers and videographers to rent for shoots. For more information, schedule time to tour or to book the space, go to www.TierneyLaneEvents.com or contact TierneyLaneEvents@gm
Sarasota Opera is pleased to host the finals for Schmidt Vocal Arts (SVA) second annual national Schmidt Vocal Competition at Sarasota Opera House June 2-4, 2023. The top three winners from each of 14 regional competitions will compete for a $10,000 first prize. Six Floridians have qualified after competing in four different regional locations. Distinguished judges for this competition are soprano Alyson Cambridge, Detroit Opera Associate Artistic Director/soprano Christine Goerke, and Cincinnati Opera Artistic Director Evans Mirageas. Tickets are available to various events of the Schmidt Vocal Competition on June 3 for $15 (Students: $10) and on June 4 for $25 (Students: $10) at SarasotaOpera.org or (941) 328-1300. Visit SarasotaOpera.org for more information. Funded by the William E. Schmidt Foundation, the Schmidt Vocal Competition is an annual event for U.S. high school students that sees 400+ singers compete each year – this season for more than $650K in cash awards and scholarships – just at the critical point in their early careers when they begin to look toward training on a professional level. Listen to 2022 National. Adjudicator soprano Tamara Wilson speak about the importance of competitions here. SVA’s support and resources continue long after the competition. The prize-winners are eligible for need-based scholarships to support their continued study at the university level, and SVA continues to have relationships with many alumni throughout their careers, providing educational, mentoring, and networking opportunities as well as grants for summer study.
If you missed SRQ Magazine’s Decals and Donuts event this past week, not to worry. We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be doing another one! Join us Wednesday, April 26 from 8am to 1pm at our studios in Downtown Sarasota. Pick up your decal while chatting with other winners over donuts and coffee. And we’ll have the BOSRQ signage up for selfies and photos! See you then!
Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a block party at the University Town Center location, along with pop-up food and drink vendors, door prizes and live entertainment all weekend long. On Friday, May 5, guests are invited to party all day and into the night with free shots of Santo Tequila and live music while indulging in authentic Mexican cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and over 300 tequila varieties. Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar, 243 North Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota, roccostacos.com.
Taste Dining and Travel Magazine is celebrating spring with a Walking Progressive Dinner in Downtown Sarasota on Wednesday, May 10. Enjoy a course at three fabulous downtown Sarasota restaurants, Bevardi’s Salute, Azul and Tzeva, and a short walk to them for an evening to remember. Part of the event’s proceeds will benefit All Faiths Food Bank. Tickets are $125. Reserve your spot at tasteweb.net or call 941-366-7950. Meet at Bevardi's Salute, 23 North Lemon Ave., Sarasota.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Reclaiming Home, Contemporary Seminole Art group exhibition will mark The Ringling’s first presentation of contemporary art by Native American artists with ancestral, historical, and present-day connections to Florida. An imperative step toward establishing a meaningful relationship with the Native American artistic community, Reclaiming Home will highlight the breadth and depth of the artwork by Seminole, Miccosukee, and mixed-heritage artists from Florida with the important work by internationally-recognized artists. The exhibition will expand the conceptual framework of Native American art made in Florida today and provide a fuller understanding of the complexities of issues within the art of the Seminole diaspora. Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, ringling.org.
Florida Studio Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Visit Joe Whitefeather (and bring the family!) by award-winning playwright Bruce Graham. It’s the 1970s in Beaver Gap, Pennsylvania, a small town with a problem. Tourism has declined and it doesn’t look like there is any hope on the horizon. When a new resident joins forces with the bewildered city council, they devise a plan to rename the town to honor a dead, Native American war hero who had never visited the town before. It’s a plan so wild and insane that it just might work. Tickets range from $25-39 and are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000. FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 1st St., Sarasota.
Eco Engineers are plants and animals that profoundly impact their ecosystem. Through their presence or behavior, eco engineers create microhabitats, or unique areas within an ecosystem. Other species have taken notice of these microhabitats and decided to move in! In this exhibition, explore nine of Florida’s eco engineers and discover why our landscape wouldn’t be the same without them. Eco Engineers is a bilingual (English and Spanish) special exhibition created by our own Museum curators. Included with museum admission. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, bishopscience.org.
Joseph’s Coat: Skyspace by James Turrell (2011) is a triumph of technology, engineering, and aesthetics. The Skyspace, created by internationally-renowned artist James Turrell, is a gathering place for contemplation and offers a unique experience. At sunset, a sophisticated system of LED lights is employed to change the color of the space. In doing so, the artist changes the context in which we view the sky through the 24-foot aperture in the ceiling, affecting our perception of the natural environment and the surroundings. As we gaze up at the sky we are invited to contemplate light, perception, and experience. Tickets are $10 and are free for members. Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, ringling.org.
FST Improv’s free-form show, Comedy Roulette, is an off-the-wall improvisation potpourri where performers are freed from the traditional do’s and don’ts of improv. Instead, improvisers are encouraged to follow the funny and launch into a new scene or storyline whenever inspiration strikes. Comedy Roulette plays Saturdays in FST’s Bowne’s Lab from April 8 to May 17, 2023. Florida Studio Theatre, 1265 1st St., Sarasota, floridastudiotheatre.org.
Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller was an American jazz pianist, composer, singer and comedic entertainer. He realized his dream of becoming a professional musician at age 15. His Harlem stride style influenced the sound of modern jazz piano. Nate Jacobs’ original tribute, “Big Sexy, The Fats Waller Revue,” to this irrepressible artist features Waller’s signature songs, including “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Your Feet’s Too Big,” “The Joint is Jumpin’” and many more. Tickets are $50 for adults, $20 for students and active military (cost includes all ticket fees). WBTT's Donelly Theatre, 1012 North Orange Ave., Sarasota, westcoastblacktheatre.org.
The Sarasota Ballet is excited to announce the Company’s 2022 – 2023 Season. Over seven programs, The Sarasota Ballet will perform 15 works by some of the most celebrated and prestigious choreographers and composers of the ballet world. Program 7 - Tribute to Balanchine. April 28-29, 2023 at the Sarasota Opera House. Featuring: Divertimento No. 15 - Choreography by George Balanchine, Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Four Temperaments - Choreography by George Balanchine, Music by Paul Hindemith. Western Symphony - Choreography by George Balanchine, Music – American folk tunes arranged by Hershy Kay. For more information visit www.sarasotaballet.org, Box office 941.359.0099
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
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