Get ready for one of simplest, and most delicious recipes you’ve tried in a long time. This Spiralized Zucchini Pasta with Creamy Avocado Sauce recipe makes my mouth water just typing the title!

This year I have been making it a habit to try to get more veggies down the old gullet. (This is being typed as I stuff a bit of Chex Mix Muddy Buddies in my mouth-hey-nobodys-perfect). And as I was searching around the interwebz for recipes recently, I came across the word “spiralized” in the context of some vegetable so I did a quick Google search and was amazed to know I had been missing out on this concept my whole life thus far!

Spiralizing a food, such as a potato or zucchini squash is the method of spinning the veggie while slicing and/or julienning all at the same time. What you end up with are these long, noodle-like formations of the vegetable which can be eaten raw, cooked by themselves or can replace pasta in any recipe, or can be wrapped around your wrist to form an oddball bracelet that will decompose within a day. Whatever floats your boat!

Spiralized Zucchini Pasta with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe VIDEO

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So I found this 15 Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta recipe that just looked so freaking delicious that I had to try it — and I wanted to make it with zucchini instead of pasta just to see if it tasted good and ……HOLY CRAP. I was right on all fronts. When I eat this stuff raw, it’s, I kid you not, just as satisfying as noodles. Now, the only drawback is that it’s like eating salad for me — I can eat a whole plate and only be full for like an hour. But the good part is, you could have another helping later and not feel bad at all!

Spiralized Zucchini Pasta with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe

1 zucchini, spiralized
2 avocados
1/2 lemon, juiced
2-3 cloves garlic (or less, if desired), minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
salt and pepper to taste

Note, this step is optional: In a large saute pan over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add zucchini and stir frequently until desired consistency is reached.

In a large bowl, add avocado, lemon juice, garlic, remaining olive oil and salt and pepper. Mash with a fork until a creamy yet chunky consistency is reached. Serve the avocado sauce over the cooked zucchini.

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Spiralizer Reviews

All you need is a spiralizer, so I did the homework for you. While visiting Jaden‘s house one day, turns out she had like 3 different types of spiralizers so I took them all home and got to researching! If you’re interested in buying your own spiralizer, you can see how they work in the video. And here are my thoughts on the best 3 spiralizers (aka spiroolis) available plus the affiliate* links to three different kinds that work well, and you can choose which one you like the best!

Mine is the Paderno Spirooli and I totally love it. The Gefu is more expensive, harder to clean and less versatile, but far less cumbersome. And the OXO julienne peeler is way cheaper, does the job and is really small, though not as thorough or easy.

* “affiliate link” means I get a small commission on your purchase while you pay the same amount you would have had you found the product yourself! win-win!

Oh man, I just love it when my friend Carol contributes recipes to the blog!

She always has the most delicious recipes and photos, and she’s such a great cook! Not to mention that she has a knack for picking recipes that I’m always in the mood for.

I know you’ll love this Hearty Italian Soup Recipe — and there’s just enough cold weather leftover in parts of the US that you can still enjoy it!

So hearty and filling — and you don’t have to feel guilty either – you’ll get your greens in with this one!

Hearty Italian Soup Recipe

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 pound Italian sausage (any spice level you prefer), casings removed
1 medium white onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled, quartered lenghtwise, chop into ¼ in. pieces
1 large celery stalk, sliced ¼ in. pieces
1 medium starchy potato (ie/ Idaho), peeled, chopped into ¼ in. pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 bunch of swiss chard, stems removed, rough chop into ribbons
1-15 oz. can white beans (i.e.: Cannellini, Great Northern or Navy), rinsed and drained
6 cups chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste (be sure to taste first before adding any extra)
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, shredded (optional)

In a heavy cast-iron dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat, break up and brown the sausage. Remove from pot and set aside. Using the remaining oil in the pot, add onion, carrot, celery and potato for about 10 minutes to soften vegetables until the onion is translucent. Season with salt and pepper as you cook them down. Add minced garlic, stir for 1 minute. Add the swiss chard to wilt, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage, bay leaf, beans and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, scraping up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pot, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes or until the potato is cooked through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with shredded cheese, if desired.

Quick Summary: Coyne’s Pier 28 in Sarasota is a must-stop for anyone who loves seafood (ESPECIALLY CRAB CAKES).

Coyne’s Pier 28, Sarasota, FL
8201 S Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34238, (941) 921-0028
Cuisine: Seafood, Tapas
Price Rating:  $10 to $15 entrees
Review Date: March 16 and March 29 , 2013

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Background Info on the Review

Last year, I had not one but TWO friends recommend that I check out Coyne’s Pier 28 as a possible place to review. So when I spoke with the owner, Vini, and he told me that he wanted to convert me to a crab cake lover with their authentic Maryland-style cakes, I knew we’d have to get this done!

Normally, when you think of a restaurant in a mall, you think of a certain level of quality — but Coyne’s Pier 28 far surpasses that preconception. Just check out the interior — stylin’!

Beautiful bar area with TVs and plenty of space.

Nautical decoration and feel set you up for the fresh seafood you’re about to eat.

The exterior of Coyne’s Pier 28 as seen from the parking lot of the Sarasota Square Mall.

And we all know the food is the best part of any of my blabberin’, so if you’re a true crab cake lover — skip down about 12 pictures for the most beautiful crab cakes you’ve ever seen!

Cheri’s Food Review

APPETIZERS

The salad that we were served is their Grilled Caesar Salad ($9) — which to me looked more like a deconstructed caesar which I thought was pretty cool. They actually grill their romaine lettuce, which is a great technique to bring out even more flavor from the lettuce, and if you’ve never had this before, it’s a must-try. I love the presentation and how you can get just as much or as little of this in each bite that you want, of the grilled romaine lettuce, creamy caesar, shaved asiago cheese, baby anchovies, croutons and even some tomatoes in an olive oil marinade.

Detail of the grilled romaine.

Next up was the Wasabi Encrusted Ahi Tuna ($12). This is served with fresh wasabi, pickled ginger, Thai chili and a Ponzu sauce. Pillow-like soft pieces of tuna are complemented by the sweet dipping sauce, and the sesame seeds add a great texture to each bite.

Ahi Tuna appetizer done right!

So here’s the money shot! This is the Moody Blue Chips ($8) which are a patron favorite here, and you can see why. Housemade potato chips, smoked blue cheese and Maytag crumbs, warmed and dressed with blue cheese and a balsamic reduction — this is perfect appetizer food. The chips were a perfect blend of crispy and soft, and the dressings provided a depth of flavor that had my tastebuds all excited. A truly awesome appetizer!

No, but seriously — look at that drippy, gooey awesomeness!

The fresh, never frozen Calamari Frittes ($10) is served with Marinara and Citrus Chili Marinade. These were lovely calamari — not spongy or springy by any means and not overly breaded either. Love the dipping sauces that came with; we settled on the citrus chili as our favorite.

Calamari Frittes detail — how cute is he?!

ENTREES

Up first on the list of entrees we were served was the House Burger ($14). First of all, the presentation can’t be beat — look at the height on that burger! Though I’m told the fries don’t always come like that… haha! But let’s start from the bottom of the burger and make our way up: bun, crispy onion straws, custom-grind burger patty made with ground sirloin, brisket and short rib, fried Panko-pepper encrusted Velveeta cheese slab, tomato, lettuce, pickle, bun and onion straws. YUP!

When I finally was able to cut the monster in half, I was left with this amazing, cheese-dripping sandwich. This was a totally incredible burger and I highly recommend that you give this one a go!

The Ocean City Stuffed Flounder ($30) was a big pile of fresh caught Flounder stuffed with Crab Imperial, broiled to perfection. I know this is a favorite at Coyne’s, but I have to say I was the least impressed with this dish. To me, it needed a little something more, but maybe that’s just because I was on flavor overload from all the other complex dishes. Though I did really enjoy the creamy bites of Crab Imperial — loaded with crab flavor!

BUT — the Coyne’s Famous Crab Cakes ($28). Okay, give me a minute to breathe just thinking about this dish again. Now, if you’re a true crabcake lover; I’m talking Maryland-style, tons of crab, barely any filler, super chunky kind of crabcakes, you know…..a TRUE crabcake lover….then you will leave here more than happy. These cakes are truly something special. The best compliment that you can give a crabcake is “Hey, you taste like crab!” and I know why here at Coyne’s — because they use 96-97% crab meat in their cakes. That’s a lot of crab and it certainly shows just from the outside.

Coyne’s has simultaneously converted me to a crabcake lover, and ruined me forever because I won’t be able to settle for anything less spectacular than these.

And last but certainly not least was the Cioppino ($22) seafood soup, which has pan seared shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and fish of the day in a red wine tomato broth with a side of jasmine rice. This was a big hit to me — the shrimp and scallops (U/10, sushi-grade!) were both huge and perfectly cooked and alongside all the other fresh seafood goodness, you simply cannot go wrong with this entree choice.

DESSERTS

And THIS, my friends! This is the Dessert Trio ($9) and seriously, why don’t ALL restaurants have little trio dishes like this so you don’t have to be torn between trying only one of several choices that you’re interested in? This, from left to right, is the Fresh Berry Parfait, Tootsie Egg Roll and Funnel Cake Fries. The parfait has housemade white chocolate mousse, seasonal berries and a slice of Baltimore’s Berger’s cookie. Next is a dessert eggroll stuffed with housemade cheesecake and Tootsie Rolls! And last but NOT least, the funnel cake fries covered with a dusting of powdered sugar. The only complaint I have here is that I wish there was more Tootsie Rolls in the eggrolls! The perfect way to end a decadent meal, without having to choose between favorites!

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Cloaked Restaurant Review

This is the part where I have an anonymous review done to critique the entire restaurant experience in a undercover way so that you can get a good idea of what it’s like for the typical restaurant-goer like yourself! It keeps us all honest!! Here’s what they said:

Initial Impression

It’s a common misconception: eateries at the mall are going to be somewhat lacking. A food court with glorified fast food at best, pouty teens, screaming kids and exasperated moms.

Not so at Coyne’s Pier 28.

Pier 28 is more “technically attached to the mall entrance” than the typical stand nestled between a low-budget pizza joint and a pretzel shop. It’s a full-fledged restaurant with an extensive seafood menu to match, and it’s not to be trifled with.

We were immediately greeted and seated, opting to take an actual table (and there were several available on a Friday night) over the comfortable-looking bar/lounge/bistro area. The restaurant is relatively new, and it shows. Modern design, very clean, maybe a tad too dim inside, but still very comfortable. One look at the menu, and we couldn’t wait to dig in.

The Food

After passing on a well-described cocktail (which sounded appealing to my sidekick except for one liquor ingredient), my partner in crime took a margarita that came with plenty of the good stuff in it. We chose to start with the Pier 28 Crab Balls and the Grouper Cheeks. The crab balls were excellent, as they were basically small crab cakes with a crisp fried coating. Many places try to keep their crab cakes together with a too-wet slathering of mayo and flavors in the middle as a binder, but these were fresh crab through and through, and had an excellent texture that wasn’t dry. If there was a light binding used, it wasn’t enough to take away from a very rich crab flavor. The accompanying sauces were excellent pairings in the flavors of sweet mustard, a tangy tartar and, surprisingly, a marinara-like sauce that actually worked very well. The grouper bites were just as good, with a dark, crisp breading that held some very light, fluffy fish. If we were just in the mood for some bar-style tapas, we would have been satisfied with these, but we pressed on.

Our main courses arrived and did not disappoint. I got the Sea Scallops, she got the Stuffed Flounder, and it was a tough choice between which was better. My scallops came well-cooked in a sauce that there could never be too much of – Sherry Bacon Vinaigrette. This was such a rich dish with such large offerings of scallops that while my mouth was sad to only four, my tummy was thankful it stopped at four. The stuffed flounder was every bit as delicious, which was a bit tricky: it’s easy to overbake and overbroil stuffed fish and lose moisture and flavor quickly, and over-browning it will sort of meld that seared oven-taste into the rest of the dish, but Pier 28 pulled it off like they invented it. Everything was cooked to perfection, and the taste delivered. Both dishes came with seasoned vegetables that were good and au gratin potatoes that stole the show. Rich, creamy without being slathered, well-prepared potatoes.

If the word “rich” keeps coming up in flavor descriptions, it’s for good reason. We decided to split a dessert that kept along the same lines, a smooth White Chocolate Mousse with seasonal berries in a parfait glass. Completely decadant, completely delicious, a perfect end to an excellent meal.

Overall Impressions

This was a surprisingly great stop at the Westfield Shopping Center. It was refreshing to see a restaurant deliver at such a high standard in such an unlikely location. They offer a few dishes outside of just seafood, and they’re probably also very good, but missing out on the seafood at Coyne’s Pier 28 would be a mistake.

Cloaked Review Ratings

Service
Friendliness
Cleanliness
Value
Food Quality & Menu
Overall Rating

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Read my review on:

Review Disclaimer: This review is part of a series of restaurant reviews that follows The Watering Mouth’s restaurant review guidelines. My Tasting photographs may not show the true portion of a meal a typical customer would receive. These reviews are based on two visits to a restaurant, one open Tasting where I taste and photograph a restaurant’s best dishes, and one full, anonymous review (like the typical restaurant-goer would experience) found at the bottom. We are honest with our reviews, and assume that each restaurant is consistently performing to the standards we experienced!

Quick Summary:
Libby’s is a Sarasota staple for restaurants. With their hip location, ever-changing menu and imaginative creations, there’s something for everyone here! My cloaked reviewer’s had an amazing time — their ratings were practically off the charts!

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Background Info on the Review

I’ve been to Libby’s now probably about 5 or 6 times to dine for various reasons: business meetings, French-language get-togethers, friends from out of town, etc. And every time I have been very pleased with my experience. This restaurant has been here since 2008 and I wanted to give you some fun facts and info about the menu and pricing, because they have a lot of ways you can save money on your visit:

Libby’s debuts new menus two times per year — one is tailored toward summer/fall and the toward other winter/spring. The focus of the menu is on an extensive variety of small and large plates — ranging from $3 to $38.  They try to source as many local products as possible — menu features Florida Grouper, Shrimp, Snapper, local Caviar — and all dressings are house made.  Many of the menu items are adaptations from the owner childhoods as well as the Chef’s, who brings an Italian-American heritage plus some other ethnic twists to the restaurant’s Modern American Cuisine.

Inside tips for  best dining values/days include:

Daily Happy Hour — 4-7 pm 50% of bar plates 13 different selections — and hearty enough for a real meal — Burgers, Katsu Salad, Libbstacker (all things sandwich in one!), Seoul Kitchen Chicken Lettuce Cups, Double Dragon Flash Fry, Meatloaf Sliders (at discount, cost is $4-$7.50); also 2 for one egg rolls (drool over the pics below) — house wine is $4.50 a glass, Signature Drinks and Cocktails, $6, plus beer specials.

There is a Tuesday Handheld Special — sandwich of the week plus side and craft beer, house wine or non-alcoholic drink of choice — all for $10. Wine Wednesdays, 50% off top tier special wine list of premium bottles of wine — Silver Oak, Far Niente, Duckhorn and more. Early Dining Prix Fixe – 3 courses with 7-10 options for 1st and 2nd course and 3 dessert options, plus glass of house wine or beer for $15 per person, 4-6 pm daily (order must be placed by 6 pm). And the best way to stay informed and get additional specials for dining: Libby’s L-Club — member only notices and offers. Sign up on-line at www.libbyscafebar.com.

Let’s get on with the review, shall we?

Looking at Libby’s from across the street at Morton’s.

The outdoor seating at Libby’s.

Indoor view of the main dining room.

Cheri’s Food Review

APPETIZERS

These are the scrumptious little biscuits you get served with dinner. As a self-proclaimed carb-aholic, I look forward to these biscuits with every visit. Check out the next picture to see the awesome, imaginative accompaniments that come with the biscuits.

This is the little dish that comes with the biscuits — there’s some liqueur cherries, truffle butter and roasted garlic in oil. How could you go wrong with this decadence? Trust me, this is so good and so out of the ordinary. (Pro tip: rub some garlic on the bread and add a cherry: you’ll be in heaven!)

These are the Wholesome Farms Deviled Eggs. They are sweet and spicy with a pretty complex flavor for a deviled egg. This isn’t your holiday party deviled egg! And with local caviar on top, it’s not something you’d normally see as an appetizer, but boy does it work! Just the right amount of food to get your tummy working…

And onto the stars of the show. We were served a course of 5 EGG ROLLS! If you want to win someone over right away, serve them some amazing fried food and see how quickly they warm up to you. There were a lot of choices here, and there is definitely something for every tastebud. What you have here from back to front is a Grilled Vegetable Eggroll, a Jersey Boardwalk (meatballs and marinara) like a meatball sandwich!, The Citizens Bank Park Cheesesteak Eggroll (just what it sounds like – a Philly Cheesesteak! with shaved ribeye, caramelized onion, cheez whiz and srirach catsup! THIS was easily my favorite), the Ybor City (veal chorizo, grilled ham, melted Manchego cheese, banana peppers, cilantro and tomatillo aioli – Dad’s absolute favorite, after much deliberating) and finally a Reuben Eggroll (a deep-fried reuben — what could be better?!).

 So. Good. *drooling*

The Ybor City Eggroll. Look at all that melted cheese in there!

The Grilled Vegetable Eggroll. One of our waitress’ all-time favorite. Not my favorite, but like I said, something for everyone!

This is the Wasabi Seared Yellowfin Tuna appetizer. I expected this to be a lot more spicy and was really pleased to find it had just the right level of kick and flavor. From the calm softness of the tuna to the crunchy wasabi pea tempura coating to the ginger Thai chili sauce, and even to the crisp, ocean fresh tasting cucumber salad, I thought this appetizer hit the mark in a subtle, pleasant, yet complex way.

“Karubi” Pork Belly Ribs were served with a honey wasabi barbecue sauce and a sweet apple kimchi. Kimchi is a typical Korean food of fermented vegetables often served with meat at a Korean barbecue. But this kimchi of apple was a nice surprise and complemented the pork belly in a great, sort of deconstructed pork-chops-and-apple-sauce kind of way. The sweet flavor of the apple complemented the sweet, spicy, smoky barbecue. The pork belly itself was absolutely perfectly tender, moist and juicy with a sauce that didn’t overpower the flavor of the pork at all. This would be a great way to start any meal.

ENTREES

My favorite entree of the tasting came out first and it was the Four Cheese and Pear Tortelloni. Yep, you read that right: cheese and pear pasta. I’ve never had something like this before: it was such a great surprise. The tortelloni is served in a white truffle crema which can be prepared without the truffle if you prefer. We could definitely spot the truffle taste, but it was a really wonderful complement to the sweetness of the pear. And fruit inside pasta? That totally works! I loved biting into the soft pasta and getting the familiar taste and texture of pear. A must-try if you like different kinds of pasta!

See the pear in there?

Next up was the Blackened Local Red Grouper. This was served over a bed of shaved brussel sprouts, chunks of applewood smoked bacon and a citrus sweet butter. I have to say, the first thing you’ll notice about this fish is the kick! Man, that’s a lot of blackening spice! A bit too much for me; you’ve gotta be into spicy blackening to get into this dish, but the butter sauce and lemon juice tone it down a bit. We loved the way the fish was cooked — perfectly moist and tender. And I thought the brussel sprouts were so delicious, I made some at home just days later because I missed the taste!

Just look at this dish — how gorgeous! This is the Grilled Veggie Chop Salad — truffle roasted seasonal vegetables, lemon and shaved reggiano with a simple olive oil and balsamic dressing. This is the dish for those veggie lovers – they were cooked perfectly, retaining their individual levels of crunch and brightness and that parmesan didn’t hurt either! And the presentation was so beautiful, I just fell in love with it immediately. I added a little salt to my bites because I felt it could have used a bit more, but this is a great, fresh option for vegetarians.

This dish made my knees weak; can you tell I’m a meat eater? This is the Center Cut Boneless Short Rib with shallot barollo braising jus, shepards pie fritter, white truffle honey and gorgonzola mashed cauliflower. I’ll let your imagination run wild until the next photograph, but just imagine the meat just falling apart and being so tender and juicy — it reminds you of dinnertime back home when you were a kid — the world becomes bathed in a soft glow, the lights dim….okay, sorry I’m getting carried away. This meat is splendid; just wait till the next picture!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The flavor here is incredible and the garlic mashed potato cauliflower served along side is a perfect hearty companion to the shortribs. Eat your heart out.

DESSERTS

Dad and I absolutely thanked our lucky stars that they only planned one dessert for us at the tasting. This is the Warm Drunken Peach Crostata. Whomever plans this menu has a way with names, because everything sounds just so splendid! This tasted great too. You’ve got almond paste, amaretti crunch, vanilla bean ice cream and honey-caramel on top. This was somehow perfectly sweet, as in not overly sweet, very satisfying! The crostata is doughy and crisp at the same time in different places. You can tell the caramel is housemade because it hardens on the cold parts, creating a soft yet toothy texture. What a perfect way to end a meal of this magnitude.

Cloaked Restaurant Review

This is the part where I have an anonymous review done to critique the entire restaurant experience in a undercover way so that you can get a good idea of what it’s like for the typical restaurant-goer like yourself! It keeps us all honest!! Here’s what they said:

Initial Impression

It’s easy to think of the Hillview area of Sarasota as a ‘downtown away from downtown’ with its line of high-level restaurants, variety of bars and specialty shops and stores. Where it exceeds its more metropolitan relative is at Libby’s, an upper-middle end steak restaurant that offers excellent cuisine in an upscale setting. The restaurant itself, with its dark but comfortable interior, elegant adjacent bar and outdoor seating that is just as comfortable as dining indoors was more than we expected. On a busy Friday night, it was a 30 minute wait to be seated, but it seemed closer to 20 as we spent the time in the beautiful bar off the dining room. The drink menu there was expansive, with a ton of specialty martinis and cocktails that did not disappoint (the Espresso Martini was a particular hit at our table). Note: we took the best pics we could, but with the dim lighting and it being 8 pm, it proved a bit much for our meager iPhone cameras.

The Food

We started with the Jersey Boardwalk eggrolls ($8), an interesting combination of a traditional eggroll wrapped around a meatball, cheese and basil filling. The result was an appetizer that was delicious and full of italian flavor not at all at odds with the eggroll. It was executed more as a mini stromboli, but the crisp flaky crust made it stand out. We also opened with the Double Dragon Flash fry, a mixture of shrimp and calamari batter-fried and served with a sweet and spicy Thai chili glaze that was one of the best accompanying sauces we’ve ever tasted. It was rich without being heavy, spicy without burning the mouth, sweet without being overly sugary or syrup-based. The shrimp and calamari were perfectly cooked and the breading was the perfect level of crispiness, but the sauce really brought it to life above and beyond what we expected.

I usually tend to steer away from hamburgers as a food to base a main-course review on, but for once I felt like I had to try the Half Pound Prime Burger ($12), and I wasn’t disappointed. This burger was full of beef flavor that didn’t rely on overly cooking the outside or using the obvious seasonings that would otherwise mask it. It was cooked well, it was very filling, and the truffle fries (which seem to be becoming more en vogue these days) were an excellent side. They were well done and, like the burger, didn’t rely on truffle seasoning to mask the rich natural flavor of the potato, but only used a little to accent it. My dining companion chose (or let me choose) the Pan Roasted Chicken Breast Roulade ($17), and it was easily the star of the table.

It wasn’t just that the flavors of the spinach and gorgonzola topping and the gorgonzola mashed cauliflower somehow managed to not get in each other’s way. It wasn’t just that the blood orange balsamic and mushroom sauces somehow blended together to find a tangy yet rich way to compliment the dish. The chicken was so perfectly cooked, it made me realize that every chicken I’ve had in other restaurants had been stringy or over/underdone by comparision. The texture of the chicken was so perfect, it defies a true description, and deserves its own dining experience. Everything on the menu looks appealing, but this is the dish that I would keep coming back for and recommend to someone else.

After such a fantastic dinner, we had grand plans to try more than one dessert, but ended up settling on the Molten Chocolate Chip Cookie ($8), because we simply couldn’t fit anything else after it, and it looked fantastic when it was served to a nearby table. Again, our choice was a good one, and the traditional cookie and ice cream combination was executed in a way that made other attempts seem amateurish by comparison. It was soft without being underdone, and stayed firm through the course despite being mixed with ice cream on the plate, which is a more difficult feat than it sounds.

Overall Impressions

Our entire experience at Libby’s was fantastic. Our bartenders and servers were friendly and knowledgeable, and they never kept us waiting on anything. The food was absolutely perfect, and if Libby’s delivers it the same way every single night, it’s an excellent excuse to skip downtown and spend an evening there.

Cloaked Review Ratings

Service
Friendliness
Cleanliness
Value
Food Quality & Menu
Overall Rating

—————————

Read my review on:

Review Disclaimer: This review is part of a series of restaurant reviews that follows The Watering Mouth’s restaurant review guidelines. My Tasting photographs may not show the true portion of a meal a typical customer would receive. These reviews are based on two visits to a restaurant, one open Tasting where I taste and photograph a restaurant’s best dishes, and one full, anonymous review (like the typical restaurant-goer would experience) found at the bottom. We are honest with our reviews, and assume that each restaurant is consistently performing to the standards we experienced!

Egg Nog is my absolute favorite thing about the holiday season. Hands-down. I’m a die-hard fan. One year when I worked in a building with a donut shop downstairs, I ordered an eggnog latte almost every single day. I ordered them so often, that the lady proprietor stocked up on the last of the eggnog from the store just so she should continue to make my drink for me as long as possible after the eggnog left the store shelves.

It’s kind of an addiction.

And I love that adding just one liquor can take the drink from creamy, family soothing drink to awesome party drink in 2 seconds. So I’ve collected the easiest ways to make the drink, 3 of my favorites, and put them into one video for you to make it easy on all of us! Liquor and eggnog is the kind of drink that greases the wheels at the family party, if you get what I mean. So indulge and have fun!

And happy holidays, everyone.

Quick Summary:

C’est La Vie is a deliciously authentic French bakery and cafe restaurant in the heart of downtown that serves some really incredible breakfast and lunch. Everyone should make a trip here to experience it for themselves!

C’est La Vie, Sarasota, FL
1552 Main St, Sarasota, FL  34236
Cuisine: French, Breakfast/Brunch, Bakery
Price Rating:  Entrees under $10
Review Date:   November 13 and December 1, 2012

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Background Info on the Review

Since I worked downtown for a large part of the seven years that I’ve lived in Florida, I’ve had a lot of opportunity to visit the downtown restaurants. And C’est La Vie has been no exception — I have gone here on many occasions to grab a quick lunch bite and really loved it every time. I also have to give the background of my having lived in France for about 2 years as well, so I can spot authentic French food pretty easily.

And for someone like me, it’s nice to be able to go to a restaurant and practice some of my rusting French with a native. When I met Christophe, the owner, I was delighted to get to know this Parisian man who is not only delightful as a person, but is really funny too! There is a multicultural staff (there’s even a Hungarian waiter!) and you can expect to have some of the most delicious pastries here, so be sure to plan ahead for your diet when you come.

I like the interior of this restaurant, it feels cozy to me. The outdoor seating is typically European and I wish more places downtown had the same kind of seating; it creates a relaxed atmosphere where you can go to enjoy your newspaper or morning coffee in solace on a great area of Main Street.

During my Tasting visit, I was sitting near a couple who were obviously regulars. When I do my Tastings, I usually get asked a few questions from on-lookers as to why I’m photographing the food or who I work for. This couple made it a point to give me the perspective of someone who has been visiting the restaurant for years — they couldn’t say more nice things about C’est La Vie. I will leave that up to you to experience, but to me, I highly recommend it.

I have personally noticed a bit slower service when sitting outside, and it just reminded me of the typical service you receive in France. It’s not so much about getting you out the door here as it is letting you enjoy. But just keep that in mind if you’re in a big rush.

Typical French pastries — everything here is to die for. If you have an aversion to butter, you’ve been warned! HA!

Cheri’s Food Review

ENTREES

This crusty, fresh baguette bread comes with your meal, along with cold pats of butter. There are two types of baguette, traditional and more modern. And you won’t be disappointed with either, this is real, great French bread!

My Tasting started with the Salade Amandine, which was a salad of fresh, mixed greens, raisins, sliced almonds, with two mounds of rich goat cheese coated with nuts and quickly fried. The salad was exquisite, simple and fresh with perfectly emulsified vinaigrette on the side. The salad blended nutty creaminess of the goat cheese with the sweet freshness of the raisins and salad. A nice light meal with just enough bulk to keep you going but not weigh you down!

What French breakfast and lunch restaurant would be complete without the Quiche Lorraine? This was a thinner version than I am used to, but when you take a look at the closeup, you’ll know that it’s enough! Salty chunks of bacon floating in the egg and cheese mixture, served with a side salad or potatoes. The crust is buttery, rich and flaky.

The last entree I chose was the basic Paris baguette sandwich. They have a lot of choices for sandwiches here and I love this one even though it was plain — if you knew me as a kid, you’d know what I always ordered was just turkey and provolone on white, with nothing else! So this was right up my alley. It’s the perfect sandwich to grab and go. But that’s not to say they’re all just as basic as this. Every time I go there myself, I order the Monte Carlo sandwich which has proscuitto, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil and I am transported back in time to when I lived in Paris as a poor college student. I could only afford this basic sandwich, that you can buy on almost any corner and take with you when you walk. It tastes exactly like what I’d get back there and I just love that nostalgia. A big paragraph for such a regular sandwich, I know, but at C’est La Vie, they’ve really got the staples down pat. And if you want to know what food is like in France, then this is a great start.

DESSERTS

Cloaked Restaurant Review

This is the part where I have an anonymous review done to critique the entire restaurant experience in a undercover way so that you can get a good idea of what it’s like for the typical restaurant-goer like yourself! It keeps us all honest!! Here’s what they said:

Initial Impression

Among the hustle and bustle of Saturday morning foot traffic, around the corner from the farmer’s market, sits C’est la Vie! a popular French bistro in downtown Sarasota. In an area where there are plenty of other options, people are drawn to this unassuming establishment with a surprisingly large dining room and an outdoor patio seating area. Inside, patrons line up to shop the display case full of fresh pastries and breads available for carry-out. They seem to have tried to fit as many tables and chairs into the space as they can, and while the quarters are a little close it doesn’t feel cramped. On this cloudless, cool morning, a table on the patio opened up, and so our visit began.

The Food

The drink order was taken almost immediately, and within a few short minutes a café au lait was delivered to the table, with a glass of ice water. Café au lait may not sound noteworthy, but it was made with high quality coffee cut just right with milk, it was exactly what this meal called for. The only glitch during our meal was that our drinks were never refilled. The drinks were quickly followed by four, thick slices of a baguette, with a side of butter, and the pastries that were ordered.

The apricot croissant that arrived was flaky on the outside, accented with apricot slices baked inside, and dusted with powdered sugar. A beignet followed, but it was different than what I am used to. My only experience to date with beignets is from Café du Monde in New Orleans, and this was nothing like that. This was more of a yeast donut, sweet and airy, with a very light sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar on top. To clarify, while not what I’m used to, this was delicious! Other types of toppings were offered, apricot, raspberry, or whipped cream, and while all sounded heavenly, plain is the true test and did it ever excel.

You can hardly go to a French bistro without indulging in crepes, and I opted for Crepe Paysanne. Made with buckwheat flour, which I was told is the traditional method, and filled with cheese, bacon, potatoes, and eggs this dish was surprisingly light and satisfying. It was served with a salad made primarily of romaine lettuce, with tomato, red onions, corn, and a side of dressing that I can only describe as a creamy vinaigrette. It made for a wonderful accompaniment to the richness of the crepe and its filling. The last part of the meal was a Croq’ Monsieur with a side of potatoes.

I actually meant to order the Croq’ Madame, one of my favorite sandwiches, but had a brain lapse. Even with this minor oversight, I thoroughly enjoyed the toasted ham and cheese sandwich, topped with loads of béchamel sauce. The side dish was some of the best home style fried potatoes I have ever had, crispy and lightly salted. The combination of the two made for a savory plate that was easy to enjoy.

Overall Impressions

At no point do you ever forget you are in a French bistro, but there are times as you hear the various languages of European tourists that you forget you’re in Sarasota. Overall, I only thought the bathroom could have used some work. Other than that, the staff is friendly, courteous and helpful with suggestions when asked. Based on the small sample of the diverse menu, I can only assume there’s something for everyone here. I can say, with all certainty, I’m looking forward to returning, perhaps for lunch to sample their wine and beer selection.

Cloaked Review Ratings

Service
Friendliness
Cleanliness
Value
Food Quality & Menu
Overall Rating

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Read my review on: 

Review Disclaimer: This review is part of a series of restaurant reviews that follows The Watering Mouth’s restaurant review guidelines. My Tasting photographs may not show the true portion of a meal a typical customer would receive. These reviews are based on two visits to a restaurant, one open Tasting where I taste and photograph a restaurant’s best dishes, and one full, anonymous review (like the typical restaurant-goer would experience) called the Cloaked Review. We are honest with our reviews, and assume that each restaurant is consistently performing to the standards we experienced!

Happy Chanukah! Some of the most beautifully decorated cookies are made at this time of year. One of the best cookies to use for a blank canvas is the sugar cookie.

Unfortunately, a lot of sugar cookie recipes are ho-ho-ho-hum, if you know what I mean! You can decorate the most beautiful cookie on the block, but if it falls short on flavor, so has your mission. These lemon sugar cookies pack a bright citrus punch. They’re light, lemony and crispy…a good Florida twist on the traditional sugar cookie.

All you’ll need is your creativity and a little time to spare during the busy holiday season! Happy holidays to all and bon appetite!

Carol’s Lemon Sugar Cookies
Prep time: 35 minutes active, 2 hours 35 minutes total (includes chilling time)
Makes about 24 cookies

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
4 sheets parchment paper

DIRECTIONS

1. Using an electric mixer, beat the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Beat in the flour. Put dough in plastic wrap, form a disk, wrap tightly and refrigerate until dough is firm, but not hard, about 2 hours.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

4. Cut the dough disk in half. Secure a piece of parchment to the counter top (masking or freezer tape works well). Lightly flour the parchment, as well as your rolling pin. Carefully roll out one disk to about 1/4 inch thickness (if you like very crispy cookies, roll a bit thinner, or if you like softer cookies, roll a bit thicker. Just remember to adjust your bake time a bit accordingly). Flour your cookie cutters & cut cookies, leaving them still embedded in the dough, transfer the whole sheet of parchment back into the refrigerater for about 15-20 minutes, until the dough hardens again. Removal of the cookie cut-outs will be much easier now. Transfer the cookies to the parchment-lined cookie sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 14 minutes, until the edges start to lightly brown. Cool completely on a rack. Cookies can be made 2 days in advance. Store in an air-tight container.

For the Glaze
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk

DIRECTIONS
1. Mix the sugar and milk in a small bowl
2. Brush or spread lightly over cookie, add decorations, set aside on a rack to let it set for about 30 minutes.

NOTES: You can easily use a citrus flavor glaze as well, or you can do decorative sugars and sprinkles before you bake the cookies. These cookies taste great just plain, too!

“I went to a restaurant that serves “breakfast at any time”. So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance.” — Steven Wright

The close-up of this one is just soooo pretty, don’t you think? So what’s your guess — what do you think it is?? Only guesses entered in the comments below count! The prize for winning this time is a one-year supply of my admiration (Retail Value $37.96)! Goooooooood luck!!

Check out this lovely infographic for a list of 10 healthy snacks under 100 calories! If you like this and want to receive more, sign up for our email list below and they will be sent to you automatically!!

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10 Healthy Snacks Under 100 Calories

1. 1 block or 3 squares of dark chocolate
2. 1/2 frozen banana dipped in 2 squares melted dark chocolate
3. 1 Fig Newton with 2 teaspoons peanut butter
4. 1 tennis ball sized orange sprinkled with cinnamon
5. 1/2 cup Rice Krispies with 1/2 cup milk
6. 1/4 cup boiled edamame with 1 teaspoon soy sauce
7. 2 cups air-popped popcorn with 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
8. 1 over easy egg with 1/2 slice whole grain toast
9. 8 medium boiled shrimp with 2 tbsp cocktail sauce
10. 2 pretzel rods with 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard