October 24, 2025

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Quick Bites – Hall of Fame, BOGO, and Halloween

Lots of things going on around town. Let’s take a look…

🦃 Gobble, Gobble, Gobble. It may seem like it’s somewhere off in the distance. But it’s not! The Great American Eat-A-Thon, aka Thanksgiving, is a month away. Too early to make a plan? HA! I think not. Especially if you’re taking the easy way out and letting some local pros do the cooking for you.

We have a running list of some Thanksgiving Day dine-out or carry-out options. As with all things that we do around here, this too is a work in progress. We’re continuously updating it. Here’s a link to our Thanksgiving resource page:

DINESARASOTA’S GUIDE TO THANKSGIVING!

There’s the guide, now here’s the ask. If you happen to know of a place whose details ARE NOT listed, please forward them along. It will be a great service to your fellow Sarasotans. They will be thankful. 😉

🍷 The “Other” Selby. Calling all lovers of Selby Winery Wines. Winemaker Susie Selby is coming to town, and she is leveraging her time here on the Suncoast. Two local restaurants will be pouring Selby wines and pairing them with some delicious dishes.

🛑 Sorry, the dinner on Nov 5th at Fin’s at Sharky’s is already a sellout.

But wait, if you act quickly, there is still an opportunity to get a seat at another tasting table…

MON NOV 3RD – Join Susie at Mattison’s Forty-One for a five-course tasting menu. Chef Paul Mattison will be cooking up exactly the right stuff to serve with these Selby wines. Here’s a quick peek at the menu – MENU HERE.

If you’d like to make a res, we’ve got you covered. RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE.

🏆 Call to the Hall! It seems like there is a Hall of Fame for just about everything. Food, restaurants, and hospitality should not be left out. And luckily, it’s not! The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FLRA) has inducted Sarasota’s very own Mike Quillen into their Hall of Fame this year. And, to make the honor even more special, Mike is the first inductee from the Sarasota-Bradenton area!

Anyone who is even vaguely familiar with our local restaurant scene knows just how much Mike (and his Gecko’s Partner Mike Gowen) have meant to its growth.

Aside from the six Gecko’s Grill and Pub restaurants. Mike’s hospitality footprint also includes Pie on Main, Cask & Ale, Dry Dock, Lefty’s Oyster & Seafood Bar, and more. That’s a full plate for anyone!

Congrats, Mike! Let’s keep it going!

🦀 Survey Says… Last week, we polled our readers on just how they like their stone crab claws served. The results surprised even us. (And we are hard to surprise these days!) The cold with mustard crowd started off strong. But over time, the warm with butter gang caught up. In the end, it was nearly even!

If I were a betting man (which I am 😉), I would have wagered a pretty penny that the cold with mustard version would be a far and away winner. Just goes to show how it’s entirely possible that your particular taste might not always be as popular as you might think. I guess one size DOES NOT fit all. Even in the stone crab game! 😁

👻 Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark. Next Friday is the “scariest” night of the year. At least for some. I’ll be hunkered down, secretly hoping that I don’t have to give away too many of my full-size Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins. 🎃

But if you’re not at home waiting for the neighborhood costume processional, you can enjoy some good old adult Halloween fun and festivities.

FRI OCT 31ST Café on St. Armands tosses its Halloween After Dark Party at the Wet Bar at Café on St. Armands. The Circle will be fully decked out in its Halloween best. The fun starts at the Wet Bar at 6PM and continues until close.

You can expect “live entertainment, haunting cocktails, and a costume contest worthy of the silver screen.” If you’re in the spirit for some Halloween fun, this could be calling your name!

🥪 A Blast from the Sandwich Past! If you’ve been reading Sarasota Bites for a while, then you’ve read about my love for the sandwiches that Chef Michael Calore creates at Pazzo on Orange and, before that, Mozzarella Fella.

Now is your chance to let the past catch up with the present. This MON, OCT 27TH, Pazzo on Orange will be busting out the oldies, and best of all, it’ll be a BOGO situation! Yes, that means 2 for 1.

I’m not sure that you’ll find a better sandwich deal in town than this! Michael uses freshly-made mozzarella combined with a variety of other traditional (and non-traditional) ingredients to create sandwich treats that I guarantee will leave a smile on your face.

📝 My personal fav is the #10. SO simple, yet SO tasty!

Of course, you’ll want to see the options. Why wouldn’t you? – HERE’S THE PAZZO BOGO SANDWICH MENU!

📝 NOTE – No newsletter next week. We’re hard at work on the 2026 dining book!

That is a wrap!! Be careful out there on Halloween (there are little ghosts and goblins about). Don’t forget to roll the clocks back one hour on SUN NOV 2ND, at 2AM. ⏰ Make a plan to do something fun with your extra hour!

~ LH

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🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD INFO🗓️ 

Here is some local food information that we think you might find interesting. We’ve provided you with a link to more info. 

📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2025 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖 

🦃 READ OUR THANKGIVING SUGGESTIONS HERE!

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🧑‍🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO ‍🌾 

EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS 

EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS 

EVERY THURSDAY – Englewood Farmer’s Market (Oct-May) – DETAILS 

EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS  

EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS 

EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Florida Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

THIRD THURSDAY EVERY MONTH – UTC Night Market – DETAILS 

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