Cooper Levey-Baker has written about food, politics, civic issues, the arts, and music in Southwest Florida for 15 years. His work has won multiple awards from the Florida Magazine Association and the Florida Society of Professional Journalists, as well as an honorable mention from the Julia Child Foundation. Follow him on Twitter: @LeveyBaker.

Yay, Mullet!

The City of Sarasota Should Ditch the David and Embrace Its Fishy Heritage

We can think of no better representation of the charms of Sarasota than those laid out in the city’s original seal, with the beautiful, flavorful, iconic mullet front and center.

04/03/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

After the Bloom

A Year of Catastrophic Algal Blooms Has Local Seafood Companies Hoping For a Rebound

Overall, the Gulf seafood industry experienced huge losses last year.

04/03/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

True Roe-mance

Mullet Roe Is Delicious. Here's How to Use It

And where to get it, too.

04/03/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Get Out Your Weber

How to Conquer a Classic Florida Dish: Smoked Mullet

History rarely tastes this good.

04/03/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Gulf Feast

Five Shops That Specialize in Great Gulf Seafood

Where to take home some top-notch fish.

04/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Gulf Feast

10 Local Restaurants Serving Up Succulent Gulf Seafood

Our favorite fish houses.

04/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Review

Bushido Izayaki Rolls Out Creative Japanese Fare in a Samurai-Themed Strip Mall Space

“Bushido” is a reference to the samurai code of ethics, and you’ll find warrior-themed designs throughout the 4,000-square-foot space.

04/01/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

10 Bucks or Less

3 Pepper Burrito Co. Brings Mission Burritos to the Heart of Downtown

The restaurant just opened its 10th location dead center in the middle of the downtown Sarasota Farmers Market, perfectly situated amid dozens of offices within a walkable range.

04/01/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Plant city

State Street Adds New Vegetarian Items as Part of Menu Revamp

New items include seared cauliflower and Szechuan noodles, with optional seafood upgrades.

04/01/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Cluck cluck

New Chicken Restaurant Opens Downtown

Daily Bird serves sandwiches that feature either grilled or fried chicken; three-, five- and 10-piece fried baskets; and bowls stocked with greens or sprouted grains.

03/26/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

The politics of pours

Black Bourbon Society Founder Participating in Whiskey Obsession Festival

Samara Rivers wants more diversity in the whiskey world, and she's bringing her message to Sarasota.

03/25/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Worth the drive

Sebring Festival Lets You Explore the Sweet World of Craft Soda

Sample colas, ginger ales, root beers and cream sodas, with flavors like caramel apple, prickly pear, espresso, peach cobbler, candied bacon and more.

03/22/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Services

New Mobile Golf Cart Repair Company Launches

A Venice couple invests in a man profiled by Sarasota Magazine as part of a story about life after incarceration.

03/21/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Smells fishy

Report Finds Widespread Seafood Mislabeling

The D.C. nonprofit Oceana used DNA analysis to test 449 fish from 287 restaurants and retail outlets in 24 states and the District of Columbia.

03/12/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Diner league

New Metro Diner Opening in Bradenton Next Week

The new location will be the restaurant's third in the region.

03/07/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Overhaul

Louies Modern Is Closing. Here's What Will Replace It

The new Lemon Tree Kitchen is described as a casual, full-service eatery that will specialize in "fresh, local ingredients, exceptional flavors and truly clean eating."

03/06/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Big poppo

New Poppo's Taqueria Now Open on Main Street

The new location is the restaurant's fifth.

03/05/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

On tap

New Oak & Stone Location Opening This Spring

The new eatery will be located at 4067 Clark Road, Sarasota, in the former home of a Buffalo Wild Wings.

03/04/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Supermarket Sweep

A Roundup of Alternative Grocery Stores and Best Buys

Our selection of food stores has exploded in recent years. Here are some of our favorite finds at six of our go-to grocery stops.

02/28/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Restaurant Review

Grove Serves Up Good Food and Good Times in Lakewood Ranch

After Polo Grill closed last April, Hugh Miller and Greg Campbell, the partners behind Bradenton’s Pier 22, took over the space and gutted the building.

02/28/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker