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Archive for the ‘Restaurant review’ Category

Bon Appétit’s Top 10 New Restaurants in America

Saturday, October 1st, 2011

Congress

Here are the 10 new restaurants that Bon Appetit magazine singled out for recognition in 2011. We’ve included a story for each destination to help you get started planning.
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1. Husk
Charleston, SC
This lowcountry spot is both innovative and old-fashioned: there’s always some sort of fried comfort food on the daily menu, but it’s fried with a twist. The chef might use benne (sesame) seeds, or steam clams in beer and serve the broth.
2. Mission Chinese Food
San Francisco, CA
This restaurant, specializing in spicy and flavorful Sichauan regional cuisine, got its start as a food truck. Try the sweet and sour dumplings or the cumin lamb belly.
3. The Walrus and the Carpenter
Seattle, WA
This elegantly-appointed spot features nearly a dozen varieties of local oysters as well as an extensive seafood menu. Landlubbers will enjoy the house-cured ham or steak tartare.
4. Travail Kitchen and Amusements
Robbinsdale, MN
With a selection of house-cured meats and a 10-course tasting menu for two for $70, Travail adapts molecular gastronomy for the Land of Lakes.
5. Ruxbin
Chicago, IL
The Korean-influenced dishes at this Windy City eatery won’t alarm meat and potatoes-eaters or bore finicky gourmands. Try the olive oil-poached halibut with kimchi and bacon, or the pork loin rubbed with coffee-chili salt.
6. Talula’s Garden
Philadelphia, PA
This restaurant focuses on pared-down dishes made with the freshest possible ingredients. The restaurant has a separate cheese menu with several carefully curated cheese plates to share.
7. Son of a Gun
Los Angeles, CA
The two Florida transplants behind this restaurant have brought their unique take on seafood to the big city. The menu changes daily, and features rarities like alligator schnitzel and octopus confit salad.
8. M. Wells
New York, NY
Located in the recently fashionable Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, this eatery reinvents diner cuisine with dishes like General Tso’s sweetbreads and escargot and bone marrow.
9. Congress
Austin, TX
This downtown restaurant serves upscale comfort food in an elegant, understated atmosphere. Both the standard three-course menu and seven-course tasting menu change daily.
10.Bondir
Cambridge, MA
This family-run restaurant specializes in sustainable cuisine: fresh fish and pasture-raised meat are stars of the menu, as is the homemade bread.

Source: Bon Appetit

NoraLyn Ltd.
Member: Society of Professional Journalists

Small Batch Bakery, Sarasota, Florida – Review

Saturday, October 1st, 2011

Small Batch Muffin

Someone else called Small Batch Bakery “Sarasota’s most varied and highest quality scratch-baked goods under one roof.” I would like to say that I discovered it early since I was there the day pastry chef/owner and French trained, Jim Plocharsky opened his door.
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I was hooked from the start with a cup of Kona coffee and a scrumptious muffin with cranberries and Clementine oranges. These addictive muffins, his best seller, are a magical mix of sweet and tart, moist and crunchy.
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Small Batch is the kind of bakery that I grew up loving, with the best ingredients and favorites such as quiche and cannoli.
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Although Jim is ahead of the newest and best trends, like candied bacon in his new blt luncheon sandwich, he keeps  authentic French croissants and carrot cake on his menu. Jim also adds unexpected surprises such as a grape cluster with your continental breakfast, along with real butter and jam. Sometimes I pop in for a loaf of freshly baked  artisan bread of the day such as French baguette and sourdough or multi-grain.
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Small Batch is a melting pot of international cultural cuisine with European classics and American favorites.
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I have an apology to make. I interviewed another new, young, innovative chef in the same week. By mistake I mixed up the two photos. Both good looking chefs had their hats on backwards and were taking out something  loving from the oven. The good news is that I will be more careful and that many read the blogs since I heard about it from the mid-west to Sarasota.
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Culinary  reviewing wisdom advises against recommending a new restaurant for at least year. Yet, I knew that creative chefs with the courage to open a new venture would be flourishing within months. Small Batch won the Sarasota Magazine Award for Best Specialty Desserts for 2011. This muffin came from Jim’s oven an hour ago.

Jim’s Small Batch Bakery
2336 Gulf Gate Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34231
Phone: 941-922 BAKE (2253)

Review: Rosa Fiorelli Winery and Vineyard and Javier’s Resturant and Wine Bar

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Rosa Fiorelli Grapes photo: B C Hil

We have a hidden gem near the lakes and rolling hills of eastern Manatee County in Florida.

Thanks to a recommendation from Javier, chef-owner of Javier’s Restaurant and Wine Bar on Siesta Key, I enjoyed a unique tour and experienced award-winning wines. I look forward to returning after a trip to California’s Temecula wine region to hand pick fresh grapes. The bronze and red Muscadine grapes will be in season from August 15 until early September.

Javier's photo: B C Hill

Vineyard owners Rosa and Antonio moved to Manatee from Sicily. They were struck by the similarities in mid coast Florida to their native land. A few rows of a bunch of grapes in their back yard garden grew into a ten acre productive vineyard and winery.

It was a warm night when I visited Javier’s for a few Peruvian tapas. Javier buys his premier meats from the same place I do, The Sarasota Sausage Company in Gulf Gate. He recommended the silver award winning Blanc Du Bois. This young, dry white paired perfectly with the spicy sausage bites. Notes of grapefruit and green apple jumped in my mouth at first sip.

Another favorite is the bronze awarded Southern Red Reserve. My favorite Zinfandel grape is blended for a robust flavor, ideal with Javier’s rich and spicy peppercorn steak. This week a small group of international food lovers will meet to sample Javier’s 4 course tapas dinner special. Even on a warm summer weeknight, Javier’s had a full house in their charming dining room.

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Javier's Tapas photo: B C Hill

The Fiorelli Winery and Javier’s Restaurant and Wine Bar are ideal places to visit with the family or out of town guests any time of year.

Javier's photo: B C Hill

Call the winery for hours and to schedule a special tour or party in their pavilion surrounded by grapevines

Rosa and Antonio Fiorelli

Rosa Fiorelli Winery, Inc.

4250 CR 675

Bradentown, FL 34211

Email: rfwinery1998@aol.com

http://www.fiorelliwinery.com/

Mary and Javier Arana

Javier’s Peruvian Restaurant and Wine Bar

6621 Midnight Pass Road

Sarasota, FL. 34242

www.javiersrestaurant.com

Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
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