Suncoast Food & Wine Fest sizzles at Premier Park

By Lesley Dwyer
| 7:00 p.m. November 11, 2023

Alison Cossetti Clough and Allison Boccaccio are seated in the VIP area.

East County
Neighbors

The temperature in a restaurant kitchen gets hot, but the weather at this year’s Suncoast Food & Wine Fest might have been hotter.

Luckily, the chefs are used to it, and the guests didn’t mind. Not much could stop Alison Cossetti Clough and Allison Boccaccio from attending.

“It’s a great time having every high-end establishment for food and drinks in one place,” Cossetti Clough said. “Plus, we’re able to socialize with our friends because we live in Lakewood Ranch. This is the one event I will go to, without fail, every year.”

Then, she immediately recommended the Manatee Culinary Institute’s tent.

The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch organizes the fundraiser, which is in its 21st year. It was held at the Premier Sports Campus on Nov. 11, and 40 local restaurants dished up samples from their menus.

“I volunteer for the Books for Kids program through the Rotary Club,” Boccaccio said. “I get to see, firsthand, the impact of fundraisers like this and what they do for the program and how it benefits all the kids in the county.”

Rotarian and former president of the club, Kenneth Kaplan, said the event has raised $2.2 million since the start and was on track to raise over $100,000 this year. The club sold out of 2,000 tickets, 500 of which were for the VIP section.

“We grant somewhere between 25 and 30 grants to nonprofits every year,” Kaplan said. “They go everywhere from the local community to a community that got hit with a hurricane. It depends on what’s going on.”

Daniela Dobrinova breaks from the wining and dining to listen to the band Kettle of Fish.

Robyn Bell, Lynne Lash, Linda Jacobs and Christine Captain said the Suncoast Food & Wine Fest is their favorite event of the year.

Tim and Barbara Bowers are new to Lakewood Ranch from Fort Lauderdale. They're enjoying their first Suncoast Food & Wine Fest and will return next year.

Leigh and Bob Simons have been attending the Suncoast Food & Wine Fest since it was first held at the Sarasota Polo Club.

The food and wine tasting also include cooking demonstrations.

Owner of JPAN Sushi & Grill and Kore Steakhouse, Clarice Dokko, serves guests sushi rolls.

Co-owner of the Breakfast Company, Lisa Pappas, serves cinnamon buns.

Beyond tasting, guests can sit and listen to live music or enjoy a food demonstration at the Suncoast Food & Wine Fest.

Kettle of Fish entertains the crowd at the 21st annual Suncoast Food & Wine Fest at the Premier Sports Campus on Nov. 11.

As sponsors of the event, Audi Sarasota and Suncoast Porsche put some cars on display.

Rotarian and former president of the club, Kenneth Kaplan, said the Suncoast Food & Wine Fest will raise over $100,000 for the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch this year.

Skylar and Eric Leichter volunteer selling raffle tickets. The grand prize includes gift certificates from every participating restaurant.

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.