Weekly News Digest from Mote

Women’s Golf Tournament Helps Animal Hospitals at Mote

Mary Selby (left) and Judy Ward present a donation of $10,000 to Mote Marine Laboratory animal caregivers Kathy Klingelberger and Amanda Foltz. The donation, raised through a tournament at Key Royale Club on Anna Maria Island, will help support Mote's nationally recognized hospitals for dolphins, whales and sea turtles (Credit Mote Marine Laboratory).

A women’s golf group in Manatee County donated $10,000 to Mote Marine Laboratory’s animal hospitals this week to help more marine animals get out of “the rough.”

The women of the Key Royale Golf Club presented the donation to animal caregivers at Thursday, March 14 at Mote. The funds were raised through a Feb. 19 tournament at Key Royale Club that drew 72 participants with the goal of supporting Mote’s nationally recognized hospitals for dolphins, whales and sea turtles.

“I really felt there was a need, and I love Mote and love the animals,” said Mary Selby, chairwoman of the tournament and an animal care volunteer at Mote.

Selby was asked to chair the benefit tournament by Judy Ward, chairwoman for the Golf Women of the Key Royale Club. “When Judy said I could pick a group to benefit, I said it had to be Mote’s animal hospitals,” Selby said. “It was something I could get behind and give it my all.”

Ward said she is also inspired by Mote’s hospitals, which have rehabilitated more than 400 sea turtles and nearly 70 dolphins and whales. “So many animals that need help are brought here, even from other parts of the country,” she said.

In addition to receiving patients from Sarasota and Manatee counties, Mote has provided care to animals from elsewhere in Florida and from more distant locales such as the northern Gulf of Mexico and New England. Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital even helped treat and release a sea turtle rescued in the Netherlands and rehabilitated in Portugal.

These efforts could not succeed without donations from local community members to Mote — an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to today’s research for tomorrow’s oceans.

“We really want to say thank you,” said Lynne Byrd, rehabilitation and medical care coordinator at Mote.  “Without help and support from people like Mary, Judy and their group it would be impossible for us to save these threatened and endangered species."

Learn more about Mote’s animal hospitals and make a donation at:

• www.mote.org/dolphinandwhalehospital
• www.mote.org/seaturtlehospital

You can also help by attending Mote’s Party on the Pass on April 27 (below).

Mote Caviar Featured in March 7 Dinner at New York’s James Beard House

Ritz Executive Chef Dwayne Edwards (rear) and Banquet Chef Zouhair Bellout assemble the Johnny cake blini featuring Mote Farm-Raised Caviar in James Beard’s kitchen on March 7. (Credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota)

Executive Chef Dwayne Edwards of the AAA Five Diamond resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, recently took the regionally-inspired cuisine of Southwest Florida to the James Beard House in New York City with a sumptuous Coastal Cuisine dinner that featured Mote’s Farm-Raised Caviar.

Chef Edwards, along with his culinary team — culinary supervisor Gerard Jesse, banquet chef Zouhair Bellout and the resort’s executive pastry chef Thomas McGovern — dazzled diners with a six-course culinary journey kicking off with passed hors d’oeuvres such as fried green tomatoes topped with crawfish etouffee; Sarasota’s Mote Farm-Raised Caviar with a Johnny cake ‘blini’ and citrus crème fraiche; fried Southern oysters with Cajun remoulade and pickled shallots; and scallop tartar with Hass avocado, rocoto pepper and corn puree.

For the dinner itself, each stellar course was paired with wines carefully selected by James Cole, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota’s Director of Food & Beverage. The menu showcased dishes such as smoked lamb tongue salad with celery root, piquillo pepper, cured tomatoes, sunflower and harissa; Gulf flounder fagioli; My Mother’s Garden pork – smoked belly and confit shoulder with Anson Mills grits and braised greens; and Wagyu beef mofongo with chimichurri, crushed plantains and yuca.

The evening concluded in decadent style with Chef McGovern’s white chocolate mousse with caramelized pineapple and citrus tapioca. 

Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated in celebrating, nurturing and preserving America’s diverse culinary heritage and future. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine who helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, The Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools and publications and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs.

Mote Caviar is often on the menu at The Ritz Carlton, Sarasota’s newest restaurant, Jack Dusty. Click here for more info.

About Mote Farm-Raised Caviar
More than a decade ago, Mote — an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to marine research and conservation — began exploring ways to remove fishing pressures from wild sturgeon stocks by developing innovative aquaculture techniques to produce a superior product in an environmentally responsible fashion. Today, Mote produces high-quality caviar served in fine restaurants and sold through the most distinguished purveyors. Mote operates the nation’s largest recirculating research facility for marine and freshwater aquaculture in the United States. Located in Sarasota, Fla., this technology test-bed is a state-of-the-art farm focused on developing new fish production techniques 17 miles from any saltwater coastline or large body of fresh water.

About The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
A luxury landmark on Florida's central Gulf coast, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is conveniently located near the city center overlooking Sarasota Bay, just minutes from premier arts venues, nature sanctuaries, distinctive shopping, fishing and watersports. Named one of the Top Golf Resorts in the World by Conde Nast Traveler, this destination resort is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Sarasota, named the #3 Spa in the U.S. and Canada by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. In addition to a Gulf-front Beach Club, Tom Fazio-designed Golf Club, Spa and Wellness Center, children’s recreation programs and 266 guest rooms with Ritz-Carlton Club Level accommodations, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota offers 218 Residences and a private country club-style Membership. For reservations, please call The Ritz-Carlton toll-free at (800) 241-3333 or visit ritzcarlton.com/sarasota<http://ritzcarlton.com/sarasota>. For information on The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company visit http://www.ritzcarlton.com.

Sunday, March 17, Sarasota
Go Green Day with the Orioles
Mote will host a community booth during the Baltimore Orioles 1:05 p.m. game against the Minnesota Twins during the St. Patrick’s “Go Green” Day, presented by Waste Pro in the environmentally friendly Ed Smith Stadium.

The booth will give Mote an opportunity to tell fans about our dolphin, whale and sea turtle hospitals. Later, the green hats worn by the players during the game will be autographed and sold via online auction to support Mote’s animal hospitals.

• Tickets online. 

• When: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 21
• Where: Sarasota Architectural Salvage, 1093 Central Ave., Sarasota
• Cost: $20 in Advance/ $25 at the Door.
• Tickets: On sale now at www.sarasotasalvage.com

• When: 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 26
• Where: Boca Grande Community Center, 131 First Street West, Boca Grande
• Cost: Free

Saturday, March 30, Key West
Florida Keys Ocean Festival
Key West Ocean Festival: Saving the oceans isn’t always fun and games… unless you’re talking about the 4th Annual Florida Keys Ocean Festival, which raises funds for Mote Marine Laboratory’s research and restoration of coral reefs.

• When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 30
• Where: The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, Truman Waterfront Annex, Key West.
• Cost: Admission and parking FREE.

Guests can enjoy food and soft drinks, beer and cocktails, along with face painting and kids’ activities, live music, arts and crafts, educational displays, a silent auction and more. For the first time, the 5K Tuna Trot Race for the Reef is being held in conjunction with the festival. Presented by Key West’s Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, the Tuna Trot begins at 8 a.m. on festival day, March 30, at the Eco-Discovery Center.

• Register at www.active.com/running/key-west-fl/smokin-tuna-saloon-5k-tuna-trot-2013.

• Conservation and environmental exhibits from more than 30 organizations, along with live animals and touch pools
• Special painting demonstrations by world-renowned marine artist Wyland and acclaimed aquatic artist Pasta Pantaleo
• Live music by Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24, along with other musicians
• A fishing seminar for kids ages 5-11 that features instruction and barge fishing. To participate, youngsters must register online at www.keysoceanfest.org. Free rods and reels await the first 100 registrants.
• Free bucket truck rides up to 80 feet high provided by Keys Energy
• For full details, visit www.keysoceanfest.org

Saturday, April 27, Sarasota
Mote's Party on the Pass
Pssst…pass it on: Mote’s gearing up for a fabulous Party on the Pass, our casual evening of good food, good fun and goodwill supporting Mote’s hospitals for dolphins, whales and sea turtles.

Businesses can help get this party started through special sponsorship opportunities that are now available. 


This annual fundraiser starts at 6:30 p.m. on April 27 in the The Aquarium at Mote, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota. Admission is $75 per person and includes beer, wine, food from the Sarasota-Manatee Originals and opportunities to participate in live and silent auctions.

All event proceeds benefit Mote’s ongoing care and rehabilitation of sick and injured sea life.

Reservations are required before April 11. Reservations and sponsorship: Contact Stacy Alexander at 941-388-4441, ext. 509, or stacyalexander@mote.org.