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🍦 Hidden Grocery Favorites Locals Swear By
Best Things To Do in SRQ: 5/15 - 5/18
Carson B
May 13, 2025
Happy Tuesday, Sarasota!
I’m hoping you the mothers and grandmothers were able to enjoy a lovely Mother’s Day.
I expect events to slow down as we get into the Summer months and the snowbirds fly away. If you’re looking for a creative way to get busy outdoors be sure to take a look at our Guide to Sarasota’s Outdoor Gems.
In today’s edition of the Sarasota Scoop:
Thanks for reading,
Carson
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📰 Local News
Inside Sarasota’s New HL Asian Market
🔍 What’s new: HL Asian Market has grown from a small mom-and-pop shop into a 15,000-square-foot destination for Asian groceries and takeout in Sarasota.
💡 Why it matters: It’s one of the few places in the region offering a wide range of Asian ingredients, fresh produce, and made-to-order dishes for a growing community of locals and international students.
👋 The backstory: HL opened in 2008 near downtown with one goal — to give Sarasota’s Asian community a place to shop for familiar products. Owner Kim Phung, a Vietnamese immigrant, ran the store herself for years before expanding in 2019 to a new, much larger location on Lockwood Ridge.
🛒 What you’ll find:
Fresh lemongrass, Thai basil, galangal, and daikon
Frozen dumplings, rice cakes, and whole fish
Aisles of pantry staples from Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, and Vietnam
Popular items include instant noodles, sauces, jackfruit, and durian
🍜 Don’t miss the hot food counter: Near the entrance, customers line up for pho, bánh mì, Korean corn dogs, and crispy pork belly. Everything is packaged for easy takeout and made fresh.
📍 Between the lines: It’s not just a store. HL has built a loyal following by staying personal, affordable, and authentic.
🛒 St. Pete grocery store named best in the U.S.
What’s new: Mazzaro’s Italian Market in St. Petersburg has been ranked the No. 1 grocery store in America.
Why it matters: Based on a new study from Solitaired, this small Florida favorite topped a national list that included giants like Trader Joe’s and Wegmans.
💬 “This place is awesome. Great people and amazing quality,” one reviewer wrote.
By the numbers:
Analysis included more than 3 million reviews
Stores needed at least 200 reviews and a 4.5+ star average
Store has been around since 1993
The takeaway: It’s worth the drive! Rollin’ Oats stood out for quality, community, and customer care.
🔦 Spotlight: Mademoiselle Cafe & Bakery
Mademoiselle Cafe & Bakery is one of the better breakfast spots in town, especially if you’re into breakfast pastries.
The quality is consistently solid across the board — everything we’ve tried has been excellent.
There’s plenty of shaded outdoor seating, which makes it a good spot to linger, even on warmer mornings.
Service holds up well, even when it’s busy. If you’re looking for a reliable, low-key café with great food, this one’s worth keeping in your rotation.
Thursday
Cultural Crafts
📍Lemon Bay Park | 🕦 9:30am | 🔗 details
Carnival of Wonder
📍Bayfront Gardens | 🕦 1pm - 4:30pm | 🔗 details
Wonder Keynote: Jennifer Kuo
📍Asolo Theater | 🕦 6pm | 🔗 details
Open Jam Night
📍Big Top Live | 🕦 6pm - 9pm | 🔗 details
Ringling Underground
📍Ringling Museum of Art | 🕦 7pm - 10pm | 🔗 details
Friday
ZAP Skimboards Spring Fling Skim Jam
📍Nokomis Beach Park | 🕦 8am | 🔗 details
Ride and Paddle
📍The Bay, Sarasota | 🕦 9:30am - 11:30am | 🔗 details
Live Music at the Plaza
📍Waterside Place, LWR | 🕦 6pm | 🔗 details
Comedy Show: Carlos Mencia
📍McCurdey's Comedy Club | 🕦 Multiple shows | 🔗 details
Saturday
Children's "On the Wall" Fishing Tournament
📍Bradenton Yacht Club | 🕦 9am | 🔗 details
Shred Day and Food Bank Drive
📍8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, LWR | 🕦 9am - 12pm | 🔗 details
Plant Clinic
📍Shamrock Park and Nature Center | 🕦 10am - 12pm | 🔗 details
Flower Arranging Basics
📍Selby Gardens, Downtown SRQ | 🕦 10:30am - 11:30am | 🔗 details
Open House Wine Tastings
📍Michael’s Wine Cellar, Sarasota | 🕦 1pm - 3pm | 🔗 details
Bouquet & Cocktails
📍The Lounge, LWR | 🕦 2pm - 3:30pm | 🔗 details
Sarasota Paradise vs. St. Petersburg FC
📍Paradise Coast Sports Complex | 🕦 7:30pm | 🔗 details
The Barber of Seville Finale
📍Sarasota Opera | 🕦 7pm | 🔗 details
Live Music: Vivaldi Inspired
📍Sarasota Orchestra | 🕦 7:30pm | 🔗 details
Sunday
Bridge to Bridge Bay Slam
📍Phillippi Estate Park | 🕦 7am | 🔗 details
Mobile Plant Clinic
📍2710 White Eagle Blvd, LWR | 🕦 9am | 🔗 details
Sleeping Beauty
📍Sarasota Opera | 🕦 3pm | 🔗 details
Big 12 Rowing Championship
📍Nathan Benderson Park | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details
PLAN AHEAD
SRQ VETS 5k Memorial Hike
📍JD Hamel Park | 📆 May 24th | 🔗 details
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