WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: School District of Manatee County
A five-year-old boy walks up to our table, his straw hat and flowery shirt matching the restaurant’s décor. His name tag displays his title: Host.
“Are you having a nice time?” he asks, smiling. We nod and smile back.
“Good.” He moves off, on his way to ensure others are having a similarly nice time.
Soon, a little girl approaches, her …
WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen
Hailing from Delaware, working in management at Walmart, longing to sell snow cones on the beach somewhere, Stephanie Edwards made her dreams a reality in 2015.
Stephanie worked for Walmart for 23 years. She sat on the board of directors for a food bank and the local chamber of commerce through her management position with the company, as well as served in various local reading …
WORDS: Sheri Roca
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Popi’s Place Family Restaurant in Ellenton is a cozy, diner-style restaurant known for its home-cooked meals and friendly service. It is one of five Popi’s restaurants currently owned and run by the Ameres family. It is truly a family-run business in every sense and proudly advertised as “one of the few remaining Florida restaurants that is chef-family owned and operated (since 1983)”. The original …
WORDS: Sheri Roca
PITCURES: Whitney Patton
Bradenton native Nathan Hoeksema – Chick-fil-A owner, philanthropist, humanitarian, patron, benefactor, supporter, angel.
In June 1993, Nathan was a shy 15-year-old at Bradenton Christian school, looking for a summer job. He had hopes of making enough money to buy his first car. His older sister and some friends from school, worked at the local Chick-fil-A in DeSoto Square mall, so he decided to start …
WORDS: Sheri Roca
Just west of the Ellenton outlet mall and interstate 75 lies a hidden gem on the banks of Lovelee Lake, called Worthington. Originally Lee’s Crab Trap II, Worthington has recently been transformed into a historical and charming wedding and event venue.
You may remember Lee’s Crab Trap II, a restaurant known for its Old Florida décor and historical dishes and flavors. The restaurant was conceived and built …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Bob Slicker realized his dream of owning a restaurant when he opened Slicker’s Eatery in February in Cortez. Slicker’s vision for his place, which he and his daughter Molly Slicker formulated together, was specific: to focus on kindness, goodness, and intentionality.
For running a restaurant, that vision translates to taking care of people. He offers employees health insurance and does fundraisers for local charities. …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Owner and Chef Marc Cripe defines downtown Bradenton’s Jennings Provisions as “a craft beer and wine bar serving bar snacks.” The description is apt, though perhaps incomplete. The “bar snacks” it offers aren’t your run-of-the-mill nachos, mozzarella sticks, or mixed nuts.
Jennings’ snacks are foodie-friendly, with flatbreads, tacos, salads, and “Snack + Share” items like Smoked Mahi Spread with saltines and house-made pickled veggies; …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Lifelong baker and chef Pavel Hasenohrl has, in many ways, his dream job. Along with his wife Tracy, he owns Cremesh European Restaurant and Cremesh Coffee & Bakery, both in Bradenton.
The restaurant is open for dinner only and offers upscale dining, allowing Pavel to create inventive dishes using ingredients and methods from across Europe. The bakery and coffee shop allows Pavel to bake …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside has been one of Bradenton’s most beloved restaurants for more than two decades — quite a feat. Situated on busy Tamiami Trail, just north of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, other restaurants nearby regularly come and go. But Landside thrives.
“They always say, ‘location, location, location,'” said John Horne, who, with his wife Amanda, owns Landside, plus three other Anna …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Greg Campbell was 12 and home – supposedly sick – from school, when he cooked on his own for the first time. Always ambitious, he chose popovers – light-as-air, eggy bread rolls, known for soft interiors and crisp golden crusts. He used all his mom’s flour, “destroyed the kitchen,” he said, and the popovers he made were an utter failure.
Chef Campbell, now 48, …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Château 13 Restaurant & Wine Bar, a hip, new European-style restaurant and wine bar in Bradenton, is owner Jenn Sayko’s baby, her second home, her long-held dream come true. She’s thrilled with the opportunity to share her love of Italian, Spanish, French, and Belgian food, wine, and beer with her customers. The restaurant means the world to her.
Also, it means a lot to …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
As usual, JPAN Sushi & Grill was bustling on a recent weekend night. Couples on dates, groups of friends, and families of all sizes dined and drank on the outdoor patios, at the sushi bar inside, and at tables and booths in JPAN’s dimly lit, stylish interior.
I think I can safely call myself a JPAN regular. The place is one of few restaurants …
