Michael's On East

Epicurean Adventure: Naples

L'uovo e Formaggio Due Modi:  Chilled Grilled Asparagus with Black Pepper Pecoino Zabaglione, Crispy House-Made Guanciale, Crostini and Arugula
Creste e Gambertti Arrabiata:  Local Shrimp with Olives, Fennel, Basil, Lemon with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Home-Made Creste di Gallo Pasta
Pasticcio di Ricotta:  Ricotta and Farro Pie, Orange Blossom Water, Hint of Cinnamon, Apricot Compote, Lemon Curd and Fresh Blueberries

Our Protagonist finally sallied forth to try one of the Epicurean Adventures At Michael's On East.  The L'uovo consisted of a picture-perfectly topped egg filled with a refreshingly light and just-peppery mousse-y zabaglione.  This was clearly the best part of this plate, as the guanciale was quite disappointing and tasted like, well, merely bacon.  Our Protagonist highly questions the claim that it was "house-made", or that it was even the right cut of pork to be guanciale.  Rumor has it that a vastly superior guanciale has been created down at Gulf Gate's Transatlantic Sausage Company, but all digressions aside...The rooster comb pasta was a fascinating shape for the arrabiata, which wasn't quite so "mad" as it was citrusy; the lemon really dominated the flavor palette, but what was missed was some more heat.  The other spices, though, bolstered the lemon quite well.  A citrus lover's dream come true.  The pasticcio continued the citrus-y trend with lemon now joined by orange.  This is the Italian version of a buttermilk pie, but with a good, hearty crunch due to the farro crust.  The Apricot Compote, Lemon Curd and the blueberries all helped round out the dish in a swirl of sweet and tart flavors.  A very nice finish.  All in all, Our Protagonist heartily approved, at both the meal and the prix fixe price; a very affordable jaunt to Italy!  He will be pouring over his tour guides to see where he should travel to, next...

Michael's On East
1212 East Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34239

941-366-0007

 

Bijou Cafe

Duck Mousse
Daphinois Potatoes
Red Grouper with lobster and Edamame Succotash
Roasted Asparagus with Truffle Hollandaise
Chocolate Banana Croissant Bread Pudding

When one sits down to an Easter dinner, one should expect to indulge.  And then there was this meal Our Protagonist overindulged in at the Bijou Cafe.  The Duck Mousse was superb, but a note; this could (or should) be your entire lunch!  It was VERY filling, and came with little to no help from the other two dining companions as well as its own salad, so the Rocket Salad order was canceled lest Our Protagonist would explode a la The Meaning of Life.  Left with more Mousse than crispbreads, he resorted to schmearing it on his bread.  The Grouper was a bit dry, although the accompanying succotash was flavorful, and the lobster was succulent enough.  The roasted asparagus, though, was another perfect choice.  Nice, smokey flavor and the truffle Hollandaise was truly addictive.  The Daphinois potatoes, really, are all about the cheese; the potatoes are merely a vehicle.  The cheese was so nicely crisp though, that more overeating occurred.  And then onto dessert; chocolate banana croissant bread pudding was surprisingly light for its title; then again, maybe not so surprising at all.  The croissant picked up just the right amount of batter, and the bananas lent a certain lightness as well, punctuated with chunks of chocolate.  Heavenly.  Our Protagonist will return after he has lost the weight he gained from this meal. 

The Bijou Cafe
1287 1st Street
Sarasota, FL 34236

941-366-8111

Paris to Budapest (Gulf Gate)

Duck Soup
Tomato Soup
Rabbit Paprishka with Spaetzle
Chocolate "Goose Feet"

A fascinating juxtaposition in a restaurant's title such as Paris to Budapest really demands exploring, and Our Protagonist finally found it way there one afternoon for lunch.  The Duck soup was like high-end chicken soup; the farina dumpling dissolved completely into the soup almost making it a European gumbo.  He enjoyed the large mushroom cap that was mixed in with the broth, although, would have been easier to eat if it had been sliced (Re: Pho Cali review).  The Tomato Soup of his dining partner looked and tasted very hearty.  Both had a a typical Hungarian entree; Our Protagonist's Rabbit Paprishka (while the dining partner had the chicken version) was very tasty and spicy, albeit quite bony.  It proved to be a lot of work for not a lot of meat!  The side of spaetzle was a little cool by the time it came out according to partner, but perhaps this was a timing issue that wasn't quite as good as it could have been.  Our Protagonist didn't mind, though, as he mixed the flavors together and didn't even notice it having overly cooled.  The surprisingly-named Chocolate Goose Feet (which derives its unusual title from the wedge shape and color of the dessert) was quite yummy; a chocolate sponge cake (dry, typical of Hungarian-Viennese style desserts, and served with the da rigueur "schlag" of whipped cream) topped with a chocolate custard and finally with a ganache.  The ganache was the best part in Our Protagonist's opinion; it had just the right amount of crispy-and-chewiness all combined.  Also there was a nice hit of cinnamon or another spice just at the bottom of the layer that really stood out.  He even took a piece to go to share with a friend.  Our Protagonist looks forward to making another trip to either Paris OR Budapest in the near future.

Paris to Budapest
6551 Gateway Avenue
Gulf Gate, FL 34231
941-552-9707

C'est la Vie return lunch

Poularde Crepes and Side Salad
"Nice" Toasted Sandwich
Strawberry Mousse

Finally, Our Protagonist had a very welcome return to a great lunch spot!  The crepes in the Poulade Crepes were made from savory buckwheat; very flavorful.  The sauce was filling, but the portion was small, making the serving just right.  Our Protagonist just can't get enough of that salad dressing!  Simple, but delicious.  His dining partner enjoyed the Nice Toasted Sandwich (i.e. from the city of Nice), but didn't share, Sacre Bleu!  The Strawberry Mousse proved an excellent dessert choice; whipped so smooth and topped with a barely broiled meringue, with just a hint of a crisp outer layer before plunging through the warm softness. Que magnifique! 

C'est la Vie
1553 Main Street

Sarasota, FL 34236-5802
941-906-9575

Divino lunch

Timballo
Papardelle with beef and red wine sauce
Chicken Parmigiana
Cannoli

For Our Protagonist, who doesn't like eggplant (except in baba ganouj), the Timballo was an eye-opening experience.  Described as a "pie of zuchini, eggplant, and mozzarella", he wasn't sure if it would be in a crust or not, having never tried such a dish before.  As it turned out, the only crust was the crispy skin of the zucchini which had a wonderful flavor.  The eggplant had a nice tenderness, and didn't taste the horribleness that had always associated with eggplant.  Even eggplants frying with parmesan could make Our Protagonist run from a room screaming just from the very smell.  On the contrary, he thought this was very good; imagine if he actually liked eggplant!  Homemade papardelle was very tender, with chunks of braised beef (also tender) in a lovely sauce.  It made one think of what beef stroganoff would purpose to taste like if only it could lose the awful accompaniment of sour cream, that catchall to add "flavor" when none is to be found, otherwise.  Simply, it was comfort food at its finest; was it the best dish ever?  No.  But was it excuted well?  Certainly.  The few bites shared of another's chicken parmigiana proved a nice experience as well.  This tired-old recipe really sang in the hands of the chef, as it was nicely spiced, not over breaded, and the chicken wasn't overdone!  The server assured that the cannoli were made from scratch, and a lovely thing they were, too.  The ricotta cheese filling had just the right amount of sweetness without being cloying, and the shells had delightful crispness.  This reminded Our Protagonist why he was so sad that Ben & Jerry's "Holy Cannoli" ice cream flavor had been retired; now he'll have to get some to cannoli shells to go and see if he can't crumble them into some sweet ricotta gelato...

Divino Restaurant & Bar
1766 Main Street
Sarasota FL 34236
941-330-9393

Il Panificio Dinner

Everything Pizza/Pepperoni & Sausage

With pizza, itt's all about the crust.  Pizzas live and die by the the quality of their crust, and if one can find a crust that is soft and crisp all at the same time, then you have attained true pizza nirvana.  As Our Protagonist discovered when he took his son for a fun outing, the crust at Il Panificio is just so described, with the toppings all trying to slide off, almost embarrassed to even think of overshadowing this fundamental element.  It was so unlike a chain pizza in every way.  The toppings were of very good quality, in spite of their attempt at a hasty exit, but it's the perfectly-burned-ness of the crust that will make Our Protagonist return; that just-barely blackened, caramelized outer dusting that seals the deal on a well-wrought pizza.  Bravo.

Il Panificio
1703 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-366-5570  

Yume Sushi

Sea Urchin Shot
Quail Egg
Dynamite Roll (California roll with conch, special sauce)

Our Protagonist had read about Yume Sushi's Sea Urchin Shot in Edible Sarasota, so he was dying to try it.  However, his dining companions tried to scare him with descriptions of sea urchin as having that most-appetizing texture of mucous.  But on he went, undaunted.  Having asked for instructions, he was told to down the sea urchin-sake and then munch the cucumber.  Perhaps, he wondered after the fact, should he have munched the cucumber first so that there would have been a better mixture of flavors?  Still, it was quite an interesting first foray into sea urchin!  The quail egg was tiny and looked very cute; it didn't have a huge taste on its bed of rice, but was subtle, and apparently all yolk.  The Dynamite Roll was aptly named, in that it tasted fabulous.  The conch and special sauce had fantastic flavor, and married well with the California roll base.  It was truly first rate sushi, just as described!  It would take months to work through the sushi menu; perhaps Our Protagonist should start making some reservations now?

Yume Sushi

1537 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-363-0604