Bistro, the seasonal-inspired restaurant at Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art + Design, has launched its new spring menu in line with its latest museum exhibitions – A Beautiful Mess: Weaver & Knotters of the Vanguard, Richard Benson: The World Is Smarter Than You Are and Sara Berman’s Closet. Operated by the culinary experts at Constellation Culinary Group, Bistro draws inspiration from Florida’s fruit stands and farmers markets by focusing on locally and seasonally sourced ingredients.
New Spring Menu Launch at Bistro, Sarasota Art Museum
Bistro is helmed by Executive Chef Kaytlin Dangaran, a Tampa native who trained at the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan. Her background includes stints at famed restaurants L’Apicio and L’Artusi in New York City, Quince and Cotogna in San Francisco, and Verde at Pérez Art Museum Miami.
Dangaran’s new spring menu for Bistro highlights comforting soups, such as the Asparagus Bisque ($11), topped with crispy pecorino, and Chicken Spring Vegetable Soup ($12), with spring peas and farro. Garden-fresh salads include the Asparagus and Spring Pea Salad ($17), mixed with frisée, mint yogurt, preserved lemon vinaigrette and Marcona almonds; Strawberry and Rhubarb ($17), made with Lolla Rossa lettuce, fava beans, black pepper, mint and verjus vinaigrette; Crushed Cucumber ($18), featuring toasted sesame, spring radish, pea shoots and crispy chili dressing; and Spring Chopped Cobb ($23), with little gems lettuce, smoked blue cheese, avocado, heirloom cherry tomatoes, house-cured bacon, six-minute egg and green goddess dressing. Guests can add protein to any salad, including Six-Minute Egg ($3), Niçoise Tuna Salad ($9), Lemon Dijonnaise Chicken Salad ($9), Grilled Chicken ($10) or Cedar-Roasted Salmon ($11).
The menu’s crisp tartine selection includes open-faced sandwiches sliced from freshly baked tartine loaves from C’est La Vie bakery. Options include Avocado ($14), with chia seeds, spring radish, ginger and balsamic soy; Heirloom Tomato ($16), with goat cheese, garlic and thyme; and Salmon ($17), topped with dill crème, capers and heirloom tomato.
The menu also features several fresh sandwiches served with house-made bread and butter pickles. Options include the Griddled Cheese ($13), featuring fontina Mornay, sharp white cheddar and tomato jam on Pullman loaf; Green Tomato Caprese ($16), served on focaccia with mozzarella and pesto; Tuna Salad Niçoise ($17), made with dry-roasted olives, egg and bagna cauda on ciabatta; Lemon Dijonnaise Chicken Salad ($17), with little gem lettuce and pickled red onion served on a croissant; Grilled Chicken Club ($18), served on sourdough with avocado, sprouts and bacon; Toasted Corned Beef Reuben ($18), with Norfolk sauce, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on rye bread; and Italian ($18), topped with pepperoni, prosciutto, aged provolone and garlic aioli.
Bistro also offers a special section called “The Halves,” where diners can mix and match dishes with a choice of two of the following for just $16: Asparagus Bisque, Chicken Spring Vegetable Soup, Market Salad, Griddled Cheese and Tuna Salad Niçoise Sandwich.
Inspired by the Sarasota Art Museum’s 1926 M. Leo Elliott neo-Gothic building and Paul Rudolph’s 1951 Modernist building, Bistro’s design pays homage to both eras and calls upon the buildings’ origins as a high school and public space to create an environment for museum-curated art experiences coupled with artfully crafted fare. Bistro also offers outdoor seating within the Museum Plaza, the perfect spot to enjoy a meal surrounded by interactive sculptures such as “Staccato” (2017) by Molly Hatch and “Ernest and Ruth (Exuberant Pink)” (2018) by Hank Willis Thomas.
Bistro is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Menu items are also available for delivery or pickup. For more information, visit sarasotaartmuseum.org/bistro.
About Bistro at Sarasota Art Museum at Ringling College
Bistro at the Sarasota Art Museum at Ringling College features a Florida farmstand-inspired menu focusing on locally sourced and seasonal ingredients that can be enjoyed within the interior dining space complemented by thoughtfully curated exhibits, on the go, or outdoors within the Museum Plaza. Menu specials are featured on the blackboard behind the counter, a nostalgic nod to the former high school. For more information, visit sarasotaartmuseum.org/bistro.
About Constellation Culinary Group
Launched in 2008 and reimagined in 2018, Constellation Culinary Group provides best-in-class dining experiences for one-of-a-kind events, cultural centers, professional settings, restaurants and cafes. With over 19 locations in eight cities, including internationally renowned cultural institutions Carnegie Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the New York Botanical Garden, Clark Art Institute and Pérez Art Museum Miami, Constellation brings culinary visions to life. As part of the Elior North America family, Constellation Culinary Group consistently creates unforgettable experiences with the help of its skilled and thoughtful people who believe in the company’s mission and philosophy that good food connects us. For additional information and a full list of Constellation dining and venues, visit constellationculinary.com.
About Sarasota Art Museum at Ringling College of Art + Design
Sarasota Art Museum is Ringling College of Art and Design’s dynamic laboratory for the exploration and advancement of contemporary art. As Sarasota’s only museum solely focused on contemporary artists and their work, it offers visitors a place to see thought-provoking exhibitions and participate in education programs that start conversations and amplify the city’s creative spirit.
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Located in the historic Sarasota High School, the Sarasota Art Museum opened to the public in 2019 and features 15,000 square feet of dedicated exhibition space, the outdoor Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza, the Great Lawn featuring temporary sculptures and site-specific installations, Bistro restaurant and the museum shop. Sarasota Art Museum is home to a robust portfolio of education programs for all ages, including the Studios @ SAM, a vibrant studio arts program, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College, which offers a variety of courses for adult learners.
The Sarasota Art Museum is located at 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL, 34236. To stay in the know, become a Sarasota Art Museum member or sign up for museum email updates, visit sarasotaartmuseum.org.
