The Gulf Coast's natural beauty and active arts scene could easily overshadow Sarasota's culinary wonders, unless you are a foodie that is. A foodie could easily justify a culinary vacation with all the food and wine events here. To name a few, there's the Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival and Taste of Sarasota in November, Forks and Corks Wine and Food Festival in January, the Taste of the Suncoast in March, the Florida Winefest & Auction in April, and Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week in June. Sarasota also has a thriving dining scene year-round that belies it's size, ranging from dockside fish shacks to award-winning fine dining, from exacting French cuisine to vibrant Peruvian fare, from soup to, well, nuts.
With the sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico right at hand, seafood is a focus for many Sarasota restaurants. Some take advantage of the setting by building restaurants over the water on docks and jetties, which makes it easy to unload the freshest seafood from day boat fishermen directly into the kitchen. That means that Gulf grouper or snapper can go from deep water to your waiting plate in hours, almost faster than if you caught it yourself. From October to May is Florida's stone crab season, a uniquely sustainable seafood harvest that takes only a single claw from each crab before setting it free to grow another claw for the next year. Smash the tough shell, dip in mustard sauce and enjoy before the season ends.
Head inland and you'll find that Sarasota also has a large Amish and Mennonite community, with many restaurants that cater to their hearty fare. These spots serve classic American comfort food like crisp fried chicken and gravy or fresh smoked ham with scalloped potatoes, but the biggest draw is the pie. Yoder's -- a 35-year old Sarasota Amish restaurant icon -- sells over 4,000 of their award-winning pies the day before Thanksgiving every year.
But man cannot live on pie alone. Those looking for something a little more elegant will find that Sarasota's fine dining scene is one of the best in Florida. Along with one of the highest concentrations of Zagat-rated restaurants in Florida, two local chefs -- Derek Barnes of Derek's Culinary Casual and Jose Martinez of Masion Blanche -- have been nominated for prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards in recent years. Sarasota is also home to two AAA Four-Diamond Awarded restaurants: Michael's On East and Vernona at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
Beyond the awards, you'll find Sarasota's dining districts provide satisfy a wide variety of tastes. Downtown Sarasota restaurants are a melting pot of the world's cuisines, from Vietnamese pho to Moroccan tagine. Relaxed Gulf Gate is a breeding ground for independent restaurants, including incredible sushi and inexpensive late-night munchies. Out on the islands, you can cool down with an ice cream cone in Venice's historic downtown, nosh on barbecue while listening to Jimmy Buffet on Siesta Key Beach, eat classic French cuisine while people-watching on St. Armands Circle, and sample Asian-Jewish fusion on Longboat Key while enjoying a breathtaking view of the lights of downtown across Sarasota Bay.
The annual Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week offers an incredible opportunity to sample many of the area's higher-end local eateries on a budget. Dozens of local restaurants participate by offering multi-course menus for just $15 at lunch and $25 at dinner. Despite the name, the restaurant week actually runs for two weeks at the beginning of June, although some participants extend their deals throughout the month.
From laid-back grouper sandwiches to world-class tasting menus, Sarasota restaurants can fill any craving.