How about something a little less traditional this St. Patrick’s Day season?

I know you’re probably thinking, “what no green beer?”. Instead of the usual Black & Tan, how about a Fleming’s Go Green wine dinner!

From March 5th through March 14th Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar will be hosting this unique wine experience. For $55.00 (including wine), this is what you’ll be treated to:

PASSED HORS D’OEUVRES
Irish cheeses featuring Sage Derby & Cahill’s Farm Cheddar and fresh fruit
LOOSEN BROS., Riesling Mosel Dr. L Germany, 2008
Organic & Sustainable

APPETIZER
Citrus-cured Celtic Salmon on potato boxty with chive sour cream
PARDUCCI, Sustainable White Mendocino County, 2008
Organic, Biodynamic & Sustainable

ENTRÉE
Irish-style Filet Mignon served on a deconstructed sauce
with bacon, carrots, new potatoes and thyme
CHELSEA GOLDSCHMIDT, Merlot Dry Creek Valley, 2006
Organic & Sustainable

DESSERT
Guinness Stout Chocolate Cake with chantilly cream
Coffee and Tea

Looks like you can still get a little taste of Guinness just by eating dessert! Maybe they’re on to a new St. Patrick’s tradition.

Reservations are sure to go fast for what should be an evening of great food, wine and fun.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
2001 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34239
941-358-9463

Saturday, January 23rd, the quaint Southside Village neighborhood will once again play host to a gathering of Sarasota restaurants helping to raise money for a very worthy cause. The Sarasota Wine and Food Festival to benefit the American Lung Association in Florida will kickoff with a VIP reception starting at 5:30pm, followed by the main food event at 7:00pm.

This is the second year that the popular food and wine tasting event has been held on Hillview Avenue. Close to 30 restaurants will put their best dishes forward to impress both the Sarasota dining public and the culinary judges.

This years competition will be judged by Chef Derek Barnes of Derek’s Culinary Casual, Chef Judi Gallagher of ABC 7, Sarasota Magazine and Suncoast Cuisine and finally yours truly. I’m happy and honored to be helping out a fantastic cause again this year.

If you haven’t already purchased tickets to the event you can do so at the door. Tickets are $50 with proceeds going to assist the important work the the American Lung Association does here in Sarasota and throughout Florida.

So, bring your appetite and head on down to Southside Village for what is sure to be a great evening of food, wine and fun.

For more information call the American Lung Association at 727-347-6133 or visit the event website by clicking here.

There are a few chefs here in Sarasota who can make pairing great wine and great food seem effortless. Chef Paul Mattison is one of them.

On Friday, September 25th Mattison’s Forty-One will be showcasing Chef Paul’s pairing skills at their Premium Wine Pairing Dinner. Guests will be treated to a specially prepared five course meal paired with some exceptional California wines.

Have I got your taste buds attention now? Here’s a look at the menu for the evening.

Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare
cucumber, shiso leaf, citrus ponzu, sesame crisp served with a 2007 Morgan Metallico Chardonnay, Monterey, California

Butter Poached Halibut
sake braised bok choy, oyster mushrooms, vanilla-coconut beurre blanc,
spiced pineapple syrup served with a 2006 ZD Chardonnay, California

Seared Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast
sweet potato and scallion risotto, drunken cherries, five spice cream served with a 2005 Rutz Cellars Maison Grand Cru Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California

Wild Mushroom Crusted Beef Tenderloin
basil mashed potato, haricot verts, almonds, truffle-cognac demi served with a 2005 Caravan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California

Vermont Maple Semifreddo
hazelnut tuile and Frangelico syrup served with a Taylor Fladgate 10yr Tawny Port

The cost for the evening is $65.00 per person. Reservations are required and space is limited. This should be a fantastic event.

September is a month of discovery over at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. All this month they will be celebrating the addition of great new wines, menu selections and specials.

Here’s is some of what the folks at Fleming’s have in store for you.

The new Fleming’s 100 debuted on September 1st. It’s this years collection of 100 wines by the glass, 30 of which sell for $10 a glass or less. “The Fleming’s 100 is nothing less than an honor roll of excellence from around the world,” explains Director of Wine Marian Jansen op de Haar. “This year we have made a special effort to find superb wines at a value which we know is of key importance to our guests.  It’s an absolute pleasure for me to introduce these exciting new wines, one glass at a time.”

Through September 30th you can treat yourself to Fleming’s Memorable Meal: Trio of Filets. The filets are presented side by side in a modern take on three classic preparation styles. They include, Wellington, Oscar and Au Poivre. This three course meal will also include a salad, side dish and a trio of creme brulees. All this for the great price of $45 per person.

Hungry for a burger? How about indulging yourself with a selection from Fleming’s Prime Burger Bar menu. It features five “Prime Burgers” each served with a mini wedge salad and two of their signature onion rings. Why not try a Sliced Filet Mignon Burger, Ahi Tuna Burger, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Burger, Portobello Mushroom Burger or a signature Fleming’s Prime Burger.

That’s a lot going on in September, but, that’s not all. You can still take advantage of the 5 for $6 til 7 offer and every Tuesday is Wine Tuesday. receive 25% off any bottle selection from the new Fleming’s 100 list. Or, bring your own bottle and enjoy complimentary corkage.

WOW! That’s a lot to choose from. It looks like Fleming’s is going all out this month to help hungry Sarasota diners get the most from their hard earned dining dollar. Now there’s no reason not to treat yourself to a night at Fleming’s.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
2001 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34239
941-358-9463

It’s Happening, That’s the slogan of the Hillview Grill. The Southside Village eatery has been under new ownership for over a year now. The new management team has really made an effort put their stamp on the place and it shows.

Whether it’s $5 martini Wednesdays or 1/2 price bottles of wine on Monday, you can always find something happening at the Hillview Grill.

Click on the image below for a large printable menu version.

Why don’t you check out a Sarasota restaurant this week? Then, write a visitor review and tell the world about your visit.

The Hillview Grill
1920 Hillview Street
Sarasota, FL 34239
941-952-0045

As summer goes along, it’s time for picnics, days at the beach and family vacations. With all that going on you may have missed some critically important Sarasota restaurant news. Well, that’s where we come in. Here’s a recap just for you.

Click on any image to read the full story.

Why don’t you think about dining out at one of our great Sarasota restaurants this week. Report back if you make a great new find.

Last May we reported on the 5 For 6 ‘Til 7 deal at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Winebar. Here’s a little update to that post.

Fleming’s has recently added their Fleming’s Prime Sirloin Burger to the 5 For 6 menu. It’s grilled to your liking with blackened sweet and spicy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese and served on a braided bun for just $6.00. That addition is sure to be a hit with the Sarasota summer dining crowd.

Try pairing your freshly grilled Fleming’s Prime Sirloin Burger with one of their five great wines or cocktails.

5 COCKTAILS
WHITE COSMO, Ketel One Vodka
APPLETINI, Grey Goose Vodka
BASIL LEMON DROP, Ciroc Vodka
FLEMING’S MOJITO, Bacardi Limon Rum
DIAMOND RITA, Herrudura Silver Tequila

5 WINES BY THE GLASS
CHARDONNAY, Solaire by Robert Mondavi
PINOT GRIGIO, Luna Freakout Blend, Napa Valley
PINOT NOIR, Cartlidge & Browne, California
MERLOT, Red Diamond, Washington
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Five Rivers, Paso Robles

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Winebar
2001 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34239
941-358-9463

Right on Main Street in downtown Sarasota, the Sarasota Vineyard is a fantastic place to enjoy a bottle of wine or casual meal. Try an appetizer, salad or bistro plate. Pair that up with one their great wines and you’ve got the makings for a relaxing and fun evening.

Want to suggest a menu for our Menu Monday feature? Drop us an email or leave a comment.

CLICK ON THE MENU FRONT FOR A FULL MENU VIEW

Sarasota Vineyard
1528 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-366-6363

You say you’ve been following the Sarasota food and restaurant news pretty closely this week. We’ll let us fill in some of the cracks for you. Click on the images below to read the story.

Hey, come on, go out on a limb and try a new Sarasota restaurant this week. Oh, and if you hear of food or dining news that’s off our radar, drop us a line.

Looking for something a little bit different to do this Friday night? Well, Magnum Wine & Tastings, along with C’est Cheese may just have the answer for you. Magnum’s has just announced that their tasting bar is now open until 10pm on Friday evenings. You can stop by and enjoy a nice glass of wine in their relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. They have a wide variety of wines available at very reasonable prices. For example, you can enjoy a glass of Daniel Gehrs Chenin Blanc or Four Cabernet Sauvignon for just $5.00 each. For an extra buck you can have your choice of Monte Volpe Primo Rosa or Tariquet Sauvignon Blanc. That’s just a sampling of some of the fine wines you can enjoy without breaking the bank.

Now you may be saying to yourself, wine drinking, that’s nothing different. And, I would have to agree with that, but here’s what gives Magnum’s wine evening that little twist. For the first 3 Fridays in March, that’s the 6th, 13th & 20th, they are hosting “Fondue Fridays”. You can sample some fantastic complimentary fondue provided by C’est Cheese. We all know that wine and cheese go perfectly together, so how about trying wine and a great cheese fondue? It’s not your typical wine and cheese pairing, but it sounds delicious.

This sure to be enjoyable evening starts at 5pm and runs until to 10pm. Why not make this Friday a Fondue Friday?

Magnum Wine and Tastings & C’est Cheese
4114 South Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL
941-929-WINE