Savor Sarasota Celebrates 20 Delicious Years! It's time once again to eat your way through Sarasota! 🍴 Ready, Set, Eat!! Yes, the most delicious, almost three-week stretch on the Sarasota culinary calendar is set to be upon us. It's time to dig out your stretchy pants, find … [Read more...]
The LIST – May 2025
The LIST - May 2025 We're closing out Spring 2025 on a high note! 🎉 "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'" - Robin Williams 🌹 There's A LOT to celebrate in May! May is just jam-packed with occasions to toast. Cinco de Mayo (just passed), Mother's Day … [Read more...]
The LIST – April 2025
The LIST - April 2025 April's most popular restaurants are coming your way! We're Springing into April! 😁 Here we are. It's mid-spring, with summer just around that corner up ahead. Restaurant lines are just a bit more tolerable, and traffic... Well, that might not ever … [Read more...]
The LIST – July 2024
The LIST - July 2024 We've got some hot summer restaurant suggestions for you! "The noise from good toast should reverberate in the head like the thunder of July." - E. V. Lucas 🥵 The Sun is Out! And it's not going away for a while! Not a bad time to enjoy some … [Read more...]
Your 2024 Savor Sarasota Preview is Here!
Your 2024 Savor Sarasota Preview is Here! Sarasota's annual Restaurant Week(s) is about to begin! Here it comes, Sarasota area restaurant lovers! The best two-week stretch of the dining year. OK, that might be a bit over the top, but the first two weeks of June are going … [Read more...]
The LIST – May 2024
The LIST - May 2024 We've got your monthly roundup of Sarasota restaurant info 🌻 It's May! This is generally the start of a "slower" time around town. Sure, there are events going on. But it feels like a giant exhale after the craziness of February, March, and … [Read more...]
Shaking Up The Competition: The Fine Art of Judging Cocktails
Shaking Up The Competition: The Fine Art of Judging Cocktails 25 local Sarasota Restaurants compete for bragging rights! 🧑⚖️ I've Judged A Few Things in the Past 20+ Years of Food Writing. Back in the early 2010s, Chef Judi Gallagher and I used to judge the Sarasota Food … [Read more...]
The Perfect Day of Dining and Wine-ing
The Perfect Day of Dining and Wine-ing Forks & Corks Brings It All Together Sarasota is a food and wine town. End of discussion. I’m guessing that this comes as no surprise to anyone who’s been around here for more than a few days. We really love our food … [Read more...]
The LIST – July 2023
The LIST - July 2023 It's July and we've got some dining ideas just for you!! 😃 It’s summer; it’s slow (and hot!). ☀️ The 2023 version of Savor Sarasota sure seems like it was a big success. Lots of you went out there and supported our local restaurant community AND … [Read more...]
The LIST – June 2023
The LIST - June 2023 Let's take a look at some of the most popular Sarasota restaurants for this month! June = SAVOR SARASOTA TIME! Yes, you have heard a whole lot about our annual Sarasota Restaurant Week(s). And with good reason. It’s an excellent opportunity to try … [Read more...]
2023 Savor Samples – C’est La Vie!, Michael’s & Libby’s
2023 Savor Samples - C'est La Vie!, Michael's, & Libby's We're ready to get Savor started. How about you?? Let the 48-hour countdown commence! 🚀 I can tell everyone is all tingly with excitement. That may be a bit of a stretch, but the reality is you are about to … [Read more...]
Your Savor Sarasota 2023 Preview is Here!
Your Savor Sarasota 2023 Preview is Here! We've got a little preview of the upcoming Sarasota restaurant week. 📝 We'll be keeping our list of Savor Sarasota restaurants updated throughout the first two weeks of June. Please check back for updates and the latest list of … [Read more...]
Food and Wine Meet in the Perfect Spot
Food and Wine Meet in the Perfect Spot The 2023 edition of Forks & Corks still shines! It took a few years, but The Sarasota-Manatee Originals got the food and wine train running on time once again. 🚂 Yes, Sarasota food people, Forks & Corks has returned to claim … [Read more...]
The LIST – April 2023
The LIST - April 2023 Here's our monthly roundup of some of the most popular places on our website! Spring has definitely sprung! 🌻 Baseball spring training is fading quickly in the rear-view window. The big crush of season is mostly behind us. And it’s warming up … [Read more...]
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week – A Preview
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week - A Preview Here's what you can expect for two weeks of dining adventures! It's like the surest sign of a Sarasota summer; Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week. Don't ask me why it isn't "Restaurant Weeks." Visit Sarasota County might want to … [Read more...]
Make it at Home – Michael’s on East’s Famous Bowtie Chicken Pasta
Make it at Home - Michael's on East's Famous Bowtie Chicken Pasta This is going to be our most challenging attempt yet! There are a few iconic restaurants dotting the city of Sarasota and the surrounding area. You have no doubt heard the names before. Bijou … [Read more...]
Your Guide to Valentine’s Day in Sarasota
Your Guide to Valentine's Day in Sarasota Let us help you make some dining decisions for this romantic holiday. February 14th. It’s one of the busiest days in the restaurant business. Mother’s Day, Easter, and Valentine's Day. Those are three pretty big days to dine … [Read more...]
Yes, It’s October…Fest!
Yes, It's October...Fest! We May be 5,011 Miles From Munich, but... Yes, it’s October. I can tell not by the calendar on my wall, computer, or phone. I can definitely tell by the subject lines in my email inbox. There’s a lot of “Octobeer!!”, “Octobeerfest!”, or some other … [Read more...]
The LIST – June 2021
The LIST - June 2021 The most searched for restaurants of the past month Another month in the books. 2021 is halfway over and flying fast! Given all that has happened in the past fifteen months, our local Sarasota restaurant community is thriving. We do have a very … [Read more...]
Weather Can’t Dampen Forks and Corks Experience
Weather Can't Dampen Forks and Corks Experience The annual food and wine fest goes on! No, this wasn't the beautiful and scenic Ringling courtyard. That much was obvious from the moment you drove through the gates of the massive Feld Entertainment Studio complex. Weather … [Read more...]
Forks and Corks 2017. The Food & Wine Still Shine!
A few sprinkles and a little cloud cover can't dampen the spirits of 1500+ Sarasota food enthusiasts. Quite they contrary. The lucky eaters (and drinkers) who gathered at the John & Mable Ringling Museum on Sunday were more than ready to go. Usually, this annual food and … [Read more...]
The Best of Forks & Corks 2016 | Sarasota Restaurants Journal
It's Always A Fun & Filling Day At The Ringling No, your eyes do not deceive you. That my friends is a massive line. Blocks long in fact. I guess it only stands to reason that any event that could sell out 1500 tickets in some absurd amount of time like 3.375 minutes … [Read more...]
Michael’s on East
Last Minute Christmas Gifts For Your Sarasota Foodie | Sarasota Restaurant Journal
We all have that very special, but, hard to buy for person on our holiday shopping list. Well, I’m about to solve your present buying problems. Here's a short list of Sarasota, food-centric gift ideas. Oh, you're welcome! Siesta Key Oysters Bar (SKOB) gift … [Read more...]
The Shamrock Is Ready To Jam On | Sarasota Restaurants Journal
Talk about a great backyard summer party! Summer is here! The calendar might not say June 21st yet. But, summer is most definitely here. Along with the heat, humidity and frequent downpours comes a recent Sarasota summer tradition. The Shamrock's Summer Chef Jam. For … [Read more...]
Tasting Notes | Rooftop Party, Major Awards & Bubbly | Sarasota Restaurants Journal
NEW YEARS PREVIEW The annual Things To Do On New Years Eve press releases are starting to fill up my inbox. Here we go If youre looking for The essence of chic and a modern vibe then you might want to add the Carmel Café (8433 Cooper Creek Blvd.) to your list of year end … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving In Sarasota
Thanksgiving In Sarasota There are lots of ways to enjoy the best holiday meal of the year. Here it is. Once again, the big eat-a-ton, more commonly known as Thanksgiving, is almost upon us. And, as usual, the options to satisfy your tryptophan-laced cravings are … [Read more...]
Sarasota’s Best Chef’s 2013 | Sarasota Restaurants Journal
Who says you have to be a big city to have big time chefs? I have been banging on this drum for over ten years. Sarasota has some great restaurants. And now we have the proof. Fantastic service and unbelievable ambiance can get you pretty far. But, to climb that last … [Read more...]
Forks & Corks 2013 | Best in Show | Sarasota Restaurants Journal
What more can be said about Sarasotas premier food and wine event? What more can you say about the best food and wine event in Sarasota that hasn't already been printed or spoken? Yes, there is fantastic food. And, yes there are countless cases of silky smooth … [Read more...]
Three Area Restaurants Named to OpenTable Best List
Three of our Sarasota area restaurants have been named to online reservation website, OpenTable.com's Best Overall Restaurant List for the Tampa/Central Florida region. Named to the list are: downtown newcomer Mozaic, Sarasota's own award winning Michael's on East and Longboat … [Read more...]
Your Guide to Sarasota Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner
Your Guide to Sarasota Mother's Day Brunch and Dinner ⭐ MOTHER'S DAY IS SUNDAY, MAY 11TH Planning on enjoying a Sarasota Mother's Day? We've got lots of great Mother's Day happenings at some of our fine Sarasota restaurants. You can enjoy food and drink specials … [Read more...]
Sarasota Food Flash: Michael’s On East, Southside and Whiteberry
Well, here we are again. I know you've tried really hard this week to catch all of the Sarasota restaurant, food and dining news. But, you may have missed something. Not to worry. we've got it covered. Here's a recap of the weekly news highlights just for you. Click on the image … [Read more...]
Your Guide To Sarasota Easter Brunch and Dinner
Your Guide To Sarasota Easter Brunch and Dinner UPDATED 2025 (EASTER SUNDAY - APRIL 20, 2025) NOTE - If you haven't already, please subscribe to our newsletter, Sarasota Bites. It'll keep you up to date on all things Sarasota restaurant, dining, and food-related! … [Read more...]
It’s More Than A Wine Tasting, It’s An Event
OK, let's start by taking a look at the picture in this post. What do you see? If you said a room packed full of eager, wine sampling Sarasotans, then you get a gold star. Actually, this scene, which is replayed each month, is from the most recent wine tasting held at Michael's … [Read more...]