2 minute read
BOWLS
scallions, bean sprouts, kamaboko, garlic and chili oil with chili threads and add either pork belly, tempura shrimp, grilled chicken or tofu. Scared of spice? Snag a pork belly steam bun ($5.65) and you’ll see what the pig deal is about.
SCREAMING GOAT TAQUERIA
6566 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, 941210-3992, Screaming-Goat.com
Rice, rice baby: A few rice bowls ago, I was gluten and dairy free and Screaming Goat was my saving grace — everything, except the tortillas used for burritos, is gluten free at this go-to tacqueria. Vegans and vegetarians will also be excited by the Gulf Gate establishment’s menu, which is all made from scratch each day.
Eye of the Be-Bowler: Batter up, bowler. Bowls ($11.95) start with citrus rice, black beans, your choice of protein, salsa and five toppings. Mouth-watering proteins include pork Cochinita Pibil, beef barbacoa ($2), pollo asado, curried sweet potato, masa-dusted cauliflower, Latin falafel and my treasured pick, the vegan chorizo. Select from all gluten-free toppings such as curtido, roasted mushrooms and guac (it’s extra, duh) just to name a few. Finish your bowl-o-masterpiece with one of seven salsas — this ravenous bowler gets either the avocado-tomatillo or chimichurri.
Time to Impro-Rice: The slogan at the Goat should be, “Let’s give them something to taco ’bout.” SGT signature craft tacos ($4.25) are nacho average corn sandwiches. From the beef barbacoa with Guajillochipotle salsa, pico de Gallo radish and queso fresco to the vegan chorizo with Scotch bonnet-roasted pineapple salsa, arugula and sweet corn relish you are ensured to have a fantas-taco foodie fun experience at the Goat.
KOREAN SSAM BAR 1303 N. Washington Blvd., Sarasota, 941-312-6264, facebook.com/
KoreansSamBar
Rice, rice baby: After five years of relentlessly relaying to a coworker that this was the best-kept secret in Sarasota, she sat down at the 10-ish table family owned restaurant and ordered the dish I had been dying for her to dig into. She texted me a photo of the glutenfree bowl with one phrase to follow, “It’s O-mazing.” Like many others, you’ve probably driven by this holein-the-wall (that was in Bradenton for 11 years and now in Sarasota for 6 years) hundreds of times — next time, stop and smell the SSAM and then thank me later.
Eye of the Be-Bowler: Have you ever had a meal that intensified all your senses? Hearing the sizzle, smelling the selection of seasonings, looking at the love that went into the plate, picking up the spoon (The owner told me to NOT use the chopsticks) and stirring the mixture of gorgeous goodness before you and then BAM! The experience takes you to a place of comfort and heightened happiness? This meal does that. The stone pot bibimbap ($14) has successfully solidified its spot as one of my favorite meals I’ve consumed in Sarasota. Rice topped with a choice of beef, pork, chicken, tofu or spicy squid ($2+) with a fried egg in a stone bowl mixed with red pepper paste an assortment of Korean sides will blow your bowler brain.
Time to Impro-Rice: I often won’t tell you to order one thing and one thing only, but this bibimbap has transformed so many tastebuds since I’ve spread the word, I feel like it would be disservice to direct you to any other dish (other than the bulgogi, which is brilliant). So I say this, order the hot sake with an appetizer, like the Korean Kimchi pancake ($10) that said co-worker told me to order next time I go there for dinner (which was last night).
