SARASOTA, Fla. – Sodexo Live!, hospitality partner to the world’s most iconic venues, will join Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in welcoming guests on Wednesday, October 8, offering a range of dining options that complement Mote’s new 146,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Science Education Aquarium (SEA). Operating as Deep Blue Hospitality, Sodexo Live! combines coastal influence with ocean-inspired creativity to bring the flavors and spirit of the sea to every guest experience.
Sodexo Live! and Mote first announced their partnership in 2023, and since then, both teams have collaborated closely to build the food and beverage program from the ground up. From convenient grab-and-go options in the café to menus designed for elegant private events and catering, every detail is thoughtfully curated. Concession favorites feature dishes such as chicken pesto flatbread, hand-battered buttermilk chicken tenders, shiitake soba noodles, and a café burger, while private event menus feature New Zealand lamb rack, herb-crusted filet mignon and salmon, and roasted portobellos. The menus have an emphasis on sustainability, prioritizing locally-sourced ingredients and partners, like Brewed Monday Coffee and Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, eco-friendly practices, and a zero-waste philosophy that supports the preservation of marine ecosystems for generations to come. Mote values sustainably-sourced seafood and works to advance sustainable aquaculture technology to feed the world and restock depleted fish populations.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome guests to this state-of-the-art facility,” said Danny Media, Vice President, Sodexo Live!. “There’s so much to discover here, and our hospitality will match that experience by fueling guests’ exploration, honoring Mote’s mission, and creating meaningful memories.”
The Sodexo Live! team is led by General Manager Mark Resnick and Executive Chef Jaryd Hearn. Mark is deeply experienced in the inner workings of the hospitality industry with extensive restaurant experience, and was most recently with Sodexo Live! at Sophie’s at Saks Fifth Avenue in Sarasota for 11 years. Chef Hearn boasts both national and international culinary experience, including recent roles as Executive Chef at Brasserie Liberte in Washington D.C., and AM Sous Chef at 3-Michelin-starred Alinea in Chicago. At the culinary helm for Deep Blue Hospitality, he combines traditional methods with modern techniques to create unique flavors and stunning presentations for special events, while also crafting approachable, family-friendly offerings for the everyday visitor.
The aquarium is expected to attract more than 700,000 visitors from around the world each year, contributing to the thriving economy of the greater Gulf Coast region.
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About Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live! manages prestigious convention, cultural, and sporting venues and major events all over the world. With 40,000 employees and 500 sites, Sodexo Live! offers clients a range of bespoke catering, sales, and event management services, helping to transform the consumer experience into unforgettable memories. Sodexo Live! commits to unlocking customers’ full potential while favoring local communities. Sodexo Live! contributes to the success of prestigious events such as Royal Ascot, the Tour de France, Roland-Garros, the Rugby World Cup and the Paris 2024 Games, and showcases exceptional venues such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Hard Rock Stadium, the Scottish National Gallery, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
About Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has a nearly 70-year legacy as an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)3 global marine research and science education institution. Mote began in 1955 and flourished on the foundational pillars of “Passion, Partnership and Philanthropy” – the passion of a single researcher, Dr. Eugenie Clark, her partnership with the community and philanthropic support, first of the Vanderbilt family, later with the significant support and guidance of the William R. Mote family, and today through donations by thousands of individuals who believe in the mission of Mote. Today, Mote has grown into eight campuses stretching from Tampa Bay to Key West, with a ninth new campus, the Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA), opening October of 2025. Mote has 38 diverse world-class research programs and centers of excellence studying oceans locally and internationally, with an emphasis on positively impacting conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Learn more at mote.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Amy Procaccini, Senior Manager, Brand & Communications, Sodexo Live!
Amy.Procaccini@sodexo.com