What’s in a name? EVERYTHING!!!  

My gut told me Mozzarella Fella was going to be something good. My gut was wrong--it isn’t  just good, it's GREAT!


Picture yourself tucking into real New York bread--you know, the kind you have to tug at with your teeth--and getting just the right pull to know your sandwich has gumption. Then think about tender veal cutlet, breaded and topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, sautéed broccoli rabe with sliced garlic. And then go ahead: top that bite with sundried tomatoes. Now you'll see why Mozzarella Fella's sandwiches are not just good--they are Staten Island/Brooklyn on a sunny summer day good. This is real deal Italian. All the place needs now is fresh lemon ice and I might just sit down and cry for joy!


Other sandwiches blew me away, too. We tried fried eggplant with mozzarella and yellow peppers, as well as a chicken parm sandwich--just outright gooey classics. I love you, Mozzarella Fella--by far best sandwiches in town!!!  My next visit may involve a fried calamari, red onion and lemon mayo sandwich--how can I abandon my napkin so easily? Heck no--I am staying with my three-sandwich rule.


The salads are just as good, all served with fresh greens, including a real tomato-mozzarella salad seasoned with that slight bite of sea salt and full of ripe tomatoes. The prices at Mozzarella Fella average about seven to eight bucks for a full sandwich, and I would sell my car for one. Well, maybe that is a bit over-dramatic, but these prices are beyond fair and are some of the best downtown. Only one complaint--I wish the staff didn’t have to wear those darn Yankee hats. But heck, for the incredible sandwiches Mozzarella Fella is putting out, this Red Sox fan will gladly ignore the poor taste in baseball.

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Since the fearless and unique Mr. Chatterbox announced his very own Best Of picks, how could I resist picking my own? There must be a best of second-tier list somewhere. Certainly we all have our own best of lists--some unique and some worthy of their own holidays. Heck, if there is a National Stinky Cheese Day, Cherry Turnover Day and--wait for it--Swiss Winegrowers Day, Sarasota deserves a special list of Best Ofs that didn’t  quite make the magazine.

Best cheap burger with the most “worth it” calories: Grass-fed burger stand downtown Saturday Farmer’s Market

Best Bad Attitude of a Restaurant: Sorry, I am not allowed to say, but they do wear their honor well.

Best Egg Salad Sandwich on Toast (add a side of bacon on top): Where Elvis ate, of course. Edith Barr Dunn got me hooked years ago

Best Place to Meet a Gourmet Chef: Shamrock Bar cookouts.


Best Jewish Deli: Still in NYC

Best Coffee-Flavored Yogurt that Really Tastes Like Coffee (eaten after shopping at Target on Fruitville): Orange Leaf


Best Restaurant to Take Norman and RJ, the Dogs: A tie between Gecko's on Hillview (they each get their own water bowl) and Taste of Asia--they get a standard order of rice with chicken broth, hold the chopsticks.

Best Good News About the Restaurant Scene: Good Chinese is coming this year!

Best Excuse I've Heard for Closing a Restaurant: “I thought the landlord was going to finance it”



Best Place to Order One Meal and Feed Your Cul de Sac: Country Pancake House on Lakewood Ranch

Best Oyster shooter with Bloody Mary Foam: The Table

Best Place to Spot a Cardiologist Eating Lunch: JR’s Packinghouse

Best Bang for Your Buck: A full basket of pick-your-own tomatoes at Hunsader farms-$1.00

Do you have a quirky "Best Of"? Let me know by clicking on the comment button.

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For more foodie bits and bytes, follow @ChefJudi on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

And for even more ways to get Sarasota Magazine, become a fan on Facebook or follow @SarasotaMagazin on Twitter.

It was a near out of body experience this past Friday evening. Yara and David Shoemaker celebrated their marriage with an incredible party that made us all feel like royalty. Yara, certainly one of the best additions to the style and hostess scene in Sarasota, created an elegant experience, from the invitation to the performance of young opera star Jackie Evancho, the fireworks and the white lounge desserts tent.


The tables glistened at sunset while guests were treated to strolling trays of caviar and champagne. I must say that Michael’s On East deserves their continued awards for best caterers. Even the Who’s Who of local restaurants were admiring the flawless dinner of pan-seared Chilean sea bass with lobster in a light curry broth and the perfectly seared rack of lamb. Phil Mancicni, you outdid yourself on this one. And by the way: Happy 25th anniversary of being the Top Man.


The next day was a special treat as Marsha Fottler, our own Martha Stewart (only prettier and nicer), hosted a true Lilly Pulitzer baby shower for her beautiful niece Zadie.


The flowers were pink and green, as was the hostess’s outfit and little Zadie's, and the cake was a perfect pink, of course, too. Tea sandwiches and sparkling lemonade were served up with trinkets for each guest the way only Marsha can do it. And truth be told, when I am hosting a dinner party, Marsha often runs over to decorate the table.

So, as you can see, I would confidently say it was a stellar weekend of friends and celebrations--let them eat cake!