Via la Casa, a new cafe and shop, has brought a jolt of caffeine and culture to the growing community of Lakewood Ranch. Silvia Teixeira Costa and her daughter Gabriella Moss partnered together to open the business, which they had first envisioned as an art gallery. “I wanted to incorporate a coffee shop in addition to having art on the walls,” Moss says.

Combining a cafe with an art gallery creates a living museum atmosphere, where guests meander through the shop sipping on a latte while taking in the intricate paintings by Teixeira Costa, an artist and businesswoman. Long wooden tables invite thoughtful conversations, often in a variety of languages, among patrons, but the open space offers quiet retreats for remote workers, readers or those looking for a moment of peace and solitude in a cozy yet sophisticated environment.

Throughout the shop, the scent of fresh baked goods drifts through the air. The menu features a variety of muffins, pastries and other goodies as well as delicious coffee. “We try to use the best quality ingredients, and our syrups are housemade, like in the Lavender Honey Latte,” adds Moss. As an homage to their Brazilian roots, Teixeira Costa and Moss offer small Brazilian bites like warm and gooey Pao de Queijo cheesy bread and crispy Brazilian Croquettes with fillings such as chicken, beef or ham and cheese. They also sell Italian desserts, including Tiramisu and Ricotta Pistachio Pie and tasty sandwiches for a light meal. Guests looking for a different experience can enjoy wine and charcuterie boards and look forward to monthly wine-tasting nights starting in October. Many gluten-free options are available, ensuring that all patrons can enjoy a meal or snack.

After filling up and getting caffeinated, patrons can browse the store for unique products from Italy, Spain, Germany and Thailand. The shop specializes in home decor and delightful gifts, so shoppers can pick up something for a friend, or bring home a piece of Via la Casa for themselves, whether it's one of Teixeira Costa’s stunning paintings or a colorful mug. “We’re pleased with the response we’ve gotten from the community,” says Teixeira Costa, reflecting on the business, which opened in May of this year. With season around the corner, Via la Casa is poised to become an even more popular hub for neighborhood food and fun.

Via la Casa, San Marco Plaza, 8209 Natures Way Ste. #121, Lakewood Ranch, vialacasa.art. 

Pictured: The Turkey Sammie with toasted ciabatta bread, goat cheese and hot pepper jelly at Via la Casa. Photo by Laura Paquette.

Via la Casa

Miguel’s Restaurant, 6631 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota, proudly celebrates their milestone 40-year anniversary this year. From September 1-16, diners can receive a complimentary glass of rosé Champagne by telling their servers “celebrate 40.” Miguel Garcia, the restaurant’s founder and a native of Málaga, Spain, opened Miguel’s Restaurant in September of 1983. Before making his way to Sarasota, he spent a significant amount of time in the Burgundy region of France and then lived in Canada. Prior to Miguel’s, he opened the popular Surfrider restaurant, which was also on Siesta Key. The restaurant is now managed by Miguel Garcia’s sons, Chef Gabriel Garcia and Daniel Garcia, who have been involved in the business since 2002. Chef Garcia is a sommelier and has a four-year degree from Johnson & Wales University’s College of Culinary Arts. Following graduation, he honed his skills in the south of Spain. Daniel Garcia, general manager/owner, attended the University of Central Florida and has been welcoming guests to Miguel’s for more than 10 years, taking over the front-of-house duties from his father. Daniel Garcia stated, “We are proud to have been serving our beloved community with delicious dishes and meaningful experiences for 40 unforgettable years. Our formula for success is simple: white tablecloth service with a friendly family smile and good European-style cuisine.” Miguel’s is best known for its award-winning early bird menu and its tableside dishes. Chef Garcia and his team love cooking French classics like duck à l’orange and escargot, but also relish in having access to fresh Gulf Coast fish and coming up with creative specials to showcase their flavors. Classical dishes such as the tableside Caesar salad and crêpes Suzette are popular choices among diners. Miguel's is open daily from 4:00-10:00 p.m. For menus, online ordering, and more information, visit miguelsrestaurant.net. For reservations, call (941) 349-4024. 

Pictured: Miguel's Restaurant Chef Gabriel Garcia and Daniel Garcia.

In response to the devastating wildfires burning across Hawaii’s island of Maui, Mediterranean restaurant Tzeva, located inside Art Ovation Hotel Autograph Collection, is partnering with Hawaii-based Lahaina Fires Chef Collective to help feed vulnerable Maui communities. Tzeva encourages the Sarasota community to stand in solidarity with Maui and will be donating 20% of all lunch and dinner service proceeds on Saturday, September 9 to the cause. Tzeva is honored to be working with Maui-based Chef Jason Raffin who is a member of Chef Collective, an organization composed of chefs who use their culinary skills and food service connections to feed communities in need. Despite also losing his home and belongings in the wildfires, Chef Raffin is eager to help others who have been displaced, are unemployed, grieving or otherwise in need of support because of the fires. “We deeply respect the work that Chef Raffin is doing to uplift his community and we here at Tzeva want to support that,” said Peter Hough, Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at Tzeva. “On September 9, every dish that is ordered at Tzeva will help to bring positive change to Maui.” Focusing efforts on the heavily impacted West Maui, especially Lahaina, Chef Collective is helping Chef Raffin coordinate with local Hua Momona Farms, a non-profit 501c3 foundation, to feed quality food to the impacted community with an emphasis on farm ingredients, micronutrients and long-term solutions to food insecurity. “We have been making huge strides in fighting the food insecurity problems in Lahaina currently,” said Chef Raffin. “We are focused on creating excellent food rather than mass produced substances.” Recently, Chef Raffin and the teams at Lahaina Fires Chef Collective and Hua Momona Farms partnered with Hungry Heroes Hawaii to provide steak plates to first responders. As donation and distribution efforts from other organizations slow in Maui, Lahaina Fires Chef Collective and Hua Momona Farms aim to absorb these efforts and increase their output from serving 400 farm-fresh meals per day to 1,000 meals per day. To make this goal a reality, donations from Tzeva will help Chef Raffin and the team acquire a refrigerated truck, invest in two additional storage spaces and find more farm and kitchen help. Sarasota residents and visitors are invited to share in Tzeva’s lunch and dinner cuisines on September 9 to support the cause. A meal at Tzeva will ensure someone has a meal tomorrow in Maui. Lunch is served from 11 AM - 2 PM and dinner is served from 5 PM - 10 PM. Reservations can be made via OpenTable. Visit www.tzevasarasota.com or follow along on Instagram @tzevasarasota to stay updated on the latest news. To make a monetary donation to Lahaina Fires Chef Collective, please visit the GoFundMe page. 

Calling all trivia enthusiasts, puzzle lovers, and general knowledge buffs! Hamlet’s Eatery is hosting a Weekly Trivia Night every Wednesday. Prepare for an evening filled with laughter, friendly competition, and the chance to win fun prizes! Join Hamlet’s Eatery, where we believe that great food and great company go hand in hand with a little friendly rivalry. The doors open at 5pm, giving you plenty of time to grab a delicious dinner and sip on your favorite refreshing beverages. Chef Teylor will be serving up mouthwatering dishes that will fuel your brainpower and keep you energized throughout the night! At 6pm, the real excitement begins as our lively trivia games kick off with Austin of Top Shelf Trivia. Test your knowledge across a wide range of categories, from pop culture to history, sports to science, and everything in between. With creative and thought-provoking questions, you're bound to have a blast while exercising those brain cells! There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams. And even a pity prize for last place. Not to mention, Hamlet’s has a winners board on display with top team’s photos! Think of the bragging rights and the thrill of victory that come with taking home a prize! Whether you're a seasoned trivia master or just looking for a night of entertainment, or a good meal, Hamlets Eatery's Weekly Trivia Night promises to be an absolute blast.Hamlet’s Eatery is located at 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. For more information visit www.Hamletseatery.com or call 941-445-1938. 

Historic Spanish Point

Pathways of beautiful, sunny and shady, well-maintained gardens await you in the Marie Selby Gardens at Historic Spanish Point. Experience  a docent-led tour or boat tour, or stroll on your own through the 30-acre campus showcasing a wide variety of native Florida plants. Restrooms and benches are located throughout the campus and the Bayside Cottage Café (operated by Michael’s On East) is open daily, offering sandwiches, beverages and snacks. 

401 North Tamiami Trl., Osprey.

Check out more on this feature!

SRQ Media will present Leisa Peterson with the SRQ Illuminator Award, which celebrates women who are shining a light on information and tools that empower women to live their best life at the Together We Roar Leadership & Awards Luncheon on October 27th in Sarasota Florida. Author of  The Mindful Millionaire, Leisa Peterson is a visionary dedicated to transforming millions of lives through heightened financial consciousness. With a three-decade tenure in finance, she has been recognized by Forbes as one of the pioneering 10 Women Driving Growth in Wealth Management and Investing, As a facilitator, strategic advisor, and author, Leisa’s purpose revolves around reshaping society’s collective outlook on money, sparking a revolution in perspective through her conviction that abundance is an attainable reality for all. Merging her financial expertise with the art and science of mindfulness, Leisa reveals a liberating journey that emancipates people from the grip of scarcity and financial worries, paving the way to lives brimming with prosperity. Leisa spearheads “The Mindful Millionaire” and “Art of Abundance” podcasts. In addition, she empowers her clients through online workshops and transformative in-person retreats. Her insights can be found on Gaia Media Network, Wall Street Journal, FastCompany, The Week, and Huffington Post. The luncheon celebration will also include a Pop Up Boutique Salon featuring fabulous gifts from Camilyn Beth, PAINT Nail Bar, Saks Fifth Avenue, Discover Sarasota Tours Gift Shop and BookStore1 among others. Blair Bloomston of Game On Nation will present an energizing, interactive motivational leadership session followed by the highly anticipated announcement of the 2023 SRQ Women Who Roar Competition Honorees. Special thanks to Champion Sponsor, Seaside Bank and Trust and Supporting Partners, Ritz Carlton Sarasota, Diamond Vault Jewelers, Michael’s On East, Dolphin Transportation, Tropical Interiors Florist, Saks Fifth Avenue Sarasota, Sarasota Trophy & Awards and Bookstore 1 Sarasota. To purchase your online tickets to the SRQ Women Who Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon and for more details on the program, visit: https://www.srqmagazine.com/2023/TogetherWeRoar. For information regarding sponsorship contact Ashley Grant, SVP Strategic Partnerships & Engagement at ashley.grant@srqme.com.