The Best Things Our Food Editor Ate This Year
It's been a whirlwind year of delectable bites. From Southern to Mediterranean to Chinese and beyond, Sarasota's culinary scene keeps getting better and better. Here are the best 10 things I ate this year.
Pimento Chive Drop Biscuits at Owen's Fish Camp Lakewood Ranch
6516 University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, (941) 951-5052, owensfishcamp.com
The stuff of dreams, these biscuits pack a massive punch. Five bite-sized, toasty brown biscuits are served in a piping hot skillet, enrobed in something called pickle butter. The result is a tender, almost creamy interior packed with flavor, thanks to pimento cheese instead of shredded cheddar. The words “life-changing” may sound like hyperbole, but I assure you, these biscuits have ruined all others for me. They’re that good.
The cheeseburger at Meliora.
Image: Courtesy Photo
Cheeseburger at Meliora's Bar
1920 Hillview St., Sarasota, (941) 444-7692, meliorarestaurant.com
Only available at Meliora's bar until it's sold out, this burger is sheer perfection. Yogurt and garlic sauce tops a hot and sweet pepper relish, pickled green tomato, white American cheese and a thin burger patty. A house-made brioche bun finishes the dish, which is best paired with any of the bar's creative cocktails. Say hi to bartender Alex while you're there.
"The Cookie" (right) at Florence and the Spice Boys.
Image: Chad Spencer
"The Cookie" at Florence and the Spice Boys
4990 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 923-9920, instagram.com/florenceandthespiceboys
Whoa. Just...whoa. The culinary team at Florence and the Spice Boys hits the spot every time, but the cookie, imagined by Florence Schmitt herself, is next level. A simple sugar cookie batter, made with plenty of butter, is given new life with the addition of Goldfish crackers, which provide a mild savory undercurrent that highlights the rich, sweet cookie. Amazing.
Warm Bandit baguettes at Bread Bandits.
Image: Hannah Phillips
Bandit Baguette at Bread Bandits
3546 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota, (941) 413-5112, breadbandits.com
New kids on the block Brad Rutledge and Jules Thuet moved to Sarasota from Toronto to open their bakery. The sourdough creations are made from Thuet's great-grandmother's original starter, which the pair smuggled over from Canada when they made the move. If you've got to choose just one loaf, the Bandit Baguette has a crisp exterior that gives way to fluffy soft interior with just the right amount of sourdough funk.
Crispy pork belly with pancit at Funky Kitchen.
Image: Lauren Jackson
Crispy Pork Belly at Funky Kitchen at Brew Life Brewing
5765 N. Beneva Road, Sarasota, (941) 952-3831, funkyfusionsrq.com
On July 1, Funky Fusion celebrated both the six-year anniversary of its food truck-founding and the launch of Funky Kitchen at Brew Life Brewing. To celebrate, chef Jenna Foster served the crispiest fried pork belly I’ve ever tasted. The tender, fatty belly is fried to a golden brown and the skin shatters with each bite. It's a textural revelation.
Shrimp toast at Bar Hana.
Image: Lauren Jackson
Shrimp Toast at Bar Hana
1289 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota, (941) 536-9716, barhana.com
Known for its bustling night life and tiki-inspired cocktails, Bar Hana also has a killer food menu. The shrimp toast is made with a shokupan (Japanese milk bread) base, topped with shrimp mousse and then fried. The result is crispy and springy, and the addition of kabakyaki, a sweetened soy sauce, and mayonnaise adds more richness. The dish is small, but the flavors are mighty.
Huanchinango a la Veracruz at Kolucan in Gulf Gate.
Image: Chad Spener
Huachinango a la Veracruz at Kolucan
6644 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, (941) 921-3133, kolucan.com
This dish at Kolucan is as fun to look at as it is to eat. A whole fried snapper stares back at you when it arrives at the table, as if it’s been snatched from the ocean mid-swim and tossed into the fryer. The crunchy crust gives way to tender meat that has been expertly seasoned. It's all accentuated by a bright white wine sauce surrounding the fish and accompanying potatoes.
Chicken katsu sandwich (bottom right) and other offerings at PigFish.
Image: Lauren Jackson
Chicken Katsu Sandwich at PigFish
5377 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, (941) 777-5220, pig.fish
It may be odd that my favorite thing at a fish sandwich shop is a chicken sandwich, but at PigFish, inside Calusa Brewing's new taproom, that happens to be the case. Juicy marinated chicken is fried crisp and topped with shaved cabbage, tonkatsu sauce and nori tartar sauce that makes for an umami bomb. Add a side of the tenderest hush puppies you've ever tasted to round out this stunning meal.
Szechuan hot pot at Hong BBQ & Hot Pot.
Image: Lauren Jackson
Szechuan Hot Pot at Hong BBQ & Hot Pot
445 Cortez Road, Bradenton, (941) 213-9972, honghotpot.com
Hong BBQ & Hot Pot hit the Bradenton dining scene earlier this year and has been met with joy from hot pot lovers near and far. Szechuan broth is perfumed with peppercorns and chilies, and it has a gentle heat despite the server’s warning that it’s quite spicy. Pair it with a seemingly infinite array of proteins, vegetables and starches for a memorable—and interactive—dining experience.
Lamb shashlik (kebab) at Tzeva.
Image: Lauren Jackson
Lamb Shashlik at Tzeva
Inside Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm. Ave., Sarasota, (941) 413-7452, tzevasarasota.com
Tzeva’s culinary program is led by chef Ken Shiro Lumpkin, who designed a menu that honors Mediterranean flavors that skew less Greek and more Israeli. Small plates dominate the menu, ranging from myriad hummuses to shakshuka to toasted feta flavored with thyme honey, dukkah (an Egyptian spice blend) and Castelvetrano olives. But the real star is the lamb shashlik. Tender, skewered bits of lamb loin are cooked to a perfect medium-rare and served over a bed of fragrant rice biryani that’s packed with aromatics. I want to eat it every day from now until forever.
