A Burger A Week – MADE Restaurant
It’s an upscale burger day! 🍔
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Farm to Table. The tag has been around since Alice Waters started that trend on its trajectory when she opened Chez Panisse back in 1971 in Berkeley, CA. There have been lots and lots of places that have followed that well-worn path ever since.
We’ve got a few here in Sarasota. Maybe not Farm to Table in the strictest sense of the label, but certainly in the spirit of the movement.
These restaurants focus on locally grown and sourced ingredients. They weave them into creative dishes that read like a poem written on a menu. Here are a few that come readily to mind…
Indigenous – Chef Steve Phelps focuses on “sustainable seafood” and “works closely with local fisherman, artisans, and farmers to maintain the highest quality.”
The Beach House Restaurant – Chef Thomas Villetto uses “sustainable farm-to-fork produce for the seasonal menus.” They even have their own farm!
Meliora – Chef Drew Adams features an ever-changing menu that combines the best local, seasonal ingredients to create dishes as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat.
AND finally…
Yes, burger number 37 takes us to Chef Mark Woodruff’s MADE Restaurant. MADE “proudly supports local farms, growers, and ranchers fielding the best natural local dairy and produce available.” Sounds like textbook Farm to Table to me!
Mark has some pretty impressive culinary credentials; we’re talking Culinary Institute of America here! 🍴 One look at the MADE menu will tell you that something special is going on here at the corner of Main Street and 301.
The dishes that Mark and his business partner, Michael Ripatranzone, have included on the menu run a wide and creative span. It stretches from three unique Mac ‘n Cheese selections to their famous Double Dipped Fried Chicken, and ends at the place where we find ourselves today; the MADE Burger. 🍔
Much like the menu, MADE is comfortable. This is a place where attorneys from up the street in the courthouse district mingle easily with folks catching a pre-movie bite to eat. (YES, the Regal Hollywood Theaters are directly across the street 🎞️)
They’ve got the perfect place to catch a drink (I was there for an early lunch on a late July day, so it was not as busy as usual).
Of course they have cocktails! 🥃
You can eat outdoors when the weather cools just a bit.
With the outside conditions tipping toward a “real feel” of +103, we thought a nice high top in a temperature-controlled dining room would be the perfect fit for us today.
With our tasting locale all dialed in, we are ready to go! Let’s talk about our MADE Restaurant burger experience…
RESTAURANT: MADE RESTAURANT (1990 Main St. (941) 953-2900)
DATE OF VISIT: JULY 25, 2023
STOP #: 37 OF 52
BURGER TASTED: MADE BURGER
📒 OUR TASTING NOTES
🍔 This burger is served as listed on the menu: MADE beef blend, barbacoa, BBQ’D peppers and onions, fried green tomato, butter lettuce, jalapeno jack cheese, Hawaiian style brioche roll ($24)
• Let’s start with this. This IS NOT your average burger. There is a lot going on here (as you can probably tell from the description above 😯)! This is a BIG burger with a ton of taste.
• You get a nice hit of pepper in that very first bite. The jalapeño jack cheese and the BBQ’d peppers take care of that! Loved that burst of flavor. 🌶️
• All of the ingredients stood out on their own. There are a bunch of them. It’s impressive that they all shine through in such a unique way. Loved the fried green tomatoes!!
• The barbacoa! An excellent choice of burger topper. The texture difference between it and the burger itself makes for delicious eating!
• The FRIES. You didn’t think we forgot, did you? OK, if you’ve been reading these burger pieces, you know that my now-stated preference is for a skinny, crunchy, natural fry. That said, this thicker-cut version was super crunchy and potatoey. The bonus was the side of smokey mayo. Delish! 📝 They also have Cheesy Tots as an option. My server Bill said they were great. I don’t doubt that for a minute! 🍟
Let’s check out how all of this looked when I ordered it…
BURGER TAKEAWAYS: This burger is expensive but worth the splurge • Nice Hawaiian Bun! • Super service. Bill was great! • Chef Woodruff and his staff have crafted a creative and delicious burger 🍔 • A good selection of cocktails, beer, and wine
👀 SNEAK PEEK: Next up, burger #38. It’s my favorite fast-casual burger. I already know that I’m going to love it. Gotta brave the UTC area for this one… 😬
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🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info. (If you have an event, send us the details! (EMAIL IT)
📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2023 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
🍷 LIBBY’S NEIGHBORHOOD WINE CLUB – DETAILS
DUVAL’S TASTE OF SUMMER MENU! – SEE WHAT’S ON THE MENU!
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
Yes, things are looking a little thin on the event front. It is summer. Hopefully, the calendar will fill up soon! 🤞
AUG 19 – Laughter in LWR! – GROVE Restaurant
AUG 11– Music Bingo with Myra Mains – Hamlet’s Eatery
AUG 15 – An American Summer Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
AUG 28 – South France Wine Tasting – Mademoiselle Paris
AUG 29 – Wine Pairing Dinner – Amore Restaurant
SEPT- 23 – Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival 2023 – INFORMATION
OCT 15 – Morton’s 23rd Annual Chili Cook Off – INFORMATION
OCT 17 – 2024 Forks & Corks Grand Tasting Ticket ON SALE DATE!
🧑🌾 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
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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