July 25, 2025

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Quick Bites – Wine, Tequila, and Forks

We’ve got some summertime stuff happening. Let’s take a look!

🍷 A Bottle of White, A Bottle of Red, Perhaps A Bottle of Rosé Instead? This can’t possibly be a figment of my imagination. If it is, please pipe up and let me know so I can do something about it. It seems like summer in Sarasota is THE time for tastings!  

Some local restaurants are dipping a toe into the tasting pool for the very first time. Others are old pros at this kind of thing.  

One of the newer entries to the local wine tasting circuit is Adeline. They’ll be hosting Master Sommelier, Andy McNamara, on THURS, JULY 31^st. – EVENT INFO HERE!  

That Master Somm designation is no joke. There is some REAL work and lots of education involved here. It can take 5-10 years or even longer for you to wear that title and be that “go-to” person for every wine recommendation!  

If you can make it to the finish line, this designation puts you into some pretty lofty company. There are currently only 279 Master Somms worldwide. And just 170 in the U.S.! Not only will you know everything you can possibly know about wine, but you will be a ringer on trivia night in the adult beverage category! If you’re interested in pursuing… – HERE’S MORE INFO ON THE SOMM PROGRAM.  

🥃 A Shot in the Dark. Wine tasting not your thing? How about something with a little more kick? Tequila is having a moment. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Good, high-quality tequilas are available in so many more places than ever. You don’t have to settle for a glass of Sierra Tequila anymore. Here’s a quote – “Tastes like gasoline. Enough said.” – Revel & Delight😯  

On FRI AUG 15^TH (6:30pm) at Michael’s Wine Cellar, you can savor the flavors of Maestro Dobel. Tequila expert Alexis Patterson will take on a personally guided tour through eight outstanding tequilas. You’ll also get to enjoy a five-course tasting menu to accompany your journey (📝 If you’re going to drink eight tequilas, you’re going to need some food to soak all of that up!) – I’m a big tequila fan. This will be a great evening. EVENT & TICKET INFO HERE!  

🎉 The Party Never Stops! Not that YOU were thinking about January 2026. But some folks are. The biggest and best local food & wine festival returns for its 19^th year of tasting and toasting in the beautiful Ringling Courtyard. YES, Forks & Corks is back!  

The Grand Tasting will take place on SUN JAN 25^TH. Classes, tastings, and auctions will happen the week prior. I know this is a long way off. I also know it’s still almost 100° outside every day. It’s going to take some concentration and imagination to focus on “winter” things.   

Nothing good comes easy. If you want to join the fun, some planning on your part will be required.  

 HERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT F&C DATES:  

1️⃣ VIP & Early Admission – Opens Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 9:00 AM (ET)  
2️⃣ General Admission – Opens Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM (ET)  

📝 Last year’s Grand Tasting tickets sold out in less than five minutes. Yes, that’s FAST. Better start training. You’ve got to be quick with that mouse-clicking finger! – HERE’S A LINK FOR TICKETS WHEN THEY’RE AVAILABLE!  

⚡ QUICK BITES  

🆕 Cask & Ale (1548 Main St. | 941-702-8740) is rolling out a new menu. Double smashburgers, tacos, bowls, salads, hearty handhelds, and flatbreads all make their debuts at this longtime Main Street favorite. Let us know if you pay them a visit and try some of the new dishes! – HAVE A PEEK AT THE NEW MENU! 📃 

🎈Happy 10^th anniversary to Mama G’s German Bakery & Coffeehouse (8431 N. Tamiami Trl. | 941- 355-9236)! To celebrate a decade in the biz, they will be rolling out some special offers towards the end of July. Keep an eye on their website for more info.   

🍴 It’s “Restaurant Week on the Ranch!” Yes, you read that correctly. Waterside Place and Lakewood Ranch Main Street are hosting their very own special restaurant week! Another opportunity for some fantastic local dining deals.  

SOME DETAILS:  

Week 1: July 25th – August 1^st (Waterside Place)  

Week 2: August 2nd – August 9^th (Lakewood Ranch Main Street)  

Brunch/Lunch: (2-course) $25  

Dinner: (3-Course) $35 or $45  

It’s great to see everybody getting in the dining discount act this summer. It always feels good to get a deal AND support our local restaurant community at the very same time! – RESTAURANT WEEK ON THE RANCH DETAILS!  

📕 NEW BOOK! I know it’s only July, but we’ve started work on our 17^th annual edition of our Little Sarasota DINING Book! (It takes a while to put that thing together!) We are looking for recipe contributions from local restaurants (we’d be thrilled to include one from your place 😀). We’re also in need of editorial pieces concerning local food and dining-related topics. We’d love to hear from you if you might be interested in submitting something to be included in the 2026 book – EMAIL US HERE.  

All right! That is it. Hope your summer is perking along nicely. We’ll be back at ya next week!  

~ LH  

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🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD INFO🗓️ 

Here is some local food information that we think you might find interesting. We’ve provided you with a link to more info. 

📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2025 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖 

😋 MICHAEL’S ON EAST – MONTHLY EPICUREAN MENU – JAMAICA🌍 

🌦️ DUVAL’S SUMMER RAINY DAY MENU – SEE IT HERE 

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🧑‍🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO ‍🌾 

EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS 

EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS 

EVERY THURSDAY – Englewood Farmer’s Market (Oct-May) – DETAILS 

EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS  

EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS 

EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

THIRD THURSDAY EVERY MONTH – UTC Night Market – DETAILS 

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Get information on 350+ Sarasota restaurants on the dineSarasota.com website 

Did you miss a story? Here are some of our past Bites – SB ARCHIVE 

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Grapes Photo by Maja Petric on Unsplash 

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