Gourmet At Your Service – presented by The Sandy Butler

The Sandy Butler Restaurant and Market are providing guests with a variety of choices for Valentine’s Day dining and shopping. The restaurant is serving Valentine’s Day brunch and dinner, while the adjacent gourmet market offers gourmet take-out options, a flower market, gifts, custom gift baskets and a boutique wine selection.

On Valentine’s Day, Chef Michael Ragusa is serving a special four-course brunch for $22 per person. The first course is a mixed berry parfait with mascarpone mousse. For the second course, guests may choose either a chocolate waffle with strawberry syrup or banana foster’s pancake. The three choices for the third course include quiche Lorraine, eggs Benedict or spinach Florentine omelet with Gruyère cream sauce. For the fourth course, guests will be served a chocolate fudge brownie with raspberry sauce and vanilla ice cream. Brunch is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For a four-course Valentine’s Day dinner, Chef Ragusa will offer a chilled strawberry soup with mascarpone cream and chocolate shavings or potato cheddar ale soup topped with crispy pancetta for the first course. The second course includes a choice of a wedge salad or baby field greens with roasted red beets and pecan encrusted goat cheese tossed in raspberry vinaigrette. The third course features three choices: a surf and turf entrée which includes Maine lobster tail and filet mignon with a choice of peppercorn sauce or béarnaise sauce; lobster ravioli in a lobster sherry cream sauce; or bouillabaisse with lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and grouper in a tomato broth. For the fourth course, guests will be served a flourless chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream. The cost is $50 per person. Dinner is available from 5 to 9 p.m.

“While enjoying Chef Ragusa’s special Valentine’s Day dinner, guests will enjoy special music,” said Jason Nelson, The Sandy Butler general manager. “For those who prefer a romantic evening at home, The Sandy Butler Market has freshly prepared gourmet-to-go options, along with a wide selection of flowers, wines, gift baskets and gift cards. The Sandy Butler is a one-stop shopping destination for all of your Valentine’s Day dining and gift-giving needs.”

For reservations, call 239-482-6765, ext. 1.

Come join us tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. for Black Dress Thursday. Ladies wearing a black dress enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and appetizer!

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.

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. Call 239-482-6765 to make your reservation.

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.

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. Call 239-482-6765 to make your reservation.

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.

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. Call 239-482-6765 to make your reservation.

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.

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. Call 239-482-6765 to make your reservation.

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.

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 stone 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.”

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. 

While dining at The Sandy Butler, guests will enjoy a fashion show featuring models and clothing from Jennifer’s. The show begins at noon on the first and last Friday of the month. Reservations are recommended, 239-482-6765.