The Chicken Tender Gets an Island Makeover From a Cornell University laboratory to a laid-back shack in Venice, we follow the unlikely journey of one of America’s favorite fried foods. A university research lab is an unlikely place for a chicken story to start. But this is … [Read more...]
Detroit Built It. Anthony Petralia Reinvented It.
Detroit Built It. Anthony Petralia Reinvented It. From Buddy's Pizza in Detroit to Tralia Pizza in Gulf Gate, here's how a Motor City classic evolved into one of Sarasota's newest Michelin-recognized restaurants. Back in 1946, Anthony Petralia wasn’t alive yet. But … [Read more...]
Sarasota’s Summer Table Is Set
Sarasota's Summer Table Is Set New rankings. New menus. New reasons to eat out—all in this month's Quick Bites. 📆 What We’re Celebrating This Month 🌭 July is National Hot Dog Month! (Hot sounds about right! 🥵) 🐔 July 6 – National Fried Chicken Day (Yoder’s & … [Read more...]
How to Be the Hero of Your Fourth of July Party
🎂 All Birthdays are Big. There are some of you out there who would just as soon skip your birthday celebration. I’m not one of those people. I think ALL birthdays should be celebrated with gusto. I mean, if we’re lucky enough to have another one, it’s a victory! This year, … [Read more...]
A Burger A Week – The Original Hob Nob Drive In
🏅 Writing about institutions, icons, and legends is never an easy task. It’s a double-edged sword, literally a “can’t win” situation. You’re either too easy on them or too disrespectful. In short, it’s not a walk in the park. Our topic today might not rise to that lofty level, … [Read more...]
Your Brain Says Doughnut. Your Tongue Says Pizza.
📆 Last Friday, June 5th, was National Doughnut Day. Yes, we are a week tardy with this piece. But last week we had other things we thought were important and, more importantly, things that you’d find interesting. So, I figured, hey, a week won’t matter that much in the life of a … [Read more...]
Michelin Comes Calling, The LIST Gets Shaken Up & Sarasota Goes Zero-Proof
📆 What We’re Celebrating This Month 🧋 June is National Iced Tea Month (Weather seems right!) 🥚 June 10 - National Egg Roll Day (Taste of Hong Kong & Victoria’s Hong Kong Café) 🍣 June 18 – National Sushi Day (JPan Sushi & Hanami) 👨🍼 June 21 – Father’s Day … [Read more...]
Sarasota’s Tastiest Two Weeks Have Arrived
😋 It’s Savor Time! I’m betting that you knew this time would get here. And I’m also betting that you knew EXACTLY when! Yes, the first two weeks of June signal the start of summer, but they also mean the start of Visit Sarasota County’s popular Savor Sarasota Restaurant … [Read more...]
A Burger A Week – Arts & Central
🏃➡️ You Can’t Outrun the Burger. As hard as we try, it seems like it's nearly impossible for us to leave the burger in the dust. We have sampled and written about more than fifty of them. At this point, I guess it’s kind of part of the Sarasota Bites identity. 🛑 A Street, A … [Read more...]
The Art of the Leisurely Brunch
⏰ The Clock on the Wall Says… We made it to the checkered flag! Season in Sarasota unofficially ends on the Monday after Mother’s Day. I completely realize that others may have a different endpoint. But after twenty-five plus years of watching, this is mine. The past few … [Read more...]
The Comeback: El Greco Returns to Sarasota
🥳 Surprises. Yes, life is filled with them. Big ones and, of course, little ones. I don’t want to seem like a downer here, but it has been my experience that most surprises in life are negative. An explanation is probably in order. And I guess I should have qualified all of … [Read more...]
Quick Bites: Top 10. Big Deals. Big Flavor.
Quick Bites: Top 10. Big Deals. Big Flavor. Your May Guide to Sarasota Dining—Plus Cocktails, Brunch & Plant Bingo 🗓️ What We’re Celebrating This Month 🍔 May is National Hamburger Month! (OUR BURGER LIST IS HERE!) 🎉 May 5 – Cinco de Mayo (Kolucan & The Hub … [Read more...]
Kitchen Social Is Open. But Is It “Scratch”?
🗣️ Everything Has a Vocabulary. This is especially true for the restaurant world. Words matter. And, yes, believe it or not, sometimes they are misused, misleading, and sometimes misconstrued. Let’s run it, shall we… hand-crafted, small batch, farm to table, fin to table, … [Read more...]
Where to Eat (and Celebrate) This Mother’s Day
Issue #250 ⏰ Twenty-Three Days and Counting! That is your very unofficial Mother's Day countdown clock. 552 hours seems like it should be more than enough time to get most things on your to-do list accomplished. Unless you're a next-level procrastinator. We've all been … [Read more...]
Buffalo’s Best-Kept Secret Just Opened on Clark Road
🔁 This Seems to Be a Recurring Theme. People move here from all over the place for a variety of reasons. But one thing is constant: they may be willing to give up some things from back "home," but they won't give up their food! Whether it's pizza, BBQ, hot dogs, or specialty … [Read more...]
Quick Bites – The List, the New Kids, and a Little Easter Scramble
Issue: 248 🗓️ What We're Celebrating This Month 🥪 April is National Grilled Cheese Month! ✡️ April 1-9 - Passover 🐰 April 5th – Easter Sunday (A great day for brunch or a beach BBQ) 🍕 April 5th – Deep Dish Pizza Day (Joey's D's) 🍺 April 7th – National Beer … [Read more...]
Is This the “Greatest Sandwich in America”?
Issue: 247 🤔 I'm not all that skeptical by nature. I'm not all "Pollyanna" either. I probably fall somewhere in the middle. Maybe like most people? I've been writing about Sarasota restaurants, food, and hospitality for twenty-five-plus years. And honestly, I've seen (and … [Read more...]
Step Right Up: A New Sarasota Restaurant Has a Circus Twist
Issue: 246 🎪 Welcome to Circus City! There's no escaping it. If you've spent any time at all in Sarasota, you will quickly realize that the circus is woven into the fabric of our Gulf Coast city. The title is well deserved. The biggest and most obvious circus connection is … [Read more...]