As a sixth-generation baker, Jules Thuet knows a thing or two about bread. He and his friend Brad Rutledge met at Thuet’s family’s bakery in Toronto, where they honed their craft. Dubbed the “bread bandits” by Thuet’s little sister because they snuck out late at night to start work at the bakery, Thuet and Rutledge recognized a “knead” for quality baked goods in the community. They moved to Sarasota, bringing with them years of expertise and enthusiasm for sourdough bread, and opened Bread Bandits in Sarasota, with the goal of elevating the local bakery scene through sourdough bread.

BBC Good Food defines sourdough bread as “a naturally leavened bread, which means it doesn’t use commercial yeast to rise. Instead, it uses a ‘starter,’ a fermented flour and water mixture that contains wild yeast and good bacteria, to rise.” The term sourdough refers not to the taste of the bread itself but to the process of making it. Bread Bandits’ starter, named Chad, is 120 years old. Thuet’s great-grandmother gave Chad the gift of life in France, and his father Marc Thuet brought Chad to Canada for his own bakeries. “Sourdough is a living thing that needs a lot of care. If you don’t feed it, it dies,” says Thuet. Chad requires feeding six times a day, but the resulting bread is worth the extra effort.

“Most of the flour in the United States has additives that make it easier to handle. It doesn’t gum up machines, but it does gum up the human body. Everyone thinks that gluten is the culprit, but when you dive into the ingredients, you see that America allows things to go into the flour that no other country does. We import organic flour from France because there are things in the flour in the United States that are illegal in France. All of our bread is sourdough with a natural leavener instead of yeast. It’s a 48-hour process in which fermentation breaks down the enzymes in the flour that make bread hard to digest,” he adds. These clean ingredients and traditional methods make for healthy bread and dynamic flavors.

Bread Bandits’ staples include white, whole wheat, rye and multigrain. “For the multigrain, we toast the grains low and slow for 12 hours, then add them to the mixture. Avocado toast on the multigrain bread is killer,” Thuet adds. The bakery’s most iconic offering is the Bandit Baguette, a versatile take on ciabatta that works well for dipping in oil or making sandwiches. He and Rutledge also sell classic French baguettes and croissants. “We like to work with the seasons. Florida has so much to offer in terms of fruit, and we want to support local farmers as much as possible,” he says.

For fall, Bread Bandits released a Pumpkin Spice Danish with pumpkin spice pastry cream and a cream cheese filling. The bakery’s November offerings go beyond bread, and guests can order complete Thanksgiving meals. Patrons can come to sip on a coffee and enjoy tasty baked goods, and the establishment’s menu will soon expand to offer items like salads and sandwiches. Wholesale orders from restaurants and other businesses mean that diners can sample Bread Bandits’ products at local favorites, like Hamlet’s Eatery. “We’re so happy to be here, and we love Sarasota,” Thuet adds. “So many people from the north who haven’t been able to find good bread come here and say ‘this is what we’re looking for.’”

Visit Bread Bandits at their bakery shop, the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch at Waterside and the Siesta Key Farmers Market. Bread Bandits, 3546 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota, 941-413-5112, breadbandits.com. 

Pictured: Made using a sourdough starter and imported flour, the French baguettes at Bread Bandits are free of harmful ingredients like pesticides. Photo courtesy of Bread Bandits.

Bread Bandits

Oak & Stone is now open, featuring a 50-tap craft beer wall and casual family-friendly vibe in its newest location in Downtown Wellen. The two-story restaurant serves dinner, lunch and weekend brunch, accommodating up to 185 guests with indoor and alfresco dining areas, a bar and a 1,000-square-foot rooftop patio with views of downtown’s 80-acre Grand Lake. “We are thrilled to welcome Oak & Stone and expand Downtown Wellen’s thriving dining scene,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “Oak & Stone is sure to be a popular spot to socialize and dine with its variety of seating options, including our first restaurant rooftop terrace, and fan-favorite pizzas.” As an inspired twist on the classic tavern, Oak & Stone offers a scratch menu featuring an array of specialty pizzas, slow-roasted stone oven-baked wings, hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and plant-based choices. Customer favorites include the crispy grouper BLT, voodoo chicken, watermelon refresher salad and smoky gouda mac ‘n’ cheese. Oak & Stone also offers a well-curated selection of whiskeys, bourbons, wines and craft cocktails, and the famed beer wall highlights local and international pour-yourself craft brews. Brunch, with options for bottomless mimosas and bloody Marys, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Downtown Wellen is the sixth location for the Sarasota-based restaurant company and its first two-story venue. Open daily, Oak & Stone is located at 19795 Wellen Park Blvd., Suite 3. For more information, visit oakandstone.com or call 941-258-3606. 

Pictured: Oak and Stone is a two-story restaurant that serves dinner, lunch and weekend brunch, accommodating up to 185 guests with indoor and alfresco dining areas, a bar and a 1,000-square-foot rooftop patio with views of downtown’s 80-acre Grand Lake

The School of Hospitality and Tourism management is preparing to host a number of delicious events as part of the Crosley Dinner Series and Bulls Bistro, coming soon to the Sarasota-Manatee community. Proceeds from ticket sales will support student scholarships and programs in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at USF Sarasota-Manatee, which has experienced unprecedented growth since expanding programming last year to meet industry demand in a post-pandemic world. Crosley Dinner SeriesThe public is invited to enjoy an elegant night out at the Powel Crosley Estate, where Sarasota-Manatee students will deliver an unforgettable hospitality experience from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 17. The event promises to delight guests with a gourmet spread, including risotto, salmon, steak, dessert and an opportunity to customize their own “potato martini” with sautéed Spanish onions, roasted garlic confit, apple smoked bacon and other savory toppings. A second dinner will take place on Nov. 14 at the same location. The semi-annual dinner series is an opportunity for students in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management to gain hands-on experience in designing, preparing and executing an all-inclusive dining event. “This will be a dynamic learning experience for all of them,” said Joe Askren, a professor of instruction in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, who, along with his colleague Angad Dang, will assist the students throughout the night. “We look forward to showcasing our students’ skills at these events.” Visit usf.to/taste to purchase tickets. Bulls Bistro: Tickets are also on sale for Bulls Bistro, which will return to the Café on the Sarasota-Manatee campus on Oct. 10, Oct. 24 and Nov. 7 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. each night. Hosted and prepared by students enrolled in Restaurant Operations (HFT 3803), the three events will feature food from around the world. Tickets include three tapas and two glasses of wine or two domestic beers. RSVP to one of three upcoming events. 

What happens when the city of Sarasota’s most thriving, artsy, inclusive, fun, and creative neighborhood hosts a festival that matches it in energy, enthusiasm, and spirit? You’re about to find out! After 25 years of a beautiful run in Bayfront Park, the Sarasota Pride Festival has found a new home in downtown Sarasota’s dreamy and vibrant Rosemary Art & Design District (RADD). And we couldn’t be more excited! On Saturday, October 21st, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, RADD will come alive with rainbow-clad joy along the Boulevard of the Arts and Florida Ave as Project Pride SRQ hosts the biggest and most dynamic LGBTQ+ Pride Festival Sarasota has ever seen! Our new location means more space, more people, more entertainment, more events, more vendors, more artists, more organizations, more food, more character, more charm, more connection, and more fun! It also means that Sarasota’s beautiful downtown shops and restaurants get to be a part of the celebration like never before. Join us as this fun fall festival kicks off @ 11:30 a.m. with the Community Pride Bike Rally, led by our Grand Marshall, Tom Edwards of the Sarasota School Board, and honorary Grand Marshall Ally, Donna Koffman. We’re providing bikes for the first 50 people! Show up, hop on a bike (or bring your own), and breeze along Sarasota’s iconic Main Street to the festival grounds. The Festival’s mainstage will host an incredible lineup of live performances featuring renowned LGBTQ+ artists, local talent, and sensational drag queens, including an extended performance by Thorgy Thor, an international celebrity and musician who appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race (Season 8) and All Stars (Season 3) and is known for an unrivaled combo of music, comedy, and lip-sync that is pure, full-throttled fun. When hunger strikes, head to the Food and Beverage Village for a diverse array of sweets, treats, and eats to keep you fueled and happy throughout the day. You’ll find local favorites serving up delicious food from food trucks and food stalls, with options to satisfy every palate. For attendees 21+, a dedicated beverage zone will pop, pour, and provide all the fizzy, frothy, and fun drinks to keep you dancing like no one’s watching. Artists, crafters, and entrepreneurs will be on hand in a lively and colorful Artisan Marketplace showcasing local creativity and offering a variety of handmade goods and unique finds just in time for the upcoming gift-giving holiday season. The festival is also hosting a Community Resource Fair where you can connect with LGBTQ+ organizations, local businesses, and support groups from Sarasota and the surrounding area. But wait, what if your pet wants to celebrate pride, too, you ask? It can! Well-behaved furry, scaly, or feathered friends are invited to join a parade of their own- the first-ever Sarasota Pride Festival Pet Parade! Prideful pet owners and their precious pets of all sizes can meet up @ 3 p.m. near ALSO Youth (Boulevard of the Arts & Lemon Ave.) to walk, strut, slither (eek!), and sniff their way to the main stage, where cute contestants will win accolades and prizes! The Sarasota Pride Festival is an inclusive, welcoming, fully family-friendly event. 

To learn more, visit

The Legacy Trail

For fitness fans in search of the perfect place to bike or rollerblade outdoors, the search is over with the newly-expanded Legacy Trail. This 18.5-mile multi-use recreational rail trail connects Venice to Downtown Sarasota and runs along a former portion of the Seminole Gulf Railway corridor. The smoothly-paved path offers free parking areas, a series of interpretive signs and stop stations. Multiple trailheads provide access to other amenities. 

Central Sarasota Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34238

Check out more on this feature!

DIVAN INTERVENTION | In Gulf Gate, the red flag of Turkiye signals new flavors, October 2023. 

Read Here!