Attendees toast to successful Forks & Corks

The weather was beautiful, the food was plentiful and the wine was flowing at Forks & Corks, proving again why it’s one of the best days of the year.

Hundreds of people milled about Jan. 28 in The Ringling’s courtyard to sample their way through dozens of bites provided by local, independent restaurants and wines from around the world. Live music, including mariachi band Viva Mexico, entertained guests as they enjoyed the afternoon.

The Grand Tasting event was the finale of five days’ worth of events celebrating local chefs, including a series of winemaker dinners and online food and wine auctions. Last year the event was held in April, but this year it moved back to January to take advantage of cooler weather.

The event, held by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals, spotlights and promotes the local restaurants that make up its membership.