In Florida, seafood is sacred. From juicy shrimp to a mouthwatering fish sandwich, both locals and tourists alike enjoy the bounties of the sea. With a focus on celebrating iconic dishes made using sustainable ingredients, entrepreneur Anand Pallegar and chef Steve Phelps co-founded Pigfish, the eatery concept inside of Calusa Brewing Taproom. Pallegar and Phelps met years ago as neighbors living in Towles Court, bonding over their Midwestern backgrounds and similar values. Together, they pondered how to create a sustainable seafood-centered business in the midst of climate change, and Pigfish was born.

“We often talked about how you couldn’t get a great fish sandwich in Sarasota, meaning you had confidence in where it was sourced from and that it was sourced in a sustainable and ecological way,” Pallegar says. “This opportunity was emerging when we first conceived of the idea, and the concept has been years in the making.” For diners, choosing a dish from a list of tasty-sounding options is easy, but reading between the lines of that menu and deciphering the story behind what’s on the plate is mystifying. Like swimmers bobbing at the surface of the ocean with no knowledge of what’s in the water beneath them, most diners don’t know what lies under the surface of the menu. “That’s the nature of this, the idea of how do we build a transparent relationship with our patrons in educating and advancing their understanding of what sustainable aquaculture looks like and what sustainable product sourcing looks like so that you know where your food sources originate from and can make more conscious decisions related to what you’re putting into your body,” he adds. “All of our purveyors related to fish come from sustainable aquaculture sources. We’re looking to educate the public and our patrons that this is a viable, delicious form of fish that they may not have thought of.

Curious guests can enjoy a menu developed by Phelps, who brought his experience from Indigenous to the Pigfish concept. The Pigfish sandwich, which features kanpachi, crispy pork belly, green tomato relish, bacon tartar sauce, shaved cabbage and red onion on a hoagie roll highlights sustainably sourced kanpachi fish, from Forever Oceans. This company farms the kanpachi in deepwater enclosures where clean water flows in order to raise healthy, tasty and protein-rich fish ideal for a variety of dishes like sushi or pasta. The sandwich pairs well with the house hushpuppies, for which diners can choose from four tartar sauces for dipping. “It’s the whole theory behind reinventing what everyone remembers as a fish sandwich around here. Ever since I moved here I thought that even being so close to the water, we really couldn’t get a great fish sandwich,” says Phelps, “but now I’ve learned that there are better ways to do it.”

Pigfish, 5377 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, 941-777-5220, pig.fish. 

Pictured: One of the sustainably sourced fish sandwiches at Pigfish. Photo Courtesy of Pigfish.

Pigfish

Sage Restaurant, a culinary destination offering worldly cuisine and crafted cocktails in downtown Sarasota, is elevating its rooftop experience by introducing a brand-new gourmet street food menu available exclusively on the 4th-floor open-air rooftop. Set against the backdrop of an elegant ambiance and mesmerizing city views, this gastronomic journey kicks off on Friday, Nov. 10 and will be available every Thursday through Saturday evening. Highlights from the rooftop menu include Cod and Baby Shrimp Ceviche with Assorted Chips; Guacamole with House Made Chips; Confit of Patatas Bravas; Smoked Beef Empanadas; House Blend Smash Burger with Kimchi and Garlic Mayo; Pulled Chicken Sandwich with Tomato-Bacon Jam and Cabbage Slaw; and Panino with Eggplant Confit, Capicola, Porchetta and White Truffle Aioli. While the food promises to tantalize your tastebuds, the rooftop continues to offer a full-service bar, open table seating and, in line with Sage's commitment to providing unparalleled experiences, guests can enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday evening. While reservations are encouraged for the main dining area, the rooftop does not require reservations. However, given the excitement around this launch, early arrival is recommended for the best seats under the stars. Sage is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. To make a reservation, visit SageSRQ.com or call 941-445-5660. 

To learn more, visit.

This Veterans Day, Ford’s Garage, your neighborhood burger and brew joint inspired by the heritage of the Ford Motor Company, is honoring veterans by giving them 25% off their meal! Veterans who dine on Nov. 11 will receive the 25% discount with up to three guests per table (alcohol excluded). 

In honor of Veterans Day, participating Hooters locations are offering Veterans a free meal on Saturday, November 11. Veterans and all active military can choose from a buffalo chicken sandwich, buffalo wrap (chicken or shrimp), cheeseburger, 10 boneless wings or grilled chicken sandwich. Military I.D or other proof of service is required. Special is for dine in only. One offer per person and not valid with any other discounts. In addition, Veterans currently working at these Hooters Restaurants will receive a $100 bonus on Veterans Day.  In an effort to recruit more of their best employees, Veterans, South Florida Hooters restaurants in South Florida, Southwest Florida, Bradenton and Sarasota areas are offering special incentives.  Current and future employees who are Military Veterans will receive a $250 sign on bonus after 30 days, a Memorial Day bonus of $100, Veteran’s Day bonus of $100, 2 pairs of non-slip shoes and exclusive “Proud United States Veterans” merchandise and uniforms that pay tribute to their service. “We love our Veterans! We want to honor them.  We thank them for their service in the military and their dedication and hard work,” said LTP Management Director of Marketing Kristi Quarles.  Currently there are 12 Veterans including Managing Partners, General Managers and Managers that work at the 15 South Florida Hooters locations including Joseph Truglio (Pembroke Pines), Ortice Robinson (Beach Place), Neil Swanson  (Fort Lauderdale), Larry Willis (Fort Myers), Kevin Hyde (Fort Myers) and John Ocampo (Doral). LTP Management, a Franchisee of Hooters of America, owns and operates 15 locations in South Florida.  For more information about South Florida Hooters please visit www.HootersFlorida.com or follow us at Twitter @HootersFlorida, Instagram @SouthFLHooters, TikTok @SouthFLHooters and Facebook @HootersFlorida.  

The Royal Palm Book Awards recently awarded Marisa Mangani, owner and president of local commercial kitchen design firm, Mise en Place Design, a gold medal award for her memoir, Mise en Place: Memoir of a Girl Chef. A writing competition hosted annually by the Florida Writers Association (FWA), RPLA is a highly regarded writing competition that celebrates excellence in writing across more than 20 genre categories. Marisa Mangani’s work, Mise en Place: Memoir of a Girl Chef, was an entry in the Biography and Memoir category and scored the most points from judges amongst several other prestigious and
esteemed writers. Mise en Place: Memoir of a Girl Chef is the rollicking memoir of a talented chef who takes readers on her journey through the mostly men’s club of restaurant kitchens as she travels from
Hawaii to Oregon, New Orleans, Canada, Australia, and Florida. Her memoir was published in 2022 and is also a 2023 Global Book Awards gold medal winner for Women’s Biographies. Marisa Mangani, who years ago traded her chef’s hat for a kitchen design hat, says about her achievement, "It is exhilarating to have so many years of living then so many years of writing about living, to be recognized by RPLA!” 

Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood. is celebrating their 12th anniversary! They invite their valued guests and community members to join them in celebration of this milestone throughout November 8th – 11th. A special chef-curated menu will be available all weekend with new items including Mushroom Arancini, Fennel Beet Salad, Surf & Turf, and Cashew-Crusted Grouper. A $12 lunch menu will also be available November 8th – 10th only from 11am-4pm. This menu features several of their most popular lunch items for only $12 each, inspired by some of their guests’ favorites over the last twelve years. Throughout the celebration, guests who dine in will have the opportunity to enter to win one of twelve prizes including gift cards and experiences. One grand prize winner will win a chef-curated 3-course dinner for 4 and a bottle of wine. Duval’s has been voted Best All-Around Restaurant by Herald Tribune Readers’ Choice Awards since 2019, and Best Seafood Restaurant since 2016. They are located at 1435 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236. Duval’s offers a free downtown shuttle to guests dining at the restaurant. To make a reservation with the shuttle, call 941.312.4001 For more information regarding Duval’s free local shuttle, visit https://www.duvalsfreshlocalseafood.com/shuttle The full anniversary menu and details can be viewed here: https://www.duvalsfreshlocalseafood.com/12th-anniversary. 

It's the perfect time to start making Thanksgiving plans. Family and friends can gather at Tzeva, a lively, modern Mediterranean restaurant offering a special buffet on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chef Ken Shiro Lumpkin has thoughtfully planned out the perfect menu for Thanksgiving, featuring Butcher Block Herb Roasted Turkey and a bourbon-molasses ham, an epic salad bar, and all the sides to satisfy heart memories. Priced at $75.00 per person, diners can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet that includes House made gravy, Sour dough stuffing, Southern-style green bean casserole with crispy onions, Baked yams with toasted marshmallows, Roasted herb Japanese pumpkin with sage-brown butter, Creamy mashed potatoes and so much more. Reservations can be made via OpenTable. 

The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that Sloppy Joe's on Treasure Island has been awarded "Best Taste" at the 2023 Taste of the Beaches Annual Taste Tour. The Surf N' Turf Burger served at Sloppy Joe's captured the attention of Tasters all along the beaches, making it this year's flavor sensation. The Taste of the Beaches Annual Taste Tour, which took place from October 7th to October 15th, celebrated the rich and diverse culinary scene of our coastal community. Participating restaurants wowed food enthusiasts with their creative dishes, and Sloppy Joe's standout creation left a lasting impression. "We are delighted to congratulate Sloppy Joe's on this well-deserved win," said Robin Miller, CEO of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber. "Their Surf N' Turf Burger really displayed the unique culinary scene in our community that makes it so special." Sloppy Joe's and the Taste of the Beaches event have shown that great food and community support go hand in hand. The Chamber is looking forward to seeing what culinary delights they and other restaurants have in store for next year. For more information on the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, please visit TampaBayBeaches.com, or email info@tampabaybeaches.com.  

Pictured: The Surf N' Turf Burger served at Sloppy Joe's.

She’s baaaack! That’s right, the hostesss with the mostess Myra Mains is headed to Hamlet’s Eatery for a festive night of fun on Friday, Nov 10.  The beloved hotspot for foodies and music enthusiasts, combines the best of both worlds with Music Bingo! Join them every 2nd Friday of the month for an evening filled with delicious food, and toe-tapping tunes. Doors open at 5pm and the first round starts at 5:30. Play one or play all four - no fee to play! Music Bingo is an innovative twist on the classic game, combining the thrill of bingo with the joy of listening to your favorite songs. Myra Mains plays an eclectic mix of music from various genres and eras as players mark off the corresponding song titles on their bingo cards. It's a guaranteed recipe for a night of non-stop fun!  But that's not all - Hamlets Eatery is renowned for its great food, and this event promises to be no exception. Whether you're a meat lover or vegan, Hamlets Eatery has something for everyone! As the excitement builds throughout the night, be prepared to win prizes. The winners of each round will be rewarded for their bingo prowess.  Whether you're a music aficionado, a food lover, or simply someone looking for a fun night out, Music Bingo at Hamlets Eatery is for you! No reservations needed. For more information visit www.hamletseatery.com or call 941-445-1938. 

All Faiths Food Bank has, for many years, worked to brighten the holidays for our neighbors struggling to put food on the table. For Sarasota and DeSoto County residents and people who are already clients of the food bank, All Faiths will offer numerous distributions of frozen turkeys and sides in an effort to turn empty plates into “ThankFULL tummies and hearts” this holiday season. The immense challenges of the past few years – runaway costs of essentials such as rent, food and gas, Covid and hurricanes – have hit those who were already struggling hard, especially children, families and seniors on fixed incomes, while new families have learned what it’s like to experience hunger. Since its founding in 1989, All Faiths Food Bank has provided food during the holidays, steadily expanding its efforts through the ThankFULL campaign. Funds from this year’s campaign will enable All Faiths to distribute more than 13,000 turkeys and sides ahead of Thanksgiving, and a total of 3.6 million holiday meals. All turkey distributions will be held as long as supplies last. On Saturday, November 11, starting at 9 a.m., frozen turkeys and side dishes will be distributed at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (777 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota); this effort is being held in partnership with Van Wezel and The Bay Sarasota. Veterans are welcome to pick up turkeys and sides during the Veterans Pantry at Church of the Palms (3224 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota) on Tuesday, November 14, starting at 9 a.m. Another large-scale turkey distribution will take place at Ed Smith Stadium (2700 12th St., Sarasota) on Wednesday, November 15, starting at 4 p.m. All distributions last until supplies run out. There will also be several locations for turkey distributions in DeSoto County, including at All Faiths Food Bank’s DeSoto Food and Resource Center (1021 E. Oak St., Arcadia) on Friday, November 17, starting at 11 a.m. Through Thanksgiving, additional turkey distributions will take place at several of All Faiths Food Bank’s mobile pantry sites, as well as through numerous partner agency locations, including school pantries and youth-serving nonprofits. Proof of Sarasota or DeSoto County residency is required. For more information about the turkey distributions, visit the “Food Finder” page at allfaithsfoodbank.org. The funds for the turkey distributions are being raised through generous individual, foundation and corporate gifts to the ThankFULL campaign, as well as through the support of the Kathleen K. Catlin Foundation of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, which granted $75,000 this year and has supported the effort generously for nine years. To donate to the ThankFULL campaign or to learn where and when to find upcoming food distributions, please visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. 

Pictured: All Faiths Food Bank expects to distribute 13,000 turkeys (plus sides) and a total of 3.6 million holiday meals this year through the ThankFULL campaign Photo by Cliff Roles

Entrepreneurship and the holidays will be in full swing on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 4-7 p.m. at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s 26 West Center, 5840 26th St. W., Building 8, Bradenton. In celebration of National Entrepreneurship Month, the building will transform into a Holiday Mark-It, a one-day pop-up shopping experience open to the public. The marketplace will feature more than 26 local businesses that will sell holiday entertainment ideas, unique gifts and seasonal treats. The free event will include giveaways, demonstrations and a visit from Santa. Free parking is available in Lot H. “State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s 26 West Center supports entrepreneurs and small business owners every day with workshops and coaching, office space and a digital marketing agency. We wanted to go one step further this holiday season and provide an environment for local businesses to sell holiday products and services. We also wanted to create a way for the local community to support these businesses and, at the same time, experience our innovative 26 West Center,” said Dr. Todd G. Fritch, executive vice president and provost. April Caldwell, founder and CEO of fayVen, an online app that matches vendors with venues, managed the recruiting and vetting of small businesses to participate in the Holiday Mark-It. Caldwell, winner of the 26 West Center Pitch Competition, graduate of the 26 West Entrepreneurship Academy and Air Force veteran, founded fayVen in 2019 because she and her husband had problems finding locations to sell their gourmet popcorn and identified the opportunity to make pop-up events easy for small businesses and venues. “The 26 West Center provided me with a strong foundation to start and grow fayVen. The classes, mentorship and other resources have played a major role in the success of my business. I’m thrilled to support other entrepreneurs and create a very special event for the Bradenton-Sarasota community,” remarked Caldwell. For more information about the 26 West Center, visit 26West.SCF.edu. For more details about the Holiday Mark-It, contact Lis Begin at 727-243-6965 or Lis@BeginProductions.com.