We’ve Got A Contest Your Taste Buds Will Love!

by Larry on May 15, 2013

Let’s just see how well you’ve been paying attention.

Special of the Day

We’re going have a little fun this summer, AND you are too! We’ve got some free food to give away from some of our great Sarasota restaurants. Sounds like a good time already, right?

Here’s the deal. We’re going to post a picture of a specials board from a local restaurant. All you have to do to win is figure out where those specials come from. Easy. Well, if you’ve been paying attention to your surroundings it should be a snap.

Sometimes we’ll give you a few clues. Other times you’re on your own. Before we get going, let’s review the rules. Take it easy, there’s only one.

One entry per person. That means make your guess a good one.

If you’re ready we should get started. Ok, let’s have a look…

Where is this specials board from?

You know you’ve seen that board before. But, where? You can tell a lot just by some of the dishes listed. Here’s a clue. This place has been serving great casual food since 1995. So, they’re not one of the new kids on the block. And, it’s equally as popular with locals as it is with visitors.

I’ve probably said to much already. Now it’s your turn. Ready to make a guess? If you are, here’s a link:

CLICK TO ENTER YOUR GUESS

We’ve got two $25 gift certificates up for grabs! We’ll take the first two correct entries and set them up with $25 in free food.

Good luck. We’ll have the results soon…

UPDATE: We have winners! Details soon.

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The LIST | April 2013

by Larry on May 7, 2013

A brand new Sarasota restaurant leaps to the top

The LIST | March 2013

We have been publishing dineSarasota.com online for just over eleven years now. For the past eight and a half of them we have been posting our LIST of our most searched for Sarasota restaurants. That’s 101 monthly editions if you’re counting. In statistical terms, it’s a pretty descent sized sample.

In all that time, we have NEVER had a brand new, freshly minted Sarasota restaurant open up at number one. That is until we complied our April 2013 top 20. WOW, I sound like Casey Kasem! (I’m not sure that’s such a good thing.)

In April, the Seidensticker families new venture, Louies Modern, started off at the top of our rankings. Now just for clarification. We have had restaurants that were already open jump from off the list to the top in one big jump. When it happens, it usually has something to do with a news report or some television exposure. But, never has a restaurant that has just opened their doors debuted at number one.

Hats off to their management team and PR folks for getting the word out early about a place that is sure to be a Sarasota dining hotspot for years to come.

TOP 10

  1. Louies Modern N
  2. The Old Salty Dog ▲
  3. Mattison’s Forty One ▲
  4. Kacey’s Seafood & More ▲
  5. Trader Vic’s Island Bar & Grill ▼
  6. Shore Diner ▲
  7. LaStella’s on Clark N
  8. Libby’s Café & Bar ▼
  9. Munchies 420 Café ▬
  10. M & M European Deli N

▲ Up from last month
▬ No change from last month
▼ Down from last month
N – New addition this month

For the full April 2013 LIST click here.

In other news… The M & M European Deli makes their first appearance on the LIST coming in at number 10. The Old Salty Dog jumps up twelve places and Kacey’s Seafood & More pegs up eleven spots.

Just under the top 10 line was Made. Which moves from nineteen in March to eleven this past month. The kitchen is putting out some great dishes at Main and 301. You should try it. We’ve heard they are going to be introducing some new menu items into the mix. All little something for everyone.

That’s a lot to digest. As usual, we couldn’t put it together every month without you. Thanks for using the site. Keep clicking!

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Cinco de Mayo, A Celebration of…

by Larry on May 3, 2013

Who really needs a reason for a party anyway?

Feliz cinco de mayo | By Serge Melki

Who would have thought that the hard fought victory that the Mexican army achieved over the French one hundred and fifty years ago would morph into an all out margarita chugging party? Certainly not Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza. That would be surprising.

Cinco de Mayo. That’s the fifth of May to us north of the border, has become a time to celebrate the rich history of the Mexican people. Some here in the U.S. are under the misguided impression that Cinco de Mayo is the equivalent of our 4th of July. Sorry, just a rumor. Mexicans celebrate their independence day on September 16th.

But, just because most of us have no idea what the day represents, that shouldn’t mean that we can’t have a good time. Right? I mean if you’re looking for examples look no further than March 17th.

As long as we’re going to celebrate, let’s do it right. And doing it right means food. After all, this is a dining site you’re reading. There are so many examples of fantastic traditional Mexican cuisine we could highlight. But, why not pick one that we can all agree on. Guacamole.

There are lots of great interpreters of Mexican cooking here in the U.S. But, no one has a better understanding of the food and how it combines with the culture than Chef Rick Bayless. Rick is a true master of the art of Mexican cuisine. And, if you ever have the opportunity to sample the fare at his Chicago restaurants, Frontera Grill, Topolobampo or XOCO it will all become crystal clear.

So, to get your Cinco de Mayo festivities off to a great start, how about about a little REAL guacamole.

Check out Rick’s fantastic guacamole recipe: Guacamole Tomate Deshidratado (Sundried Tomato Guacamole).

Sometimes seeing is believing. Rick really knows his guac.

Since this is dineSarasota, how about a few suggestions on where to locally go for some Cinco de Mayo celebrating.

TWO SENORITA’S RESTAURANT
1355 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-366-1618

EL TORO BRAVO
2720 Stickney Point Road
Sarasota, Florida 34231
941-924-0006

AZTECA
1551 Main Street
Sarasota, Florida 34236
941-917-004

MI PUEBLO
8405 Tuttle Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-359-9303

If we missed your favorite Cinco de Mayo hotspot, sorry. But, please feel free to add it in the comments section. We would love to hear!

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