Susan Robinson - Owner
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Hi my name is Susan. I founded Key Culinary Tours and Sarasota Suncoast Tours because I thought our area really needed some cool tours of the local food scene, as well as historical and fun tours of this amazing place we call paradise. Each of our tour guides bring a unique perspective to the tours and no two tours are alike.
Our portfolio has expanded to include something for everyone — culinary tours, historical walking tours, family centric tours and tours that are just plain crazy fun. We love meeting people and welcoming them to our area and are proud to be ambassadors of Sarasota. We also offer international tours to various locations because I personally love to travel! So, check out our websites for descriptions of all our offerings and thank you for choosing our company for your tour!
Daniel - Tour Guide
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Daniel is new to our Key Culinary Team and we are thrilled to have him! He has been in the travel/hospitality business for over 17 years and has traveled all over Europe leading groups through multiple countries and destinations. A resident of the Sarasota area for 26 years, he loves the area and his love of history and along with having a degree in Baking and Pastry makes him a perfect fit for our tours. “After leading groups of 50 to several thousand, I very much enjoy working with Key Culinary Tours as a guide for a more intimate and personal guiding experience. I have a tendency to focus on the historical aspect as well as the quirky facts and figures. Above all else, I like to spend the time with each guest to ensure they’ve had an enjoyable and enlightening experience with us. Whether you’re a local or visiting us for the first time I’d love to have the privilege of showing you the best of Sarasota!”
Denice - Tour Guide
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In her professional life, Denice was an entrepreneur in the beauty industry and enjoyed owning two salon & spas during her career. She also had a Paul Mitchell distributorship for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico. She is a Paul Mitchell Educator and has had her images published worldwide. Denice has traveled extensively through the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Having been a visitor to Sarasota for 25 years, she is now thrilled to call it home. She is a true foodie and loves to follow culinary trends.
Gabe - Tour Guide
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Gabe moved to Venice in 2012 and fell in love with the beauty of the area. Great climate, world-class beaches, Old World architecture and wonderful restaurants. Before his journey here, he worked as an architect in his own firm in NY for over 35 years designing houses and apartment buildings. He is excited about being a part of our team. “Key Culinary Tours offered me an opportunity to merge two of my passions – food and architecture.”
Jeni - Tour Guide
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Jeni is originally from Illinois farm country and has come to the Sarasota area each year since she was two years old! Her family still owns a small beachfront motel that was purchased by her grandfather a few years before she was born. She moved here permanently after graduating from the University of Colorado in Boulder with a degree in finance and enjoyed a 25 year career in commercial banking. A sports enthusiast and yoga instructor, Jennifer is happy to help her motel guests and area visitors get out and enjoy all our area has to offer, including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, great restaurants, and now… Key Culinary Tours!
Maggie - Tour Guide/Tour Director
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Maggie joined our culinary family with a love of history and extensive tour guide experience having been a tour guide in St. Augustine, FL for five years before moving to Sarasota via Mexico. Maggie’s previous experience also included managing two community theaters, so performance is in her blood. She is not only one of our guides, she is also our Tour Director. In her spare time, Maggie is a mixed media mosaic artist. Born in Florida, she is one of those rare true Floridians and she makes history come alive on her tours! Ready to have some fun? Come on a tour with Maggie! (Sorry, her dog Jake won’t be able to join you).
Pamela - Tour Guide
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Pamela is originally from Pennsylvania and relocated here (her favorite state) in 2011. She just loves living in this beautiful sunshine state with her husband and 3 dogs! Her other loves are beaches, learning, golfing, experiencing new restaurants and gourmet foods.Her grandparents owned diners and her parents had a continental fine dining restaurant so she grew up in the food business. Her outgoing, vivacious personality makes her a hit with our guests!
Robert - Tour Guide
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Born and raised outside of Detroit, Robert discovered the beauty of Southwest Florida later in life, first in Ft. Myers and later Sarasota. With his passion for the outdoors, the arts and culture, Sarasota immediately become home with its rich history, cultural community, and natural beauty. When he’s not providing tours with Key Culinary Tours, Robert owns and operates Italian Culinary Tours, a specialty travel company that offers unique dining experiences and educational tours through the diverse regions of Italy, and Ciao Bella Productions, an innovative, private party catering company. Active in the community, Robert is a member of the Rotary Club of Sarasota and a board member and volunteer for Save Our Seabirds, a wild bird education center and rescue.
Tricia - Blogger
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As a Sarasota resident for 13 years, she is an avid food and wine enthusiast who learned to cook as a young girl from her Italian grandparents on the family farm in upstate New York.
She fondly remembers her mother, aunts, and cousins in the farmhouse kitchen preparing fruits and vegetables for dinner and canning.
Her culinary career began by studying at the Culinary Institute of America and at the Art Institute of Atlanta in the culinary center. She also studied chocolate with Ewald Notter and Jean-Pierre Wybauw, and attended an advance food styling class with Denise Vivaldo of Food Fanatics.
As a cooking school director in Atlanta, She worked with Anthony Bourdain, Emeril Lagasse, and Giada De Laurentiis, along with other celebrity chefs.
Although she has lived in Sarasota for thirteen years and another passion is traveling… “to discover the greatest foods and wines”!
Troy - Tour Guide/Tour Director Assistant
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Troy has resided in the Sarasota area for over 12 years and loves to share his knowledge of all of his favorite beaches and restaurants.
Born and raised in Missoula, Montana his family decided that it was not cold enough and moved to Anchorage Alaska where he finished High School and College. Summer acting classes in London at RADA studying Shakespeare and stand-up gave Troy a real passion for the theater.
Troy headed south as soon as he could, living in Seattle, L.A. and eventually landing in Sarasota as a Chanel Make-up Artist working at Saks. “Living on Lido Beach for the last 4 years is such a historical treat as we are surrounded everyday by the art and vision that was John’s Circus Town”
Please call him to book a tour!
Tujon - Tour Guide
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After making visits to the area, Tujon finally moved here! His varied background includes leading tours of the National Mall and Washington, DC. He also spent a decade leading bicycle tours in a variety of locations including Williamsburg, Charleston, Savannah and Maryland’s eastern shore.
New Tour Guides Coming Soon!
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Our Tour Guides love food & people and are extensively trained to provide you the best experience possible. We generally add a few awesome people each year to our family.