The Sandy Butler hosts evening of art, wine and tapas

Posted January 4th, 2010 by Kim and filed in Events, News
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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.

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Bacchus hosts Dec. 10 South African wine dinner

Posted December 4th, 2009 by Kim and filed in Events
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Bacchus will host a four-course South African wine dinner on Dec. 10 from 6-10 p.m. featuring a variety of wines from Cape Classics, the largest importer of South African wines to the United States. Heath Higginbotham, executive chef at Bacchus, will pair three specially crafted courses with some of his favorite South African vintages. Priced at $65 per person, the dinner includes a salad/appetizer course, two entrées and dessert.

 
The meal begins with an avocado and cucumber salad and grilled-and-chilled prawns with wasabi mayonnaise, paired with a 2006 DeMorgenzon Chenin Blanc. For the second course, guests will enjoy a roasted mallard duck breast with a red wine raspberry reduction and black pepper risotto, paired with a 2007 Brampton Shiraz. The third course is a smoked, bacon-wrapped rack of lamb accompanied by a traditional South African side called Tamatiebredie. The lamb is paired with 2007 Kanonkip Pinotage. The four-course dinner concludes with a roasted peanut butter flan garnished with chocolate-dipped bacon and paired with the 2009 Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz, a new Cape Classics release.
 
“South African wines are increasingly popular,” said Higginbotham. “Our Cape Classics wine dinner is a great opportunity for guests to sample the wide array of South African varietals. In addition, guests can discover some new ideas for food and wine pairings, just in time for holiday entertaining.”
 
Swanky Lifestyle is the parent company to Bacchus, an upscale restaurant and wine bar located in the Bell Tower Shops; Mad Cuisine, an innovative gourmet take-out and upscale catering and event company located in South Fort Myers; and Krafty Kuisine, creator of Krafty Krab Rolls and To Chi sauce and a wholesale food manufacturer. For more information call 239-275-7926, or visit www.swankylifestyle.com. Also, follow Swanky Lifestyle online on Facebook and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/bacchusftmyers.
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The Sandy Butler hosts Italian wine dinner

Posted December 3rd, 2009 by Kim and filed in News
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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.   

Winemaker Mario Bollag of Terralsole will showcase some of the vineyard’s award-winning “big reds” as The Sandy Butler’s Chef Michael Ragusa complements the experience with exquisite Italian cuisine, each of the four courses being expertly crafted around each glass. The first course includes beef caspaccio, paired with a 2004 Terralsole Brunello. For the second course, guests will enjoy fresh grilled swordfish with stuffed calamari and savory seafood broth, paired with a 2005 Terralsole Syrah Solista. The third course Veal Osso Bucco with saffron risotto, paired with a 2005 Terrasole Cab Franc Blend, Pasticcio. The evening ends with a special fourth course from Norman Love, featuring some of his finest confections, paired with a 2005 Terralsole Merlot, Coldoro.
 
“While enjoying Chef Ragusa’s gourmet Italian cuisine, our guests will receive valuable insight into the art of making fine wine and chocolates from two world-renowned experts in their industries,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “In addition, guests will learn more about appropriate food and wine pairings, especially helpful for those entertaining during the holiday season.”
 
The price for the four course dinner and wine pairings is $75 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. 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.
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