Attendees pack the house at Taste and Tunes of the Keys

Organizers thank attendees for showing up for event to further the rebuilding and beautification of Longboat Key since the hurricanes.

By Dana Kampa
| 9:49 a.m. March 3, 2025

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Organizers of this year's Taste and Tunes of the Keys knew the event was sold out. What they didn't know was just how strongly the community would show out the day of the fundraiser, packing the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Ballroom to the brim on Feb. 27.

This year, the Longboat Key Garden Club focused its fundraising energy on helping the community rebuild from last year's hurricanes through beautification projects.

Club Vice President Lyn Haycock said the club was thrilled with the turnout of about 250 people that evening, who circulated around the room to sample the culinary offerings of the dozen restaurants involved in the festival this year.

"All the restaurants do a fabulous job with their food, and we're just glad everyone is having a good time," Haycock said.

As they dined, attendees also took the opportunity to hit the dance floor to the tunes of The Klick Band, which delighted the patrons with groovy tunes, including "I Will Survive."

Pastas, pizza, fresh fish and decadent sweets graced the ballroom tables. A favorite among the crowd, including attendee Kelly Shrout, was the famous mini crab cakes prepared by the Lazy Lobster.

Tom Huling, the food and beverage manager at the soon-to-open Cirque St. Armands Beachside, said the team was delighted to join the community event and looks forward to getting more involved after opening.

The high-end, circus-honoring resort features the restaurant Ringside. Huling said he's particularly excited for future patrons to try out the resort's raw bar and other restaurant-specific dishes.

Moreover, he looks forward to what the resort will bring to the bustling Lido Beach area.

Club president Melanie Dale commended Haycock for the tremendous effort she put into making this year's festival a roaring success.

Haycock said she hopes attendees realize just how much they've done to help re-energize the island, "not only with the landscape but also with the time they've spent together."

Paul Grothouse of Cirque St. Armands, a new luxury resort opening this month, dishes up sweets at Taste and Tunes of the Keys.

Raymar Peralta and Adriana Rojas dish up tuna niçoise verine.

New Orleans inspired cuisine was one of the hot dishes of the night.

Sebastian Villaseca and Paulina Peralta serve one of the crowd favorites, the crab cakes from the Lazy Lobster.

The Klick Band kept partiers dancing until the very end of Taste and Tunes of the Keys.

Many attendees said the offerings from the Lazy Lobster were their favorite.

Patrons enjoyed both sweet and savory treats.

Chart House's Anna Ibrahim and Peter Van Beuren keep the table stocked during the busiest point of the evening fundraiser.

Bartender Sam Lastinger keeps the party going at Taste and Tunes of the Keys.

Trudy Katstra, Kelly Shrout, Linda Crouse and Val Evanko

Garden Club President Melanie Dale and Vice President Lyn Haycock

The organizers of this year's Taste and Tunes of the Keys receive their kudos.

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.