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For many, a destination can be defined or remembered for its food. Perhaps you are one of those travelers who can quickly recall eating at different restaurants and their signature dishes, but struggle when someone ask you what you saw on your getaway.
Culinary tourism isn’t really anything new, especially in the south, where places like New Orleans and Charleston, S.C., have made a name for themselves. However, they do have some (delicious) competition, namely the Florida’s Gulf Islands region.
Breakfast
I’m a breakfast person. I’m not sure when this change happened, but nonetheless I fully embrace it. One morning, I had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast at Word of Mouth in Sarasota. The restaurant also a member of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals (along with Euphemia Haye), a group of independently-owned restaurants in the area that promotes not only locally-owned restaurants, but also locally-produced dishes.
Now back to their menu.
Even though I talk a good talk about breakfast, I tend to order kind of (stress kind of) healthy. I opted for the Seven-Grained French Toast ($5.50), but being human, I admit that it was hard to pass up the Cheese Blintzes ($8.95), with orange sour cream sauce.
For a more healthier start to your morning, I recommend the fresh fruit selection, which is also dubbed “the best in Sarasota." A small is $3.25 and a large $4.45. If you’re the type who think, “calories be damned!" while on vacation, there’s the Three Amigos Breakfast Burrito ($8.95), and the Country Benedict ($8.50), featuring their homemade gravy. Word of Mouth also serves lunch and dinner, and offers a kids menu.
Another great breakfast nook is the Gulf Drive Cafe in Bradenton Beach. Come on, you know can’t pass up a place called Gulf Drive Cafe while visiting the beach.
So, I did it again and ordered French toast ($5.75). Some of the other appealing breakfast entrees include the NewYork Strip & Three Eggs ($13.25), the Sausage Gravy & Homemade Biscuits ($5.75 - full order; $4.50 - half order) and the Ultimate Belgian Waffle ($5.50) that can include ice cream along with blueberries or strawberries, and whipped cream. Of course, you can’t go wrong with the Fruit Parfait ($6.95) served with yogurt, honey and granola.
Lunch
I’m going to take you on two distinctly different places for lunch.
The first one is the The Old Salty Dog in Sarasota, conveniently located across from Mote Aquarium. I’ve talked and talked about the mysterious “salty dog," and ponder what this culinary creation can be. Well, I found out. It’s a hot dog dipped in their beer battered and deep-fried ($5.95). They also offer dog bites ($6.95), a small version. Personally, I couldn’t pass up Shrimp Poppers ($7.95). Since it’s an appetizer, it might not fill you up, but it can be a prelude to other dishes. If you’re interested in making a meal out of appetizers (someone who eats like I do), I encourage you to also try the Shrimp Basket ($8.95) and the Krab Cakes ($8.95).
Looking for a meal? Aside from the above-mentioned Salty Dog, there are burgers and sandwiches, such as the Krab Cake Sandwich ($6.95) and the Fish Sandwich, featuring the day’s catch and listed at market price. The restaurant also serves Traditional English Fish and Chips ($12.95), Ribs & Shrimp plate ($21.95), as well as a Shrimp plate ($14.95).
If you have room for dessert (it’s understandable if you don’t), there is something called a Chocolate Explosion ($6.25) that looks quite interesting.
If you find yourself in downtown Bradenton during lunchtime, head over to Mattison’s Riverside (also a Sarasota-Manatee Original). This is one of four of Chef Paul Mattison’s restaurants. From what I understand each one is different in its own way, meaning what you find at one, you might not at the other.
Let’s begin with an order from the sushi bar. They have a full sushi menu that includes Nigiri, Sashimi and Maki selections as well as signature rolls and more. While traveling, I tend not to be daring with sushi while traveling and selected the safer California Roll ($5 for six pieces).
Their starter menu features Hoisin Duck Spring Rolls ($8), Shrimp Rangoon ($12), and Artichokes Esther-Style ($9). Still lovin’ appetizers, I stuck with these three as my main meal. You can also order pizzas, such as Margherita ($8) and Pizza Verde ($10). For soup and salads, you can’t go wrong with either the Mattison’s House Salad or the Twin Dolphin 1976 Salad (both $7 for large, $4 for small). If you want a small meal, consider the Greek Salad ($16) that includes grilled lamb chops and fresh goat cheese. Be sure to save room for the Lobster Bisque ($5 a cup, $8 a bowl).
When it’s decision time for lunch, choose from the Espresso Barbecue Chicken Sandwich ($8.50) with espresso barbecue sauce, Italian Panini ($10), or the Grunchy Grouper Sandwich ($14.50). Entrees include the Softshell Crab Sandwich ($10) and the Tuscan Vegetable Pasta ($11). Mattison’s Riverside also has a kids menu and a spectacular dessert menu. They also serve dinner as well.
Dinner
There isn’t a better way to end an evening than by the “ring (of ) the gong and sing a song," along with a complimentary ‘green flash shooter’ to toast the amazing sunset seen from the Sun House Restaurant in Bradenton Beach (another Sarasota-Manatee Original). Please don’t ask what’s actually in the shooter, because I honestly don’t know. I just tossed it back and went about the evening.
Located on the third floor, it’s decorated the way you would think a beach restaurant should be. While the decor is fun, the food is what you come for. Serving what’s described as “Floribbean cuisine," starters included Island Pebbles ($9), which are southern sauteed scallops; Conch Fritters ($9), Coconut Shrimp ($9) and Homemade Caribbean Chip & Assorted Salsas ($9), which I highly recommend to anyone who likes the standard chips and salsa. The chips are homemade plantain, yucca, boniato and malanga chips served with three different types of salsa - pineapple fire, avocado and pico. Compliments to Chef Mizell on this treat! Seriously, I could have made my own meal from this.
If you like salads, you’ll have to try the Florida Salad ($6) that features very generous portions of avocado, mango, orange and tomatoes. There’s also the Sun House Salad ($5), which includes cucumbers, carrots and those nice, large tomatoes.
Entree choices, for those who dare, include the Grassy Key Grouper ($27) served over sautéed spinach and garlic dill mashed potatoes; Camarones Borrachos (better known as drunken shrimp; $19) marinated in tequila and saffron; Couquille St. Jacque Florentine (tempting, but I overindulged on the appetizers; $18); and for those who can’t quite make up their minds, the Floribbean Seafood Basket ($17) with shrimp, baby scallops and North Atlantic Pollock.
Don’t forget dessert, the most important meal of evening. If you had difficulty selecting your entree, it’s not going to get any easier with dessert. The best suggestion is to go with a group and try one of each. If you can’t do that, some sweets to consider include the Key Lime Pie ($7), Island Crème Brûlée (a duo at $7), Roasted Almond Berry Basket (almost too pretty to eat - almost; $7), Chocolate Caribbean Delight ($7), and Crepes ($7).
As written on www.SouthernByways.com by Apryl Chapman Thomas.
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