tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91254897273051050602024-03-05T01:35:30.831-05:00Finding FloridaOliver and Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690980515568778489noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-6233703677976358782011-12-08T23:37:00.000-05:002011-12-08T23:37:24.758-05:00Farewell FloridaOn the afternoon of September 16 we packed what was left of our belongings and our dog into a rental car, and began our long, nervous drive down to the Orlando airport. We needed to go to Orlando because it was the closest airport with a direct flight to our destination, an important consideration when you're traveling with a live animal. Tensions were high as we weren't positive that our dear pet would be allowed on as cargo due to temperature regulations. This was a one-way flight. It was a Friday and I was to start work the following Monday. We couldn't really afford any delays. In the end, despite a few close calls, we all boarded that [almost too] warm evening and headed off together into the great unknown.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5357345361/" title="to the horizon by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="to the horizon" height="161" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5245/5357345361_30ddaf0f4b_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Just over three and a half years ago we made the decision to stop complaining about the lack of activities, opportunities, and things to do in the city we called home. Instead we would go out and experience all that Jacksonville, Florida and the surrounding region had to offer.<br />
<br />
Why? Well, as any… Jacksonvillionian, Jacksonvillite, or is it Jacksonvillain? As any Jacksonvillain can tell you, one of the most oft heard phrases containing the word "Jacksonville" is "Jacksonville sucks" followed closely by "there's nothing to do in Jacksonville" or some such similar phrase. This is an easy trap to fall into. Walk out of the front door of a typical residence in Jacksonville and proceed in any random direction for a full ten minutes; it's highly unlikely that you'll pass anything of real human interest (apart from some intensely beautiful oak trees covered in Spanish moss). Like the universe, Jacksonville is very large with a lot of "empty" space in between the interesting things and you really need a high powered vehicle to travel between these points of interest. Fortunately, in this day and age, the vast majority of us have automobiles to rapidly transport us from one place to another and the only thing missing from the average Jacksonvillain is the motivation to seek out and find these distant points of interest. So, like a pair of amateur astronomers, we sought out to find and map these brilliant specks of light littered across the landscape; primarily for ourselves but also for the many people still stuck in the mindset that their home had little to offer them.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/2230284497/" title="Alsop Bridge by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="Alsop Bridge" height="240" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2072/2230284497_a2b02887e7_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
From restaurants and bars to state parks to more restaurants and bars, we tried to cover all of the things we found interesting around the town. Inevitably some mediocre things crept in whilst some amazing experiences were left un-transcribed. I must admit that keeping up with this web log at times seemed like a chore while at others it served as a motivator to get out there and do something. I lament the fact that perhaps we focused a little too much on restaurants but food is indeed a large part of the human experience and is a nice way to inspire a trip to a personally uncharted part of town. Even if we left an eatery disappointed, I was always happy to have seen another facet of the varied Northeast Florida landscape.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/2339485784/" title="Untitled by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="240" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2267/2339485784_81eff4bd7e_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Only a short time into our journey we discovered that Jacksonville and its surrounding areas are full of culture, character, natural beauty, great food, and great people. One of the remarks on the region I often overheard that incensed me the most was "Florida is ugly." How can anyone walk down an oak lined street, the sun shimmering through the long, flowing curtains of Spanish moss, think that Florida is ugly? Trees everywhere, beautiful little creatures scurrying about, the most amazing evening skies (particularly when a storm is brewing), and weather that is only rivaled by a handful of places around this great country; Florida is not deficient in natural beauty.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4577326222/" title="dj blur by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="dj blur" height="161" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4012/4577326222_7b88958c18_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
And as far as there being "nothing to do in Jacksonville," well, what are you interested in? There is no doubt something that caters to your tastes. Although they never seemed to come often enough, I've seen many of my [obscure] favorite bands in Jacksonville and, as an added bonus, I never had to struggle to find parking. Not only does Jacksonville have a lot going for it but there is also plenty of room for individuals to take charge and create the changes they wish to see.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6321565250/" title="reaching towards the end of the world by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="reaching towards the end of the world" height="240" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6057/6321565250_c945bab038_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So back on September 16, that late summer day, we found ourselves landing on the opposite side of the country, tired and transient in what was practically a foreign land: the iconic, sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles. At the opposite end of the I-10, there are a surprising number of similarities to our former home: the sprawl, the natural beauty, the breathtaking coastline, the nice weather, the traffic, and hearing people say "LA sucks" (although these are usually people who don't live here).<br />
<br />
While we're pretty excited to be here with all of the new places to explore, there are certainly a great number of things we will miss about Jacksonville. So, for the sake of posterity, I'll do my best to list them here for anybody just now stumbling on this blog or who may not have gone back far enough to uncover our favorites.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/2338652829/" title="tree island by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="tree island" height="162" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3180/2338652829_f7897fbce4_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Parks<br />
<br />
The First Coast has a number of beautiful local, state, and national parks. Among our favorites are the Guana River State Park, which is one of the most beautiful stretches of beach along the Atlantic Coast, and Big Talbot Island with the iconic Boneyard Beach where driftwood and the carcasses of once great trees litter the shore to create an amazing post-apocalyptic scene. Much further south, along the A1A between Saint Augustine and Palm Coast, is Washington Oaks. In addition to the beautiful gardens, majestic trees, and gorgeous beach, this is where we got married; under an enormous oak tree on a hot summer day.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5221948991/" title="red curry by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="red curry" height="161" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5003/5221948991_a29bbd2829_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Restaurants<br />
<br />
We did spend a lot of time covering restaurants so it's only fair that we list our favorites.<br />
<br />
Pisco's Peruvian Restaurant - Amazing Peruvian food; better, in fact, than most of the Peruvian food we ate in Peru. Great portions, reasonable prices, hole-in-the-wall charm, and great flavors has made this one of our favorites places in the world to eat.<br />
<br />
Tommy's Brick Oven Pizza - Best pizza in town. Paper thin crust, great sauce, nice folk. The salads and sandwiches are just as good.<br />
<br />
The French Pantry - What can I say? This is Duval County's most notorious secret. How can anyone who has ever been to the French Pantry claim that Jacksonville has no culture? Bread that is so good you might think you're dreaming, impeccable sandwiches, a cute little restaurant with communal seating, hours typical of a government agency, and a line out the door that would make the Soup Nazi proud. On multiple occasions I have been in line for an hour or more, in the oppressive Florida heat, and all of the misery has dissolved as soon as I had that first bite of bread. I would do it all over again; some things are worth the wait.<br />
<br />
Indochine - I love Thai cuisine perhaps more than any other and Indochine tops my list of great Thai places around town. It's probably also my favorite restaurant on ambiance alone. Other notable Thai restaurants are Lime Leaf in Tapestry Park and Pattaya Thai on Baymeadows (especially for their willingness to dial up the spiciness to pain inducing levels).<br />
<br />
The Metro Diner and the Cool Moose Cafe - I apologize to the proprietors of these fine establishments for lumping them together but they essentially fulfilled the same purpose for us: weekend breakfast, and they were the absolute best places in town for it. Great food coupled with their own unique atmosphere. But Cool Moose has the best coffee.<br />
<br />
Los Portales Mexican Grill - Sorry, but Jacksonville's favorite Mexican chain really doesn't compare to the quality you get here at more reasonable prices.<br />
<br />
Cami Cakes - Nobody does cupcakes like Cami Cakes. Nobody.<br />
<br />
The Donut Shoppe - I don't typically like donuts. Donuts from The Donut Shoppe are not your typical donuts.<br />
<br />
Seven Bridges - This deserves to be much higher in the list but will serve as a segue of sorts. I'll try not to get overly sentimental but I have had some great times with some wonderful people at Seven Bridges. For years it was my goto place for an after-work conversation that required a bit of mental lubrication. The food was always great and the beer was always better. I have had some of the best beer in my life at Seven Bridges. These beers were present for some of the best conversations of my life. These conversations were with some of the best people I've been honored enough to call a friend. There's definitely a lot of emotion and nostalgia wrapped up in my feelings about this place but even if I took that all away it would still probably be my favorite place to grab a bite or a pint around town.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5264584711/" title="stout by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="stout" height="240" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5125/5264584711_4b9cffa783_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Beer<br />
<br />
Jacksonville's beer scene is the best in Florida. To be honest, Jacksonville's beer scene is better than what we've experienced so far out here in LA. Sure, most bars and restaurants here have a very respectable craft/import selection and there are a few good microbreweries around here but on a few key measures Jacksonville has LA beat. First off, Jacksonville has more microbreweries and brew pubs per capita. The few microbreweries in Jacksonville are also seriously good. Thanks to pioneering efforts of Bold City Brewery, they've managed to invade the taps of most bars and restaurants around the region, giving Jacksonville something local to be proud of. In a town where Anheuser-Busch has a factory (which is fun to tour, by the way) and Bud Light is most people's only form of hydration, I'd say the local microbreweries have done an amazing job at building an engaged community. I look forward to the day when I see a bottle from Bold City Brewery, a can from Intuition Ale Works, or a keg from Green Room Brewing out here on the West Coast.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/2288568704/" title="canal by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="canal" height="240" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2221/2288568704_88b7ff1fb3_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Abandoning my original plans, I won't go over the things we think Jacksonville could do to improve itself. I will, however, urge anyone who has the power to make a difference to help preserve Jacksonville's natural resources, promote the creation of more communal green spaces, encourage growth in the local tech industry, and to support the innovative, local businesses.<br />
<br />
Thanks to all of the people who made our years in Jacksonville great. Thanks to the places we covered for putting up with my giant camera. Thanks to those who commented, made suggestions, and gave feedback. Thanks for reading. Make it a good one.01001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-4927953468878509712011-11-22T20:27:00.000-05:002011-11-22T20:27:32.539-05:00Green Room BrewingIs it wrong to deny a man his freedom for the sake of your own happiness? Of course it is, but I must admit I was still a bit disappointed when I heard the news that Eric Luman was leaving his position as head brewer at Seven Bridges to open his own microbrewery in Jax Beach. Seven Bridges had long been my go-to pub, due in large part to the expert craft of its head brewer. I've enjoyed some of my favorite beers of all time there. Standards such as the pilsner and the stout were unparalleled. A couple of the one-time, small batch brews, like the Rosemary Grapefruit IPA and the Coffee Stout were absolutely amazing and outclassed most of what you'd find throughout the US craft beer scene. But, despite our protestations, all things must end. This end, however, is merely a beginning of something that could be so much greater.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6381393231/" title="green room sampler by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="green room sampler" height="240" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6237/6381393231_8e268c9bfa_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Though the chaos of Jax Beach only lies a few yards away on the other side of 3rd Street, Green Room's tap room feels a lot more relaxed and low key than what's typical in the neighborhood. It also turns out to be a bit bigger on the inside than it appears to be when looking in at the small, strip-mall store front.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6381393909/" title="green room samplers by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="green room samplers" height="161" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6231/6381393909_2c993e79c8_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
At my last visit, Green Room had five of their own beers on tap: Head High IPA, Helles Yeah Munich Helles, Shaka Oatmeal Stout, Clean Ocean Surfboards Brown Ale, and Cheer (a Belgian White made in collaboration with Bold City Brewery). Not being constrained by corporate overseers, these did depart a little from what I was used to at Seven Bridges but were all pretty good in their own right. The helles stood out for me as a particularly well balanced lager. I imagine that they're all going to go through some changes as the esteemed brewer acclimates himself with the new equipment and environment.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6381394313/" title="green room keg by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="green room keg" height="240" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6229/6381394313_70c621fe01_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Green Room also showcases beer from the other local Jacksonville and greater Florida microbreweries. Bold City and Intuition both occupy quite a few taps, as does Tampa's Cigar City (makers of the outstanding Jai Alai IPA) and Saint Somewhere (crafters of some very respectable saisons). It's good to see microbreweries supporting their regional contemporaries and establishing a community not really found in other similar areas of business. And really, that's what this place seems to be all about, camaraderie. My memories of the pleasant afternoon I spent here with some good friends and coworkers will, for many reasons, be with me for years to come. Here's to the blossoming Jacksonville beer scene; may it flourish and prosper.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.greenroombrewing.com/">Green Room Brewing</a><br />
228 3rd Street North,<br />
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250<br />
(904) 201-WAVE01001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-64248988827431808662011-10-31T20:04:00.000-04:002011-10-31T20:04:39.149-04:00The HyppoI will never live this one down. You see, one time I was walking around downtown St. Augustine with the lovely Mrs. Finding Florida and she said something along the lines of "We should go to this place called the Hyppo, they have gourmet popsicles." Now, I don't know about you, but the word popsicle conjures up images of simple flavored sticks of ice. What, were they using POM juice to flavor their ice or something? Suffice to say, I was not receptive to the plan. Fast forward to me actually doing some research on the place and I soon realized how mistaken I had been to blow it off.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6297718406/" title="the hyppo exterior by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="the hyppo exterior" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6228/6297718406_b922c68e93_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The Hyppo does not make your typical popsicle, not by a long stretch. Think of these as more like the most amazing smoothies you can think of, only frozen onto a stick. Apparently they're fashioned after paletas, which are Latin American ice pops made from fresh fruit and spices and can be either cream based or water based. So perhaps it's only our culture that suffers from the prevalence of horrible popsicles.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6297717612/" title="mango habanero popsicle by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="mango habanero popsicle" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6297717612_77797cba97_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
There are a wide variety of flavors that rage from mild: Straight-Up Strawberry, Peach, and Coconut Coconut (a personal favorite that combines coconut milk and coconut pieces) to wild: Mexican Hot Chocolate (cocoa, cinnamon, and cayenne), Mango Habanero, and another personal favorite, the Elvis Presley (bananas, peanut butter, and honey). The flavors can change daily so don't get your heart too set on getting a particular one before you arrive but, with such variety, there's bound to be something for everyone.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6297717200/" title="strawberry peach popsicle by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="strawberry peach popsicle" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6297717200_509222a9cb_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The Hyppo's main store is located in St. Augustine on the road where they got their name: Hypolita Street (in the store front formerly occupied by Claude's Chocolates, who moved over next to the Casa Monica). For the overheated shoppers in Jacksonville, they have a cart that hangs out in various places at the St. John's Town Center. Don't make the same mistake I made and dismiss this place out of hand because of any preconceived notions but do be warned: eating popsicles from the Hyppo may be habit-forming.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/294/1530970/restaurant/Downtown-St-Augustine/The-Hyppo-St-Augustine"><img alt="The Hyppo on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1530970/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thehyppo.com/">The Hyppo</a><br />
<br />
The Hyppo (Historic St. Augustine)<br />
15 Hypolita St.<br />
St. Augustine, FL 32084<br />
<br />
The Hyppo Cart (St. Johns Town Center)<br />
4663 River City Drive (approx.)<br />
Jacksonville, FL 3224601001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-41588363630911548892011-10-19T10:17:00.000-04:002011-10-19T10:17:35.107-04:00Seacow ConfectionsSorbet entered my consciousness many years before it entered my mouth. The posh restaurant scenes in the movies of my youth would regularly conclude with some not-too-exotic flavor of sorbet, pleasurably consumed by an assortment of rich and beautiful characters. And therefore sorbet always conjured up images in my young mind of wealth, exclusivity, and bow ties. Can you imagine my delight when, as a teenager, I was presented with the opportunity to taste this delicacy of the demigods? Though not a defining moment in my life, I think I can list this occasion as one of the many that shattered my childhood illusions about the world. It was horrid stuff. An overly sweet, syrupy ice concoction with a flavor quite unlike the fruit listed on the label. Sorbet then left my consciousness for many years.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6256616398/" title="seacow cart by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/6256616398_17834d664e_m.jpg" width="240" height="197" alt="seacow cart"></a></div><br />
<br />
Late last year we were fortunate enough to be invited to a dinner hosted by <a href="http://www.cari-vicarious.com/">Cari</a>, the intrepid foodie blogger and business manager at Intuition Ale Works. There was plenty of incredible food and, of course, great beer. Among the various small samplings of sweets comprising dessert were a couple dollops of sorbet. Knowing the crowd, I had high hopes despite my tragic experience many years prior. I can't quite remember the flavors, being that it was so long ago, but I do recollect being completely blown away. I had finally found the famed and fabled sorbet that had graced so the dessert plates of so many characters in dramatizations about wealthy people at restaurants, courtesy of some guy on a bike.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6256616428/" title="cucumber mint sorbet by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/6256616428_f9c9129dc4_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="cucumber mint sorbet"></a></div><br />
<br />
My first in-person encounter with the Seacow Confections stand was outside of Intuition Ale Works. The first thing you'll notice about this small stand is that it's attached to a bike and you'll wonder how he managed to pedal all the way up to Jacksonville from St. Augustine. The second thing you'll notice are the exotic and imaginative flavors on offer. But the odd flavors are certainly no gimmick, each one being supremely delicious in its own right. On this particular visit we had the cucumber mint and peanut butter. The flavor of the cucumber mint: crisp, clean, and vegetal; was subtle and delicate at first. But the flavor grew as I ate more of it until, tragically, I had consumed the lot. The peanut butter, which may seem an odd choice for sorbet, was far more enjoyable and better balanced than most peanut butter ice creams. Seacow's sorbet is never overly sweet and the texture is uniformly smooth and gives you the sensation that you're eating frozen velvet.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6256086309/" title="peanut butter sorbet by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6047/6256086309_281b14c4a6_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="peanut butter sorbet"></a></div><br />
<br />
I'm not sure if he frequents Intuition anymore which is a bit of a shame. As much as I love Intuition's beer, I would go just for the sorbet. Instead, you'll need to head down to the Farmer's Market in St. Augustine on a Saturday morning or over to the Beaches Green Farmer's Market in Neptune Beach on a Saturday afternoon to get your fix.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://seacowconfections.com/">Seacow Confections</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.staugustinefm.com/">Old City Farmer’s Market</a><br />
St. Augustine<br />
8:30AM-12:30PM, Every Saturday<br />
<br />
<a href="http://beacheslocalfoodnetwork.web.officelive.com/greenmarket.aspx">Beaches Green Farmer’s Market</a><br />
Neptune Beach, Jarboe Park<br />
2PM-5PM, Every Saturday01001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-19813012723448192822011-09-12T07:04:00.000-04:002011-09-12T07:04:18.697-04:00Engine 15It's been about a year since Engine 15 first opened its doors, bringing its signature high-brow craft and import beer paired with delectably high calorie pub food to Jacksonville Beach. While we've been by a handful of times, I didn't want to write a post until I got the full Engine 15 experience. See, Engine 15 isn't your typical bar. Ignoring the 35 high-quality beers on tap and food with the right balance of proteins, fats, and carbs to complement an evening of alcohol fueled merriment, there is one thing that sets Engine 15 apart from all of the other gastropubs, brewpubs, and beer bars for hundreds of miles: you can become a brewer for a day and make your own beer on the premises.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138982532/" title="engine15 beer by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="engine15 beer" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6138982532_4760731399_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Earlier this year I suggested to my boss that we should have a team brewing session at Engine 15 to celebrate a few recent milestones. Having a number of beer snobs on the team, the suggestion was well received and we made an appointment a couple months out. Due to demand, a lead time of a month or more is to be expected but, for anyone who's ever toyed with the idea of brewing their own beer, it's worth the wait.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138982868/" title="brats by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="brats" height="161" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6138982868_206666a15e_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Before I start rambling about our experiences making beer, let's make a quick detour for those not particularly interested in the brew-on-premises offerings from Engine 15. If you're just looking for a good drink or bar food then there's plenty at Engine 15 to be excited about. The beers are all top notch, spanning favorites from our local Jacksonville and Florida microbreweries through a myriad of craft brews from the Left Coast and all the way to ales made by Trappist Monks in Belgium. To help fend of any of the ill effects associated with the consumption of such beverages, Engine 15 offers a variety of appetizers, soups, and sandwiches. I'd suggest going with the beer brats or chili brats. Very few things complement a second beer better than a big juicy sausage. And trust me, you're going to want a second beer.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138432843/" title="beers by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="beers" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6138432843_e89d6c17a6_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The consumption of beer is not required during the brewing process but is highly advised. Not only does it serve as a great motivator, it also helps take the edge of some of the drudgery. The first thing to keep in mind is cleanliness. The second thing to keep in mind is cleanliness. Everything is sanitized. After all, when your recipe involves encouraging a colony of microorganisms to multiply and consume the concoction you've prepared for them, you better be sure you haven't introduced any unfriendly competition.<br />
<br />
Disclaimer: everything that follows is merely a brief recantation of our experience brewing beer at Engine 15 with some very simplistic explanations of the process. There are many good resources online detailing the history and process of brewing. To any experienced brewers reading this, please forgive me.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138983284/" title="measuring malt by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="measuring malt" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6081/6138983284_f865096b5d_m.jpg" width="161" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138433559/" title="grinding malt by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="grinding malt" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6138433559_599acfc0fa_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
For the sake of time and convenience, many amateur home brewers use malt extract to make their beer. Malt is dried germinated grains. Malt extract is a thick syrup consisting of the sugars extracted from malted grains. At Engine 15 they employ a hybrid approach. First we ground up some malt, wrapped it in cheesecloth, and stuck it in the boiling waters of the brew kettle.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138433721/" title="mixing extract by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="mixing extract" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6138433721_9cbc646740_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This part of the process is called mashing. The starches in the grain are broken down into sugars by the heat and the enzymes created during the malting process. What you end up with is a liquid called wort which is later filtered out of the mash. Since we didn't use a particularly large amount of actual malt, we supplemented our wort with the malt extract. To put it in crude terms, the wort is to beer what grape juice is to wine. It is the fermentable fuel upon which your carefully chosen strand of yeast is going to feast; converting sugars into ethanol.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138433235/" title="kettles and kegs by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="kettles and kegs" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6171/6138433235_8c9839deaf_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The next part of the process calls for the addition of hops to the mix. Hops are the flower cones from the female Common hop (Humulus lupus) plant. Hops are used as a buttering agent to balance out the sweetness of the wort (which can still be a bit sweet even after fermentation) and for its antibiotic properties. There are many varieties of hops and they can be added to the wort at different times throughout the boiling process in order to impart different aromas and flavors.<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138983844/" title="fermentor by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="fermentor" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6138983844_766abebc09_m.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Once the boiling process is complete, the wort is filtered, cooled, and transferred to a fermentation vessel. If I remember correctly, the yeast is added at this point and the vessel is sealed, not to be opened for three weeks or more as the yeast works on converting as many of the sugars in the wort into ethanol before dying of acute alcohol intoxication.<br />
<br />
When the the fermentation process is complete, you must return to Engine 15 to bottle your brew. Again, cleanliness is key and everything is sanitized. Drinking beer while bottling is not required but is strongly recommended. Now I understand why some microbreweries don't bottle their beer. It's incredibly repetitive work but can be an enjoyable experience when armed with a pint and the knowledge that you're not going to be doing it very often (if ever again).<br />
<br />
<div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6138983992/" title="ping pong pale ale and mess you up wheat by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img alt="ping pong pale ale and mess you up wheat" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6138983992_5dec78053b_m.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So here they are, the finished products: Ping Pong Pale Ale and Mess You Up Wheat. Both brews were pretty good and their character changed over the weeks they aged in the bottles.<br />
<br />
Conclusion: do it. Overall it was a great experience, ideal for small teams if you have a group of interested friends or an employer who doesn't object to such activities. But even if you can't be bothered, you can always just head to Engine 15 for a good sausage and a great beer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1535253/restaurant/Jacksonville/Engine-15-Brewing-Co-Jacksonville-Beach"><img alt="Engine 15 Brewing Co. on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1535253/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.engine15.com/">Engine 15 Brewing Company</a><br />
1500 Beach Blvd. #217<br />
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 <br />
(904) 249-233701001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-57962710962024791622011-08-29T20:31:00.003-04:002011-08-30T06:47:16.816-04:00The Donut ShoppeFew foods excite me less than doughnuts. Far too often have I been tempted by the mere idea of a doughnut only to be let down; the actual experience of eating a doughnut never coming close to exceeding the fantasy. For years I have simply gone without and the occasional free doughnuts at the office no longer entice me in the slightest; no willpower is necessary when there's no allure. But I have come to realize that, as with all things, there is always some master of the craft hidden out in the world who is capable of transcending your expectations. Whether they bring a novel twist to an old idea or just get it right; these virtuosos are capable of changing your mind about something you thought was settled.
<br />
<br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6094522915/" title="the donut shoppe by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6094522915_7b152b2fd5_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="the donut shoppe" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />I'm going to ask you to do something that, for a multitude of valid reasons, you would be absolutely opposed to under normal circumstances but, my dear reader, I assure you that these are not normal circumstances. I want you to wake up somewhere between 5am and 7am on any day but a Monday. Already I can feel your protests but I urge you to continue. Next I want you to grab some cash (this is important) and drive to the Arlington Expressway and get off on University Boulevard going north. Again, I completely understand your reticence, of all the things I could ask you to do, this could very well be the furthest from what you had in mind. Now, about a mile up on the right you will see a Gate gas station. Attached to this gas station is an unassuming little place called The Donut Shoppe. Go inside, buy some goods with the cash you brought, and leave a changed and enriched person.
<br />
<br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6095063824/" title="the donut shoppe by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6095063824_08b7d9fdfe_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="the donut shoppe" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Looking at the case of sweet indulgences, it's hard not to get excited. Everything looks amazing. There's even a certain quality to the shape and sheen of the donuts that you don't see at the bigger chains. Given the variety and personal tastes, I'd be hard pressed to make suggestions but I would recommend adding a chocolate eclair and a honey stick to that bag of calories. The staff members are exceedingly friendly and are more than willing to answer any questions you might have about their wares. You may even be lucky enough to get a small sample. Whatever the final contents of your brown paper bag(s), the one guarantee I'm confident in providing is that disappointment won't be an ingredient.
<br />
<br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6095063974/" title="the donut shoppe by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6081/6095063974_e230e6c486_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="the donut shoppe" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />The car ride home, right after walking through the door, later that day, and finally a few times the next day; these were the many times I was unable to prevent myself from indulging in my decadent bounty. My iron clad will was no match for these fried treasures. Just as Cami Cakes had allowed the word "cupcake" to enter my dietary lexicon, The Donut Shoppe had simultaneously destroyed my previous conceptions about the doughnut craft and reaffirmed my decision to steadfastly refuse anything less than their supreme artistry.
<br />
<br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/6094523651/" title="the donut shoppe by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6094523651_ebcb20ff12_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="the donut shoppe" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Get up early, because when they're out they close the shop. Do not forget to bring cash. Prepare yourself for a mind altering experience. Neither doughnuts nor the city will ever seem the same to you again. Be careful. If you do choose to eat and drive, please remember to keep your eyes open, however hard it may be.
<br />
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/480519/restaurant/Arlington/Donut-Shoppe-Jacksonville"><img alt="Donut Shoppe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/480519/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>
<br />
<br />The Donut Shoppe
<br />1721 University Blvd N
<br /> Jacksonville, FL 32211
<br />(904) 743-1844
<br />01001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-61694057881585536792011-07-17T22:21:00.003-04:002011-07-18T06:47:11.138-04:00The FloridianSaint Augustine lost an icon when Opus 39 closed their doors last year. Regrettably, I only ever walked past the restaurant, never stopping in to sample the famously delicious food at infamously high prices. But no sooner had Opus 39 succumbed to the blight of our recession than the Floridian rose like a phoenix out of the ashes. Focusing their energies on creating healthy and hearty dishes from locally sourced ingredients, The Floridian rode the wave of the Locavore and Slow Food Movements to become a new iconic establishment in the changing culinary landscape.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5948456557/" title="veggie burger by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5948456557_142ce56c63_m.jpg" width="240" height="166" alt="veggie burger" /></a></div><br /><br />Although you will find many regulars on the menu, The Floridian has a revolving lineup of seasonal dishes. Most entrees are available in various forms; either as a vegetarian dish or with some sort of locally sourced meat. All references to fish are placeholders for whatever the catch of the day may be. There's a distinctive Southern flair to the cuisine but you'll probably find your meal to be on the lighter and healthier side than what you're used to with such dishes.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5949011102/" title="fish wrap by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5949011102_9a818f06a3_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="fish wrap" /></a></div><br /><br />Being unable to resist a good fish wrap or sandwich, I've tried both the Pescado Fresco Burrito: fresh catch with quinoa, greens, our citrus sweet potato salsa, and datil-chipotle mayo in a whole wheat tortilla; and the Spicy Melt: blackened local Fish with a datil-chipotle mayo, flamed bell peppers, tomato and fresh spinach on whole wheat bread with Wainwright Dairy's cheeses. Both of these I would highly recommended, especially the melt if you're looking for something a little more decadent. I also have it on good authority that the Dixie Burger, in either the beef or vegetarian-friendly black bean and sweet potato varieties, is exquisite. I keep meaning to order that myself but am usually dissuaded at the last second by the white bread bun (which is undoubtedly quite good, as is all the bread here).<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5949010694/" title="water jar by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5949010694_a014715020_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="water jar" /></a></div><br /><br />The drink situation is a little confusing at first. The bar is in the back and has an excellent selection of Florida craft beers and a good number of wines. However, across the small doorway that leads from the bar area to the dining room there is an invisible barrier: the County Line. See, the Floridian is directly across the street from one of downtown Saint Augustine's picturesque churches and a country ordinance prevents them from serving alcohol beyond that point. But worry not, there is a loophole of sorts. You may purchase beer and wine in the bottle from the bar and bring it back to your table to consume. However, draft beer must be consumed back in the bar area, beyond the range of temptation.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5949010580/" title="floridian by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5949010580_825c1a19e0_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="floridian" /></a></div><br /><br />Adding to the fulfilling food and choice drinks is the great atmosphere. With water served in mason jars on rustic furniture, there's a quaint farmhouse type feel to the place. This isn't a meal you'll feel like rushing. The downside is that you're likely to wait if you don't get there early. The Floridian has amassed a large number of devotees among the local populace and it's not hard to imagine why. Consider it a must-do in downtown Saint Augustine. You might find it hard to justify ever going anywhere else.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/294/1545549/restaurant/Downtown-St-Augustine/The-Floridian-St-Augustine"><img alt="The Floridian on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1545549/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thefloridianstaug.com/">The Floridian</a><br />39 Cordova St. <br />St Augustine, FL 32084 <br />(904) 829-065501001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-58841185201627726202011-04-17T21:44:00.002-04:002011-04-18T07:27:02.447-04:00DelicombThe Locavore Movement is gaining a lot of strength and momentum around these parts. More than mere fashion, it represents a fundamental shift in the way we eat, live, and do business. While this movement may not live up the hype and save the world, it will undoubtedly give us a more vibrant, varied, and creative local culture and economy.<br /><br />Over the past couple years we've seen Jacksonville businesses eagerly supporting the local microbreweries and coffee roasters but the local sourcing of ingredients has been undertaken predominantly by the more trendy and expensive restaurants around town. There are, however, a few smaller restaurants that have dedicated themselves to supporting their neighbors. One such place is the top breakfast and lunch spot among the foodies and locavores in Jacksonville Beach: Delicomb.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5629857660/" title="not-so-vegan wrap by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5629857660_8b3de9c6fe_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="not-so-vegan wrap" /></a></div><br /><br />Practically Everything at Delicomb is made fresh using organic ingredients; from the sandwiches and wraps to the soups and all-day breakfast fare. The ingredients in my not-quite-vegan wrap (a vegan wrap with chicken added) hadn't even had time to mingle between construction and consumption and the side of chickpea salad was crisp and crunchy. Even with the freshness constraint and the diminutive size of the restaurant, there's an overwhelming number of delicious sounding items to choose from.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5629277075/" title="coffee and tea by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5189/5629277075_1b774bc9a3_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="coffee and tea" /></a></div><br /><br />Delicomb serves up some killer espresso drinks using single origin beans. Being unable to restrain myself in the face of over-caffeinated beverages, I couldn't pass up the speed bomb: a coffee with added espresso shots. While it still tasted quite nice, I think I'll just go with a regular old latte next time; if not for the flavor then for the sake of my kidneys.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5629277277/" title="veggie soup and muffin by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5629277277_b511b8a8e0_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="veggie soup and muffin" /></a></div><br /><br />Delicomb also specializes in making their own kimchi: a traditional Korean dish of fermented vegetables and various spices. The recipes aren't quite conventional but they are pretty delicious. The kimchis are featured in a few of the sandwiches and wraps and you can buy jars to take home.<br /><br />But the kimchis aren't the only thing you can get to go. True to the deli name, you can stop by to pick up some cheese, deli meat, hummus, and various sides along with the premium coffee beans and some goodies from local artisans (like Claude's Chocoloates). This is definitely a place that requires multiple visits to sample the great quality and variety, as is evidenced by their many hardcore regulars.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5629857176/" title="delicomb counter by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5629857176_e63ed70d71_m.jpg" width="158" height="240" alt="delicomb counter" /></a></div><br /><br />The tiny little building off 3rd Street is easy to miss but hard to pass up. Whether you're a fanatic about organic and local food or just appreciate a good, fresh meal; Delicomb won't disappoint. If I were closer then I'd happily join the ranks of the regulars but I'll just have to be satisfied with the occasional journey to grab a good lunch and another jar of kimchi.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1524960/restaurant/Jacksonville/Delicomb-Jacksonville-Beach"><img alt="Delicomb on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1524960/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.delicomb.com/">Delicomb</a><br />1131 3rd St N<br />Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250<br />(904) 372-419201001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-7982798217794690382011-02-16T22:42:00.005-05:002011-02-17T06:05:10.135-05:00Brewer's PizzaOrange Park doesn't get any love. At times it can be the very pinnacle of suburban nightmare; impossible traffic, big box stores, and boring chain restaurants ad nauseum. But there is hope. One small pizzeria with big goals arrived late last year to challenge the entrenched chain restaurants and capture the hearts of the local patrons. And from the looks of it, they just might pull it off.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5452726300/" title="oberon by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5452726300_fa42a61284_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="oberon" /></a></div><br /><br />Blanding is usually the last place I'd want to be on a Friday night but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited. Beyond the delight in taking my allowed one-day-a-week break from a diet to indulge in food and drink that was denied me during the other six, all that I had been reading about <strong>Brewer's Pizza</strong> led me to believe that a real treat was in store. Even when not following a food regimen, pizza is seldom a food I choose to consume except in <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2009/08/tommys-pizza.html">extraordinary cases</a> involving super thin crusts. But Brewer's Pizza, with its flagship "Florida Smacker" deep dish pizza, was rumored to be qutie an extraordinary case itself. How the pizza fared was yet to be determined but there was one thing that was absolutely certain: the quality of the beer was going to be amazing.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5452726174/" title="hopslam by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5452726174_4d2977bce8_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="hopslam" /></a></div><br /><br />While their on-premises brewing operation has yet to start, Brewer's Pizza offers more than 20 outstanding American craft brews on tap; a decent number of which come from Florida's best microbrews which, of course, includes Jacksonville's very own <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2008/11/bold-city-brewery.html">Bold City Brewery</a> and <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2010/12/intuition-ale-works.html">Intuition Ale Works</a>. We were very fortunate to visit while they still had some Hopslam, a highly regarded and widely coveted Double India Pale Ale brewed with six different varieties of hops and a bit of honey by Bell's Brewery in Michigan. This beer currently sits at #7 on Beer Advocate's list of the "Top Beers On Planet Earth" and wholly deserves that honor. This is one legendary beer and one of the few such masterpieces available in our region. The rest of the beer menu may not be quite as epic but they're all quality choices, making Brewer's Pizza the only place to go in the Westside/Orange Park area for a good pint.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5452726456/" title="florida smacker by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5452726456_ab71cf35bc_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="florida smacker" /></a></div><br /><br />Alas, not everyone is so blown away by the prospect of occasionally indulging in a good fermented beverage. Fortunately, Brewer's Pizza brings as much attention to quality and detail to their pizza craft as they do their beer. Their signature pie, The Florida Smacker, is a deep dish, pan pizza made with beer dough and baked until the corners are crispy to the point of being lightly charred. Even for those of us who outright dismiss deep dish pizzas as a rule, giving this one a try is a definite must. The dough is exemplary, without parallel among local pizzerias.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5452726618/" title="brewer's pizza dinner by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5452726618_51be4e3442_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="brewer's pizza dinner" /></a></div><br /><br />But perhaps its unfair to make such comparisons when, as far as I know, there really aren't any other pizzerias in town doing deep dish pizzas. However, for regular thick crust pizza there are many competitors with whom to draw comparisons. Again, Brewer's Pizza are the unequivocal champions of this craft. It's primarily the dough which earns them such honors but the generous slathering of savory sauce and fresh topping certainly help tip the scales in their favor.<br /><br />Just a block down from the Orange Park Mall, the location may be less than ideal and the converted strip mall store interior may be a touch awkward but Brewer's Pizza has a lot to offer. Much to my delight, the place was quite busy so, I'd say the local patrons appreciate all they're doing. Even though they might not single-handedly change the Orange Park dining landscape, there's a good chance that their success will result in the appearance of some more quality places to eat and drink. Above all, they've given those of us scattered around the other parts of town a great reason to visit Orange Park.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1540757/restaurant/Jacksonville/Brewers-Pizza-Orange-Park"><img alt="Brewer's Pizza on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1540757/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.brewerspizza.com/">Brewer's Pizza</a><br />14B Blanding Blvd<br />Orange Park, FL 32073<br />(904) 276-515901001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-80836313752537209322010-12-15T21:10:00.005-05:002010-12-16T21:07:00.820-05:00Intuition Ale WorksThe initial whisperings that Jacksonville was going to get its second microbrewery started over a year and a half ago. From their first blog posts in July 2009 to the tapping of the People's Pale Ale on November 1 of this year and then the grand opening of the tap room on November 20, local beer aficionados have been waiting impatiently for their chance to put the eagerly anticipated and much hyped Intuition Ale Works to the test. And now that the wait is finally over, much to the delight of all, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, giving us a solid two for two on local microbrewery excellence.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5265190844/" title="intuition ale by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5265190844_b45695e197_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="intuition ale" /></a></div><br /><br />Conveniently situated halfway between <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2008/11/bold-city-brewery.html">Bold City Brewery</a> and <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2010/01/kickbacks-gastro-pub.html">Kickbacks Gastropub</a>, the addition of Intuition Ale Works has established the area near the intersection of Rosselle Street and King Street as Jacksonville's brewing district and created one amazing pub crawl. The IAW compound consists of a small tap room and an immense brewing area that has a lot room for expansion and, given the latest reports of beer shortages, it looks like they're going to need it.<br /><br />If there's one thing Jacksonville's microbreweries do better than many others, particularly those in Florida, it's the tap rooms / bar areas. Bare brick walls, concrete floors, muted lights, and unstained wood tables and bar make the tap room a cozy and welcoming place to enjoy a few beers. The brewing area also serves as overflow area for larger events and is the place to get growler fills.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5264581825/" title="tanks by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5264581825_ee9f7658a5_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="tanks" /></a></div><br /><br />But onto the most important factor: the beer. Just as when Bold City initially opened, there were only four varieties of beer being made: People's Pale Ale, King Street Stout, Imperial Red Ale, and Willow Branch Wheat. With the recent addition of the I-10 IPA, they're up to five and are working to rapidly expand the selection. The beers themselves betray the nascency of the business; mature in flavor and body, they're more akin to what you'd expect from a well-established craft brewery. The People's Pale Ale is one of the best pale ale's I've had the pleasure of consuming. It's characterized by a full body with a fragrant, citrusy hoppiness that isn't at all overbearing and rivals well-known brands such as Sierra Nevada. The I-10 IPA is also a shining example of that particular style. The India Pale Ale is a favorite among beer connoisseurs and every self-respecting craft brewery makes their own attempt but they can be hit-or-miss. Though an almost overwhelming hop character is the signature of the style, some brands are a little too extreme in this measure. Others sweeten the mixture too much in order to mask some of the bitter notes or then often elevated alcohol content. The I-10 IPA is hoppy enough to please the fanatics but balanced enough that most people can appreciate a pint.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5264584711/" title="stout by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5264584711_4b9cffa783_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="stout" /></a></div><br /><br />The wheat, a favorite style of mine, is also pretty stellar yet, like the exemplary Fritz's Hefeweizen at Bold City, deviates a bit from the typical wheat beer. The King Street Stout is quite a hefty beast. Most stouts hover around the 3-5% ABV mark. I'd have to speculate that this one is more like 7-10% ABV. With its pitch black color, thick mouthfeel, and sweet flavor, this is a beer that should be carefully enjoyed as or with a dessert.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5264579683/" title="two beers by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5264579683_70247bdd8e_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="two beers" /></a></div><br /><br />The wait is finally over and the hype was well warranted. Intuition has arrived to contribute to a rapidly expanding local beer scene, making Jacksonville the craft brew capitol of Florida and giving all of us around town something to be proud of.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1557205/restaurant/Riverside/Intuition-Ale-Works-Jacksonville"><img alt="Intuition Ale Works on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1557205/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.intuitionaleworks.com/">Intuition Ale Works</a><br />720 King Street<br />Jacksonville, FL 32204<br />(904) 683-772001001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-25650459202724523562010-12-09T23:39:00.001-05:002010-12-10T22:16:18.557-05:00Mr TacoDriving past the tiny strip mall on Bowden shortly after the opening of Mr Taco, I audibly scoffed and flippantly proclaimed that I wouldn't be eating there. But after a few more passes over the following months, my curiosity about this little taquiera started to grow. Then the recommendations from trusted sources started trickling in. My initial prejudice was certainly out of order considering that most of my favorite restaurants are hole-in-the-walls with almost equally ridiculous names. So Mr Taco became a top priority, if only to clear my conscience for dismissing it so easily.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5239359513/" title="chips and salsa by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5239359513_797749664d_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="chips and salsa" /></a></div><br /><br />This particular strip mall on Bowden isn't particularly inviting. There's a small grocery store, which is essentially a cheap beer and wine depot with some snacks, and the parking lot is usually pretty empty. The Mr Taco logo above the restaurant's facade, with its sombrero wearing, mustachioed Mexicano might strike one as being a bit derogatory but as soon as you step through the door it becomes apparent that the owners and operators of the place are only engaging in some self caricaturization. Betraying his tough appearance, the guy who jumped up to take our order (who I believe may be the owner) couldn't have been any nicer or more welcoming. If warm service is one of your top priorities, they don't come much friendlier than Mr Taco.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5239957806/" title="burrito by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5239957806_066b155a1f_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="burrito" /></a></div><br /><br />Picking a representative menu item was a bit of a challenge. Despite feeling compelled to try the tacos because of the name, we both settled on burritos (I can't resist the allure of a good burrito) but resolved to go back and try the multitude of tacos, tortas, and quesadillas. We'd barely settled into our seats after raiding the salsa bar when our food came out. I'd imagine it might take a little longer when they're busy but that was still a lot faster than expected.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5239359755/" title="veggie burrito by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5239359755_c334b14151_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="veggie burrito" /></a></div><br /><br />What can I say about the Chicken Fajita Burrito? I've had some amazing burritos and this ranks up among the best. While not taking the crown, there's certainly a lot of flavor and the chicken was sauteed in an absolutely delicious sauce. Definitely better than I had anticipated and enough to warrant repeat visits. Akin to really great street food you might get when traveling in distant lands and similarly priced.<br /><br />Once again the best restaurants are found in the most surprising locations (with the most surprising names). Those who like authentic Mexican cuisine or even Mexican inspired food are doing themselves a disservice by not stopping in. And while I doubt Mr Taco will ever become as astonishingly popular as a similarly named local taquiera, I hope they'll at least get the appreciation they deserve.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1346788/restaurant/Southside/Mr-Taco-Jacksonville"><img alt="Mr Taco on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1346788/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br />Mr Taco<br />6426 Bowden Rd<br />Jacksonville, FL 3221601001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-32311204765588338312010-11-30T20:21:00.001-05:002010-12-01T06:48:08.253-05:00IndochineIndochine is the latest in Jacksonville's rapidly expanding number of Thai Restaurants. Each new opening seems to up the ante on food and setting. It wasn't too long ago that <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2010/05/lime-leaf-thai.html">Lime Leaf</a> opened and blew away the competition with its exquisite food and sleek interior. Now Indochine has come along to raise the bar once again.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5221951987/" title="wrought iron stairwell by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5221951987_20f4d13324_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="wrought iron stairwell" /></a></div><br /><br />I've always admired the stairwell next to the <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2008/05/burrito-gallery-jacksonville-fl.html">Burrito Gallery</a>. The wrought iron window set into a worn brick facade with aging rafters visible above the concrete stairs adorned with their own wrought iron railings. The food at the Burrito Gallery is enough of an attraction to warrant a visit but the stairwell is one of the handful of iconic images that I must take in to complete my trip downtown. Indochine won me over immediately by moving in above the Burrito Gallery and thereby forcing me to ascend this work of art.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5222547068/" title="indochine menu by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5222547068_4280ff3715_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="indochine menu" /></a></div><br /><br />The interior lives up to the magnificent entrance. Bare brick walls, natural lighting, and abundant greenery make for a very relaxing and aesthetically pleasing setting. We were lucky enough to be given a windown seat and enjoyed watching the world go by below.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5221948991/" title="red curry by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5221948991_a29bbd2829_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="red curry" /></a></div><br /><br />The Chicken Red Curry, my go to meal and measuring stick of sorts at Thai restaurants, was the best I've had so far and that's considering some incredibly impressive competition. The vegetables were still fairly snappy, the chicken precisely cooked, and (most important of all) the curry sauce perfectly balanced. Despite the over-abundance of food, I was unable to stop myself from scoffing the entire plate and left myself nothing to eat for the following lunch. Luckily I was given leftovers from the Mixed Vegetables plate, an assortment of vegetables wok fried in a light brown sauce. The description may seem rather bland but the meal itself was very flavorful.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5221948879/" title="mixed vegetables by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5221948879_42b487fa76_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="mixed vegetables" /></a></div><br /><br />After recently finding a new favorite in Lime Leaf, I think Indochine has now taken its place at the top. Proximity means I'll happily frequent my former favorite but for recommendations and special occasions, this is a great destination to put on the list. I look forward to seeing what the next challenger will bring to the table but I'm skeptical that anyone can beat Indochine on location alone.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1548668/restaurant/Urban-Core/Indochine-Jacksonville"><img alt="Indochine on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1548668/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.indochinejax.com/">Indochine</a><br />21 E Adams Street Ste 200<br />Jacksonville, FL 32202<br />(904) 598-530301001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-55515138917576398672010-11-21T21:41:00.003-05:002010-11-22T07:07:49.209-05:00Pepe's HaciendaIt may be unfair to judge a book by its cover but it's more than appropriate to factor in the facade of a restaurant to your overall impression. Perhaps even more important to a judgment call, though perhaps highly controversial, is the other clientele. Without taking a single bite of food and basing the assessment solely upon the exterior, interior decor, and the other patrons, I'll confidently assert that Pepe's Hacienda is the most authentic Mexican restaurant in the entire First Coast region.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5196606325/" title="pepe's by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5196606325_f061229561_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="pepe's" /></a></div><br /><br />You know those gas stations with a McDonald's or Subway in them? Pepe's Hacienda is one of those except that rather than being inside a gas station, it's inside a Mexican grocery market that looks to be the location of a former convenience store. Brightly colored piñatas hang from the ceiling while large screen televisions loudly play different Mexican channels. Additionally, Pepe's gets the seal of a approval from the local Mexican expatriates; a hard won honor in these parts.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5196606431/" title="veggie burrito by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5196606431_4ea7fb9856_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="veggie burrito" /></a></div><br /><br />You'll find much of your standard Mexican food here as well as a few intriguing additions. There's the massive burrito, the size of which puts most local burrito joints to shame at a mere fraction of the cost. And while it's perhaps not as tasty as the more Americanized options, it's definitely a shining example of an authentic burrito with enough calories to last you an entire day. The tacos are also pretty good and, like everything else on the menu, incredibly inexpensive.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5196606737/" title="beef tongue taco by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/5196606737_1f7e4259f0_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="beef tongue taco" /></a></div><br /><br />For the more adventurous and curious types, you can get your tacos and burritos stuffed with strange delicacies such as beef tongue or tripe. Never one to pass up an oddity, I ordered a beef tongue taco. While it isn't something I'd go out of my way to seek, the flavor was interesting and paired well with the fresh onions and cilantro.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5196606605/" title="burrito by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5196606605_0096c94b60_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="burrito" /></a></div><br /><br />Despite the mildly uninviting exterior, anyone who enjoys Mexican cuisine has no excuse for not checking out Pepe's Hacienda. As sketchy as it may seem at first glance, the people, food, and prices could not be more inviting.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1446063/restaurant/Southside/Pepes-Hacienda-Restaurant-Jacksonville"><img alt="Pepe's Hacienda & Restaurant on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1446063/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br />Pepe's Hacienda & Restaurant<br />3615 Dupont Ave Ste 900<br />Jacksonville, FL 32217<br />(904) 636-813101001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-87727983613912682212010-10-20T22:47:00.005-04:002010-10-21T06:54:06.483-04:00Urban FlatsFor years Urban Flats has been a fixture out in Ponte Vedra, pulling in large crowds for drinks, entertainment, and flat breads. For all these years we'd been meaning to go but were forever being diverted by some other restaurant somewhere along our journey. But then something amazing happened, a new branch of this small-but-growing franchise opened up on the Southside, shortening our trip and thereby minimizing our chances of being distracted.<br /><br />If there's one constant factor about the newly arrived Urban Flats, it's the buzz. They're constantly busy, even throughout the rainy Saturday lunch hours during which we paid our first visit. Photos of Jacksonville from eras long gone adorn the walls, accenting the clean, low-key atmosphere with a touch of nostalgic and reverence. But, as nice as the ambiance is, this place doesn't get by on its decor alone.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5101335270/" title="urban flats salad by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/5101335270_a75849dcfe_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="urban flats salad" /></a></div><br /><br />Urban Flats, as the name suggests, specializes in gourmet flatbreads. Made from whole-wheat flour and baked in a stone-hearth, they take their flatbreads very seriously and it is highly recommended to at least try one on your first visit. As intriguing as they sounded, I was a little more curious about their signature salad, The Urban, which I promptly ordered… with a flatbread, of course.<br /><br />I'm having a hard time formulating a sentence that would aptly describe how much I enjoyed The Urban, made from fresh greens, golden raisins, sunflower seeds, goat cheese, and honey white balsamic vinaigrette. Let's just say that I'm a secret saladophile and it ranks pretty high on my list of favorites.<br /><br />Before we get to the flatbread, I'd just like to take a moment to call attention to the incredible variety of delicious sounding salads, starters, entrees, and "flatwiches" available at Urban Flats. Most restaurants have a lot of menu items but you're often left with only a handful that sound personally inviting enough to pick from. Perhaps it's just that their style speaks to my tastes but I find myself compelled by most of the menu items at Urban Flats and glancing over the menu as I write this is proving to be quite torturous.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5101335410/" title="urban flats flatbread by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1435/5101335410_19634e36d2_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="urban flats flatbread" /></a></div><br /><br />Now, onto the flatbread. There's a striking resemblance to pizza except that the bread isn't very firm. I had actually expected the bread to be a little crispier but I was in no way dissatisfied and would have been more than happy with an unadorned piece of the flatbread; it was that good.<br /><br />We had the Oven Roasted Vegetable (sun-dried tomato pesto topped with roasted vegetables and parmesan cheese) and the Southwest (Angus beef, tomato chipotle sauce, sweet onion, jalapeno, pepper jack and cheddar cheeses and a sour cream drizzle) which were both tasty and big enough to last for a couple additional meals. There are some fairly conventional options among the 17 different styles as well as some intriguing oddities like the Fig and Prosciutto; the Spicy Shrimp and Chorizo; or the Turkey, Pear, and Brie; all of which I'd love to try at some point.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5101335536/" title="urban flats flatbread by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5101335536_169ab93764_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="urban flats flatbread" /></a></div><br /><br />The wine and beer list is more than extensive and I hear there are some good specials throughout the week so it seems to be a good place to go for an after work drink.<br /><br />So it looks like the people of the Southside have been able to make Urban Flats as happenin' a place as it is out in Ponte Vedra. I, for one, greatly appreciate the proximity and look forward to many repeat visits.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1521903/restaurant/Southside/Urban-Flats-Jacksonville"><img alt="Urban Flats on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1521903/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.urbanflats.net">Urban Flats</a><br />9726 Touchton Rd<br />Jacksonville, FL 32246<br />(904) 280-551501001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-41674722630829526972010-10-11T19:44:00.003-04:002010-10-12T06:13:12.534-04:00'townAvondale's already impressive dining landscape has been rapidly expanding over the last couple of months and is generating a lot of buzz within the foodie crowd. At the forefront of the excitement is <strong>'town</strong> (aka 'town 3611), an intriguing restaurant that sincerely adheres to many of the biggest trends in modern American cuisine.<br /><br />Using fresh, locally sourced food to create small but flavorful dishes, 'town is one of the newest among the rising number of eco-conscious, gastronomy focused restaurants that both contribute to and provide evidence of Jacksonville's cultural maturation.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5073016841/" title="town beer by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5073016841_1ac7903b0f_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="town beer" /></a></div><br /><br />As mentioned before, 'town tries to source the bulk of their ingredients from a few local farms and dairies that follow sustainable practices. Everything appears to be selected for maximum flavor as every little bite almost overwhelms the gustatory and olfactory senses. The plates may be far smaller than you'd encounter at a standard box restaurant but the intense and varied flavors work best in smaller portions.<br /><br />The wine list is quite extensive. On the other hand, the beer list is rather small (three on tap and seven in bottles) but is filled by only high quality, well respected brews. We settled on the Konig Ludwig Weissbier, a flavorful wheat beer that turned out to be quite nice.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5073614632/" title="town bread by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5073614632_e745a4da83_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="town bread" /></a></div><br /><br />The dishes come in various different sizes and categories. There are $5 bar bites and $4 cheese or charcuterie plates. Next you have the $9, $12, and $15 plates that loosely correspond to a small, medium, large concept. For a $33 fixed price you can pick one from each of the categories. Additionally there are a number of more traditionally sized dishes available for various prices as well as an assortment of sides, desserts, and ice creams / sorbets. Dining at 'town certainly doesn't leave one with a lack of options.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5073614850/" title="tomato salad by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/5073614850_f0d023c455_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="tomato salad" /></a></div><br /><br />All in all we sampled a mere five dishes out of the 30+ available. First I had the Local Tomato Salad with house made ricotta, mixed greens, white balsamic vinaigrette and sampled a bit of the Grilled Eggplant Bruschetta. Bursting with flavor would be an understatement. The tomato salad was essentially two massive slices of some varietal of heirloom tomato served with assorted greens and a dab of ricotta cheese. If all the salads are this good then I might just give them all a try next time. The grilled eggplant bruschetta was a bit surprising in that it was lacking the one ingredient that makes a bruschetta: the bread. Instead the eggplant slices served as the base for the tomato, basil, and goat cheese toppings. It's hard to avoid repeating myself but, again, it was incredibly flavorful.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5073614978/" title="pork cheeks by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5073614978_16570da5db_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="pork cheeks" /></a></div><br /><br />For my next choice, the Fudge Farm Pork Cheeks were simply too strange to pass up. The flavor is rather akin to that of tongue while being a bit firmer in texture. Very interesting indeed and I wouldn't hesitate to try them again after sampling the other options on the menu.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/5073017501/" title="wild salmon by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5073017501_d507c70f07_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="wild salmon" /></a></div><br /><br />For my final dish I had the Wild Salmon. The salmon itself was the best I've had. It came with the skin still on which under normal circumstances one would typically discard but it was cooked in such a way to make it not just edible but quite enjoyable. The tasso ham in the succotash was so flavorful that it felt like something exploded in my mouth every time I happened upon a morsel.<br /><br />Overall the experience was enjoyable. The atmosphere is great, the staff friendly and courteous, and the food was delicious but, I caution once more, the sizes are quite small. Perhaps our only complaint would be the relatively low number of vegetarian options but I'm sure some of the meat based garnishes could be left off if requested. It's exciting to see these modern dining establishments pop up around this expansive city of ours and it's certainly something to be proud of.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1527071/restaurant/Westside/town-Jacksonville"><img alt="'town on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1527071/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.town3611.com/">'town</a><br />3611 St. Johns Ave<br />Jacksonville, FL 32205<br />(904) 345-259601001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-63264311966657819232010-09-15T22:57:00.002-04:002010-09-16T06:51:29.166-04:00Village Bread CafeThe Village Bread Cafe appeared out of nowhere just over a year ago, tucked into an industrial park, half a mile north of where US 1 meets University. One wouldn't expect a restaurant located in an area such as this to acquire much of a following but in the relatively short time since opening they've been successful enough to open two more branches; one in Mandarin, the other at downtown Jacksonville's most infamous gathering place: The Landing.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4995014118/" title="village bread cafe - bread and oil by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/4995014118_bd6f481282_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="village bread cafe - bread and oil" /></a></div><br /><br />A good loaf of fresh bread is one of the finest, most enjoyable food items in existence. All one needs is to look at the lines outside <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2010/03/french-pantry.html">The French Pantry</a> any weekday lunchtime for evidence to support this claim. However, bread is also one of the easiest things to get wrong and decent bakeries are few and far between, particularly around these parts. I've been burned far too many times by the promise of delicious baked goods only to be met with mediocre or just plain bad results. So in order to prevent myself from being too disappointed, I approach any self-styled bakery with a mixture of hope and trepidation.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4994409401/" title="village bread cafe - mushroom sandwich by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/4994409401_d7807b97a5_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="village bread cafe - mushroom sandwich" /></a></div><br /><br />Thankfully, the Village Bread Cafe delivers on its promises with some rather good bread. If you order in you'll be treated to some bread and dipping oil which can at times be my favorite part of the meal.<br /><br />The sandwiches are full of fresh, tasty ingredients and good quality deli meat. They're big too; big enough to eat in two sittings. My only disappointment came when I ended up getting white bread when I was certain that it was supposed to be wheat but it could very well have been my mistake and the bread still tasted great. They have some really great looking salads as well.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4995014486/" title="village bread cafe - turkey avocado sandwich by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4995014486_a3063e6b96_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="village bread cafe - turkey avocado sandwich" /></a></div><br /><br />This is quite out of character for me, but if there's one recommendation I can make regarding food at the Village Bread Cafe, it's that you should get an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. And when they ask you if you want it warmed up, you should say yes. Then you should take this dinner plate sized cookie back to your table and eat it right away. I can rarely identify when people lustily reminisce about past desserts; most confections don't do anything for me. But if they were all as amazing as this cookie, I wouldn't always be turning my nose up at the dessert menu.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4994409675/" title="village bread cafe - cooookie by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/4994409675_865d07912c_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="village bread cafe - cooookie" /></a></div><br /><br />This is a promising place and I'm eager to see how their rapid growth and success is going to play out. I look forward to going back and trying a few more of the enticing menu items. Perhaps I'll pick up a few more cookies while I'm at it.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1481643/restaurant/Southside/Village-Bread-Cafe-Jacksonville"><img alt="Village Bread Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1481643/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br />Village Bread Cafe<br />5215 Philips Highway<br />Jacksonville, FL 3220701001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-55737663658167399442010-08-31T21:41:00.002-04:002010-09-01T06:50:42.771-04:00Queen of ShebaQueen of Sheba is like the fabled city of Brigadoon, appearing for a short amount of time every few years and then vanishing without a trace. I first heard about the place many years back via word of mouth. Intrigued by the idea of Ethiopian cuisine, I tried numerous times over the years to track it down but could find nothing. The <a href="http://www.shebaflorida.com/">website</a> still lists two former addresses; one on Bowden, one on Emerson, neither of which existed the few times I tried in vain to stop by. As you can imagine, I was quite overjoyed to find out that they had recently re-appeared off Atlantic and I resolved to stop by before the next scheduled vanishing.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4946533549/" title="queen of sheba decor by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/4946533549_373dafcb66_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="queen of sheba decor" /></a></div><br /><br />Ethiopian cuisine is characterized by abundance of spiced meat and vegetable dishes; most in a thick, stew-like form similar in consistency to many of the heartier, lentil based curries of India. These dishes are eaten using pieces of injera, a unique, sourdough flatbread which is quite like a pancake in its consistency and texture but with a sour, doughy flavor. This is your only utensil.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4947122306/" title="meat platter by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/4947122306_9d0013c697_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="meat platter" /></a></div><br /><br />The Queen of Sheba's location is sketchy enough to scare away more cautious diners and the decor is on par with many of my favorite ethnic dives around town. In these surrounds, it's easy to imagine that you're overseas in a less prosperous place and, for me at least, this is an essential component to the experience.<br /><br />Being curious and wanting to try as much as I could, I fought the urge to try some amazing sounding dishes and settled on the meat platter. I can't remember the names of the items presented in the sampler but they probably wouldn't mean anything to you anyway. Beef, lamb, chicken were all present and in abundance though they were largely unrecognizable in their spicy, stewed form. Overall the sampler was rather good with a unique array of spices. Some of the dishes were quite unlike anything I'd tried before.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4946533921/" title="spicy lentils by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4946533921_e58541dc28_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="spicy lentils" /></a></div><br /><br />One great thing about the Queen of Sheba and Ethiopian cuisine in general is that there's always lots of vegetarian options. We ordered the Misir Wot: Split red lentils cooked in red pepper sauce. They were really good and pleasantly spicy. Despite being forever tempted by meat and veggie dishes when we dine out, I might not be able to resist this one on a return visit.<br /><br />My one word of advice to anyone intrigued enough to visit would be to take it easy on the bread; it's very filling and causes a gastric sensation I'm not quite used to which can be unsettling for a first timer.<br /><br />Our first sampling of Ethiopian food was quite the experience and I'm glad I finally caught up with the ever elusive Queen of Sheba. I love that we have a decent number of small places serving ethnic cuisines and I only wish there were more.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/481393/restaurant/Arlington/Queen-of-Sheba-Jacksonville"><img alt="Queen of Sheba on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/481393/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.shebaflorida.com/">Queen of Sheba</a><br />10214 Atlantic Blvd<br />Jacksonville, FL 32225<br />(904) 721-100101001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-10758014396908812772010-08-22T20:28:00.005-04:002010-08-23T07:16:58.990-04:0013 GypsiesWhat can be said about 13 Gypsies that hasn't already been said by a plethora of more qualified individuals? Once little known outside of its neighborhood, this tiny tapas restaurant is now perhaps Jacksonville's most famous restaurant thanks to an appearance on a Food Network show. As a result, foodies have been flocking to Riverside with their appetites and expectations and leaving with their opinions; or nothing at all if they neglected to make reservations.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4917744545/" title="flatbread by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4917744545_898525b9f3_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="flatbread"></a></div><br /><br />Chef Howard, the heart and mind behind 13 Gypsies, has approached his art with a philosophy akin to that promoted by the slow food movement. Almost everything is prepared fresh daily and by hand if possible. Ingredients are purchased personally from local sources and many of the menu items come and go based on the seasons. So while you can't be sure that your favorite dish will be available upon your next visit, the freshness of your food is guaranteed.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4918344666/" title="bread&oil by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4918344666_2456898408_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="bread&oil"></a></div><br /><br />Another alluring aspect of 13 Gypsies is the surprisingly small and fantastically cute dining area. With only a handful of tables inside and a couple out on the sidewalk, you're going to either face a wait or be turned away if you don't make reservations. But once seated, you understand how much more intimate of an experience the smaller dining quarters affords.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4917744853/" title="angry bull by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4917744853_c36de34f96_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="angry bull"></a></div><br /><br />There's a noticeable Spanish theme to much of the food here owing to the chef's heritage and one could appropriately describe the place as a tapas bar, albeit with its own unique flair. Loving freshly made bread as much as I do, I was excited to see two types of bread available and promptly ordered both. The Spanish Peasant Bread was lightly toasted and had a pleasantly robust flavor, particularly for a white bread. However, the North African Flatbread was my favorite of the two; earthy with a slight hint of sourness.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4917745003/" title="grilled cheese by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4917745003_59d4b37866_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="grilled cheese"></a></div><br /><br />Most of the sandwiches come on the peasant bread and are quite exquisite. Most of our party opted to share some tapas but on my next visit I think I'll have to go with a sandwich; the couple bites I had of the Grilled Cheese still beckon me to return.<br /><br />The tapas we ordered included the Coconut Mango Curry Chicken, the Angry Bull (pan seared beef with pacheco sauce, crushed raw garlic, and peppercorns), and the Shrimp Piri-Piri (shrimp sauteed in a Portuguese ginger-lemon sauce). The Angry Bull had an extremely strong flavor, as you might imagine will all that garlic, but not overbearing in its small portion and was probably the most stand out dish. Those not used to tapas be warned, these are small dishes and one will not suffice for a meal. Regardless, they were all uniquely flavorful and were but a small selection of the wide variety of dishes on offer, all of which I'd love to eventually sample.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4918344974/" title="coconut mango curry chicken by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4918344974_8aa04d107a_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="coconut mango curry chicken"></a></div><br /><br />Congratulations to 13 Gypsies on their new found fame. And to all of you prospective patrons, I again have one suggestion: make a reservation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/662672/restaurant/Riverside/13-Gypsies-Jacksonville"><img alt="13 Gypsies on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/662672/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.13gypsies.com/">13 Gypsies</a><br />887 Stockton St<br />Jacksonville, FL 32204<br />(904) 389-033001001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-63040740040736836902010-08-11T21:46:00.003-04:002010-08-12T06:48:27.883-04:00Speckled Hen Tavern & GrilleThe gastropub is one of the biggest and most welcome trends in the modern culinary landscape. What could be better than paring responsible quantities of quality beer with quality food?<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4884121702/" title="the speckled hen by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4884121702_a5de3c48d3_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="the speckled hen" /></a></div><br /><br />Jacksonville's newest gastropub is The Speckled Hen Tavern & Grille and it's already generating quite a buzz despite being open for only a matter of weeks. Situated just north of the movie theaters at the Avenues on US 1 in a spot previously inhabited by a Beef O'Brady's, it's clear that The Speckled Hen intends to rely on much more than location to bring in business. While it may seem like an odd choice of venue, that part of town is sorely lacking in the dinner and drinks department, making this ambitious newcomer the logical choice when either of those are in your plans and you happen to be in the neighborhood.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4883517961/" title="the speckled hen by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4883517961_7e9f5e16a6_m.jpg" width="240" height="158" alt="the speckled hen" /></a></div><br /><br />The draft beer options are a little slim at the moment but they do have some good brews available, including Duke's Cold Nose Brown Ale by Jacksonville's very own Bold City Brewery. I think there were about eight taps up and running when we visited and I can only assume that they plan to expand their collection as the restaurant gains some momentum.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4883518055/" title="the speckled hen by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4883518055_9349f7f019_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="the speckled hen" /></a></div><br /><br />But although this place is a self-proclaimed "Gastropub" (and rightly so), the food really is the centerpiece of the experience. Rather than dabbling in clever variations on typical bar food, the creative minds behind The Speckled Hen have instead taken their influence from the cuisine of the surrounding landscape with an incredible variety of Southern themed dishes. Reading through the menu, it's hard not to order one of everything just to try it all. Among the many appetizers (which we regrettably did not get to try) there are gems like Duck Fries, Wood-grilled Datil Pepper Glazed Chicken Drumettes, King Crab Mac N' Cheese, Beer Braised Short Rib Spring Rolls, and Pickled Shrimp. Out of these items and the rest of the appetizers, there's not a single one I wouldn't love to try.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4884122058/" title="the speckled hen by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4884122058_6b15b7950d_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="the speckled hen" /></a></div><br /><br />Moving onto the entrees reveals even more oddly delicious sounding meals like the Root Beer Glazed Bone-In Pork Chop and the Crispy Fried Cornmeal Crusted Catfish. It was a tough decision but I ended up settling on the Wood-grilled Sweet Tea Brined Chicken Breast which was covered in melted goat cheese and sweet red pepper "chow chow" and served over some pieces of their chipotle cornbread. I've had some pretty amazing meals over the past few months, both locally and in distant cities, but this one may just top them all. While one may be tempted to write off some of the quirkier menu items as gimmicks, there's no denying their brilliance after a few glorious mouthfuls.<br /><br />Be excited, fellow Northeast Floridians. Things are getting interesting around here and The Speckled Hen just upped the game. This is one place I won't have a hard time revisiting in lieu of trying something new.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1540321/restaurant/Southside/Speckled-Hen-Tavern-Grille-Jacksonville"><img alt="Speckled Hen Tavern & Grille on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1540321/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br />Speckled Hen Tavern & Grille<br />9475-16 Phillips Highway<br />Jacksonville, FL 3225601001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-81816791761304694932010-08-09T07:34:00.008-04:002010-08-09T07:50:08.025-04:00Eat Up DowntownThis year's Eat Up Downtown event starts today and goes until August 22. So, for two full weeks, 21 of the best restaurants downtown will be offering "specially selected, three-course dinner menus for $25 per person."<br /><br />For details and a full list of the participating restaurants, please visit the official <a href="http://www.eatupdowntown.com">Eat Up Downtown website</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align:center;border:0;height:97px;width:205px;overflow:hidden;margin:auto;"><img src="http://www.eatupdowntown.com/_images/logo_eatup.png" style="border:0;padding:0;" /></div>01001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-75902057034707698342010-08-02T21:02:00.002-04:002010-08-03T07:07:45.964-04:00Picasso'sYou might think you're lost. Or maybe you think that you wandered onto the set of one of those post-apocalyptic movies. Perhaps it's just signs of the recession that make this hidden enclave of a strip mall just North of Whole Foods seem so desolate. In these strange surrounds you will find Picasso's, one of Jacksonville's oddest restaurants.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4855489566/" title="8025-house salad by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4855489566_62c4622060_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="8025-house salad" /></a></div><br /><br />Jacksonville's restaurant scene has its share of strange. There's the amazing yet frightening <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2008/05/clarks-fish-camp.html">Clark's Fish Camp</a>, a true redneck utopia; the culture shock of <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/search?q=fu+hing">Fu Hing Seafood Restaurant</a>; and the highly disorienting atmosphere of <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2009/10/angies-subs-is-jacksonville-legend.html">Angie's Diner</a>. Picasso's, despite the images conjured up by its namesake, isn't odd in such an overt way but a quick perusal of the menu sheds some light on its uniqueness.<br /><br />Picasso's is a restaurant without culinary borders where Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Pot Pie sit together on the menu as do Shrimp and Grits and Fish and Chips. There's also three different styles of pizza: St. Louis, New York, and Mediterranean; with almost 60 available toppings. Rather than decide to stick to a particular style of cuisine or dabble in a few creative meals, the minds behind Picasso's have devoted themselves to cooking every meal they've ever enjoyed. This is not a bad thing.<br /><br />Apparently it gets a bit busy much of the time but we managed to avoid the crowds on our lunch time visit. Unfortunately, we didn't bring much of an appetite with us so the breadth of our experience is lacking. One “Da” House Salad and one Kentucky Hot Brown were our sole items, slight in quantity but more than satisfactory in quality.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4855489748/" title="kentucky hot brown by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4855489748_289471fdf8_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="kentucky hot brown" /></a></div><br /><br />Da House Salad (romaine and iceberg lettuce, shaved red onions, pimientos, and artichoke hearts with a special, secret dressing)is delightfully balanced salad. Artichoke hearts are becoming more prevalent in salads these days but often they appear out of place amongst the other flavors; here they blended quite well. Juxtaposing the crisp, healthy salad was the Kentucky Hot Brown: an open faced turkey breast sandwich covered in a cheesy Mornay sauce, topped with applewood-smoked bacon and roasted tomato, sprinkled with paprika and fresh parmigiano-reggiano, and then baked until bubbling hot. Despite intending to order a light meal, I somehow ended up with this decadent mountain of calories and thoroughly enjoyed each deliciously waist-expanding bite.<br /><br />Picasso's, much like the artist, is an oddity; a gathering place for meals that have no obvious connection. But if our little experience has anything to say, there does seem to be one common thread among them: quality. This is one place that bears repeat visits to get a full experience.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/481343/restaurant/Southside/Picassos-Jacksonville"><img alt="Picasso's on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/481343/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jaxpicassos.com/">Picasso's</a><br />10503 San Jose Blvd<br />Jacksonville, FL 32257<br />(904) 880-081101001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-71295685011228214222010-07-15T20:03:00.002-04:002010-07-16T06:55:37.550-04:00The Back 40 Urban CafeMany great restaurants are hidden in plain sight, some are just plain hidden. Without performing a search on <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/">Urbanspoon</a>, I would never have heard about St. Augustine's Back 40 Urban Cafe, nor would I have noticed it at all on the remote chance I happened to drive by. Not only is it located on Old Dixie Highway, a small road running parallel to US 1 at a point where most of the traffic is limited to residents of the area, but the restaurant looks like a house... because it was a house.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4797269907/" title="urban back 40 by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4797269907_830f7be304_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="urban back 40" /></a></div><br /><br />Despite its old Southern charm, the small wooden cottage is easy to ignore and one is liable to question their judgment when approaching the porch. But once inside, doubts and concerns all quickly evaporated. The layout of the restaurant retains the structure of a house. When business is slow you can choose from an array of empty rooms, each with their own individual color schemes and ambiance. The atmosphere and tone are warm and welcoming, truly engendering an at-home level of comfort. For such a small place, the menu is relatively large and varied with an emphasis on fresh, healthy food and leaning towards Southern and Southwestern inspired cuisine.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4797897696/" title="southwestern salad by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4797897696_46258b689d_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="southwestern salad" /></a></div><br /><br />Forever unable to resist the allure of fish tacos, I ordered the Ollie Tacos (lightly seasoned mahi topped with shredded cheese lettuce, salsa, cilantro and cilantro white sauce). I've eaten many a fish taco at restaurants across the globe and I must say that these were truly some of the most delicious I've ever had. The meat had a perfect flavor and consistency, the accompanying vegetables were crisp and fresh, and the sides were delightful in their own right. The Vegetarian 3 Bean Chili was far better balanced in flavor than many others I've tasted; neither weak nor overly spiced with a good consistency. Not being able to see even the smallest amount of food go to waste, I cleaned up what was left of the amazing Shrimp Curry Salad; best dressing ever, and that's coming from someone who routinely refuses salad dressings all together.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4797270449/" title="shrimp salad by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4797270449_34551a6b6a_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="shrimp salad" /></a></div><br /><br />There's an incredible number of options to choose from for such a low-key place and, if our meal is anything to go by, the more well known places around town have something to be afraid of. There are a handful of truly superb restaurants in St. Augustine and the Back 40 Urban Cafe is the unknown champion among them. Delightful food made with fresh ingredients and served in an intriguing old house with a unique atmosphere. A real hidden gem and yet another reminder that there are some incredible places to eat and things to do around the area that are just waiting to be found by anybody willing to do a little searching.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4797897924/" title="mahi mahi tacos by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4797897924_5c8828848c_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="mahi mahi tacos" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/294/1420723/restaurant/U-S-1-South/The-Back-40-Urban-Cafe-St-Augustine"><img alt="The Back 40 Urban Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1420723/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/theback40urbancafe">The Back 40 Urban Cafe</a><br />40 South Dixie Highway<br />St Augustine, FL 32084<br />(904) 824-022701001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-60238570485015727082010-07-06T23:16:00.005-04:002010-07-07T06:50:48.579-04:00Panda House"Chinese" food. We all know it's not authentic, that it's not real Chinese cuisine but that doesn't mean it can't be good. Even at it's worst, sometimes you just find yourself craving some indeterminate fried creature slathered in a soy based sauce and served with enough calories in the form of fried rice to keep you going for a full week.<br /><br />I've always found the fast food Chinese restaurants a little distasteful. I mean, it's all fast food but I appreciate the illusion of authenticity put forth by tiny little hole-in-the-walls with names like the Lucky Dragon and the Golden Buddha. One such place is Panda House on Gate Parkway.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4769622591/" title="the house - sesame chicken by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4769622591_18fab79f08_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="the house - sesame chicken" /></a></div><br /><br />Affectionately called The House in order to avoid confusing it with that other Panda place over by the Town Center, this little restaurant embodies everything you've grown to love about Chinese take-outs. Bad lighting, a little griminess, one person who can speak English, and food made fast upon order. Please, don't read me wrong and assume any sarcasm in tone, I sincerely appreciate these qualities in certain restaurants and the overall ambiance they create. If you want uniformly sterile and banal experiences, go to one of the large franchises. If you don't mind a bit of grit or perhaps even enjoy it, then the local dive is the place to be. And besides, they're nowhere near as dirty or awkward as some of the great little restaurants I've visited in third world countries.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4770262674/" title="7992-veggies by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4770262674_79f1aebe0d_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="7992-veggies" /></a></div><br /><br />But enough of my grandstanding, how about the food? Much of what you'd expect, I'd say, perhaps even a notch up from the typical Chinese take-out. I had been craving sesame chicken for over a month and this really hit the spot. Satisfying when fresh and, as an added bonus, it was even good the next day.<br /><br />Sometimes the craving hits you and, while it may not come that often, it's impossible to fight. When the time comes, here's one place you can go… or not; they also deliver.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/481298/restaurant/Southside/Panda-House-Jacksonville"><img alt="Panda House on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/481298/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a> <br /><br />Panda House<br />7643 S Gate Pkwy<br />Jacksonville, FL 32256<br />(904) 642-633301001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-34830603908150015942010-06-28T22:14:00.003-04:002010-06-29T06:56:35.516-04:00Ned's Southside KitchenSt. Augustine has its fair share of restaurants but most are clustered around the downtown area or out at the beach; a shame if you really don't feel like braving the swarms of tourists for a quick bite to eat. Thus, upon seeing the location of Ned's Southside Kitchen on a map I was simultaneously suspicious that they had pinned it in the wrong place and compelled to go.<br /><br />Ned's is located near the Wal-Mart on US1 in the building that was formerly Sharky's. Across the street is a McDonalds, to one side is a Krystal's and to the other a sports bar. This makes for one of the most unlikely locations for a good restaurant but the large crowd waiting to be seated in this seething mass of people, chairs, and food indicated that we were onto something.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4744584480/" title="8019-enchilada by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4744584480_fb118864fe_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="8019-enchilada" /></a></div><br /><br />Owned by Ned Pollack, the chef/owner behind the <a href="http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2009/04/gypsy-cab-company.html">Gypsy Cab Company</a> (one of St. Augustine's best restaurants), Ned's has some of the same gaudy ambiance and eclectic cuisine but with more of a down home, soul food flair. There's no pretense here, just great food at good prices with a little bit of dirty South character. Judging by the non-stop throng of patrons from all walks of life who came and went during our visit, I'd say they've hit upon a winning combination.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4744584780/" title="fish burrito by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4744584780_4c61ae568c_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="fish burrito" /></a></div><br /><br />Remembering a few years back to an amazing meal I had at Gypsy Cab (a blackened salmon burrito that I still crave unto this day but have yet to see on the menu again), I ordered the fish wrap; not quite the same, but equally promising. The choice was a little hard as Ned's has a great variety of meals with some good vegetarian options in the mix (the sweet potato enchiladas were awfully tempting). The wrap was served with some tasty black beans and a delicious black-eyed pea salad/salsa hybrid, the likes of which I'd not previously encountered. And the wrap itself was gorgeous, as equally amazing as the blackened salmon burrito I had all those years ago. Although I didn't get to try anything else that our party ordered, I was assured that it was all fantastic; from the shrimp salad to the black bean enchiladas. It all looked good at the very least.<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4744584632/" title="shrimp salad by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4744584632_fdba8d2529_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="shrimp salad" /></a></div><br /><br />A strange but very welcome location, it's nice to see restaurants in St. Augustine pushing out beyond their usual confines. And with such glorious food, I may never be able to persuade myself to head downtown again.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/294/1518206/restaurant/U-S-1-South/Neds-Southside-Kitchen-St-Augustine"><img alt="Ned's Southside Kitchen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1518206/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /> <br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Neds.South.Side.Kitchen">Ned's Southside Kitchen</a><br /> 2450 U. S. Highway 1 South<br /> St Augustine, FL 32086<br />(904) 794-208801001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125489727305105060.post-86278049983412734042010-06-26T15:32:00.006-04:002010-06-26T16:00:27.578-04:00Jimmy John'sThe praise I've heard heaped upon this place is unbelievable. With all the excitement I encountered about the opening of Jimmy John's a few months back, you'd have thought Jacksonville was getting its first <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/">In-N-Out Burger</a>. So what's all the fuss and buzz about?<br /><br /><div class="imgiseverything"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverdodd/4736528676/" title="jimmy john's sandwich by oliver.dodd, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4736528676_15d8d8ac78_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="jimmy john's sandwich" /></a></div><br /><br />Subs and sandwiches.<br />Just plain old subs and sandwiches?<br />Well, not quite...<br />Extraordinary subs and sandwiches?<br />Again, not quite...<br /><br />Jimmy John's has some particularly good subs and sandwiches. There's no one thing to point to. It's evident upon first bite that the quality of the ingredients used is higher than your typical sub shop; fresh veggies, good meat in great quantity, and nice, fresh bread. Hey, a lot of the subs and sandwiches have alfalfa sprouts on them which, despite their <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7071589">mild toxicity</a>, take a sandwich to a whole new level of deliciousness.<br /><br />I guess some of the excitement is warranted. If you've lived with and loved Jimmy John's elsewhere then the loss upon relocation to Jacksonville must have been profound. As for myself, the most exciting discovery I've made is that they deliver and, being just down the street from my office, this makes them the perfect choice for a lunch meeting when nobody can be sacrificed to go pick up the Chipotle order.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1519393/restaurant/Southside/Jimmy-Johns-Gourmet-Sandwiches-Jacksonville"><img alt="Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1519393/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://jimmyjohns.com/">Jimmy John's</a><br />9823 Tapestry Park Circle,<br />Jacksonville, FL 32246<br />(904) 642-818801001111http://www.blogger.com/profile/07541159703858678350noreply@blogger.com0