January 23, 2026

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Quick Bites – Two Food Fests, Steaks, and a Mini List

Let’s dig into some Sarasota food news!

🥩 Chop, Chop. It’s a crowded space. The steak space that is. You can rattle off the names, I’m sure: Fleming’s, Summerhouse, Hyde Park, and Ocean Prime. Now, Englewood has its very own entry, Chophouse285 by Farlows. We won’t make you guess what the “285” stands for. It’s a nod to their address, 285 West Dearborn Street.

This is the same husband/wife duo that’s behind the highly successful Farlow’s on the Water. Keith and Laurie Farlow are taking a big swing at the prime steak game. Their menu has A LOT of stuff on it.

The lunch menu includes what they call the Ultimate Corned Beef Sandwich. The unusual thing about this CB Sandwich is that it’s made from top sirloin??? I’ve had more than a couple of corned beef sandwiches in my six-decade life. I don’t think one of them has been made with sirloin! I believe this will require a trip to Englewood for a taste test.

Interested in what else is rolling out of the Chophouse285 kitchen? – HERE’S THE FULL MENU! 📋

😋 Food Fest X 2! Speaking of corned beef sandwiches… You’re going to get two, yes, two opportunities for some authentic Jewish cuisine this February.

📝 Looks like we have a little Jewish food festival competition in town! Temple Sinai is at 18 years and the Jewish Congregation of Venice is going on 31 years. Great news for all of us. Let’s run down the choices…

1️⃣ Temple Sinai’s 18th Annual Jewish Food Festival happens on SUN, FEB 1ST from 10AM to 2PM. You’ll be able to enjoy lots of homemade goodies, including Strudels, Macaroons, Hamantaschen, and more. Yes, there will be lots of deli sandwiches too! The synagogue is located at 4631 Lockwood Ridge Rd. – MORE INFO HERE!

2️⃣ On SUN, FEB 15TH, the “Original” Jewish Food Festival takes place at the Jewish Congregation of Venice (600 N. Auburn Rd., Venice FL). You can grab some Stuffed Cabbage, Chopped Liver, Knishes, Matzo Ball Soup, and lots more. AND you can pre-order and pre-pay for all of it! – HERE’S A LINK TO MORE INFO!

I’m guessing both Temple Sinai and the Jewish Congregation of Venice will have a more traditional corned beef sandwich than the one being served at Chophouse285! 😉

📈 Mini List. I’m struggling a little bit about where to put this in 2026. Should The LIST be a standalone newsletter edition each month? Or would it be better off as an item in a piece like this? Decisions, decisions. I think for this month at least, this is where it will live.

A bit of an odd one this month. Shebeen Irish Pub is at the top (that’s not the strange part; they’ve been there before.) But it is weird considering that they’re not even open at their new location yet! It’s still a little ways off. We’ll let you know when it happens (we know you’re interested, that’s for sure 🍀).

Ringside is #2. It is a beautiful new restaurant space in the recently opened Cirque St. Armands Beachside. They even have a little eight-seat lobby bar! 🍸

👀 We’ve got a FIRST LOOK for you in February! Want to see the full Top 25 for January – FULL LIST HERE!

📆 The Calendar!

🍷 January 22-26 – Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival

🥐 January 30 – National Croissant Day (L’Opera Bakery & Bistro & Rendez-Vous)

🏈 February 8 – Super Bowl Sunday!

🥯 February 9 – National Bagels & Lox Day (Palm Ave. Deli & Jersey Girl Bagels)

❤️ February 14 – Valentine’s Day (make a res right now!)

🫣 Correct the Record. I laugh at myself. A LOT! This is one of those times. Last week in our ODDS & ENDS section, we tossed out some info about a new Philly cheesesteak place in town, Johnny Longhot’s. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the name exactly right. I guess it’s NOT Johnny “Longshot’s”! I’m still chuckling about it! 📝 I was calling it “Longshot Johnny’s for a while too! Boy, I’m confused! 😆

Thanks to one of our readers, Wendy E., for pointing it out so that I could make things right. Appreciated!

Yes, I know about Longhot Peppers. My brain just didn’t put 2+2 together. Anyway, if you’d like to have a Longhot Pepper recipe, HERE’S ONE! 🌶️ And since our time together last week, THEY ARE NOW OPEN! Again, here’s Johnny’s menu – MENU HERE!

🆕 New Kids in Town. We told you one of our 2026 goals was to keep adding new places to the website. Well, we’re following through! Welcome to the dineSarasota.com database: Chophouse 285 by Farlows, Stella’s Greek Cuisine, Tikka Indian Cuisine, Mr. & Mrs. Crab, Mimi’s Brasserie & Speakeasy, Olive Eats, Zōtō, Masō, Nikki’s Greek Cafe, Flambo Island Cuisine, Kuro Sushi, and Thai-Licious. BOOM! That’s a dozen new additions. Half the amount we added all of last year! We’re going to try and keep up the pace. 😃

🔚 That’s it! This seemed short. But we clocked in this week at almost 900 words. So, I guess it’s not all that brief. Looks like a warmer week ahead! If you’re going to any of the upcoming Forks & Corks events, have a blast. Maybe we’ll cross paths at the Grand Tasting! 😋

~ 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 2026 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖 

📋 MENU OF THE MONTH!! – Mimi’s Brasserie & Speakeasy – MENU 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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