The LIST – January 2024
We’re kicking off 2024 with a brand new list! 📝
Words: 998 = Reading Time: 4 minutes
🎉 Welcome to 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣❗
If you’re reading this, you’ve made it successfully into the new year. Congrats!
Things are going to be different in 2-0-2-4. I’m not exactly sure how, but just like every year, things WILL be different.
We lost a few tried-and-true restaurants right at the starting bell. I never said that 2024 would be easy…
🍣 Local Sushi Master Calls It. After 52 years of sushi making, Kiyoshi is packing up his nori and calling it a day. That’s a LOONGG time to be rolling. His innovative and delicious creations will certainly be missed.
🥪 I’ll Take That To-Go. Nellie’s Deli, which made its name at the corner of Webber and Beneva (they moved to Beneva and Fruitville in 2009), has closed. They’re soups and sandwiches fed hungry Sarasota deli goers for years. There’s chatter that they may start a catering-only operation…
🔥 Where There’s Smoke… Sarasota now has one less option to scratch that barbecue itch. BBQ maven Nancy Krohngold has fired up the smoker at her Rosemary District location for the last time. She helped get the local barbeque scene rolling way back in 2005. Wishing her luck in whatever her next adventure is.
📝 Resolution or Goal?? New Year’s resolutions aren’t everyone’s cuppa tea, that’s for sure. Me? I go more for setting some goals. Some are a reach, some attainable, and others an easy layup.
This year, we’re hoping to hit that magic 6,000 subscriber mark! It’s attainable. If you know someone who would love to get Sarasota Bites but isn’t on our list yet. Send them a referral link. THEY CAN SIGN UP HERE! Thanks for helping us get there!
📈 THE LIST
This is probably why you’re here. And it’s our first list of 2024! I guess that makes it special.
HERE WE GO!
#5 Florence and the Spice Boys (4990 S Tamiami Trl.)
Israeli-influenced cuisine. The menu had some recent small changes. If you haven’t been in a while, you should go check things out.
#4 Osteria Southside (1812 S. Osprey Ave. (941) 361-3200)
It’s Sarasota soup season! (well, any season is soup season for me 🍲)
They’ve got some dynamite Italian Wedding Soup AND of course their famous Pasta Fagioli. It’s sure to keep you warm when the temps drop!
#3 Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen (6641 Midnight Pass Rd. (941) 952-3070)
Irish music, Irish food, and yes, of course, Irish beer! 🍺 This small, charming Irish pub delivers on all of the quaintness you would expect from a place named Shebeen (Fun Fact – A Shebeen was originally an illicit bar or club where accessible alcoholic beverages were sold without a license. – Wikipedia)
#2 Wolfie’s Rascal House (1454 Boulevard of the Arts (941) 554-4311)
A touch of Miami right here in the Rosemary District. Lots of seating (indoors and out). And a deli case full of NY-style deli goodies. Don’t forget to leave space for that Black & White Cookie or a slice of Sol’s Famous Cheesecake for dessert!
#1 Beso (30 S. Lemon Ave. (941) 279-2999)
Beso starts out ‘24, just like it ended ‘23. On top of our list! You’re searching for Beso info at a rapid clip. Tasty tapas dishes served in an upbeat and energetic restaurant atmosphere. It might not be Spain, but they’ve got something very unique going on here.
➡️ THE BEST OF THE REST
Capo Pazzo drops out of the top five and lands at number six. Followed by Bar Hana, then Chef Steve Phelps’s ode to the humble fish sandwich, Pigfish. Next is Bay Leaf Indian Cuisine (you’ve got to get down to Osprey!) and, finally, the longtime Sarasota staple, The Alpine Steakhouse.
I’d say that’s a great Top 10 start off 2024! 🏅
🗒️ HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE TOP 25 FOR JANUARY 2024!
🗓️ What’s in store for ‘24? We’re doing a little fine-tuning here at Sarasota Bites. No, don’t worry. You’ll still get all of the great local restaurant info that you crave. We’re just going to add in a few extra things and say goodbye to some. It’ll spice things up, trust me!
⭐ WE’RE LOOKING FOR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS ⭐
It would be nice if all of this were free to produce. And in some magical place, it might be. But with our growing numbers come some added expenses. NO, we’re not putting up a paywall; relax. We want our content to be free for all! 📝 That’s one of our goals!
If you would like to sponsor one (or 10) of our future newsletters, we would love to help you get your word out to our community. Maybe you know of someone who might benefit from a little added exposure. SEND THEM OUR WAY!
We’ll make this easy. DROP US AN EMAIL HERE, and we’ll get the ball rolling for you. Now, back to the fun stuff. 😄
We’ll leave you like we always do with a little Sarasota news roundup. Since we’ve been adding these to the end of our monthly list pieces, we’ve gotten a lot of positive comments. We try hard to link to stories that aren’t blocked to non-subscribers.
😃 Thanks for reading. Please come again!
📰 IN THE NEWS –10 INTERESTING STORIES!
1️⃣ Sarasota Wrestles With Definitions Of Drinking, Dining Establishments
2️⃣ Sarasota Ford Opens High-end Restaurant Just For Customers
3️⃣ The Best Things Our Food Editor Ate This Year
4️⃣ Sage Introduces Elevated Gourmet Street Food on the Rooftop
5️⃣ MICHELIN Guide Inspectors Decode 2023’s Top Food Trends
6️⃣ Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Announce New Local Restaurants Coming to the Terminal
7️⃣ All Faiths Food Bank’s Bowls of Hope a Delicious Success
8️⃣ Florida Restaurant Has One Of The Best Dishes In America, Report Says
9️⃣ Escape to Hawaii at Island Fin Poke Co.
🔟 Playa Bowls Brings Fresh and Tasty Treats to Sarasota
🧑🏻🍳 HEY CHEFS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS! 👩🏻🍳
We want to feature one of your recipes in our popular Make it at Home series. Drop us a line, and we’ll give you the details! INFO HERE🌟
🗓️ 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, we’d like to help you spread the word. Let us know! (EMAIL IT)
📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2024 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
😋 MICHAEL’S ON EAST – MONTHLY EPICUREAN MENU – FRANCE
🚶🏻 TASTE MAGAZINE WALKING FOOD TOURS OF BRADENTON – INFO
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
Yes! Things are finally starting to pick up a bit in the local food event department. Our calendar is filling up little by little. ⬇️
JAN 17 – Duckhorn Portfolio Wine Dinner – Riverhouse Restaurant
JAN 19 – Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Dinner – Pier 22
JAN 15 TO 27 – Forks & Corks Wine Dinners – INFORMATION
JAN 25 – Bordeaux Wine Tasting – Mademoiselle Paris
JAN 26 – Alexander Valley Vineyards Wine Dinner – Mean Deans Local Kitchen
JAN 26 – Silverado Vineyards Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
FEB 4 – Farm to Fillet Event – INFORMATION
🧑🌾 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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