Things to do on and around Siesta Key
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Turtle’s is still a relaxing getaway, even for Siesta locals By Hannah Wallace
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Alex Ortega, the general manager of Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay, posing on the restaurant’s back deck. The location is one of only two expanded-view waterfront dining settings on Siesta Key. (Submitted photo)
o the rest of the country, Sarasota is a getaway spot. To mainland Sarasotans, Siesta Key is an island paradise. But now that the Village is a bustling shopping and dining district fed by nearby hotels and condos, does Siesta still have anywhere that maintains its traditionally chill, outof-the-way vibe? Yes, it turns out. Just 5 miles south on Midnight Pass Road. Believe it or not, Turtle’s on Little Sarasota Bay, located just east of Turtle Beach, is one of only two waterfront restaurants on Siesta Key. The other, Ophelia’s on the Bay, is a fine dining spot; whereas Turtle’s, far from fancy, remains a relaxing getaway for when the north end of the island isn’t “away” enough.
Of course, anyone familiar with the Sarasota restaurant scene knows that even the most idyllic dining spots can close due to mediocre food and poor service. Fortunately, Turtle’s longtime general manager Alex Ortega believes that freshly prepared dishes and happy staff are what have kept his restaurant successful for 38 years. And Ortega would know: He’s been there for 36 of them — from dishwasher in 1988 to line cook to chef to floor manager to GM, and plenty of other positions in between. “To be honest, we treat our guests well and our employees. That’s one of the big differences,” he said. “Being in this industry throughout the years, I’ve learned from others how people mistreat
their employees, trying to get good service. You’ve got to make sure you keep them happy, then you get good service out of them.” As the person in charge more often than not, Ortega now takes that responsibility upon himself first. “Sometimes I go to the store, get them a treat, like some chicken wings — we’ll cook them right here. Those little things matter a lot,” he said. And occasionally the not-so-little things: One Friday this summer, Ortega allowed one of his servers to keep working the lunch shift while he himself went out to change and replace the employee’s tire. “They’ve been here so long, even the new hires we get are friends [of Continued on page 10V
Shop Gulf Gate, See the World
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ulf Gate has become Sarasota’s own United Nations. Neighborhood restaurants, such as Kolucan, Divan, Lovely Square, and L’Opera Bakery Bistro, have attracted visitors who are drawn to their international cuisine. The bohemian vibe and mix of cultures have also created a place where specialty boutiques have found their niche. Two Gulf Gate specialty shops, SAS Sail Away Studio, Coastal Chic Boutique on Gateway Avenue and Clarabell Cookies on Superior Avenue, joined the growing roster of thriving, young businesses that have opened in the past few years. Both are adding new vitality and energy to the neighborhood that continues to entice visitors and locals alike.
By Jane Bartnett Clarabell Cookies
Superior Avenue in Gulf Gate is home to Clarabell Cookies, a fastrising star in the cookie world. The sweet shop first opened on Mall Drive in 2021. This spring, owners Clare and Gates Jerome, a brothersister baking duo, made the move to Superior for more space, their own kitchen and greater visibility. Their new location has been good for business. “My brother and I started Clarabell Cookies with zero experience and big dreams. As for the name, my family used to call me Clarabell, and that’s how the name came about,” Clare reported while standing in her new brightly colored shop decorated in a French country style. The idea for Clarabell Cookies took shape during the COVID outbreak in the darkest days of 2020. While working in finance
in New York City and living in Manhattan, Clare began perfecting her chocolate chip cookie recipe. She would bake a batch of cookies in her apartment kitchen and bring them as a gift to the doormen who worked at apartment buildings in her neighborhood. They encouraged her to sell the cookies. When Clare suggested the idea to her brother, he agreed. The pair took a road trip to Siesta Key, left their past lives behind in New York and Boston, and decided to launch their new business in Gulf Gate. “Many thanks to my doormen for helping me perfect that cookie for a year,” Clare wrote on the Clarabell Cookie Facebook page. On opening day, the duo sold more than 200 cookies. Word of the delicious handmade cookies traveled through the Gulf Gate community and beyond. In addition
to planning for their expanded re-location in Gulf Gate, they also began selling online through their website. Clarabell Cookies is now famous around the world. “We’ve sent out thousands of cookies as far as Guam,” said Clare. In June, they shipped more than 5,000 sweet treats to their customers. Area coffee shops have signed on, and Clare reports that they are also selling wholesale nationally. Using their social media skills to tell their sweet story, Clarabell Cookies has 30,000 Instagram followers. The delectable treats are offered in 12 flavors, including double dark chocolate, snickerdoodle, cinnamon roll, vanilla sugar, oatmeal raisin, walnut chocolate chip, peanut butter chocolate chip, espresso chocolate chip and peanut butter chip brownie. The walnut
SIESTA KEY
SWIMWEAR RESORT WEAR ACCESSORIES
1960 Stickney Pt Rd 941.922.4545
Clare Jerome, co-owner of Clarabell Cookies with a new batch of cookies at her new store on Superior Avenue in Gulf Gate. (Photo by Jane Bartnett)
chocolate chip cookie remains the classic that launched their brand, but new recipes such as the funfetti gluten free cookies are also popular. Their lemon poppy seed, made with pure Florida citrus, Continued on page 9V
DOWNTOWN
LONGBOAT
50 N Tamiami Trl 3170 Gulf of Mexico Dr 941.954.8800 941.383.2288
www.SwimCity.com