Recipe for Success: Kyle Scott Battie

Recipe for Success: Kyle Scott Battie
Manager at State Street Eating House + Cocktails, 1533 State St., Sarasota

Age: 46

Time worked here: Five to six nights a week for a year and a half.

Where are you from? I was born in Jersey City, N.J., but I’ve also lived in South Beach and New York City.

What brought you here? I first came here as a kid because my father is from here … He met my mom in New York City a long time ago; I was born there, then he moved us to Sarasota. Jersey City was really rough at that time.

Tell us your story: I was modeling in South Beach in the ’90s. My agency moved me to New York City where I was working with different designers doing a lot of print work for editorials in European magazines — and I was in Oprah’s O magazine. I also used to have a segment on “Good Morning America” called “Regular Guys.” Plus, I did some independent films that went to Sundance Film Festival, such as “Norma’s Lament.”

Now, I’m not working as an actor. I play basketball and football in a men’s basketball league. I’m also an independent massage therapist.

If you were any ingredient offered at State Street, what would you be? Sexual Chocolate. It’s a wine we offer here.

If you had to eat one thing on State Street’s menu for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? The salmon. I eat it every night anyway. It’s nicely prepared. It’s healthy and, primarily, I’m limited by what I can eat on the menu because I don’t eat red meat or pork.

What’s one thing you just will not eat? I don’t eat olives. I don’t like them. No olives.

Your dream customer comes in — who is it and why? I would say my mother, Jean Battie. She was sick and passed away. As far as a celebrity, I used to play basketball a lot with George Clooney (in New York City), and he’s really cool people. Or Taye Diggs — he’s cool people, too. They are real and not pretentious and don’t get caught up in the whole celebrity thing.

Describe State Street with one song: “Cats in the Cradle” by Cat Stevens.