- October 19, 2022
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Freshman year of high school I watched seniors vote for their class superlatives. The captain of the football team and his girlfriend were crowned cutest couple. That wasn't something I aspired to, but I thought maybe — just maybe — one day I'd be nominated for something like "Best Eyes." Still, as long as I wasn't a contender for "Most Likely to Never Leave Connecticut," I knew I was a winner.
Fast forward to when the yearbooks came out my senior year. I was shocked to see that I and my 13 gal pals had been named "Best Clique." We donned T-shirts proclaiming ourselves "The Senior Biddys," while the cool kids tried to make a mockery of our group.
You know what’s funny about high school? In the end, it doesn’t matter. Nearly 20 years later, I’d be happy to have been voted most resilient, most likely to marry an incredible human and best person to ask about breakfast sandwiches. In honor of National Better Breakfast Month, I’m going to pass along some of my local favorites.
1445 Second St., Sarasota; 941-487-7874; 99Bottles.net
A Toast To: Most likely to get you boozy with a side of bagels at brunch.
Egg-Cellent Choice: 99 Bottles hosts brunch every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can get "real deal NY bagels." Choose from a bagel with hummus, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and pickled red onion ($9.50) or the bagel BLT ($11.50) with bacon, iceberg lettuce, tomato and aioli. If you'd rather stick to basics, choose from cinnamon raisin, everything, plain, poppy, pumpernickel, rainbow, sesame or a bialy. Personally, I can't wait to bite into the egg salad sandwich ($6.50).
5520 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota; 941-487-8949; Facebook.com/ButtermilkSRQ
A Toast To: Best biscuit of dreams.
Egg-Cellent Choice: I shouldn't admit this, but the first biscuit I ever had was when I first moved down here eight years ago — and I've never looked back. Buttermilk — an ingredient of all things flaky and fluffy — led me to Benton's bacon, baked egg and pimento cheese ($9.95) on a biscuit. Another breakfast sandwich in my rotation? The Benton's bacon, jam and baked egg ($7.75).
Food truck locations available online; 941-724-0798; BonannosBagels.com.
A Toast To: Most likely to dish out delicious lox on wheels.
Egg-Cellent Choice: Welcome the newest foodie stop on my never-ending search for the best local flavor. Like this foodie, owner Monique is bringing smiles to people's faces in honor of her late father through food. For lox lovers, the Fifth Avenue ($10.75) is made with thinly sliced salmon, plain cream cheese, thinly sliced red onions, capers and fresh dill. Nostalgia swept over me when I saw the rainbow bagel ($3.50). I had to order it with the honey walnut schmear ($1.75).
1644 Main St., Sarasota; 941-365-2826; Facebook.com/CoffeeCarrousel
A Toast To: Best Sarasota staple serving a sensational sausage sandwich.
Egg-Cellent Choice: Anytime you drive down Main Street, you are certain to see the signature window paintings of a carrousel and immediately smell the aromas of specials that have been cooking up since 1987. Belly up to the bar and order an egg, meat and cheese on toast ($3.75). If you were me, you'd order the sausage on a croissant for an extra 70 cents.
5257 University Parkway, Unit 103, Bradenton; 941-388-8910; JerseyGirlBagels.net
A Toast To: Tasty, top-notch, tri-state area bagels ready to tempt you.
Egg-Cellent Choice: I will forever shout out JGB because they continue to wrap me in a home away from home full of gluten, and I never want them to let go. Go pick up (or order by UberEats) an egg and cheese with your choice of bacon, sausage or Taylor ham ($8.99) and turn any lazy Sunday into the ideal rot on the couch day. What could be better than you in your sweats, your cats and whatever Netflix show you are currently bingeing on?
210 Avenida Madera, Sarasota; 941-346-7170; SunGardenCafe.com
A Toast To: Most creative croissants combos on the Key.
Egg-Cellent Choice: This garden oasis is a must-stop with out-of-town guests or to simply pretend you're the one on vacation. With names on the menu summoning up decades past, the well-known beach town eatery serves up classic favorites with a serious '70s vibe. The Ziggy Stardust ($15.95) rocks out with two scrambled eggs on a croissant with bacon, tomato, sprouts and avocado — perfect for a Starman or woman.
2547 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch; 941-746-2000; TheGranaryLWR.com
A Toast To: Most likely to create cheese chaos in the most delicious way imaginable.
Egg-Cellent Choice: One bit of advice for this stop on our quest for the best breakfast sandwich: Come hungry! And if you're thirsty, this Lakewood Ranch eatery showcases a well-stocked bar full of wines, champagne and draft beers. However, it's the breakfast grilled cheese ($13.59) that will open up your morning eyes. Scrambled eggs with tomato and onion, topped with cheddar jack, Havarti and swiss with a side of ham sausage or bacon is just what the foodie ordered.
719 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 740-624-6445; UrbanFreshSandwich.com.
A Toast To: Most wonderful, warm and wildly flavorful breakfast wraps.
Egg-Cellent Choice: This food truck is whipping up breakfast and lunch sandwiches with a side of fries right on Cattlemen Road. Choose from 10 breakfast sandwiches (and a breakfast bowl!) from 7 to 10:30 a.m. While the Carpe Diem wrap is astonishingly addictive, it's the Mama's Choice ($10.50) that leaves me wanting more — and a water chaser. It's packed with bacon, American and hot pepper cheese, avocado, tomato, onion, jalapeños and deli sauce plus truffle sauce.
