*** Now featuring new extended summer menus! ***

The Sarasota Convention and Visitor's Bureau (SCVB) welcomes you to learn more about the restaurants participating in the fourth annual "Savor Sarasota" Restaurant Week, now extended to run two full weeks, from June 1-14, 2009. This 14-day dining event will showcase Sarasota's chefs and the eateries which have helped the city earn the distinction of having one of the highest concentrations of Zagat-rated restaurants in Florida.

The SCVB is continuing the tradition of holding the "Savor Sarasota" dining promotion to encourage both visitors and locals alike to experience Sarasota's numerous and varied restaurants and to create more public awareness of the region's award-winning restaurant scene. The event has become one of the most popular culinary events in the state over the past three years, as it encourages food and wine lovers to visit Sarasota to imbibe in the best of the region's restaurants.

The SCVB has currently recruited over 25 restaurants, many of which have earned Zagat ratings, to participate in the fourth year of the event, during which patrons will be able to enjoy multi-course meals at participating restaurants for $15 per person for lunch and $25 per person for dinner.

"Sarasota is recognized nationally for our beaches, culture and circus heritage," said Virginia Haley, President of the SCVB. "Savor Sarasota" opens our visitors to the creative cuisine our talented chefs prepare, and we are so pleased that so many of our wonderful restaurants have chosen to participate for the third year in a row."

Sarasota Restaurants Look Forward to Another Successful Restaurant Week
Restaurants taking part in the fourth annual "Savor Sarasota" restaurant week include: Michael's on East, with it's classic 40's supper-club aura and menu that blends European, Asian, and Latin influences with American classics; and Currents Restaurant at The Hyatt Regency, one of Sarasota's newest waterfront restaurants that offers fresh seafood and regional American cuisine. Additional participants for 2009 include Vernona Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, featuring an all-organic menu; Selva Grill with it's Peruvian flair; and Derek's Culinary Casual, offering a daring menu of original flavors.

For a complete list of participating restaurants, events, accommodation packages and contact information, please visit www.savorsarasota.com

Sarasota and her string of eight islands are located along Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast between Tampa and Ft. Myers. Sarasota and Her Islands is comprised of Sarasota, Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Englewood, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey and Venice. In addition to sandy beaches, Sarasota and Her Islands also offer numerous cultural and ecological attractions. For more information on saving and discovering in Sarasota, call the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 522-9799 or visit www.sarasotafl.org.