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The Sandy Butler Restaurant and Gourmet Market is now offering summer specials including a new summer wine series and prix fixe menu through the end of September. Offered daily, The Sandy Butler’s summer prix fixe menu includes a three-course dinner and a glass of wine for $30 per person. In addition, The Sandy Butler is hosting monthly wine dinners on the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. for $35 per person.

Also during the summer months, the $18 cork fee for wines purchased in The Sandy Butler’s Gourmet Market and taken into the restaurant is waived. Members of the Bell Ringer Customer Loyalty Club at The Sandy Butler will receive 10 percent off all purchases in the market and restaurant, including special event dining through September.

“Our seasonal specials and wine series offer guests a variety of options and great value for gourmet summer dining,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “In addition, our outdoor veranda is now completely climate controlled, allowing guests to enjoy outdoor dining, private parties and events in a comfortable, sophisticated atmosphere.”

Boasting a 150-seat upscale restaurant and gourmet market, The Sandy Butler offers authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining destination, The Sandy Butler restaurant offers superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade has awarded The Sandy Butler its “Outstanding Retailers of 2010” award. One of six national specialty food retailers recognized, the winners were chosen based on the uniqueness of their product offerings, overall product knowledge and their focus on customer service. A locally owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit www.sandybutlerstore.com. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great recipes, specials and events.

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade has awarded The Sandy Butler its “Outstanding Retailers of 2010″ award. One of six national specialty food retailers recognized, the winners were chosen based on the uniqueness of their product offerings, overall product knowledge and their focus on customer service. The Sandy Butler will be recognized for this achievement during a special ceremony at the June 2010 Fancy Food Show in New York City.

“We are honored that The Sandy Butler is nationally recognized for our specialty food offerings and most importantly, our commitment to customer service,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “The Sandy Butler Restaurant and Gourmet Market has become a destination for local visitors as well as full-time and seasonal residents with an appreciation for gourmet, specialty foods. We are continuously creating innovative retail collections in our market and restaurant to offer unique, quality products that cannot be found at other restaurants or retail establishments.”

Among The Sandy Butler products and services reviewed in the award selection process were The Sandy Butler’s exclusive line of authentic products, “The Butler’s Signature,” which includes gourmet salts, seasonings, oils, jellies, jams and pickles that are sold exclusively at The Sandy Butler and marketed to other restaurants and markets throughout the United States.

Boasting a 150-seat upscale restaurant and gourmet market, The Sandy Butler offers authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining destination, The Sandy Butler restaurant offers superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. A locally owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit http://www.sandybutlerstore.com/. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great recipes, specials and events.

The Sandy Butler Restaurant will host an evening of art, wine and tapas on Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. Chef Michael Ragusa is serving a tapas menu with a Latin flare that will include beef empanadas, shredded pork on fried plantains and ceviche. The tapas will be paired with two wines from Argentina, a Shiraz and malbec.

While dining, guests will recreate Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece “The Starry Night.” Artist Annette Watkins, owner of Brushes and Bottles, LLC, a Fort Myers-based business that helps adult students tap into their creativity through painting, will provide art supplies and creative instruction to diners as they design their masterpiece.

“While enjoying Chef Ragusa’s specially crafted tapas menu, guests will enjoy participating in table-side art,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “Easels, paint and brushes will be provided as diners create their own interpretations of ‘The Starry Night’. The evening will be a unique combination of culinary delights and personalized art at The Sandy Butler Restaurant and ‘gallery’.” 

The cost of the event is $45 per person. For reservations, call 239-482-6765, ext. 1.
About The Sandy Butler:
The Sandy Butler defines the fine, fresh gourmet experience. Boasting a 150-seat upscale restaurant and gourmet market, The Sandy Butler offers authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining destination, The Sandy Butler restaurant offers superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. In addition, the market features “The Butler’s Signature,” The Sandy Butler’s exclusive line of authentic products including salts, seasonings and oils that are sold exclusively at The Sandy Butler and marketed to other restaurants and markets throughout the United States. A locally owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit www.sandybutler.com. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great recipes, specials and events.

The January issue of O, The Oprah Magazine features The Sandy Butler Group’s exclusive Fernando Pensato flavored olive oils in “The O List,” a column featuring a limited number of unique products selected by Oprah Winfrey or the publication’s editors. These authentic, imported olive oils are sold and distributed exclusively by The Sandy Butler Group. They are available in The Sandy Butler Market and online. In addition, Chef Michael Ragusa uses these products in a variety of The Sandy Butler Restaurant entrées. The products featured in O Magazine’s “The O List” include the Fernando Pensato Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), the Fernando Pensato Mandarin EVOO, The Fernando Pensato Truffle Olive Oil and the award-winning Fernando Pensato EVOO with Lemon.

“We are honored to have our exclusive, authentic Fernando Pensato Extra Virgin Olive Oils showcased in O Magazine,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “Some of the top chefs and restaurants across the country select this product for its flavor and perfect balance. This line of award-winning olive oils is among the highest quality olive oil available.”

The Pensato olive grove is found in the Apulian hills on the Fernando Pensato estate. The Peranzana olives are handpicked the moment they are ripe and then specialty selected, cleaned and cold-pressed in the pink granite mills in accordance with the age-old tradition. The Fernando Pensato EVOO is available in a variety of sizes including a gallon, 16.9 oz., 8.5 oz. and 2 oz bottle.

About The Sandy Butler:

The Sandy Butler defines the fine, fresh gourmet experience. Boasting a 150-seat upscale restaurant and gourmet market, The Sandy Butler offers authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining destination, The Sandy Butler restaurant offers superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. In addition, the market features “The Butler’s Signature,” The Sandy Butler’s exclusive line of authentic products including salts, seasonings and oils that are sold exclusively at The Sandy Butler and marketed to other restaurants and markets throughout the United States. A locally owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit www.sandybutler.com. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great seafood recipes, specials and events.

The Sandy Butler Restaurant is offering a special four-course New Year’s Eve menu. In addition, The Sandy Butler Market offers a holiday take-home menu with a wide assortment of party platters, cheese and hors d’oeuvres trays, desserts and a boutique wine selection. For customer convenience, The Sandy Butler gourmet market will be open New Year’s Eve until 6 p.m.

For those who prefer to celebrate New Year’s Eve dining out, The Sandy Butler restaurant is hosting a special New Year’s Eve dinner on Thursday, Dec. 31 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy live music, a champagne toast and Chef Michael Ragusa’s specially prepared four-course dinner. The first course is a choice of lobster bisque or cheese platter. The second course offers half pound king crabs or mini beef wellington. The third course features a surf and turf entrée that includes a 6-ounce Maine lobster tail with 8-ounce filet mignon served with asparagus and fingerling potatoes or the land and sea option offering Colorado rack of lamb with port demi and stuffed fillet of sole with lump crab meat and served with asparagus and mashed potatoes. For the fourth course, guests will enjoy a chocolate soufflé. The cost is $75 per person.

“New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration with friends and family,” says Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “Whether you are entertaining a small gathering at your home or hosting a large party, The Sandy Butler will cater to your needs with a variety of services and gourmet selections for easy entertaining. For guests who prefer to dine out, our restaurant offers a special New Year’s Eve menu with choices for everyone, including private dining.”

About The Sandy Butler:

The Sandy Butler defines the fine, fresh gourmet experience. Boasting a 150-seat upscale restaurant and gourmet market, The Sandy Butler offers authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining destination, The Sandy Butler restaurant offers superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. TripAdvisor, an online travel guide, has ranked The Sandy Butler number one of more than 350 restaurants in Fort Myers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. In addition, the market features “The Butler’s Signature,” The Sandy Butler’s exclusive line of authentic products including salts, seasonings and oils that are sold exclusively at The Sandy Butler and marketed to other restaurants and markets throughout the United States. A locally owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit www.sandybutler.com. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great seafood recipes, specials and events.

The Sandy Butler will host “From Italy, with Love” Italian wine dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The dinner will feature four specially crafted courses prepared by Chef Michael Ragusa, paired with fine Italian wines from the Tuscan winery Terralsole. Featured guests Mario Ballog from Terralsole and Norman Love, founder of Norman Love Confections, will offer guests insight into their respective passions for creating fine Italian wines and ultra-premium, handcrafted artisanal chocolates.   

The Sandy Butler Restaurant is offering a special three-course Christmas Eve menu. In addition, The Sandy Butler Market offers a holiday take-home menu including fresh all-natural turkeys, certified angus prime rib, sliced honey-baked hams, vegetables, cranberry sauce, all the traditional side items and fresh-baked desserts. For customer convenience, The Sandy Butler gourmet market will be open Christmas Eve until 6 p.m.

For those who prefer to spend Christmas Eve dining out, The Sandy Butler restaurant will be open on Thursday, Dec. 24, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Chef Michael Ragusa and his culinary team will offer a three-course Christmas Eve menu. The first course is a choice of shrimp bisque or the Butler salad. The second course offers three choices: a six-ounce Maine lobster tail served with corn on the cob and a baked potato, prime rib au jus served with asparagus and mashed potatoes, or stuffed fillet of sole with crab meat in lemon butter sauce served with couscous and julienne vegetables. For the third course, guests will be served a traditional Christmas bread pudding. The cost is $30 per person.

“Whether our guests prefer to cook at home or dine out, The Sandy Butler offers a variety of choices for Christmas entertaining,” says Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “Our market has easy, no-fuss take-home options and all the ingredients you’ll need to prepare a home-cooked Christmas meal, while the restaurant has a specially-crafted menu with choices for everyone. Either way, The Sandy Butler provides one-stop shopping for low-stress holiday entertaining.”

About The Sandy Butler:

The Sandy Butler defines the fine, fresh gourmet experience. Boasting a 150-seat upscale restaurant and gourmet market, The Sandy Butler offers authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining destination, The Sandy Butler restaurant offers superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. TripAdvisor, an online travel guide, has ranked The Sandy Butler number one of more than 350 restaurants in Fort Myers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. In addition, the market features “The Butler’s Signature,” The Sandy Butler’s exclusive line of authentic products including salts, seasonings and oils that are sold exclusively at The Sandy Butler and marketed to other restaurants and markets throughout the United States. A locally owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit www.sandybutler.com. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great seafood recipes, specials and events.

The Sandy Butler offers a multitude of gifting options to satisfy every gourmand. While a variety of beautifully-wrapped pre-made gift baskets such as the Coffee Lovers Basket and Holiday Hostess Basket are available, the gourmet market also creates custom gift baskets that are individually designed to reflect the recipients’ personal taste. Individual items such as fine wines, imported cheeses, flavored oils and vinegars, specialty knives and cutting boards also make excellent gifts.

Additionally, The Sandy Butler gift cards are available in $25, $50 and $100 increments. They are redeemable at both the market and the restaurant.

“With culinary products from the latest kitchen gadgets and cookware to exclusive imported oils, salts and seasonings, The Sandy Butler has that ‘something special’ that you won’t find at retail shops,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “If you want to impress family and friends, or simply give that little something special this holiday, then The Sandy Butler is the place to shop for elegant gifts and beyond.”

Boasting a 150-seat upscale restaurant and gourmet market, The Sandy Butler offers authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining destination, The Sandy Butler restaurant offers superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. TripAdvisor, an online travel guide, has ranked The Sandy Butler number one of more than 350 restaurants in Fort Myers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. In addition, the market features “The Butler’s Signature,” The Sandy Butler’s exclusive line of authentic products including salts, seasonings and oils that are sold exclusively at The Sandy Butler and marketed to other restaurants and markets throughout the United States. A locally owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit www.sandybutler.com. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great seafood recipes, specials and events.

TripAdvisor, an online travel guide, has ranked The Sandy Butler number one of 351 restaurants in Fort Myers. On TripAdvisor, restaurants are ranked in an online survey completed anonymously by customers. The criteria include an overall ranking in five categories, selection of dining options, general commentary, recommendations and more.

“We are proud of The Sandy Butler’s top ranking on TripAdvisor,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “The online customer reviews reflect the gourmet dining experience that we strive to achieve everyday. With the tourist season upon us, The Sandy Butler anticipates an increase in visitors to both our restaurant and market.”

With the growth of online dining guides such as TripAdvisor, travelers now have more resources for finding restaurants.

“With more online travel planning resources available, the customer experience is becoming even more influential to the restaurant industry,” said Nelson. “At The Sandy Butler, we have taken customer feedback and incorporated changes in our restaurant menus as well as to our market offerings. Customer opinion is the most important tool for a restaurant’s success.”

TripAdvisor provides users with an online opinion survey allowing them to rank restaurants, hotels and other travel options according to their personal experience. TripAdvisor provides information, advice and opinions from millions of travelers for purposes of planning trips, selecting hotels, restaurants and more. TripAdvisor claims a readership of more than 15,000,000 in 190 countries.

For more information on The Sandy Butler’s reviews visit TripAdvisor.

About The Sandy Butler:

The Sandy Butler defines the fine, fresh gourmet experience, offering authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining and shopping destination, The Sandy Butler boasts a 150-seat upscale restaurant offering superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly-prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. In addition, the market features “The Butler’s Signature,” The Sandy Butler’s exclusive line of authentic products including salts, seasonings, oils, jellies, pickles and sauces that are sold exclusively at The Sandy Butler and marketed to other restaurants and markets throughout the United States. A locally-owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit www.sandybutlerstore.com. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great seafood recipes, specials and events.

The Sandy Butler restaurant introduces its new seasonal menu offering fresh gourmet cuisine, along with a new affordably priced boutique wine list. With a focus on fresh and seasonal dishes, Chef Michael Ragusa and his culinary team have redesigned The Sandy Butler’s lunch and dinner menus, added new vegetarian and children menus, and introduced a new happy hour martini menu.

“We listen to our customers and have created a menu that offers guests a taste of the gourmet side of life,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “Chef Ragusa’s new fine, fresh, gourmet menus continue to feature many of our signature dishes along with his new creations using fresh, seasonal produce and products.”

With increased customer requests for local produce, the new menu includes local, seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables from Rabbit Run Farms, a pesticide-free hydroponic farm in Fort Myers, offering a variety of heirloom vegetables and tropical fruits. When available, local produce will be offered as side items or used by Chef Ragusa in the creation of fresh gourmet entrees such as The Sandy Butler’s baby spinach salad using fresh, locally grown spinach. In addition, the menu offers locally caught seafood that will change out frequently based on seasonal availability.

New creations for The Sandy Butler lunch menu include a Gulf shrimp and littleneck clam scampi sautéed in garlic, white and The Butler’s Signature EVOO oil served on a bed of Pensato’s linguine pasta that will appeal to seafood and pasta lovers alike. Another new lunch entrée, beef Milanese, features a thinly breaded beef cutlet topped with micro-greens, cherry tomatoes, red onion and Manchego cheese served with chimichurri vinaigrette.

“New to our dinner menu is a truffle pasta dish prepared with our Butler’s Signature Pensato egg pasta Tagliatelle with wild mushroom ragout drizzled with black truffle oil,” said Nelson. “For seafood lovers, our grilled wild salmon is the freshest available, topped with Boursin cheese and Burre Blanc and served with grilled asparagus. Chef Ragusa uses only the freshest ingredients and everything on our menu is prepared daily on-site.”

In addition, a new vegetarian menu is making its gourmet debut at The Sandy Butler. The menu includes a vegetable stir-fry with an Asian flair mixes fresh Julienne dikon radish, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, shitake mushrooms, baby bok choy, tofu noodles and ginger soy sauce. Asparagus and Tomato risotto is another vegetarian offering, along with The Butler’s vegetarian pizza made with gluten-free spaghetti pasta with wild mushroom ragout and a drizzle of black truffle oil.

About The Sandy Butler:

The Sandy Butler defines the fine, fresh gourmet experience, offering authentic specialty foods and the finest culinary products in a unique and upscale atmosphere. A gourmet dining and shopping destination, The Sandy Butler boasts a 150-seat upscale restaurant offering superior service with seating available indoors or on the veranda. “The Sand Bar” features a sophisticated, spacious bar for enjoying cocktails and appetizers. The adjacent gourmet market features fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly-prepared entrees, organic foods and products, fresh baked goods, a full-service deli and vitamins and supplements. In addition, the market features “The Butler’s Signature,” The Sandy Butler’s exclusive line of authentic products including salts, seasonings and oils that are sold exclusively at The Sandy Butler and marketed to other restaurants and markets throughout the United States. A locally-owned business, The Sandy Butler also offers catering services and private dining. For more information, visit www.sandybutlerstore.com. Also, follow The Sandy Butler online on Facebook or twitter.com/thesandybutler for great seafood recipes, specials and events.