Quick Bites: Somethingās Brewing in Sarasota The LIST has a new No. 1, Sun King is making moves, and October brings plenty of restaurant comings, goings, and everything in between. š What Weāre Celebrating This Month š October is National Pizza Month (Tralia & … [Read more...]
Mister O1: Whatās In a Name?
Mister O1: Whatās In a Name? Thereās a story behind that unusual name. And a star-shaped pizza waiting at the end of it. š¤ Whatās In a Name? Well, a lot, actually. Naming a restaurant is a big deal. Itās the first impression that someone might have of a new place (or even … [Read more...]
Sourdough: How Hard Could This Be?
Sourdough: How Hard Could This Be? One 150-year-old starter, four loaves, a few failures, and our trip down the sourdough rabbit hole. š Hereās Where It All Starts! I love a good kitchen experiment. Iām not talking about some crazy molecular gastronomy stuff that Nathan … [Read more...]
Looking for the Game? Start Here.
Looking for the Game? Start Here. Where to watch NFL and college football in Sarasota, with plenty of food, drinks, and TVs along the way. OK ā A confession up front. And I guess kind of an apology too. (Depending on how you look at things.) Iām lazy this week! Iām not … [Read more...]
Thereās a Lot on the Menu This September!
Thereās a Lot on the Menu This September! The LIST gets a shakeup, MasÅ plans a feast, football meets bingo, and Taste of the Bay returns. š What Weāre Celebrating This Month As usual, weād like to give you a few things to put on your culinary adventure calendar for … [Read more...]
Whitās Frozen Custard Adds Something Sweet to Siesta Key
Whitās Frozen Custard Adds Something Sweet to Siesta Key The locally owned custard shop brings sundaes, Whitsers, and plenty of frozen temptation to the Village. š§ Iāve Had a Long Affair with Ice Cream. Or more generally, frozen confections. If it even resembles ice cream, … [Read more...]
A Burger A Week – Pigfish
A Burger A Week - Pigfish Weāve Done the Calusa Burger Before. Just Not This One. š This Might Feel Like DĆ©jĆ Vu All Over Again. But weāre willing to take the chance. Actually, I think this is the first time that weāve done a burger in a place that has changed locations … [Read more...]
Viva la Vida Brings a Taste of Cuba to Clark Road
Viva la Vida Brings a Taste of Cuba to Clark Road This colorful newcomer is serving Cuban classics, daily specials, and one very satisfying lunch combo. Sarasota Sits Just on the Edge of āCuban-ness.ā We have some choices. But itās not like weāre even in the same universe … [Read more...]
Weāre Backā¦ and We Brought Good Eats
Weāre Backā¦ and We Brought Good Eats The latest LIST rankings, Seattle sandwich discoveries, Whit's Frozen Custard, Sarasota Food News, and a look at what Michelin recognition really means. š Did you miss us while we were gone? Well, we sure missed you! So, I guess this … [Read more...]
The Chicken Tender Gets an Island Makeover
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 Americaās 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 wasnāt 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 outāall in this month's Quick Bites. š What Weāre Celebrating This Month š July is National Hot Dog Month! (Hot sounds about right! š„µ) š July 6 ā National Fried Chicken Day (Yoderās & … [Read more...]
How to Be the Hero of Your Fourth of July Party
š All Birthdays are Big. There are some of you out there who would just as soon skip your birthday celebration. Iām not one of those people. I think ALL birthdays should be celebrated with gusto. I mean, if weāre lucky enough to have another one, itās a victory! This year, … [Read more...]
A Burger A Week – The Original Hob Nob Drive In
š Writing about institutions, icons, and legends is never an easy task. Itās a double-edged sword, literally a ācanāt winā situation. Youāre either too easy on them or too disrespectful. In short, itās 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.
š 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 youād find interesting. So, I figured, hey, a week wonāt matter that much in the life of a … [Read more...]
Michelin Comes Calling, The LIST Gets Shaken Up & Sarasota Goes Zero-Proof
š What Weāre Celebrating This Month š§ June is National Iced Tea Month (Weather seems right!) š„ June 10 - National Egg Roll Day (Taste of Hong Kong & Victoriaās Hong Kong CafĆ©) š£ June 18 ā National Sushi Day (JPan Sushi & Hanami) šØāš¼ June 21 ā Fatherās Day … [Read more...]
Sarasotaās Tastiest Two Weeks Have Arrived
š Itās Savor Time! Iām betting that you knew this time would get here. And Iām 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 Countyās popular Savor Sarasota Restaurant … [Read more...]
A Burger A Week – Arts & Central
šāā”ļø You Canāt 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 itās kind of part of the Sarasota Bites identity. š A Street, A … [Read more...]
The Art of the Leisurely Brunch
ā° The Clock on the Wall Saysā¦ We made it to the checkered flag! Season in Sarasota unofficially ends on the Monday after Motherās 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
š„³ Surprises. Yes, life is filled with them. Big ones and, of course, little ones. I donāt 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 DiningāPlus Cocktails, Brunch & Plant Bingo šļø What Weāre Celebrating This Month š May is National Hamburger Month! (OUR BURGER LIST IS HERE!) š May 5 ā Cinco de Mayo (Kolucan & The Hub … [Read more...]
Kitchen Social Is Open. But Is It “Scratch”?
š£ļø 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. Letās run it, shall weā¦ hand-crafted, small batch, farm to table, fin to table, … [Read more...]
Where to Eat (and Celebrate) This Motherās Day
Issue #250 ā° 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
š 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 šļø What We're Celebrating This Month š„Ŗ April is National Grilled Cheese Month! ā”ļø April 1-9 - Passover š° April 5th ā Easter Sunday (A great day for brunch or a beach BBQ) š April 5th ā Deep Dish Pizza Day (Joey's D's) šŗ April 7th ā National Beer … [Read more...]
Is This the āGreatest Sandwich in Americaā?
Issue: 247 š¤ 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 šŖ 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...]