Taste of the Keys offers new flavors in 2014

This year’s Taste of the Keys and Fashion Show will feature at least three new restaurants, bringing the total number of participating island dining spots to 17.

The event has come a long way since its first year in 2011, when Co-Chairwomen Susan Landau and Barbara Kerwin hoped to attract 10 restaurants.

“We’re bigger and better,” Landau said. “We did not start it out to be an annual event. Every year, I think it’s going to be the last year.”

The island flavors aren’t the only spice to this event.

Models Phyllis Black, Clyde Chapelle, Edith Barr Dunn, Juan Florensa, Victoria Jacobson, Andy Lappin, Jeff Mayers, Ben Moussa, Kip O’Neill, Richard Perlman, Felipe Cava and Fanny Younger will stroll the runway sporting fashions from Main Street Traders in a show that Observer Media Group Editor/CEO Matt Walsh will emcee.

The event takes place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, at the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Dining Room. Tickets are $50 and include restaurant samplings plus two complimentary glasses of wine or soft drinks.

The event’s raffle currently has prizes of a basket from The Peanut Shop and gift certificates from Pattigeorge’s and Ciao Italia Casual Italian.

Proceeds benefit the Longboat Key Garden Club’s environmental scholarships for college students, grants, educational programs and camp scholarships for school-age children.

Participating restaurants
• Blue Dolphin Café
• Bridge Street Bistro
• Café L’Europe
• Chart House Restaurant
• Crab & Fin
• Dry Dock Waterfront Grill
• Harry’s Continental Kitchens
• Lido Beach Grille
• Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort
• Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub
• Old Salty Dog
• Sarasota Yogurt Co.
• Resort at Longboat Key Club
• The Feast
• Tommy Bahama Restaurant

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]