Eat & Drink: New Eats for the New Year

By Rick Dakan

It’s traditional to start off a new year with a new diet, right? In 2019 I’m still going to try to eat healthier, just like most of us, but I’m also going to double down on eating more widely. I want to expand my dining palate in every direction, and think a new year is the perfect time for new restaurants. I’ve got three recommendations this month, all of them quick service, a little unusual, and new to Sarasota. 

Curry Up King

935 N Beneva Rd 

(Sarasota Commons shopping center)

941.552.8684

I love Berlin, Germany and have been there many times. I expected to be fascinated by the history and enthralled by the art scene, but had no idea I’d come to love German street food. Currywurst is the iconic Berliner sidewalk snack: sausage with curry ketchup on it and either french fries or a crusty roll. It can’t be good for you, but I became addicted to it. 

Now I can (and do) get my currywurst fix right here in Sarasota at the new Curry Up King. This petite eatery serves a focused menu of German street food classics: sausage, pretzels, schnitzel, and strudel with fries, sauerkraut, red cabbage, or potato salad on the side and German beer to wash it all down. Despite the sausage and schnitzel-focused menu, Curry Up King has not forgotten the vegetarians. One thing I’ve found in my doctor-directed mission to eat less meat is that vegan sausages are often almost as good as the real thing, and you can get your currywurst in plate or sandwich form with veggie sausage instead of pork. 

I have to admit though, as much as I like revisiting my old curried friend, I really like Curry Up King’s schnitzel sandwich. Served on a crispy roll with curry lemon mayo, it’s hot and fatty and delicious. And here’s my pro tip: go ahead and get a side of the curry sauce and dip the sandwich in it as you eat. The best of both dishes.

Charlie’s Bulgogi

4567 Bee Ridge Rd

Sarasota has been behind the the curve when it comes to Korean cuisine, but thankfully that has finally changed. One of the local trailblazers was Charlie’s Bulgogi, which started out as a small food truck in a gas station parking lot, then grew to a full-sized food truck that’s become a regular at local events, and has now become a full service restaurant with tables and everything. 

Korean flavors have gone mainstream, and it’s now easy to find “Korean Barbeque” flavored chips or beef jerky or probably popsicles someday, but those are usually pale imitations of the deep, rich flavor profile of Charlie’s speciality. Bulgogi is the real deal, marinated meat in a delicious sauce, served over rice or noodles. Charlie’s other specialty, BiBimBob, is a traditional Korean rice dish, with warm rice, vegetables, and usually a fried egg over it, making it a delicious vegetarian option. Or there’s the option of some meat as well, if you’re looking for a different but equally tempting change from the bulgogi. Since Charlie’s is still new, the menu is still evolving and growing. Just recently they added dongas, a fried pork cutlet sometimes referred to as “Korean Schnitzel.” So there’s two good schnitzel recommendations for you!

Fushi Poké

128 N Orange Ave

941.330.1795

Definitely one of my new favorite places for a quick and healthy lunch, Fushi Poké brings the Hawaiian fishermen’s dish to Sarasota, served quick and fresh in their stylish and welcoming downtown location. Poké refers to slices of fish, served raw like sushi and cut into bite-sized cubes. These are served in a bowl with a base of rice, noodles, or kale and then topped with condiments. It takes just a couple of minutes to assemble, and is all about the quality of the ingredients. I’m happy to report that, in my experience, everything at Fushi Poké is top quality and delicious. 

They offer raw tuna and salmon for the fish fiends like me, but for vegetarians there’s tofu and for carnivores there’s chicken. The restaurant has some tried and true set combos, like the Hawaiian (tuna, nori, maui onion, pickled radish, traditional spicy soy sauce, and white rice), but creating your own is as easy and fun as picking toppings at an ice cream sundae bar. I like a base of half kale and half soba noodles, topped with tuna, pickled radish, seaweed salad, scallions, traditional sauce, and the wonderful tempura flakes which give it a great crunch. 

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