For the last five years, husband and wife team Florence and Steven Schmitt and their longtime friend and business partner Carl Kolber have been spicing up the Sarasota food scene with their innovative take on Middle-Eastern-inspired street food. Initially billed as The Spice Boys, Carl and Steven hit the streets of Sarasota in a food truck designed by Florence who sometimes joined them to take orders. Locals quickly fell in love with their lively dishes that were packed with flavor and bursting with color. In late 2022, they put the truck in park and opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in The Landings that they called Florence and The Spice Boys. Now, the trio will open a second Sarasota location of Florence and The Spice Boys at the University Town Center (UTC).

“Moving into the permanent location was incredibly fun and exhilarating but it was also a steep learning curve,” says Florence. “I’ve worked in plenty of restaurants and hospitality is my absolute jam but I had never managed one or run a team or made schedules or done ordering and all the things that goes along with it.”

Diving into the deep end has worked out well. Florence and The Spice Boys flagship location in The Landings has quickly become a local hotspot, thanks in large part to its inventive cuisine which has been inspired by the journeys undertaken by the well-traveled trio.

“Carl was really committed to research. When we were talking about opening the food truck he flew over to Lebanon and went around asking little old ladies how they made their hummus and what’s the best way to make all falafel and did all this market research,” Florence says. “Then on our last trip to Tel Aviv Steven was so blown away with what the young chefs are doing there because it’s all of these traditional flavors prepared in very untraditional ways. The creativity was off the leash.”

That dichotomy is evident in the menu. While the chefs have a deep knowledge of and reverence for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, they are pushing the boundaries and doing it in a way that feels right to them--and creating completely unique cuisine along the way. Florence’s favorite dish is Bhel Puri, which is traditionally a savory snack in India. This interpretation features green apples and coriander chutney and is dressed with tamarind and yogurt, transforming the dish into one that is tangy, sweet, and savory all at once. One of the most popular dishes amongst patrons in the Rainbow Bowl which is packed with colorful ingredients like purple pickled slaw, golden banana peppers, and blue coconut rice tinted with natural butterfly pea powder. The atmosphere at Florence and the Spice Boys is as eclectic and vibrant as the menu. The stylish space has a laid-back, Bohemian vibe featuring lush greenery and cozy rattan furniture.

Slated to open in late 2024 or early 2025, Florence and the Spice Boys at UTC will have a distinct identity from the location at The Landings.

“Everything about the new space will be similar, but it will be elevated,” Florence says. This includes the menu. While all of the old favorites will be available in the new location, the bigger kitchen will give Steven the opportunity to explore more complex dishes as well. Get ready. Things are about to get even spicier. 

Pictured: The Rainbow Bowl, a favorite at Florence and the Spice Boys, is a colorful dish packed with flavor. Photo courtesy of Florence Schmitt.

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Join the Gecko’s Hospitality Group family of restaurants to celebrate the culinary creativity of your favorite Gecko’s Grill & Pub Chefs during the annual Gecko’s Hospitality Group Iron Chef Challenge. From May 13th – June 9th and June 10th-16th each of our six Gecko’s will participate in a weekly special Iron Chef Menu, with several of our Chefs designing delectable and inventive fare, plus some of our guests’ tried and true favorites with a creative twist. The contest is a weekly competition between Gecko’s Kitchen Creatives and guests may sample what the GHG kitchen pro’s have up their Chef Jacket sleeves.  Whichever Iron Chef Special Menu is the favorite of our GHG guests for the week wins the Iron Chef title for that week and a cash prize with the Iron Chefs named after the competition knives have been cleaned and put away in June. There will be a Championship Final the week of June 10-16th, with the winning GHG location being crowned the Gecko’s Hospitality Group’s Iron Chef 2024 Champ. Weekly Iron Chef recipe’s all must contain CREATIVITY!  Menus must include minimum of three Entrees, with a maximum of five items on the menu and including the use of either filet or rib eye. Winners are based on Iron Chef menu item sales vs. total food sales at each location, with one Iron Chef per location. We will also crown one location as the Gecko’s Hospitality Group’s Iron Chef Grand Champion with a cook-off week of competition!  The Chef & Sous Chef team from each location will collaborate on a menu and compete against the Chef & Sous Chef teams from the other GHG locations. The team who wins that week will be the GHG Grand Champion with the winning team earning a handsome bonus & bragging rights for the year. The Iron Chef Champion in 2023 crown was reclaimed from 2022 by Stickney Point Gecko’s James Roberts...but the GHG siblings have been eagerly awaiting the return of this In House competition, are sharpening their knives and gunning for the coveted champion’s Chef coat and trophy!  Join us as our Gecko’s Chef’s fire up their stoves and as always, delight in sharing our award-winning Gecko’s hospitality with you. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) kicks off its Summer Mainstage Series with The World Goes ‘Round, a captivating musical revue celebrating the legendary works of John Kander and Fred Ebb. This dynamic revue weaves together a collection of unforgettable songs from iconic shows like Chicago, Cabaret, and more. The World Goes ‘Round begins on June 5 at FST's Gompertz Theatre. Single tickets range from $39 to $59 and are now available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling 941.366.9000. The World Goes ‘Round is part of a three-show subscription package, which also includes Ken Ludwig’s heartwarming drama Dear Jack, Dear Louise, and The Outsider, a comedy that cleverly critiques modern politics. Subscription packages start at just $59 and can be purchased at 941.366.9000 or online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org. 

Friday Fest, the free, outdoor summertime concert series returns this year with an exciting lineup of bands who will bring the audience to their feet! Guests are invited to bring blankets or lawn chairs while they take in the music and the sunset. Food and beverage from local vendors will also be available. Opening the 2024 Friday Fest Concert Series is Hot Tonic Orchestra! The high energy musical act mixes swing, Latin jazz, and popular music to create a unique live show like no other. For real authentic swing and jazz, Hot Tonic Orchestra delivers that big beat, for Latin American songs and Cuban dance rhythms, they light the fire, and when it’s time to really dance, the band delivers their own unique take on popular songs. Led by bandleader Victoria Woods, her sultry vocals and driving acoustic bass bring alive the masterful arrangements of musical director and virtuoso guitarist Josh Hindmarsh.

Friday, May 24, 2024, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall – Lawn and Terrace, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.