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.

Best Restaurants 2017

Maison Blanche's José Martinez Moves Forward By Standing Still

Longboat Key's Maison Blanche is formal, private, hushed and leisurely.

01/31/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Settle Down

10 Bucks or Less: Chefs2U

A mobile food business opens a stationary hub.

01/31/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

A River Runs Next to It

Mattison's Returns to Downtown Bradenton

Paul Mattison recently took over the YachtSea Grille, overhauled the space and rebranded it as Mattison's City Grille.

01/27/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

The Land

Cleveland-Themed Eatery Plans April Opening

LeBron fans will soon have a new spot to call home.

01/25/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

New Era

In Sarasota, Dick Cheney Talks Trump, Iraq, Women's March

"I think what we did in Iraq was the right thing to do. I still believe that."

01/23/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Nice Slice

New Pizza Joint Opens Monday

California Pizza Kitchen is entering the Sarasota 'za market, with a new location set to open out near the University Town Center mall on Monday.

01/18/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Feast Mode

The 5 Best Things We Ate This Week - 1/17/17

Brisket tacos, grilled snapper and more of our favorite food finds.

01/17/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker, Ilene Denton, and Hannah Wallace

Beer Drops

New Bradenton Brewery Starts Pouring

Open since Thanksgiving, Bradenton's 3 Keys Brewing & Eatery last week tapped the first of its house brews.

01/11/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Eat This Now

Where and What to Eat This Week - 1/10/17

This week: a sushi birthday cake, beer for cold nights and a perfect breakfast sandwich.

01/10/2017 By Eat Beat Team

One Day

One Day on the Set of Justin Long's New Comedy

We spend the day with Ringling College of Art and Design grad Nick Morgulis, who's working with actor Justin Long on his new comedy.

12/29/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker Photography by Robert Castro

Heat Index

How to Help Kids (And Their Parents) Rest Easy

Sleep coach Dana Obleman shares her tips.

12/29/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

10 Bucks or Less

5 Fantastic Frugal Food Finds

My quest to eat at every taqueria, truck stop and mullet shack on the Gulf Coast rolls on.

12/28/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Slice of life

10 Bucks or Less: Origin Craft Beer + Pizza Café

Man, Sarasota sure loves it some pizza.

12/14/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Mi Kasa Es Su Kasa

Roll Up to Kasa Sushi, the North Trail's Newest Eatery

Visiting a space that's been an Ethiopian restaurant, a dim sum destination and a KFC. Does Kasa have what it takes to outlast those earlier incarnations?

12/07/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker