Sometimes always looking for the latest things obscures your view of the best things.
Youve seen it. I know you have, because I have. A hand written note. A fancy, digitally produced graphic. Or, just blank butcher paper over a storefront window. All of the above say the same thing. Something new is coming to town.
More specifically new restaurants. Dont get me wrong, I love it when new places open their doors. Its part of what keeps life fresh and well, lively. Trying new places and things. Its fun and we all love it! In fact, all too often, its hard not to get caught up in the excitement of all that newness and fresh paint smell. Youre guilty of it, I am too.
Unfortunately, with all of the hoopla and celebration that accompanies an opening, a little something gets lost. Most times we dont even notice it. Its subtle and hard to detect. Whats lost is the appreciation of the things you already have. In this case, a restaurant.
Exhibit A. Look at this fantastic dish.
Looks delicious, right? Of course it does. Its light yet full of flavor. Its simple, but, complex enough to leave your taste buds calling for more. You can almost taste the flavor combinations just by looking at the photo. As a bonus, this dish is served in an atmosphere that is upscale while at the same time refined and includes a view that is second to none.
Want some more? Great, heres another example.
Exhibit B.
Is this the special of the day? No, this is EVERYDAY. Putting out dishes that are as appealing to the eye as they are to the palate is what this kitchen does day in and day out.
I think you get the point. And, being the smart reader that you are, Im sure you have figured out that youre being setup here.
These plates arent from a new, trendy, hot at moment place. These dishes are served at a place that has been a part of Sarasotas culinary skyline for the past thirteen years. No small feat in a time where lines form at newly minted eateries sometimes before the employees are trained properly or can even tell you where the bathroom is.
These dishes are from one of our great, long established Sarasota restaurant traditions.
Which one?
Its our very own Pattigeorges. Located on Longboat Key, Chef/Proprietor Tommy Klauber, has be turning out a fantastic variety of flavors using lots of our own, locally produced ingredients. Thats what keeps locals and visitors alike coming back time after time.
The Thai Green Curry Mussels, are delicately steamed with coconut milk, shallots, pepper and ginger. There are a lot of mussel dishes around town to choose from. This one stands out from the crowd.
Have you ever seen a yucca chip sliced so thinly that its nearly translucent? Me neither. The Wok About Chicken sports two of those very crispy chips atop wok seared chicken with kaffir lime, lite soy, lemon grass and jasmine rice. The presentation is as fantastic as the taste.
The point of all this isnt an attempt to convince you to forgo the newest restaurant of the day. You need to support them. And, more importantly they need your support if they are to have any chance of making it in an unbelievably tough business. Each of those newly opened places is hoping to be around for the next thirteen years, just like Pattigeorges. It’s a tall order.
Whats important to keep in mind here is that Sarasota has a culinary reputation that attracts people from well outside of our region. It is a reputation that has been helped and nurtured along the way by folks who have been at this a while and have a passion for our dining scene.
You know the names, Bijou Café, Michaels on East, Derek’s, Mattisons and many more. Local restaurants and restaurateurs who have a common goal in seeing Sarasota succeed on a culinary stage usually reserved for larger cities. Lets support them with the same enthusiasm as the new kids on the block!
For more great images from our Pattigeorges photo shoot, click here.
Pattigeorges
4120 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Longboat Key, FL 34228
941-383-511
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