Sun and Fun in Sarasota

              

              

This resort even boasts a huge water slide that is very popular with kids of all ages, Steve included.  We stayed in the pool until we were so water logged that we were as wrinkled as prunes!  Finally we headed back to the RV to shower and get ready for dinner.  We have been to this area many times in the four years that we had our RV but each time it was to participate in an Art Show selling the one of a kind jewelry that I design and hand make (you can see my artistry at www.sandralynndesigns.com).  Due to this fact we never really checked out the dining scene because by the time we finished working a show we were so tired that all we cared about was finding a place that was open so that we could eat and go to sleep.  This time we were just there for some R&R so I went on line and did some research and found a couple of places that looked really interesting.  It is so helpful to be able to read restaurant menus on line.  I can tell a lot about the chef just by the way the menu is written.  For our first night's dinner we chose a place downtown called Mosaic at 1300 Main Street because the menu intrigued me.  Chef Dylan Elhajoul's cuisine originates in Morocco and the Mediterranean where an abundance of fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and fish are gathered daily. A country where so many cultures have left their mark.  Dylan?s cuisine reflects these influences from the western coast of Italy to the Rock of Gibraltar in southern Spain. The flavors include olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, lemon (fresh and preserved), eggplants, honey, fennel, aromatics, and so much more. The ingredients are not strange or exotic, but really quite familiar. However, the flavors  of his food are intoxicating.  We were seated by a window which was lovely because we could people watch as we dined.  Our server Bahya, who was from Morroco, and the manager Nathan, an American, were most gracious and helpful.  And as so often happens we were treated to some extras.  There are perks to having had business cards printed professionally with my blog address and picture!  Steve and I ordered a bottle of La Crema Pinot Noir which is one of our favorites.  As soon as the wine was poured, we ordered our meal.  We had had cocktails with cheeses, proscuitto and crackers in the RV when we returned from the pool so we weren't overly hungry.  As we so often do we chose to just have appetizers and dessert and were we glad we did.  First we shared the warm baby calamari escabèche and watercress salad of olives, chick peas, fennel dressed with a limoncello vinaigrette and the blue crab and mango Napoleon with baby cress and coriander-lime vinaigrette. Both were fabulous!  Next we were presented with an amuse bouche of chilled pear soup topped with a wonderfully tart sweet cranberry sorbet, compliments of the chef.  Then we devoured the Fricassée of escargot and shiitake mushrooms with white wine, fresh chives, and crème  fraîche and the crispy veal sweetbreads over applewood smoked pancetta and wilted escarole with orange-verjus beurre blanc.  I am salivating as I write this remember just how tantalizingly delectable Chef Elhajoul's food was.  And it didn't end there.  Our scrumptuous dessert was called Napoli it was a dark chocolate Frangelico molten cake topped with mango sorbet, accompanied by gianduja semifreddo and the plate was decorated with mango coulis and raspberry coulis.  All I can say is that we were really tempted to lick the plate.