redzinner's Profile
Mozaic on Main St
Has anyone dined at Mozaic in Sarasota on Main St? Any reviews would be helpful.
http://www.mozaicsarasota.com/
Ray's at the Serving Spoon, Sarasota
Just wanted to mention that we dined there last night. Wonderful food, presentation and service. One seating so we had the entire evening to relax and enjoy.
Menu was something like this:
1) Choice of one appetizer:
Irish lamb and barley soup
Steak Tartare
Chicken Liver foie gras mousse
Sonoma Tart (puff pastry about 5 inches square) with a warm Sonoma County Goat Cheese Fig Chutney filling)
2) Organic mixed greens with Japanese vinaigrette
3) Choice of Entrée
Colossal Stuffed Shrimp Casino (bacon, onions, garlic …) on Saffron Risotto
Chicken Pot Pie; Organic Chicken with chanterelles, truffle oil, artichokes, champagne based cream sauce, etc
Fillet Mignon with Roquefort cheese topping ($4 extra charge added to prix fixe price)
4) Choice of dessert
Chocolate Mousse (think chocolate mousse bread pudding, fresh cream)
Strawberry Shortcake
The star of the evening for me was the Goat Cheese tart. Delicate pastry, and the goat cheese/fig chutney worked well together. Others ordered Foie Gras and Lamb Barley soup and all enjoyed their selections.
I ordered the Shrimp Casino and it was delicious with the hint of bacon. The risotto was so creamy and light. The other 3 at my table had the beef fillet and commented on the excellent quality of the beef.
3 choc mousse - almost a cocoa flavor, again delicious but rich. One diner has a gluten allergen and Melanie didn't hesitate to suggest a layered strawberry substitution.
A comment on the room - It is a breakfast and lunch place but Melanie and Ray had the white tablecothes on the tables and votives everywhere, tables and counter. It was very charming and restful looking and lent the atmosphere a quietness that all diners responded too.
We'll try it again I'm sure!
Cooking Schools Tampa/Sarasota
Some Publix Supermarkets offer classes in both Tampa and Sarasota.
http://www.publix.com/aprons/schools/CookingSchools.do
In Sarasota a very popular one is at Casa Italia Market which offers both Italian or Indian cooking classes.
http://www.casaitaliafl.com/
Looking for a bakery around Venice, FL
Are you on the island? Publix Supermarket has a pretty wide selection but it is a grocery bakery.
Angelo's on Venice Ave East and Pinebrook has fresh Italian breads and Zeppoles on St Joseph Day (March 19).
The only one I have found that is a real bakery is in Englewood. A pretty far drive if you are on the island. When you walk in the aroma makes you say 'aahhh' . Route 776 past the Dome flea market, past Manasota Beach Rd. to the light at Englewood Isles Pkwy; turn left into an old shopping plaza and go the end. The baker is Irish but he does all the traditional breads and pastries, not just hot-cross buns and soda bread. :)
I hope someone can add some more locations. I'm interested in finding a closer one too.
Simply Yum Yum
1809 Englewood Rd
Englewood,FL34223
Local: 941-473-3986
Cork, Drydock, Euphemia Hays, Waterfront-kid friendly?
I suppose fancy and romantic are words dependent on individual interpretation. I respect the fact that everyone has different opinions. It doesn't seem fancy to us. Fancy to us is dimly lit (not dark),carpeted dining rooms with space around each table so you can't hear the next table's conversation or bump someones elbow. Yes, Beach Bistro has white tablecloths and appropriate wine glasses. The glasses can be taken off the table. We go there for the food, definitely not the ambiance. It is dark but not romantic for us when we are back to back, sardine-like in a very tight space and it can get very noisy. No reception area to wait for your table unless you count the motel walkway. We have dined there too and children have been in the dining room and served. bawc, you know your child best as to wether or not he could handle the tight seating arrangement.
The food is the main attraction.
Chow-worthy Disney with a baby?
You might try a different forum for Disney Dining reviews, such as disboards.com or intercot.com. There are scads of reviews of all Disney dining venues on those sites.
Babies are welcome at most places in Disney except maybe Victoria and Albert's which only serves dinner but worthy of any Chowhound review.
Cork, Drydock, Euphemia Hays, Waterfront-kid friendly?
We prefer the Old Salty Dog on City Island to Moore's for the food. Moore's has more of a dinner menu where the Salty Dog is a Florida 'basket' type seafood place. http://www.theoldsaltydog.com/menu01.htm . Love the location too, plenty of seating on the deck. Longboat Key south over the little humpy bridge to City Island, turn left (because right would put you in the gulf). Mote Marine is on City Island and your son might like to explore there. http://www.mote.org/
It's been awhile since I've been to Moore's - food wasn't all that great. I've never been to Deja Vu.
Cork, Drydock, Euphemia Hays, Waterfront-kid friendly?
Beach Bistro is not fancy. It just has great food. It is connected to an old-style Florida motel. Children are welcome there. If you are going to be that close I would suggest you try the Bistro.
El Toro Bravo is by Siesta Key on Stickney Point Rd. I'd say a good 30-40 minute drive in season.
Another one on LBK you might try is Harry's Continental Kitchen http://www.harryskitchen.com/ I've never eaten there so I can't recommend it but it has been in business a long time by Florida standards.
I love Longboat Key's beaches. Enjoy your stay!
Ray's at the Serving Spoon, Sarasota
Thanks so much for the details ... sounds fantastic!
Ray's at the Serving Spoon, Sarasota
nrz,
Is it tough to get ressies? What is the seating capacity for this venue? in order for Ray to do the superb job you described, the dining area must be pretty limited.
Exact location? Hillview or Osprey?
Thanks for the review.
Valentines Day in North Port, FL
Another nice spot on the water and much closer to Venice/North Port than Anna Maria Island is Ophelia's on the Bay http://www.opheliasonthebay.net/ . It is on Siesta Key on the bay side, not the gulf.
Valentines Day in North Port, FL
North Port is well east of any water. Sharkeys http://www.sharkysonthepier.com/ in Venice is directly on the gulf at Venice pier. Crows Nest in Venice is on an inland water way.
Any dinner recs for Ft. Myers/Cape Coral/Pt. Charlotte area?
Anna Marie Oyster Bar is open for lunch. There are several locations. The address for the one in Ellenton is: 1525 51st Ave East
http://www.oysterbar.net/
Ellenton is about 125 miles north of Ft. Myers though.
Cooking in Sarasota - What's the Difference? - moved from Florida board
I haven't found cooking or baking any different but dry food storage is definitely different. Any type of cereal, crackers, snack foods like chips, etc goes into a resealable plastic bag after it is first opened. Same for sugars (brown and white) since they attract the moisture. I haven't noticed a problem with salt and I keep kosher salt by my stove top for cooking purposes. With the air conditioner on it's not too bad but we are having gorgeous weather this winter and the houses are wide open so moisture is in the house.
Too keep bugs and especially ants under control we have a pest control service treat once a year. If a problem arises they'll come out and find the source. When there is a lack of surface water, as in the winter when it doesn't rain a lot, the ants are on the march looking for water. That's when there is a problem. I've never had a problem with roaches but we live in a single family home. Every once in awhile a palmetto bug (think roach that you can put a saddle on) will fly in at night but that's just life in Florida.
Hope you enjoy it down here! We moved to Sarasota County 14 years ago and really enjoy the lifestyle.
Need Recs for Gulf Coast W/In 50 Miles North Port
The Perfect Caper in Punta Gorda for upscale food in a casual atmosphere.
http://www.theperfectcaper.com/index.asp
The IceHouse in Punta Gorda for pub grub and a game of darts or pool. Very popular so it is very crowded and noisy but fun.
http://www.theicehousepub.com/
There are more ...
Perfect Caper in Punta Gorda
Very Chow-worthy. The menu changes monthly depending on fresh flavors available for Jeanie's dishes. Jeanie was recently awarded a 2007 James Beard Foundation Semifinalist For Best Chef - Southern US.
James knows his wines!
Suggestion: if possible make a reservation, especially on the weekends.
If you haven't tried the Crow's Nest (upstairs) in awhile you might be pleasantly surprised with their menu too. http://www.crowsnest-venice.com/restaurant-tavern/restaurant.cfm
Good Eats Around Sarasota/Bradenton
If you go to sarasotamagazine.com and scroll down to the Dining Guide you can choose from a list of area restaurant reviews.
Some we enjoy are Ophelia's on the Bay, Cafe L'Europe and Beach Bistro for their food quality, presentation and dining ambiance.
-----
Ophelia's Restaurant
9105 Midnight Pass Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242
Beach Bistro
6600 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
Cafe L' Europe
431 Saint Armands Cir, Sarasota, FL 34236
Disney - Help!
I don't believe they have happy hour (2 for 1) and nibblies but Il Mulino in the Swan Hotel has a wonderful bar/lounge area and you can order off the dining room menu from the lounge.
The Swan is at the end of Disney's Boardwalk area (back gate of Epcot).
All of Disney Resort lounges have 'generic' menus now with the same drinks and food items. Kind of boring really. Cost cutting I guess.
