Antoine's Restaurant, 1100 N Tuttle Ave., Sarasota 941-331-1400.

My favorite dish at Antoine’s has always been the Mussels Provencale and I tend to get stuck on a particular dish with the kind of fervent loyalty normally found in elementary school best friends. That’s why I’m always thrilled to have a dining companion, and at a recent photo shoot I was blessed to have SRQ Magazine photographer Wyatt Kostygan with me when owner Olivier Georges suggested he try the Filet Mignon En Croute, a beef filet mignon wrapped in puff pastry with a blue cheese filling served with steamed vegetables and creamer potato. The dish is beautiful and sinfully good with crisp flaky pastry, creamy tangy blue cheese and tender filet. Being South African, I immediately likened it to a meat pie but Olivier laughingly told us that a customer once proclaimed it the fanciest best tasting Hot Pocket he’d ever eaten. I can’t speak to that but it’s the best meat pie I’ve ever eaten—I may have a new favorite.

Antoine's Restaurant, 1100 N Tuttle Ave., Sarasota 941-331-1400.