The Perfect Day of Dining and Wine-ing
Forks & Corks Brings It All Together
Sarasota is a food and wine town. End of discussion.
I’m guessing that this comes as no surprise to anyone who’s been around here for more than a few days. We really love our food fests!
Let’s Run Down a Few Just for Kicks (and to give some of these great events a little extra bump).
🎙️Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival. Wine and dine with the Sarasota Youth Symphony.
🍷 Florida Winefest & Auction. The Grand Tasting Brunch is one of the area’s oldest food and wine events (1991!)
🌞 Suncoast Food & Wine Fest. Lakewood Ranch got into the food fest scene in 2003.
🥯 Jewish Food Festival. Get your fill of some homemade Jewish “Soul Food.”
And then there’s the BIG one. As sports broadcasting legend Keith Jackson would say, “The Granddaddy of Them All!” Sarasota area’s premier food and wine event…
🗣️ Let’s talk FORKS & CORKS!
Returning to its traditional late January date this year felt right. Sure, the weather can be a touch fickle this time of year. But at least it’s not 100° in the Ringling courtyard. 🌡️
Some Things Never Change. Folks are still lined up to get in.
And Kettle of Fish still provides the perfect sipping and tasting soundtrack.
When you have an event as popular as this, it’s unbelievably easy to rest on our successes. And this event has had YEARS of successes!
Sometimes it’s hard to innovate. It’s WAY easier to take the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” path when things are running smoothly. That’s the path of least resistance, to be sure.
But in usual Sarasota-Manatee Originals fashion, that’s the path NOT chosen.
Introducing the Forks & Corks Global Market!
The inaugural Global Market theme was Fiesta! And it was quite a feast! 🎉
The market (sponsored this year by Edible Magazine) hosted hourly tastings and cooking demos. Birdrock Taco Shack, Mi Pueblo, and Kolucan put their cooking chops out there for all to see.
The Global Market was a delicious addition. But we all know there’s WAY more to this annual event.
⭐ THE FOOD!
There was a LOT of it! I mean, as you would expect. It is a food and wine fest, after all. But 40 area restaurants all gathered in one place is a food lover’s dream!
Part of the fun of Forks & Corks is watching the pros do their thing. It’s a peek that you don’t normally get just visiting the restaurant. The magic that usually goes on “behind the curtain” is on full display here in the Sarasota sun.
You know you’re at a real party when someone just tosses in a caviar bar!
The food choices here are many. And it’s impossible to make a poor one. If you’re doing Forks & Corks, it pays to have a plan of attack. There’s a lot of culinary ground to cover. The time goes fast! ⏱️
This year, let’s do something different. Let’s go at this in mealtime order. I think that would be fun for a change of pace.
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
We’ll probably need some appetizers first…
Now for the main course.
Let’s hope you saved room for some dessert!
WOW! That’s like three full days of eating stuffed into just a few hours.
What? No, we didn’t forget the wine part of this beautiful day.
Winemakers come from all over the planet to have their wines judged against their peers. The fact that this is a juried wine event makes it even more special for those whose wines rise to the top.
Here are the Top 10 Whites and Top 10 Reds from this year’s event.
This year’s Forks & Corks is a wrap. If you made it to The Ringling Courtyard this beautiful January afternoon, you no doubt left with a full belly and a content smile. If you weren’t among the tasting crowd, you’ll have another shot next year. Check that F & C website for ticketing info. Cheers! 🥂
~ LH
🧑🏻🍳 HEY CHEFS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS! 👩🏻🍳
We want to feature one of your recipes in our popular Make it at Home series. Drop us a line and we’ll give you the details! INFO HERE🌟
🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info.
⭐⭐ If you have an event, we’d like to help you spread the word. Let us know! (EMAIL IT)
📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2024 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
😋 MICHAEL’S ON EAST – MONTHLY EPICUREAN MENU – NEW ORLEANS
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
Yes! Things are finally starting to pick up a bit in the local food event department. Our calendar is filling up little by little. ⬇️
FEB 3 TO 10 – 15th Anniversary Special Menu – Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant
FEB 16 – Wine, Dine & Be Mine Wine Dinner – Pier 22
FEB 21 – Annual Black & White Dinner – TASTE Dining & Travel
FEB 23 – Penfolds Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
🧑🌾 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
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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