Bistros are generally associated with Paris and defined as a small moderately priced restaurant serving simple hearty food. There is a new bistro in town that meets two of a Parisian bistro’s criteria – the food is hearty and it’s moderately priced, but simple, not so much.

Jeremy Creps has always had a passion for food, knowing this is what he wanted to do with his life. After he attended the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Orlando, he worked as a chef in several establishments including the Sarasota Yacht Club, where he was the chef de cuisine. He was also the sous- chef at the Tampa Conference Center, as well as being involved in establishing the business. But what he always wanted to do was open his own restaurant. In February of this year, Creps’ dream came true when he and his mother, Jeanne Clark, opened J’s Bistro in Bradenton.

J’s is one of those great little neighborhood places that offers fresh homemade food at chain restaurant prices. They don’t use anything prepackaged and don’t even own a microwave. The menu offers everything from burgers to filet mignon and you’ll be greeted by Jeanne Clark and her staff, that remember their regulars by name and are always happy to see you.

J’s lunch menu choices, which are also available for dinner, include burgers, French dip, Italian panini, Ruebens, mahi-mahi and more. They also have appetizers like fried green tomato caprese and sesame crusted ahi tuna as well as homemade lobster bisque and the soup of the day, as well as a large selection of flatbreads.

The dinner entrees include filet mignon, half roasted chicken, seared salmon and shrimp scampi. There are also side dishes, salads and desserts. J’s has daily specials, and Creps is always looking for new and creative dishes for his patrons.

Beer and boutique wines are available, as well as Jeanne Clark’s special sangria. J’s Bistro has been very busy since it opened with small parties for celebrations and condo get togethers. It offers catering and delivery all over including Anna Maria Island.

Also playing a big part in the success of J‘s Bistro is Del Clark, Jeanne’s husband and Brittany Driskell, Creps fiancé who is the catering chef. Everyone at J’s wants to thank the local community for its support and look forward to welcoming back their winter friends.

J’s Bistro is a nice alternative to crowded Island restaurants where parking can be a problem in season. It’s not far from the beach and it’s on the way to Sarasota’s theaters and shopping areas. J’s Bistro says it offers gourmet food at café prices and Jeanne Clark supports that by saying, “Once they eat here, they keep coming back.”

It may not be on the left bank, but J’s Bistro still has good quality food at affordable prices with a gourmet touch, and it’s a lot closer than Paris.

J’s BISTRO

Winn Dixie Marketplace
3550 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton

941-254-7988

www.Jsbistrobradenton.com

Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
(Open Mondays starting Oct. 1)
Saturday: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

All major credit cards accepted

 

For the last three-and-a-half years, U.S. equities have far out-performed international equities, and in particular, those international equities classified as emerging markets. These are the countries around the world that have less established banking, currency and political systems, but this is what makes their opportunity for growth larger, like investing in the United States in the early to mid 1900s, or Japan after World War II.

Despite the higher rates of growth most of these countries have experienced in recent years, investors’ fears of continued fallout from the financial crisis have led them to invest more in the U.S. and reduce holdings in recession plagued Europe and the aforementioned emerging markets. The chart below shows the results of the S&P 500 Index vs. the broad based international MSCI EAFE Index and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

Of course, these multi-year trends don't go on forever, and it is likely that in the next couple years the poor performing emerging market stock prices could outperform their developed country counterparts, both international and U.S. No one knows when the trend will change, but it is certainly a better time than three years ago to consider these more aggressive investments for an appropriate portion of your portfolio.

A quick review of a simple valuation measure reveals emerging markets as a group are undervalued compared to both developed international indexes, as well as the U.S. Using a simple price to earnings ratio to see how much you have to pay as an investor for a dollar of profits reveals that emerging markets are trading at a multiple of about 11, while international and U.S. markets are at 14 and 15 respectively. That's a 20 to 30 percent cheaper price to pay for shares, in economies that are generally growing at higher rates.

Of course, there is more inherent risk in emerging markets as investors in India have found out in the last few months during that country's currency woes. Diversification can reduce this risk, first by spreading your emerging markets exposure across many countries and also by not putting too much of your portfolio into this class of investments

For the patient investor, adding to positions which haven't done as well in recent years is usually a good idea, and I suggest reviewing your portfolio and considering emerging markets with a five year time horizon. Good luck, and good investing.

Tom Breiter is president of Breiter Capital Management, Inc., an Anna Maria based investment advisor. He can be reached at 778-1900. Some of the investment concepts highlighted in this column may carry the risk of loss of principal, and investors should determine appropriateness for their personal situation before investing. Visit www.breitercapital.com.