Roast, 1296 First Street, 941-953-1971

Roast on Friday hosted a wine dinner in the private dining room upstairs in its beautiful historic location adjacent to the Opera House, in fair Sarasota where we lay our scene. Showcasing a portfolio of Masi wines from Verona, Italy the dinner paired Chef Andrew Thompson’s favorite Italian dishes with these superb wines. Each course built on the last beginning with the aperitif of Roasted Tomato Bruschetta and ending with the dessert of homemade Chocolate and Raspberry Cannolis. Black Mission Figs were a luxurious addition to the first course of Cantaloupe and Speck and I was delighted to taste the crisp, salty crackling on the Roast Porcetta accompanied by the Rosemary and Duck Fat Potatoes that have since made it to my version of the perfect last meal. Rich and tender Osso Buco with hand-rolled Saffron Pappardelle paired beautifully with my favorite wine of the evening the eminently drinkable Costasera Amaraone della Valpolicella, Masi Agricola, 2011. The meal ended on a fitting note when we discovered that one of the servers was also an opera singer and we were treated to an impromptu performance. Like Roast on Facebook or check their website for the next event. 

Roast, 1296 First Street, 941-953-1971