Last week I dined at Roy’s. Good call. Chef Justin Fields has brought this Hawaiian fusion restaurant to new levels of creative flavors and balance. The tempura red snapper with pork belly and bok choy was so incredible, I finished the leftover cold for breakfast two days later and it was just as amazing as the first bite. Some people eat cold pizza for breakfast, I prefer cold fish. (Have you ever tried Bonefish Grill’s pecan and Parmesan crusted trout left over cold with a fried egg on top—now we’re talking!)

 

 Tempura snapper at Roy's with pork belly--oh, yeah.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I have enlisted the help of the ABC7 team to find the best pies for the holiday season. The criteria: what makes a great pie; is the crust flavorful and the filling balanced? So I separated the tastings into categories. The first week was designated as the fruit pie challenge.

 

 Fruit pie challenge comes to ABC7.

I brought in an apple pie and mixed berry pie from Fresh Market. We had a runaway winner with the mixed berry. Tart, full of berries and a nice flavorful crust. While the apples were firm and the pie make a nice presentation, team ABC, including meteorologist John Scalzi and Sunrise producer Katy Ellis, wished for more cinnamon. I concur.

 

 

Next week: cream pies from Yoder’s—butterscotch and pumpkin cream, to be exact. I think I might get the employee of the month parking spot if I can milk this tasty contest all holiday season.

 

Do you have a favorite pie in Sarasota? Do comment on this blog and we will try it out. You might just win a free pie to bring home.