Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2001
The Tampa Bay area may be cooking up yet another restaurant chain.
The first Saute Cafe opened this month in Feather Sound in mid-Pinellas County, and president Brian Storman says it won't be the only one.
"It's the first of what we hope is a series," said Storman, who also owns Storman's Palace, a nightclub/sports bar in the same area.
Storman, 39, who also was involved in the genesis of the Fred Fleming's Famous Bar-B-Que restaurants in the area, says he has been working on the new restaurant for 18 months.
He and his partners have spent about $500,000 on the concept, which he calls "casually elegant" dining. The menu is varied, though it leans toward seafood, and entree prices will range from $9.50 to $19.50.
Sauteing "sears in flavors," that will include Asian, Italian and contemporary touches, Storman said. "We believe you're going to see a lot of saute come back into cooking."
The Tampa Bay area has hatched restaurant chains including Outback Steakhouse, Hooters and Hops.
"Florida is, especially the Tampa Bay area, a big-time melting pot," Storman said. "You get to test a lot of different palates from all across the country. If you can satisfy this area that has so many different palates, people believe they can take it to the next level."