He brings his wonderful cuisine to Etrusco, which is located at 430 North Tamiami Trail (364-4641) just across from the Sarasota Quay. The charming and intimate Etrusco seats 44 diners (with a few tables alfresco), to enjoy the fine foods Francesco prepares for dinner every Monday through Sunday. Items include antipastis of Giardino di Vegetali Grigliati, Calamaretti in Guazzetto and Primo Piattis of Linguine alle Vognole, Lasagne Bolognese and Ravioli Aragosta. Entrees include pesce of Sea Bass, Fisherman’s Stew and other seafood delicacies.

     Meats feature chicken veal and lamb along with a few daily specials coming from la cucina. Enjoy a bottle of wine with your dinner at Sarasota’s latest addition to the Italian dining scene, Etrusco.

     The French say it to describe so many things and it suits this little bistro. It’s stylish décor, handsome framed mirrors and artworks and Provence’s rich colors will inspire you to say … "Ooh La La."

     Ooh La La! Bistro in Holmes Beach is headed by Chef Damon Presswood and now has six years to its credit. Presswood announced this week the restaurant is now open for dinner seven nights a week, and will no longer offer lunch with the exception of its popular Sunday brunch.

     The fine dining restaurant’s expanded hours now include a new happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. nightly that includes two-for-one wine by the glassEtrusco and beers, reduced prices on popular appetizers and special offerings at the bar.

     And if you hadn’t yet noticed, the bar is new to Ooh La La! with a completed expansion into an adjacent storefront in the Island Shopping Center.

     The bar wraps around the open kitchen area into the new dining area and offers comfortable seating and a close-up view of the happenings in the small but bustling kitchen.

     The wine list is extensive, and yet not pricey. Lots of California chardonnays, cabernets and merlots are featured, and some especially nice dessert wines complement the house specialty, crème brulee.

     Featured items on the menu include some classic continental fare, such as Beef Wellington, Bouillaibaisse Marseilles, Sweetbreads En Croute and Veal Normandy, but new dishes vie for attention, including Garlic-Crusted Twin Lobster Tails, Potato-Crusted Grouper, and Grilled Tuna Dijonnaise.

   Sunday brunch is served from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This menu includes classics such as Eggs Benedict and omelettes, French toast, made with the restaurant’s own baguettes sliced thick and prepared with a "secret recipe," is the star on Sundays. Other delectables include roast beef hash and German apple pancakes. Also on the menu, salads, sandwiches and entrees for heartier appetites.

   One Island restaurateur calls Ooh La La! the Island’s best secret, but it’s awaiting your discovery.

   The restaurant is located in the Island Shopping Center, 5406-5408 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. For information, private parties or reservations, call 778-5320. Information is also available online at www.oohlalabistro.com.

    This is a blurb for those in the restaurant trade. If you are in need of a quality cash register or Point of Sale (PODS) System, I suggest a call to Manatee Electronic Cash Registers. In addition to selling the above they also provide the following service: factory repair and service, on site support and phone support, installation, programming and training, and full inventory of POS and ECR supplies.

     See them about the DX890 series designed specifically for casual dining, bars, clubs and quick service restaurants. They service clients in Manatee County and beyond. Stop in and talk with owner Josef Osowski or manager Timothy Hickey. Manatee Electronic Cash Registers is located at 4444 5th Street West, Bradenton. Their phone is 739-1710.

     What a terrific find is the new Benvenuti Cafe  & Deli at 8453 Cooper Creek Blvd. in Sarasota (360-1419). Located on the west side of the University Center, Benvenuti is owned by John and Maria Chapman, both South Africans who definitely know their food business.

     Open for breakfast and lunch (with dinners in the near future), Benvenuti features such items as chourico sausage, pecorino cheese, halloumi cheese, tzatiki, cannellini beans, smoked salmon and many more hard-to-find and unusual items.

     The decor is functional and comfortable and the food is just terrific. They are also a deli, so many items can be taken home with you. Their Dietz and Watson Italian meats are fantastic and a full selection of gourmet coffees and a cappuccino bar help to round out the restaurant.

     Wow, what a transformation at The Table! Manhattan meets Sarasota in the remodeled dining area and SoBe meets Sarasota in the new Mesa Lounge in the brand new lounge/bar and dining area.

     First the dining room. “I can’t hear you” was the most heard words spoken (shouted) while dining at The Table in the past. Now the room is totally soundproofed with new carpets, banquette seating making the whole room much softer, quieter and sexier. A hip 8-top conversation table is also available for diners wishing to mingle and nosh. Look for an expanded lunch and dinner menu from Executive Chefs and Operating Partners Rafael Manzano and Pedro Flores. Their menu  is still one of the most creative and eclectic in the area.

     The brand new Mesa Lounge and the “Mojita Bar” now has full liquor service and specializes in Cuban drinks and Caipirinna, which is the national drink of Brazil. The bartenders can muddle your drinks, which are fresh fruits pressed at the bar ensuring the best flavors from the fruits into your liquor.

     Be sure to saunter into the hip lounge area for a beverage or a taste of the raw bar, ceviche, sashimis or small plates. The Mesa Lounge is way cool, trendy and is definitely the new “in” place.

A side note is that Taste is hosting a singles night here on Thursday, March 30 with desserts and drinks. Hope to see you singles there!

     Make it then or any time for lunch, dinner or late nite at the new Table and Mesa Lounge. They are also hosting a “Night in Brazil” every Wednesday at 7PM with and ‘all you can eat’ appetizer bar, skewered meats and more. It is a Churrasciaria experience. They are at 1934 Hillview Street in Sarasota (365-4558).

     Southgate Gourmet is the place in Southgate, changing the future of eating on Siesta Drive. Southgate Gourmet is a market and restaurant that truly connects the dots as a neighborhood spot.

     The mood is modern yet warm and comfortable, a combination that makes SGG something special. In essence they have a great gourmet market, every thing from organic raw honey to Banyule vinegar can be found on the shelves. The cheese case offers the best of the hand-crafted cheese produced in the country and the wine wall contains a selection of hard-to-find-wines that are priced for same day consumption. You can stop by in the afternoon and linger over a bottle of wine and a cheese plate or visit SGG later in the evening when the mood is kept cool but the food is hot.

     Dinners are all from the open hearth oven, a focal point of the restaurant which brings the sight and smells to you. The food is clearly cutting edge and presented for the modern epicurean. The menu includes a section devoted to sous vide cuisine, the cooking method heralded by the likes of Charley Trotter and Thomas Keller. The lamb shoulder, for example, won as a award at the Taste of Sarasota Chef’s Competition in 2005 and is a treat.

     As you would expect they source the top tier products, inspecting farms, working with local and seasonal products to bring you the best; striking a great balance between organic and quality. The menus are printed daily so they are never forced into something that doesn’t meet the standard.

     At Southgate Gourmet they maintain their connection to reality with a fast paced lunch. Ordering directly from the cooks and having items delivered to your table cuts the middle man out and adds a little more time to your day. Dinner service is more traditional. Bread is served with several flavored oils and a spice blend for dipping, North African style. The wine list is great because you simply pull the bottle you want from the wall and the waiter opens it at your table. It is nice to see the wine, not a list, for a change.

     Southgate Gourmet is located at 2157 Siesta Drive, 954-2280 (just across from Dillards). Serving lunch from 11am and dinner until 9pm, they are a must visit “A-list” spot. 

     With so many restaurants to enjoy in the area, and many of them a little on the fancy side, it is comforting to enjoy the food served at Troyer’s Dutch Heritage. Located at 3713 Bahia Vista in Sarasota (955-8007) they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.

     The Dutch Heritage is truly Amish in decor, food and hospitality. Courteous service, plenty of wholesome food and a great value make it one of the area’s most popular any time of the year.

     New for the  spring is their Coffee and Espresso Bar, featuring finely brewed coffees from Latitude 23.5. This is a perfect time of the year to enjoy alfresco dining and the Dutch Heritage now offers guests the opportunity to enjoy their meal on the new patio for either lunch or dinner. It’s just wonderful! A full buffet or full menu is offered with any meal at the Dutch Heritage.

     In addition to the food, they also have a large banquet facility for 20 to 300 people and an in-house bakery. Don’t forget the Heritage Gift Shop, which has over 6,500 square feet of Amish gifts and the like.

     Longevity in the restaurant business is the best sign of success and the popularity never seems to wane at Hemingway’s Retreat (388-3948) on lovely St. Armands Circle.

     The upstairs dining room is a delight as it overlooks the always busy St. Armands Circle. Dine outdoors or inside the bright and cheery garden setting. Tropical colors cheer you as you enjoy the cuisine served daily for lunch or dinner. A new addition is their Saturday and Sunday Brunch from 10am-4pm. Enjoy a unique breakfast experience with creative eggs, omelettes, griddle cakes, French Toast and a few specialties, such as Crab Cake Benedict, Smoked Salmon Platter or Hemingway’s Nautical Salad.

     Their lunch menu offers an array of great starters such as Tuna Sashimi, Maryland Crab Cakes, Lavosh, Key Largo Crab Salad, Hemingway’s famous Chowder, sumptuous sandwiches and more. Dinners include a selection of pasta, seafood, chicken and beef that are sure to please, all prepared by new Chef Todd Kellerman. An added plus is their newly expanded outdoor patio where additional seating is just ideal this time of year. For all of you fans of Chalis, she will be playing on Fridays from 9PM. Do stop in.

 

     In Bradenton Beach on historic Bridge Street is the quaint Island Creperie at 127 Bridge Street (778-1011). Chef/owner Oliver Rose along with is wife Laetitia and are your hosts at this charming and very French restaurant. They also welcome new chef and manager Pierre.

     New here is that the whole restaurant has been transformed! It now is a true French bistro with an additional 10 seats (at a cozy 32). The warm woods and smart bar really make this transformation something to see. Most of it was done by Oliver himself. Very impressive!

     Oliver wants his customers to know that his food is prepared with everything homemade and in the French way. For breakfast and lunch (served everyday) they serve a fabulous variety of crepes, salads, sandwiches and dessert crepes. The Niçoise Salad and any of the Buckwheat Crepes are just delicious.

     In the evenings Monday thru Saturday, the Island Creperie transforms itself into a little gem. Twinkling lights, candles and the aroma of traditional French cuisine fill the room. Dinner is served. Seven entrees are available and include Beef Bourguignon, Shrimp au Curry, Fish au Basilic, and Chicken a la Normandie to name a few. Salad, potatoes gratin or rice accompany the entrees, which are priced at $14.90. Fantastic! French wines are available as are select beers.