“We had always gotten rum cakes from cruises or gift shops when we were traveling and I never really gave a lot of thought to it,” says Rebecca Jones. “You get these gift packs and you’re like, ‘Oh, there’s all these flavors, let’s try them,’ but that was the end of it.”

That all changed one Sunday when a family friend dropped by with a homemade rum cake.

“It was literally life changing,” she laughs.

From that very first bite, Jones began to envision a future where she and her husband and sons ran a family business making and selling rum cakes of their own creation. Six months later, they took a leap of faith and made that dream a reality.

“We spent another six months diving into recipes, really trying to figure out what our recipe was going to be,” Jones says. They cycled through at least a dozen recipes as well as a dozen different local rums, before ultimately developing the recipe for the Original Jetty Boys Rum Cake which uses Old St. Pete Righteous Rum & Spice Rum

“The first thing that you experience with our cakes is not the taste - it’s actually the aroma,” Jones says. “When you open up a box all of the different flavors waft out like cinnamon and vanilla. That’s the first sense that I really wanted to hit and make sure that people experience. Because smell has such a big association with memory.”

The sensory experience continues when you take a bite. The cake is spongy and incredibly moist, so it holds its shape beautifully but still melts in your mouth. That moisture comes from the rum glaze, which is delicate enough that you can taste the component flavor notes like cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, and dried orange. Pecans that have been candied in cinnamon and brown sugar and cinnamon are also baked directly into the cake, adding a satisfying crunch and textural element that contrasts with the silky, buttery smoothness of the cake itself.

The Jones family started sampling and selling the Original Jetty Boys Rum Cake at the Venice Farmers Market and the Fresh Harvest Farmers Market in Wellen Park where it quickly became a local favorite. The family found there was an appetite for more flavors, and they have delivered by developing some new flavor variations using the original cake recipe as a base and branching out to other local rums. Their Toasted Coconut Rum Cake uses Siesta Key Coconut Rum and incorporates coconut flakes around the edges of the cake for a warm, tropical flavor. The Chocolate Rum Cake uses Wicked Dolphin Vanilla Bean Rum and incorporates cocoa powder and the taste and texture is almost like a rum-soaked brownie. Finally, the Key Lime Rum Cake uses Gasparilla Key Lime Pie Rum, lime zest, and graham cracker edging to create a dessert that’s uniquely delicious.

To try these delectable desserts infused with local flavor, visit Jetty Boys Rum Cakes at the Venice Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm or the Fresh Harvest Farmers Market in Wellen Park on Sundays from 9am to 1pm. You can also place orders online for local pickup.

Jetty Boys Rum Cakes, (941) 800-7626, jettyboysrumcakes.com, facebook.com/jettyboysrumcakes. 

Pictured: The Original Jetty Boys Rum Cake is a flavor sensation. Photo courtesy of Jetty Boys Run Cake.

 The Sarasota Opera’s 2024 Food and Wine Fest returns with a large roster of participating restaurants from Sarasota to St. Armands to Bradenton 1 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. Taste a plethora of savory and sweet flavors and enjoy wine tasting on stage and throughout the historic Sarasota Opera House. Individual tickets: $75 if purchased in advance; $85 at the door. VIP tickets for early admission: $100. Proceeds will support Sarasota Youth Opera & Education. Sponsorships are available. For more information visit SarasotaOpera.org or call 941-328-1300. 

This month, Manatee County Schools Food and Nutrition Services will have successfully reached its 3-millionth free summer meal served in the program's history. To commemorate this milestone, a celebration will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Samoset Elementary School, located at 3300 19th Street East in Bradenton. Since the start of the program in 2008, more than 3,000,000 free meals have been served to kids, ages 18 and under, during the summer months to ensure all youth have access to nutrition during the summer months and give them an opportunity to return to school in August, healthy, happy and ready to learn.  So far this summer, 151,000 meals have been served at 66 locations, including 15 mobile stops. That's an average of 6,000 meals per day, which includes free breakfast, lunch and/or snack, five days a week.  Meal sites include schools offering summer learning programs, various other summer camp sites, community centers, local parks, churches and more. A complete list of locations is available online at www.SummerBreakSpot.org.  

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Matt Fraser, America’s Top Psychic Medium and star of the hit television series on E! Entertainment, to Sarasota on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 7:30pm. Tickets for his performance at the Van Wezel go on sale Friday, July 19 at 10am. His sold-out live events, television appearances, and spiritual teachings have allowed him to bring healing, hope & laughter to a global audience of fans and followers from all around the world.​ From heartfelt emotional readings to stunning revelations, Matt Fraser has audiences on the edge of their seats with his outrageous personality and unique approach to mediumship. His readings lead guests through a rollercoaster of emotions from laughing to crying, turning skeptics into believers with stunning details. His dynamic readings frequently include names, dates, and locations he couldn’t possibly know, only adding to his long-established reputation. Matt’s uncanny abilities and extreme accuracy have allowed him to reach millions world-wide from A-list celebrities and influencers, to people all over the world looking to get in touch with those they have lost.  The New York Times Bestselling Author of We Never Die and a psychic phenomenon, Matt has caught the attention of major media outlets across the nation including USA Today, People Magazine, CBS Radio and countless others. He has also been a sought-after guest on popular television shows such as The Real Housewives, Botched, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and many more. Tickets start at $36.22 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Groups of ten or more should contact 941-263-6726. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to present The Outsider, a play about a lieutenant governor who is forced out of his world of paperwork and behind-the-scenes actions to become governor in a special election following a gubernational scandal. Called, “Insightful, witty satire,” and, “Dynamic,” by Broadway World, The Outsider begins playing July 24 in FST’s Gompertz Theatre. Tickets are available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or 941.366.9000. 

Pictured: FST presents The Outsider, a comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy. Photo courtesy of FST.

Creative Liberties continues its all-packed July with an opening reception on Thursday, July 25, 5-7 p.m., for "Small Works: Big Impact" and works by featured studio artists at the 901B Apricot Avenue and 927 N. Lime Avenue locations. Meet the artists, view and purchase more than 225 works of art and enjoy lite bites and beverages. See attached release. 

The Sarasota Players is thrilled to produce the Sarasota-premiere of Green Day’s American Idiot August 7 to 18 at The Crossings at Siesta Key (3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239). The two-time Tony Award-winning hit musical, based on the Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum album, explores the struggle to find oneself, grow up, battle disillusionment with the American Dream and more. Johnny, Tunny and Will struggle to find meaning in their lives in suburban America. When the three disgruntled men flee the constraints of their hometown for the thrills of city life, their paths are quickly estranged when Tunny enters the armed forces, Will is called back home to attend to familial responsibilities, and Johnny's attention becomes divided by a seductive love interest and a hazardous new friendship. An energy-fueled rock opera, American Idiot, features little dialogue and instead relies on the lyrics from Green Day's groundbreaking album to execute the story line.
Warnings: Adult language, adult situations, violence, strobe, haze, loud rock music. 

The workforce development initiative of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, CareerEdge, continuously seeks innovative programs and techniques to support local businesses.  In this new pilot program, CareerEdge, with Dwyer Workforce Development, and Meridian West Central College offer a tuition free hybrid learning Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) class launching in August. Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing healthcare training to communities and enhancing care for seniors.  DWD will offer free case management and need-based wraparound services, such as financial support for housing, childcare, transportation, scholarships, and more.  Meridian West Central College, a local private school licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, will provide the 120-hour program to prepare individuals for entry-level nursing work in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and/or private duty settings.  The goal of the program is to address the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals in our community and provide individuals from Sarasota and Manatee County with the opportunity to start a rewarding career in healthcare without the financial burden. This program is taught in English, with a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on practical lab exercises, and real-world clinical experience conducted off-campus at local nursing/rehab facilities. The tuition-free FastTrack begins August 12, 2024, and runs through October 18 with AM and PM classes available.  Morning classes are held Monday – Wednesday online, Thursday in person, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. In-person classes will take place at Meridian West Central College, 201 Montgomery Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34243.  Evening classes take place from 5:00 to 9:00pm with the same three days of online instruction and one day of in-person practice. The program will also include CareerEdge’s Bridges to Careers soft skills training where participants learn additional aspects of professionalism, including interview and resume building skills. Program Highlights: Tuition-Free: The CNA training program is tuition-free for all eligible participants. Comprehensive Curriculum: The program includes 9 weeks of remote learning instruction, with in person hands-on clinical training, and preparation for the state certification exam. Job Placement Assistance: Graduates will receive support in finding employment opportunities upon completion of the program. Flexible Schedules: Classes are available during the day 9am to 1pm or evenings 5pm to 9pm to accommodate different schedules. Wraparound services: Financial support during training for housing, childcare, transportation, scholarships, and more. To be eligible, applicants must have a GED or high school diploma, reside in Sarasota or Manatee County, submit their application by Monday, July 22nd, and pass a background check and drug test before beginning the training.