Taste of Rosemary

Arthur Lopes (both formerly of Zoria) opened the hip new Pomona. Pair their special cheese plate ($10) with Ryan’s pick, a sweet white Recioto di Soave. Pomona Bistro and Wine Bar, 481 N. Orange Ave., (941) 706-1677. Down the street, chef Blake Ellis (above), a Culinary Institute of America grad, serves up Sarasota comfort food: made-from-scratch layer cakes. Customer favorites are lemon curd and coconut custard ($3.75-$4.35 a slice). “Hey, we’re in Florida,” he explains. The Savory Street, 411 N. Orange Ave., (941) 312-4027. Join local beer aficionados at their newest hot spot: Mad Crow Brewery and Grill, 1525 Fourth St., (941) 954-2337. The taps are flowing with owner Darren Fehring’s custom brews.