Simply stated, HANUKKAH is the Jewish festival of lights. When ancient Jews were free they had enough oil to burn for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for 8 days. The Hanukkah lights remind us of the great miracle that a small band of Jews defeated the mighty Greek armies. Foods fried in oil are a must, especially potato pancakes and small donuts. This brings me to one of my favorite recent items...
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| Sign posted on window Sunday |
Friday the day after Thanksgiving, Sol opened its doors to the public. But due to the crush of business, they were out of food by Sunday!! Reopening on Monday, the crowds formed again.
On Wednesday, Cooper Levey-Baker, Correspondent for the Herald-Tribune in the CHEAP EATS section of their weekly Food and Wine section wrote: "Sol Meyer lives up to the hype" and for the better part of his review he is right on. Long lines, servers explaining the menu, owner Sol Shenker slicing meat in the back, etc. He's got it right to that point; however after that he must have been in a different restaurant than the one I, Debbie Yonker and several others visited.
First of all, there is nothing "cheap" here. Prices for most items are over the top and anything "special" is extra. A club roll instead of rye bread is $1.00 additional as is first cut meat an additional $2.00. Each table gets 2 small servings of Cole Slaw, no matter the size of party. Additional servings will cost you, though our server gave us the third at no charge. The rye bread is sliced so thin and the meat so warm that midway through the sandwich you can imagine what happens to the bread; did not happen with the roll.Second, they continue to run out of menu items. There was no corned beef or Potato Latkes when we arrived. The delivery truck did not appear at 4 AM as anticipated. They were frying pancakes as we left. Before we walked out the door a look at their deli case makes this a work in progress at best.
In general, the pastrami and tongue were average as were the sides. Hopefully once they get their act together this will be a good restaurant. Moving in that direction, SOL, is now opening at 10:30 AM for lunch and dinner. No breakfast. A long way to go though before product can be favorably compared to NY DELICATESSEN. For menu along with price per item click here.
On Wednesday, Servandos opens in the empty space that once was Darwin's at 1525 4th St. The menu is Catalonian/Spanish. The new restaurant will feature Mexican/southern cuisine along with Southwestern specialties plus tapas and ceviche, steaks and smoked meats.The family also owns Blu Que Island Grill on Siesta Key and will include some favorites at this location. Entertainment provided by Flamenco dancers and live music nightly.
Servandos joins Blue Rooster, Station 400, Pomona, The Rosemary and Mandeville Beer Garden; all within walking distance from each other; easily making this one of the top eating/entertainment locations in Sarasota.
More restaurants next week, Including Debbie's take on Marcello and the opening of Fresh Kitchen and Daily Eats. But now I turn your attention to two terrific movies; one, Brooklyn is currently selling-out at Burns Court Cinema while Youth opens this weekend in select markets and was the opening night film at Cine-World.
I put Brooklyn right up there with the best I've seen this year. That takes into account Spotlight, which is also worthy of Academy Award consideration. Both should be competing for the Award next February; and each won awards last week at the Gothams in New York. Spotlight won for Best picture; Saoirse Ronan Best actress for Brooklyn.Brooklyn, simply put, is the story of a young Irish immigrant who leaves her interfering family and friends and moves to Brooklyn as many did in the 1950s. How she adapts to America while discovering new friends as well as romance is the centerpiece of this film. But at some point she goes home for a visit and is forced to deal with her new life versus the old. Beautifully photographed, well acted with an honest ending, it will be playing at Burns for several more weeks before eventually moving to Parkway Cinemas.
Youth is directed by Academy Award director Paolo Sorrentino and features an International cast including Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, and in a stand-out cameo, Jane Fonda. The story centers around these characters vacationing at a spa hotel in the foothills of the Alps. Weisz is Caine's daughter and Keitel his best friend. The men, both in their 80's face their waning years with humor and dignity. Youth is beautifully mounted and though slow at times, it still is a film worthy of your viewing. Opening this weekend in NY and LA, it should be here by Christmas.
If your choice is to stay at home and watch your movies on television or some streaming service, then A Very Murray Christmas streaming now on Netflix is the one to see. Starring Bill Murray as a singer whose Christmas Eve cabaret act at the Carlye Hotel goes bust when New York is shut down with the snow of the century. Joined by Paul Shaffer, late of Letterman, Amy Pohler, Maya Rudolph and more plus a dream sequence with Miley Cyrus and George Clooney that's both naughty and nice. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving.
If you see Westside Story on December 11th, you can create a full day of entertainment without having to move your car! Playing that day in the Historic Asolo, same location, is National Theatre's Everyman as performed and taped on the London stage, and featuring Academy Award nominee, Chiwetel Lojor (12 years a slave). Everyman is successful, popular and riding high when death comes calling. Showing at 1:00 & 6:30 PM. Enjoy lunch or Dinner at MUSE inside the visitor center of The Ringling Museum between performances.
JIM'S RANT....you've heard this one before, but my son-in-law who was here this week on business stormed into the house....."what drivers you have here!! No one pays attention to stop signs or traffic lights, and to make matters worse, I've never been in a city with so many poorly timed lights. Ridiculous. I'm heading back to Atlanta where this isn't a problem because most days traffic is at a standstill."Tracy not only edits well but is a good listener at home!!! And thanks again to Debbie, who is rapidly gaining on me as she continues to eat well in SARASOTA....until next week...JIM.......
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| Join us Saturday 12/12 at Sarasota Farmer's Market as we kick off our campaign for 3/6/16 PEDAL FOR PUPS |
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