Maison Blanche continues pandemic-era firehouse tradition

By Dana Kampa
| 11:15 a.m. June 24, 2025

Chef José Martinez of Maison Blanche hops in the cab of a fire engine after he and Juan Gomez join the Rotary Club of Longboat Key in preparing a special thank-you lunch to members of Fire Station 2 with Longboat Key Fire Rescue.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

The tradition of local restaurants feeding first responders a special thank you lunch sprouted out of the peak of the pandemic, when masked members of the Rotary Club of Longboat Key enlisted the help of area chefs to bring a bit of brightness to those on the frontlines. Now, even though responders have made it through those dire days in 2020, chefs have revived the special meal out of a desire to give back.

Chefs José Martinez and Juan Gomez of Maison Blanche busted out the paella pan on June 22, preparing a pasta-centric version of the beloved Spanish dish.

Rotarian Carol Erker said it was the restaurant staff that approached their group about reviving the tradition.

The chefs at Maison Blanche prepared a pasta-based version of paella for members of Fire Station 2 with Longboat Key Fire Rescue.

She said the original idea was a win-win for both the restaurants in need of a boost because of suspended in-person dining and first responders could use some moral support from the community while navigating unprecedented challenges.

Several restaurants participated, and Maison Blanche was among those that contributed a meal at no charge.

When asked why he wanted to bring back the tradition last year and again this year, Martinez explained, "We just wanted to bring some joy to the fire station."

He and Gomez prepared the salty, savory fideuà with burst cherry tomatoes, tender octopus and calamari, and a final bright dash of a cilantro-based sauce.

Chefs Juan Gomez and José Martinez of Maison Blanche join Rotary Club of Longboat Key member Carol Erker in presenting lunch to members of Fire Station 2 with Longboat Key Fire Rescue.

Rotary and the restaurant have a long-standing relationship, dating back to the group's formation. When members held their inaugural charter dinner in 2014, it was at Maison Blanche.

The highly lauded chef brought his experience as a Michelin-star culinary expert in Paris to Longboat Key in 2002. Later, he made it among the semifinalists for the James Beard Award for best chef in the South in 2010, and his restaurant continues to top lists as the best in Florida.

Martinez also lent his talents to the police force this week, preparing lunch for the Longboat Key Police Department on June 25.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.