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.

How Cool

Eskimo Bros.'s Clean Ice Makes Cocktails Taste Better

A Sarasota company is helping bartenders improve an often-overlooked ingredient: ice.

09/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Health Report

Addicted at Birth: Newborns Struggle With the Legacy of Opioids

As the number of overdoses has increased, so has the number of babies born suffering from withdrawal, the pain of addiction cascading from one generation to the next.

09/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Bookmarks

Where to Find the Latest Info About Hurricane Dorian

Where to get sandbags, how to determine your 'evacuation level' and other important information as Dorian draws nearer.

08/30/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Bay fever

Bay Team Unveils Changes to Phase One Plans

The tweaks include moving the concession stand and restrooms, narrowing sections of the spiral boardwalk and more.

08/22/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Weekly planner

Sunset Jams, Beers From Boca Raton and More of This Week's Top Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu: a truffle-making class and an indie flea market.

08/21/2019 By Hanna Powers

Mission: Impossible — Roast Protocol

Beef 'o' Brady's Becomes the Latest Restaurant to Test Out the Impossible Burger

A Bradenton Beef 'o' Brady's is one of just nine of the chain's restaurants offering the plant-based burger substitute.

08/20/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Weekly planner

A Home Brew Contest, a Wine Walk and More Top Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu this week: a wine tasting at The Reserve, a discount for bike riders at Libby's and a special chef's dinner at Boca.

08/14/2019 By Hanna Powers

With our powers combined

How to Get Your CBD Fix and Your Caffeine Fix at the Same Time

Thanks to one downtown shop, you can find CBD infused in one of our very favorite things: nitro cold brew.

08/08/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Weekly planner

A Rooftop Brunch, Frozen Custard Day and More of This Week's Top Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu: a food truck rally, a new cocktail menu at Made and a science café.

08/06/2019 By Hanna Powers

Business School

High School Students Created Sauces Lining Publix Shelves

Taste of Immokalee products now line the shelves of 240 Publix stores across Florida—including eight in Sarasota and three in Bradenton.

08/02/2019 Photography by Cooper Levey-Baker

Can Do

You've Probably Heard of a Growler, But What About a Crowler?

The crowler is completely sealed, meaning it keeps your beer fresher.

08/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Restaurant Review

Chef Wei Ren Brings His Ramen to Bradenton

Ren serves up spectacular ramen at Mitaka Japanese Ramen House in Bradenton.

08/01/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Weekly Planner

Swiss Dishes, a Musical Brunch and More of This Week's Top Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu: painting at Lucky's Market and a sauce-making class at Publix.

07/31/2019 By Hanna Powers

Hungry Hungry History

For One Scholar, Corn Offers a Window Into Florida's Past—and Present

The history of corn in Florida goes back millennia.

07/30/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Hog U

Special Mattison's Dinner Raises Money for Farmer Scholarships

Next month's Niman Ranch Next Generation Scholarship Dinner highlights the benefits of humanely and sustainably raised livestock.

07/19/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Iberian eats

New Owners Plan Portuguese Makeover for Italian Restaurant

Portugal natives Tito and Liana Vitorino recently purchased downtown Sarasota's Amore Restaurant and a changeover is in the works.

07/11/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Garden and Fun

New Sarasota Beer Garden Opens Today

Siegfried's Restaurant includes two separate areas: an indoor sit-down dining room and a beer garden with long picnic tables and a food trailer out back.

07/02/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Newsmaker

Veronica Brady Is Out to Raise $20 Million to Build Phase One of The Bay

Brady was an early supporter of the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization and part of a three-person team that raised $2.1 million in 2017 to pay for the master plan.

07/01/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Grab & Go

Looking for Tasty Takeout? We've Got the Best of the Bunch

Snuggle up on the couch, grab a container and a fork, and dig in.

07/01/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

All The "Ways"

Cincinnati’s Skyline Chili Comes to Lakewood Ranch

Skyline is a revered Cincinnati institution dating back to 1949.

07/01/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker