Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week

Short ribs at Derek's Culinary Casual

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Last Friday in Sarasota, I joined the town’s foodies at Libby’s and Derek’s Culinary Casual for Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week. Through June 14, diners can pick and choose from 33 restaurants where multi-course meals are just $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner. This unbelievable deal is an opportunity for diners to get out and discover Sarasota’s culinary scene without breaking the bank.

I started at Libby’s, a neighborhood kind of place where you immediately feel at home, with a refreshing La Luz cocktail made with Hangar One kaffir lime vodka, a small-batch vodka from California that I discovered years ago but is not always easy to find. I nibbled on fried bread-and-butter pickles (tastier than it sounds) dipped in chipotle ranch sauce. My next stop was Derek’s where the prix fixed dinner for $25 included a generous cup of a gutsy gumbo, braised beef short rib with a cracked Malabar pepper reduction (see photo) and mini ricotta doughnuts with banana custard. Yes, it was only $25! This contemporary spot— alongside cute cafes, the Naked Florist and a hip salon—is tucked away in the Rosemary District, an urban neighborhood on the edge of trendy just blocks from downtown. Make your weekend plans; go online to check participating restaurants and book your table now. www.savorsarasota.com 

Tags: Derek's Culinary Casual | food | Libby's | restaurant week | Sarasota | Savor Sarasota