Key Culinary Tours News

These days, most folks are familiar with the Tommy Bahama clothing line and their tropically upscale retail stores.  And many of those folks are also familiar with Tommy’s line of home goods and furniture.  But not everyone knows that Tommy Bahama also has an exclusive chain of about 20 restaurants nationwide.  And St. Armands Circle…

We’ve had so many fun and memorable groups of gals join us for tours!  Whether it be reuniting with old friends in paradise or heading out with a wedding party or family gathering, Key Culinary Tours’ lunch and happy hour tours provide the perfect escape for several hours in some of Sarasota’s most quaint destination areas…

During our lunch tours, we include a few food-themed specialty stores and we couldn’t have found a “hotter” partner than Pepper Palace.  With over 30 retail stores in the US & Canada, this chain was founded in 1989 by Craig & Tanya Migawa and has been on a constant growth trajectory ever since.  Headquartered since…

Key Culinary Tours was thrilled to take part in a tour and reception at Drum Circle Distillery here in Sarasota this afternoon.  The maker of award-winning and world-renowned Siesta Key Rum hosted a special tour and tasting for guests, paired with several incredible rum-infused dishes created by the exceptionally talented private chefs of Suncoast Cuisine and Italian…

Last week, the Key Culinary Tours team got together for a very special dinner party hosted by our owners and cooked by one of our very own tour guides, who is also a personal chef.  While there were two birthdays to celebrate, it was more about everyone getting together for a wonderful night and incredible food. …

After operating a restaurant in Singapore for several years, proprietors brought their delectable Greek cuisine to St. Armands Circle in Sarasota.  Step into this tavern-meets-mezza shop and you’ll think you’ve walked into a page plucked straight from ‘Coastal Living.’  Both the indoor space and outdoor patio are mesmerizing works in interior design, embracing patrons in…

  Family-owned and operated since 2001, proprietors Joseph and Ann Casadio have pulled out all the stops in this charming and romantic restaurant.  From the piano bar to the extensive wine list that features over 65 wines available, patrons have a choice between dining casually al fresco outside or in the cozy and elegant formal…

  On the “Happy Place Tour,” Key Culinary Tours’ answer to happy hour, guests will enjoy a flight of four Florida beers at Surf Shack Coastal Kitchen.  The distinct variety served, all explained by the restaurant during these late afternoon tours, provides a great baseline for beginners and a memorable assortment for the seasoned palate. …

Located just above their upscale beachy retail store, Shore Diner offers a range of locally farmed resources and original organic recipes, also touting some of the town’s coastal favorites and most memorable signature cocktails.  The open-air space with two retractable roofs embraces a mid-century modern design as the epitome of an ageless Florida beach café….

Born May 31, 1866, John Nicholas Ringling would be 150 years old this Memorial Day weekend.  The youngest of seven brothers and a native of McGregor, Iowa, who would have thought this imposing and highly-decorated businessman would eventually choose Sarasota as a spot on the map to develop and promote, as well as make the winter headquarters for the circus, forging the city’s elite cultural spirit and sophisticated reputation.  For without Ringling’s passion and influence, Sarasota may have remained a sleepy little fishing town with beautiful white quartz beaches for quite some time.  Instead, thanks to Ringling’s ambitious pursuits, Sarasota was thriving in the Roaring Twenties, a Golden Age for this state in general.  And it’s entirely possible we would have never earned the title as “Florida’s Cultural Capital” without his contributions in art, real estate, and overall economic expansion….

Looking for a different way to have an unforgettable meal with your family?  In need of something unique for your group or office?  Interested in orchestrating a feast for a crowd that goes beyond catering a stationary, standstill affair?   We have a solution! Though Key Culinary Tours generally takes up to ten guests for each tour, we also offer private parties that can accommodate larger assemblies who often have more involved requirements when organizing a mixed range of tastes, ideas, and interests.  In coordinating your special dining event, we are able to secure the space necessary and timely reservations while still incorporating a full-blown and interactive tour that provides all the essential elements characteristic of Key Culinary Tours. Private parties are great for families with children and are also fitting for any group that needs more space or privacy.  They…

While Key Culinary Tours is designed to feature St. Armands’ dining venues, an added delight on our tours includes a special spin around the Ring of Fame in central park.  Founded in 1987 and now displaying 133 bronze wagon wheel medallions, this “Who’s Who” of the circus industry showcases great talents and influencers from all…