Sizzle Dining is officially underway for another season. It began Thursday and I was the first to take advantage of lunch with a Sizzle Dining stop at Bicyclette Cookshop in Naples. It was so good that I might just have to go back before it ends.
Sizzle Dining is an annual event in Southwest Florida and one of my favorites. There are more restaurants and more variety this year than ever. Offerings are not just for dinner but there are some lunch and brunch options too.
September is a traditionally slow month for restaurants. Sizzle Dining entices locals through the doors with an array of pre-fix dining menus that range from $19 to $59 for two, three and four-course meals. It’s a great way to try some new places and new foods.
However, the best part is that while you dine, you give back to the food insecure in our community. $1 of each meal sold is donated to Blessings in a Backpack.
About My Sizzle Dining Stop At Bicyclette Cookshop
My first lunch outing was to Bicyclette Cookshop. The special two course menu was $29 with a few opportunities for upgrades.
First course had items such as beef tartare, roasted octopus, tuna crude burrata, chorizo potatoes and more. Each dish had a unique twist. I chose the chicken liver pate.
It was spread in a thin layer on a round plate, decorated with dollops of whipped massaman curried onions. They were a burst of spice and flavor. The pate was rich and had a texture like silk. It came with warm pita points for dipping.
More From The Sizzle Dining Stop At Bicyclette Cookshop
Second course options were items such as truffle risotto, chicken flautas, and pork gyro. I picked the tuna chop salad. It was romaine lettuce, chickpeas, thin slices of mortadella, and olives with thin slices of seared ahi. The dressing was a zippy, charred lemon vinaigrette.
Finally, Bicyclette threw in an option for a Sizzle dessert which I could not resist. A Fancy Soft Serve. They actually have a soft serve ice cream machine. There is something nostalgic and comforting about soft serve.
However, there was nothing ordinary about this one. The cold sweet treat came in a small glass bowl, was sprinkled with fennel pollen and flaky salt, then drizzled with young, fragrant olive oil. It was divine.
For lunch the dessert was an $8 upcharge. However, it is one of two choices included in the dessert course for Bicyclette’s Sizzle dinner menu.
Last year I covered some ground from Sanibel to Cape Coral to Naples, trying these special menus and dining with a purpose. I challenge you to do the same this year.
Sizzle Dining runs through September 25th. You get to support local restaurants while supporting a local charity that works to combat food insecurities in our community. I can’t think of a better combination.
Photos From Sizzle Dining Stop At Bicyclette Cookshop
