We’ll always have Paris in Sarasota, thanks to Myriam and Jean Dandonneau, the husband and wife team behind Mademoiselle Paris French Restaurant and Bakery. While they worked in engineering and computer science fields in their native France, Myriam and Jean shared a passion for gastronomy. After visiting Florida, the pair decided to sell everything in France and opened Mademoiselle Paris in Sarasota in 2016.

The concept has grown into three restaurants located at University Town Center, Anna Maria Island and Main Street in Downtown Sarasota. “Each location is completely different,” says Jean. “Anna Maria is decorated in an island style, Main Street is like a little bakery in France and UTC is more modern and airy.” Inspired by France’s strict laws banning substances such as high fructose corn syrup, the couple strives to use natural and local products that make for healthier dishes. “We source local ingredients like honey, tea, coffee, cage-free eggs and all-natural chicken,” he adds. “Like in France, we try to eliminate corn syrup and do the best for our customers’ health.” The chefs make everything, such as buttery, flaky croissants and delectable desserts, from scratch.

Don’t miss the Croissant Breakfast, a hot croissant sandwich with Swiss cheese, bacon and two scrambled eggs with diced fried potatoes and optional add-ons like spinach and avocado. For dinner, dine on the Beef Burgundy, beef slow-cooked in a red wine sauce with carrots and onions served with fettucini. Indulge your sweet tooth with a Napoleon cake, chocolate eclair or a jarred dessert like the chocolate mouse, a portable delight perfect for a seaside stroll. For a more immersive meal, the restaurant hosts wine-tasting dinners showcasing products from small French vineyards and teaching diners about the region from which each wine hails.

In the future, Myriam and Jean aspire to open a culinary school, where students will cook delicious and affordable French cuisine for guests. They also plan to expand their bakery offerings with the addition of an up-and-coming pastry chef. They keep up with industry trends, inspired by a television show called The Best Bakery in France, allowing patrons to experience new flavors. 

Mademoiselle Paris French Restaurant and Bakery, locations at University Town Center, Anna Maria Island and Main Street in Downtown Sarasota. Dining options and hours vary by location. Visit mademoiselleparis.com for more information. 

Pictured: Scrumptious scratch-made baked goods tempt diners at Mademoiselle Paris. Photo courtesy of Mademoiselle Paris French Restaurant and Bakery.

Mademoiselle Paris French Restaurant and Bakery

Move over pumpkin spice, First Watch is reigniting its partnership with Mike’s Hot Honey to bring sweet heat to its new seasonally inspired menu, available now through October 29. Headlining the fall menu is the Million Dollar Harvest Hash, created in collaboration between the two brands to combine the fan-favorite honey with First Watch’s signature Million Dollar Bacon and house-roasted sweet potatoes. This is the leading Daytime Dining restaurant’s second time bringing Chef Shane Schaibly and Mike’s Hot Honey founder Mike Kurtz together for a custom recipe. “Mike’s Hot Honey completes the Million Dollar Harvest Hash with a little heat and fresh ingredients that scream fall,” said First Watch head chef Shane Schaibly. “When we were in the kitchen creating this hash, we were immediately pleased with how well the hot honey complements the cayenne and black pepper spice in our Million Dollar Bacon and the creaminess of the goat cheese to balance the entire dish. This is something you have to try.” Schaibly is a longtime fan of Mike’s Hot Honey and introduced the Million Dollar Breakfast Sandwich during the brands’ first collaboration in late 2021. The culinary-minded duo have built a friendship and a desire to push their innovations and pairings to the next level. First Watch’s Million Dollar Harvest Hash and other seasonal menu offerings include: Million Dollar Harvest Hash - Freshly seasoned potatoes with Million Dollar Bacon, house-roasted sweet potatoes and Crimini mushrooms, kale and Monterey Jack topped with two cage-free eggs, herbed Goat cheese, lemon-dressed arugula and drizzled with Mike's Hot Honey, Barbacoa Quesadilla Benedict - Two barbacoa quesadillas prepared quesabirria-style, topped with poached cage-free eggs and covered with our Vera Cruz hollandaise, ranchero sauce and scallions, Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast - Two cage-free eggs plus one of our signature spiced Pumpkin Pancakes and a Jones Dairy Farm grilled all-natural savory chicken sausage patty, Cinnamon Spice Churros - Cinnamon sugar-dusted churros served with sea salt caramel toffee and Mexican mocha dipping sauces. From the Juice Bar: Pomegranate Pear Punch - Pomegranate, pear, cane sugar and lime. First Watch’s new specialties are the latest in its revolving seasonal menu, which follows the sun to source the highest quality ingredients, wherever and whenever they are in season, five times a year. First Watch is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for pickup, delivery and dine-in service. For more information about First Watch, its seasonal menu offerings or to find the nearest location, visit firstwatch.com. 

Daiquiri Deck, an iconic bar and casual restaurant that delivers a quality experience, great times, good vibes and the best frozen daiquiris around, is launching a seasonal brunch menu on Aug. 26 that will run through Dec. 17. Available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at all five of its locations, the brunch menu will focus on traditional breakfast items, lunch fare and specialty beverages. Earlier this year, Daiquiri Deck hired Jeremy Thayer as its culinary director and corporate chef. Thayer has been revitalizing the menu to offer over 20 new items with vibrant ingredients and healthier options. The complete seasonal brunch menu will include a breakfast omelet, fried chicken and waffles, a breakfast burrito, coconut shrimp and waffles, biscuits and gravy, avocado toast, and fish and chips. Specialty items include the Double D Griddle, containing two pancakes sandwiching a hash brown, a sunny-side-up fried egg, American cheese and choice of homemade breakfast sausage patty, bacon or ham, and This SH*# is Bananas, featuring bananas sauteed in butter and brown sugar and flambeed with dark rum and banana liquor, then served over Belgian-style waffles with a dusting of cinnamon and powdered sugar. The seasonal brunch cocktail list includes the Decked Out Bloody Mary, served with a loaded breakfast skewer made of celery, pickle, peel-and-eat shrimp, olive, lemon, deviled egg, candied bacon, chicken tender and hush puppy, as well as a Champaiquiri, which is house champagne mixed with one of the traditional daiquiri flavors. 

Pictured: Daiquiri Deck Avocado Toast paired with a Decked Out Bloody Mary.

Nestled inside the Art Ovation Hotel Autograph Collection, Tzeva features modern Mediterranean cuisine with Israeli influences that shine in beautifully plated dishes full of bright colors, unique flavors and global spices. Gather with friends and family at Tzeva on Thursday, August 31 for A Journey of Flavors, a four-course wine dinner accompanied by the storied wines of Castello Banfi. Created by Executive Chef Ken Shiro Lumpkin, the menu will feature Mediterranean dishes packed with flavor starting with Court Bouillon Poached Flounder paired with La Pettegola Vermentino 2022 and rounding out the evening with a decadent Chocolate Torte paired with Excelsus 2018. Guests will also be delighted to taste Coriander Duck Breast while sipping Magna Cum Laude 2019 as well as savor Stuffed Lamb Saddle with Brunello di Montalcino 2018. A Journey of Flavors will begin at 6:30 PM, and tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite. Tickets are $75 per person, or upgrade to include a room package and enjoy a stay at Art Ovation Hotel after the delicious evening for $175.

Thursday, August 31 · 6:30 - 9:30pm, 1255 North Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

On October 27, 2023, SRQ MEDIA will host its 8th Annual Together We Roar Leadership & Awards Luncheon at Michael’s on East in Sarasota to recognize exceptional women in the region, celebrate its Women Who Roar competition leaders and welcome the 2023 Trailblazer Award Honoree.

SRQ Magazine formed the Women Who Roar Initiative as a year-round program engaging the participants in the annual Women Who Roar Competition to create highly-dynamic personal networking that catalyzes community leadership through the science and art of mentorship. Every year, SRQ MEDIA hosts the Together We Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon recognizing the past years’ Women Who Roar Leadership Circle Class and announcing the honorees of the current year's Women Who Roar Competition.

SRQ MEDIA will present the 2023 Trailblazer Award to Paulina Porizkova, model and author of No Filter: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful, and an advocate for celebrating women of every age. Born in Cold War Czechoslovakia, Porizkova’s first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover was in 1984. As the face of Estée Lauder in 1989, she was one of the highest-paid models in the world, and when she was nineteen, she fell in love with The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek. The decades to come would bring marriage, motherhood, a budding writing career; and later sadness, loneliness, and eventually divorce. Following her ex-husband’s death—and the revelation of a deep betrayal—Paulina stunned fans with her fierce vulnerability and disarming honesty as she let the whole world share in her experience of being a woman who must start over. Now, she has discovered her voice – and it is astute, wise, and vulnerable. After a lifetime of being looked at, Paulina is ready to be heard.

The luncheon celebration will also include a Pop Up Boutique Salon featuring fabulous gifts from Camilyn Beth, PAINT Nail Bar, Saks Fifth Avenue, Discover Sarasota Tours Gift Shop and BookStore1 among others. Blair Bloomston of Game On Nation will present an energizing, interactive motivational leadership session followed by the highly anticipated announcement of the 2023 SRQ Women Who Roar Competition Honorees.

Special thanks to Champion Sponsor, Seaside Bank and Trust and Supporting Partners, Ritz Carlton Sarasota, Diamond Vault Jewelers, Michael’s On East, Dolphin Transportation, Tropical Interiors Florist, Saks Fifth Avenue Sarasota, Sarasota Trophy & Awards and Bookstore 1 Sarasota.

To purchase your online tickets to the SRQ Women Who Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon and for more details on the program, visit: https://www.srqmagazine.com/2023/TogetherWeRoar

For information regarding sponsorship contact Ashley Grant, SVP Strategic Partnerships & Engagement at ashley.grant@srqme.com. 

The Pickleball Club, the leading developer and operator of private, membership-based high-amenity indoor pickleball facilities throughout Florida, recently welcomed Scott Brynski as its new general manager for the Lakewood Ranch location. Brynski brings over 10 years of experience in the food and beverage industry to the organization. Most recently, he served as the food and beverage director for Park Club of Buffalo. During his time there, he served as a liaison between members, clients and employees in order to effectively coordinate private functions, including wedding receptions, corporate meetings, cigar dinners, golf tournaments and more. Prior to that, Brynski acted as general manager and food and beverage director at Bird Key Yacht Club in Sarasota. During his five-year tenure, he oversaw the chef and restaurant managing staff of four restaurant supervisors, purchased beverage operations, generated revenue reports for daily sales, and established a wine list of over 2,200 bottles with outside wine sales of $200,000 to members at their homes. As the new general manager for The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch, Brynski will oversee all staff, budgets and operations for the Lakewood Ranch club. Detailed responsibilities include formulating overall strategy, managing the club’s team and following established policies, among other duties. In addition to working at a number of high-end country clubs and restaurants, Brynski also completed a number of courses at State University of New York, including business, hotel and restaurant management. The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch opened in May, marking the opening of the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in the state. The club has six additional facilities underway, with a goal of opening at least 15 over the next five years. The 33,393-square-foot club is located at 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd. and features championship-grade courts with permanent nets, an outdoor players’ courtyard, Pickles Café, Dink’s Pro Shop, an indoor players’ lounge observation deck, locker rooms and a HEPA filtered air-conditioned environment. 

On National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, Aug. 23, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is asking Sarasota County residents to sign up to be a poll worker in advance of 2024’s busy election calendar. Having an adequate number of poll workers to staff polling places on and before election day can ensure voters receive the assistance they need at the polls and can help provide a positive and trouble-free voting experience for all. Visit SarasotaVotes.gov/poll-workers or call 941-861-8640 to learn more and apply. Poll workers must be registered voters of the county where they apply to work. Students who are at least 16 years old may apply to become student poll workers. National Poll Worker Recruitment Day is a day established by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to address the critical shortage of poll workers by encouraging people to help America vote by signing up to be a poll worker.