Taste of the Keys Fashion Show stars Longboat Key officials

Town commissioners and Fire Chief Paul Dezzi strutted in support of the Garden Club's Town Center Green beautification project.

By Lesley Dwyer
| 3:15 p.m. March 25, 2023

Commissioners Deborah Murphy, Debra Williams, BJ Bishop, Penny Gold and past commissioner Sherry Dominick

Longboat Key
Neighbors

The Longboat Key Commissioners are a cast of colorful characters required to dull down in polo shirts and pantsuits at Town Hall, and poor Fire Chief Paul Dezzi is buttoned up in a uniform all day. So J. McLaughlin stepped in on March 23 to give them all a fresh look.

The annual Taste of the Keys Fashion Show is organized by the Longboat Key Garden Club, so it’s only fitting the fashions were flowery and colorful. The food didn’t disappoint either.

Food stations were set up by a dozen local restaurants in the Harbourside Ballroom at the Longboat Key Club.

“The restaurants have just been the most supportive. Everyone here tonight is a chef and/or a general manager,” Garden Club Second Vice President Lyn Haycock said. “The staples have been here every year for 12 years.”

The Chateau Anna Maria is only in its second year participating in the Taste, and Cafe L’Europe made a return after many years, under the new management of John and Amanda Horne. The staples included lobster bisque from Dry Dock Waterfront Grill and the 1905 salad from Columbia Restaurant.

This year’s event was the most well-attended yet with a line out the door at 6 p.m. to get in and nearly 300 attendees. There have been 12 others in person and one online.

There’s nothing new about seeing well-known residents walk in the show. Part of the charm is seeing someone like Chief Dezzi, out of his uniform and element, work the crowd in a pair of flamingo-print shorts.

“One year, we focused on the people we give grants and scholarships to, so all these people who were executive directors of organizations we gave grants to, we had them model,” Garden Club President Susan Phillips said. “The president of Longboat Key Turtle Watch, he was a model. The president of Save Our Seabirds, he was a model.”

The tie-in this year is that much of the money raised will benefit the new Town Center Green through the Garden Club’s beautification program. Past projects include the butterfly garden in Bicentennial Park and the flowering trees that line Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“The proceeds from this event will be used toward a legacy in what we develop for our community at the town center,” Phillips said.

Aaron Kulzer puts the finishing touches on Mar Vista's braised brisket tacos as Paul Gold waits patiently.

Pat Loy, Barbara Gurchiek, Jinny Johnson and Barb Kerwin

The Resort at Longboat Key's smoked salmon tartare with dill yogurt and cucumber-caper relish

Tye Crain plates the braised rabbit with gnocchi and black truffles from The Chateau Anna Maria.

Donna Finney, Shelia Breetz and Debbi Mettlow

Andi Munzer, Debra Sauers and Kay Kochenderfer

Rachel Hagan replenishes the sweets from Harry's Continental Kitchens as Debbi Mettlow takes a sample.

Commissioner Mike Haycock, Mayor Ken Schneier, Commissioner Gary Coffin and Fire Chief Paul Dezzi

Commission-At-Large BJ Bishop is pretty in pink but made sure to include her favorite color black.

Commissioner Mike Haycock can't get away with these pants at Town Hall.

District 4 Commission Debra Williams models for the Taste of the Keys Fashion Show on March 23.

Ex-commissioner Sherry Dominick looks at home on a runway.

District 1 Commissioner Gary Coffin models a flowered buttondown with white pants.

District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold struts the catwalk at the Longboat Key Club.

Fire Chief Paul Dezzi trades in his uniform for a more tropical look.

author

Lesley Dwyer

Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.