Linda Fean (on Yoder’s): Best banana cream pie I’ve ever eaten! Joitta Berkey (on Der Dutchman): Peanut Butter pie for the win every time. Ginger Savalli (on Duval’s): They have an awesome key lime pie; so good! Platinum WinnerYoder’s Restaurant and Amish Village / Gold Winner- Der Dutchman / Silver Winner- Floribbean Flo’s / Bronze WinnerDuval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood.
BEST LOCAL WINE SHOP Sarasota Wine Co. Sip back and relax, these Sarasota wine shops know just the grapes to face any work related wrath. With a staggering four hundred votes ahead, SARASOTA WINE CO. will have you on cloud wine as the Platinum victor. SEAGRAPE WINE COMPANY is a grape pick for Gold and MICHAEL’S WINE CELLAR crushed it to win Silver. Winning the bottle for Bronze is SIESTA KEY WINE BAR. Honorable Mention Sarasota Wine & Spirits is another spot to stop for a glass. -AC Justine Fitzgerald (on Sarasota Wine Co.): Joe and Brooke are kind and knowledgeable! They host great events and make everyone feel welcome and make choosing wines feel accessible and fun. They have a great selection and you can tell they love their business and their customers. Jane Berg (on Seagrape Wine Company): The shop owner is so knowledgeable, makes wine approachable and affordable. Always has a great selection and is sampling new stuff. Can always find something excellent to try. Molly Klauber Biter (on Michael’s Wine Cellar): Michael’s has an incredibly well-curated selection with extremely knowledgeable staff. They offer delivery as well. John Georgenson (on Siesta Key Wine Bar): Amazing wine, vibe and owners! Love this little gem! Platinum Winner- Sarasota Wine Co. / Gold WinnerSeagrape Wine Company / Silver Winner- Michael’s Wine Cellar / Bronze Winner- Siesta Key Wine Bar.
BEST LOCAL DONUT Five-O-Donut Co. What is with breakfast and circular foods? Bagels, pancakes, sausage patties and the always delicious donut. Glazed, frosted, old-fashioned the delectable donut never disappoints and can turn a mundane morning into one filled with some sprinkled sugar sunshine. FIVE-O DONUT CO was our readers choice for most a-glazing donut as the Platinum winner and PEACH’S DONUTS got the Gold. Sprinkling into Silver is GOLD STAR DONUTS and readers donut know what they’d do without Bronze winner THE FARM HOUSE. Check out Honorable Mention: Shipley Do-Nuts. -AC Debbie Char (on Five-O Donut): They are always on my most wanted list! Crystal Cervantes (on Peach’s Donuts): Have you seen the lines to their truck at the Farmers Market. Chandra Riccio (on Gold Star Donuts): Best doughnuts 30+ years running. Gold Star is a family tradition in our home. Their sour cream doughnuts are da bomb! Conner Young (on The Farm House): The donuts are amazing & the service is great. Platinum Winner- Five-O Donut Co / Gold WinnerPeach’s Donuts / Silver Winner- Gold Star Donuts / Bronze Winner- The Farmhouse.
BEST LOCAL FARM Albritton Fruit Farms Skipping the produce aisle all together for the farm-freshness of a just plucked carrot is easier than one might think looking around Sarasota soil bursting with local farms. The placeto-be during the pandemic ALBRITTON FRUIT FARMS U-pick blueberries planted themselves firmly as the Platinum winner with a hundred vote lead while WORDEN FARM was outstanding in their field as the Gold winner. Voters couldn’t sheep quiet about HOMESTEAD HYDROPONIC FARM, the Silver victor and GROVE LADDER FARM took Bronze. Look for Old McDonald at Honorable Mentions Dakin Dairy Farm Market & Cafe, Jessica’s, Organic Farm, Hunsader Farms and Geraldson’s Family Farm.-BM Emily Velazquez (on Albritton Fruit Farms): The Albritton Fruit Farms are not only providing an amazing product but when you buy from them you know you’re getting a lifetime’s worth of hard work in their fruit. The best quality and best people. Keera Belviy (on Worden Farm): The employees that work here treat their crop with care. So nice to see. Ann Goldstein (on Homestead Hydroponic Farm): They have the best local produce and have partnered with other local establishments to create a one stop shop Wednesdays and Saturdays in Sarasota. They are consistent, friendly and so deserving of this award. Sherrie McKinley (on Grove Ladder ): It’s clear Tim and Chelsea and family love farming. It’s evident in their quality protein products, their network of farmers who produce other goods, and the service they provide each customer. Platinum Winner- Albritton Fruit Farms / Gold WinnerWorden Farms / Silver Winner- Homestead Hydroponic Farm / Bronze Winner- Grove Ladder Farm.
PHILANTHROPY &GIVING BACK BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT Lost Pet Services Lending a helping hand to those who need it most is the backbone of any community. Sarasota is overflowing with friendly faces willing to step in when the going gets tough and these non-profits proved to be the ones people turned to most. LOST PET SERVICES took the Platinum place in people’s hearts with more than seven hundred appreciative voters while NATE’S HONOR ANIMAL RESCUE took the honor of Gold. Always there for children in need, CHILDREN FIRST landed Silver and LOVE4PAWS showcased how much Sarasotans treasure their pets with a Bronze win. Over a dozen Honorable Mentions were voted onto our list this year and they are: Blaze of Hope, Resilient Retreat Cat Depot, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Desoto Counties, Child Protection Center Inc, St. Vincent De Paul CARES, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, All Faiths Food Bank, Harvest House, All Star Children’s Foundation, The Twig Cares, Inc., The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, Safe Place & Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC), Crowley Museum and Nature Center and Birds of Paradise Sanctuary & Rescue . -AC continued on page 90
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