A Food, Spirits & Wine Blog

In addition to looking forward to eating great food, I also look forward to perusing the wine lists at the restaurants we visit. But truth be told, the wine list is often either an afterthought for the restaurant, or an overthought, ridiculous tome with an overwhelming number of choices. To fix this problem, I’ve developed the necessary characteristics for the perfect restaurant wine list! Wine is a critical component to a great meal. When paired well with a dish, wine enhanc

I love a bit, or sometimes a lot, of spice and herbs in my cocktails. They often help transform a traditional, somewhat pedestrian cocktail into a unique one with unusual but absolutely delicious flavors. Here’s my take on a rum-based drink that makes use of some exotic spices to create a versatile cocktail perfect for any season of the year! One thing I love most about the spirits world is the literally unlimited variation of cocktails available. Choose your base spirit (vod

If there is pork belly on the menu at a restaurant, there’s a 100 percent probability that I will be ordering it! When cooked correctly, there’s nothing more delicious than a tender yet crispy piece of pork belly coated in a tasty glaze. And it’s even better when served with a creamy vegetable puree! Here’s my recipe for this classic dish! There’s just something about pork belly that makes me crave it! I absolutely love all things pork, with pan-fried thick cut smoked bacon c

I look forward to a lot of events in Sarasota that occur throughout the year, but my favorite by far is the annual Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival that takes place on the last full weekend in January every year! It’s like the planners sat down in a room and said, “What event can we plan that spans an entire weekend, and that Mark Geis would love the most?” I’m pretty sure that’s not how this event came to be, but they nailed it nonetheless! Here’s my report on the 2026 F

Last week we started my countdown of the top ten best Sarasota restaurants for burgers. Now that we've dispensed with the 10 th through 6 th  place finishers, let’s countdown the best of the best – the top five places for the best burgers in the area!   3 Keys Brewing and Gastrobrew in Bradenton, Burger Fi in Lakewood Ranch, Central Café in Bradenton, Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill in Ellington, and Yard House at UTC – those were my first five picks for local restaurants in the