Folio Weekly Bite Club Blog

Sneak Peek of Jax Beach's newest spot, Sakana

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:24:15 -0400

(Clockwise from left: edamame duplings with white truffle, sweet sake and brown butter sauce, raw seared kobe beef tataki, black widow roll, Valentine roll and braised short rib. All photos © Caron Streibich)

Sakana Fusion Bistro and Blue Bar are the latest venture from the guys behind Escape Restaurant Group, which currently owns Nipper’s Waterfront Beach Grille on the intracoastal. It will occupy the former Atlantic dance club in Jacksonville Beach and will have seating for 160 inside upstairs and downstairs and room for about 100 patrons outside.

Escape’s motto is simple: “come for the food…stay for the experience.” Sakana hopes to open its doors June 4 to the public and will position itself as contemporary pan-asian cuisine with live music.

Behind the scenes is a culinary powerhouse including Executive Chef Scott Ostrander, formerly of Avondale bistro ‘town and Sous Chef Steve Macrina formerly of Philly hot-spot Morimoto. Austin Katoh, executive sushi chef, rounds out the team. A pastry chef will be named soon.

At a recent food blogger sneak peek lunch, I sampled several of the evolving menu items. We eagerly gave feedback, ooh’ed and ahh’ed at some of the offerings and enjoyed the variety of ingredients and creativity. Among the group’s favorites were the edamame dumpings and raw kobe beef tataki. The triangular-shaped dumplings were stuffed with a creamy blended edamame filling then generously topped with a white truffle, sweet sake and brown butter sauce. Light, but packed with flavor. We devoured them all and raved so much we were greeted by an extra plate.

The raw seared kobe beef tataki with jalapeno ponzu sauce served with bahn mi-style pickled daikon, red pepper and julienned carrots topped with cilantro sprigs was another winner. The tender braised short ribs with a wasabi-butter reduction crust over watercress and spinach received a similar high praise.

We also tried the angry fish — an entire crispy fried fish (teeth and all!) with a citrus chili glaze and side of asparagus and shitake mushrooms. All I can say is this: never judge a book by its cover.

Sakana will offer specialty sushi rolls, including the Green Buddah ($9): edamame hummus, roasted tomato, yam and artichokes wrapped in soy paper and topped with Japanese eggplant, goat cheese and almond slivers. There will be a featured vegetarian roll each week.

Executive Chef Scott Ostrander (formerly of ‘town in Avondale) explains the preparation of the Angry Fish. Photo by Caron Streibich.

Complete photo gallery here.

Look Ma -- I'm famous!

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:27:16 -0400

Made the front page of Thursday’s Florida Times-Union Taste section with fellow Jacksonville food bloggers, Devon Stiles of The Food Bitch Blog and Jessica Taylor of First Bite. The T-U’s Dining Notes columnist Gary Mills was the man behind the collaborative effort.

A few weeks ago we stuffed ourselves at the Riverside Arts Market by sampling many of the items from the various vendors and then selecting our “must try” list. This was tougher than it sounds because most everything we tried was crave-worthy. That’s my photo of The Alligator Pear’s sweet potato and swiss chard taco (my personal RAM favorite). Devon’s bacon bluez burger will probably make you start drooling in 3…2…1.

Weekly Bites - April 17-24

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:57:00 -0400

It was a very good week of eating (and to think this isn’t even everything I consumed). Must get back to the gym soon. Clockwise from top left…

1. This warm curried tofu wrap from Chamblin’s Uptown was the special of the day and it quickly caught my eye. This beauty was packed with spinach, juicy roma tomatoes, curry sauce (spicy but good), curried tofu, diced red onion and crunchy cucumbers.

2. Our first stop on Saturday’s 2nd Annual Slow Foods First Coast Tour de Farm was Terk’s Acres in St. Augustine, where we stood patiently in line for these carnitas tacos from The Corner Taco, which serves “semi-swanky street food” from an airstream trailer. The soft corn tortillas are made fresh daily. I like how colorful these tacos are with the sprigs of cilantro, lime wedges and crunchy purple cabbage.

3. Riverside’s Whiteway Delicatessan is one of my favorite spots in town for breakfast and lunch. Touted as Jacksonville’s oldest deli (it’s been around since 1927), I love how everyone knows my name - and my order. The Late Bloomers is an absolute must if you’ve never been: turkey, crisp bacon, banana peppers, homemade tabouli, and creamy avocado spread in a pressed pita. I excessively douse mine with Crystal hot sauce. So good!

4. Dessert is my favorite part of any meal and Mochi Frozen Yogurt never lets me down. Self-serve is the way of the future and Mochi offers six or more flavors daily at its three area locations and tons of fun toppings. On this visit, a new (to me) flavor - passionfruit - made its way into my cup with standby flavors, original and taro. I add fresh mango, kiwi and blueberries and white chocolate chips, coconut shreds and squishy mochi pieces (think gummy bears but not primary colors and not super chewy).

5. First time trying Jersey Mike’s Subs and I was impressed. It’ll go neck-and-neck with Jacksonville-based spots Larry’s Giant Subs and Firehouse Subs. Jersey Mike’s is new to town and its first location is on Roosevelt Boulevard. With hardwood floors, soothing colors, and large windows, it’s an inviting space for a fast-casual sub shop. The chipotle cheesesteak (added banana peppers) was piled high with beef, sauteed peppers and onions and chipotle mayo. The bread was fresh and pliable.

6. At a friend’s birthday Saturday evening at BlackFinn American Grille I ordered the ahi tuna salad served with crunchy wonton strips, cucumber slices, sushi grade pepper and garlic crusted ahi served with soy sauce and honey-cider vinaigrette. It was good but the pepper was overpowering. I requested chop sticks to eat my dinner…there’s something wrong about eating ahi tuna with a fork.

7. Trailer Trash bites from Short ‘n Sweet at Riverside Arts Market were amazing: slightly salty saltines, covered with chocolate chips, fluffy slightly-burnt marshmallow and a layer of sweetness. Aside from RAM, S ‘n S now has a storefront (in the shape of a large ice cream cone) off University Boulevard. It sells (and delivers) cupcakes, cakes, brownies, muffins, cobblers and cookies.

8. This tasty little machiato was from Bold Bean Coffee Roasters in Riverside. Everything about Bold Bean impresses me: the knowledgeable and friendly staff, the attention to detail in the interior space, the selection of great Pandora stations playing, the assortment of craft beers on tap that are forever rotating, and most importantly, the coffee. Bold Bean makes its own sauces in-house so you may prefer your machiato with caramel, or vanilla.

Baking for a Cause - 4/21

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:53:40 -0400

Local bakers from Baking Under the Influence and Tri-County Rolling Militia partnered with Bold Bean Coffee Roasters in Riverside to host a bake sale in support of the Great American Bake Sale. This nationwide initiative raises money for Share Our Strength, which aids in the battle against hunger within the U.S.

Supreme nut brownies, blueberry lemon loaf and vegan cupcakes were among the offerings.

Also worth noting: Violet of Baking Under the Influence (aka BUI) will begin a free Urban Core cupcake delivery service in May on Thursdays and Fridays. Whether you’re pining for one cupcake or one hundred, there will be a rotating flavor selection. $3 for regular-sized cupcakes and $1 for the mini “Shot”-sized cakes.

If you weren’t able to attend and still would like to donate, head to http://join.strength.org/goto/BUIandTCRM

Weekly Bites - April 9-16, 2012

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:35:04 -0400

I eat a lot of great food around town and it’s time I start sharing these culinary adventures with my fellow food lovers. Each week I’m going to post a few highlights from the past seven days in a section called Weekly Bites.

(from top left)

1. Tacos from one of my favorite vendors, The Alligator Pear, at Saturday’s Riverside Arts Market. I crave these flavor powerhouses: fresh, piled high, unique ingredients and textures (hello, avocado, cilantro and peanuts!). My favorite is the sweet potato and swiss chard.

2. Tried new Avondale spot, Ginjo Sushi, on Saturday night. It opened a few weeks ago across from The Brick and touts the same ownership as Sake House in 5 Points and on the Southbank. My three rolls were good and I really enjoyed the spicy tuna with seaweed salad roll.

3. Murray Hill’s Moon River Pizza opened its doors Sunday mid-morning for a special treat: two breakfast pizzas (I went with the egg, feta, spinach and tomato) were offered along with beermosas and the release of Bold Bean Coffee Roasters and Bold City Brewery’s latest collaboration, the “L” Coffee Stout.

4. Food trucks are becoming all the rage around town and Mother Fletcher’s is no exception. MF’s hails from St. Augustine but has been setting up shop in Jacksonville during the week. On Monday I snagged a delicious piping hot Black and Blue sandwich and hand-cut potato chips while parked in Riverside at Everbank Plaza. Next time I’m trying Moma’s homemade falafel with tztiki sauce! Follow the whereabouts of other local trucks on the Jax Truckies site.

5. Grabbed this chewy almond macaron from Riverside’s Bakery Moderne on Saturday morning. Love that at Bakery Moderne is made from scratch.

6. Pear puree and Hendricks gin at Avondale spot, The Blue Fish. Love the 3-7 p.m. happy hour offerings: Gulf oysters on the half shell, PEI mussels, panko-fried bleu cheese and bacon stuffed olives, and mini baked brie with white truffle oil. Don’t forget to visit Elevated Avondale upstairs for live music Wednesday through Saturday.

7. Saturday afternoon was spent perusing beer offerings at Gainesville’s first annual Hogtown Craft Beer Festival. It was great to see local favorites Bold City Brewery, Green Room Brewing and Intuition Ale Works. Enjoyed sampling St. Augustine’s Mile Marker Brewing IPA.

8. Grilled pear salad with gorgonzola, spiced pecans and raspberry vinaigrette at Neptune Beaches’ Mezza Luna, which serves everything from old world Italian to new world American dishes.

So get out there, try something new, and support local businesses!

2/7/12 Bite Club Dinner at Taverna Yamas

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:54:57 -0500

Flaming cheese. A belly dancer toting a sword. Dancing on the tables. Napkins being thrown in the air. Shots of Ouzo.

That’s just a glimpse of the first Folio Weekly Bite Club dinner of 2012. Oh, and then there was the food: an amazing assortment of traditional Greek and Turkish fare!

After a performance from one of Taverna Yamas belly dancers, guests started with cold “pikilia” or appetizers, in a family-style setting: tzatziki (homemade yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill), taramosalata (caviar spread), melitzanoalata (roasted eggplant spread), hummus (chickpeas, olive oil, and garlic), pita and dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with rice). The taramosalata and dolmades were instant hits. Next up was the Greek Village Salad. Taverna Yamas offers this version in addition to a more traditional Greek salad, which contains romaine lettuce. The Village is a lettuce-free colorful bouquet of ripe tomatoes, cucumber wedges, thin slivers of red onion, crunchy peppers, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, olive oil and oregano.

You can’t have cold appetizers without their warm counterparts. Platters of hot pikila including spanakopita, baked phyllo dough with layers of feta and spinach, keftedes (ground beef and fresh herbs), calamari and a red dipping sauce, and lamb ribs with ladolemono sauce, were distributed. Within minutes, plates were cleaned!

A surprise of flaming cheese with brandy, or saganaki, was served on sizzling pans to each table. The salty cheese spread perfectly atop chewy pita wedges.

As pants began to tighten, friendly waitstaff donned plates of chicken kebab, filet mignon kebab, pork tenderloin with spinach and leek rice and lemon potatoes. And a complimentary shot of Ouzo: Greece’s famous anise-flavored liquor, was passed around. Opa!

More belly dancing and dancing atop a table took center stage between courses. Guests enjoyed the combination of music, dance and cheerful ambiance.

Last but by no means least was a trio of desserts. The baklava, layers of phyllo dough, honey, walnut, cinnamon and cloves, was joined by ek mek, or shredded phyllo dough with walnuts, a custard creme and whipped topping, and galaktoboureko (say that three times fast, I dare you!): honey phyllo with custard.

Joining the hustle and bustle of Tinseltown in December of 2010, Taverna Yamas currently seats 350 patrons but recently broke ground on an expanded area that will soon be home to a hookah lounge with tapas-style menu and more outdoor seating.

Taverna Yamas offers happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. (half priced well liquors, house wines, beer, and a large selection of appetizers), daily lunch specials, $4 Martini Wednesdays and live entertainment on the weekend.

SIGN UPS: 2/7 Bite Club at Taverna Yamas

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:15:13 -0500

Located on the Southside (9753 Deer Lake Court at Tinseltown), Taverna Yamas serves up a wide variety of delicious traditional Greek offerings from hummus, dolmades, to spanakopita, souvlaki, lamb shank and mousaka, for lunch and dinner. Part of the fun at Taverna Yamas is the dancing on tables, and the music and live belly dancers at dinnertime. Come late night there’s a DJ spinning European and top 40 hits. Taverna Yamas will host our next Bite Club dinner tasting event on February 7 at 6 p.m.

1. Check your calendar! Confirm you’re available Tuesday, February 7.

2. This month’s question (comment on this post by 1/29): “What’s the most expensive item or dish you’ve ever ordered? Do you recall where it was from? Did it live up to its price tag? Who footed the bill: you, a date, your work, or a vendor? (If you’ve never ordered something more expensive, why not? What do you want to try that you’ve never had that is pricey?)” Be detailed. Be fun. With your comment, leave your first and last name, and e-mail address. Your e-mail won’t show up publicly and is required so you can be notified if you get selected.

3. If you’re not already a Bite Club member e-mail your full name, e-mail address and phone number to biteclub@folioweekly.com.

Sign-ups are NOT first come, first serve. Folio Weekly selects attendees at random, based on the number of seats the restaurant grants. Selected attendees will be notified before 2/1 via e-mail. After confirming, you’ll attend the event and afterwards I’ll post an event recap on the blog. You are required to leave your feedback in the comment section.

Pele's Wood Fire Brings Modern Italian-American Flare to Riverside's Park and King Street Intersection

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:10:56 -0500

“Do you have any camping experience? How do you like working with fire?” These are two very important questions asked to candidates during an interview at Riverside’s latest hot spot, Pele’s Wood Fire. Two large hickory and oak fire ovens demand center stage, with Madame Pele - the fire Goddess - beaming from above. The dome of each oven is a fiery 1,400-degrees and the cooking area is closer to 900, and after a mere two minutes to stretch the dough and top it, baking time for a pizza clocks in at just 90 seconds! You can see where those camping questions come in handy.

I was lucky enough to snag a sneak peek and stuff my face with seven delicious courses prior to Pele’s opening its doors to the masses on new year’s day at the corner of Park and King Street in historic Riverside. The space comfortably seats 160+ patrons and upon entering, you’re greeted by large windows, an elongated bar area, complete with 30+ beers on tap, full liquor, and wine list, and the scent of deliciousness wafting through the air. From the rustic bread baked in-house, to the hand-pulled house made mozzarella, touch-free restrooms, free wi-fi, to an upcoming loyalty card (think beer passport!), wet naps served for wing clean-up to to the mortar and pestle used to whip up a fresh pesto, Pele’s already has a laser-focus on attention to detail.

We sampled the seasonal selection of iced seafood and the presentation of raw oysters, Mayport shrimp and crab claws was beautifully complimented by lemon wedges and tangy cocktail sauce. The lemoncello wood-fire wings topped with fresh parmesan shavings, chilis and olive oil were a hit. And the basket of rustic, fresh baked bread with olive oil and fire-smoked spices was heavenly.

The arugula with Sweetgrass Dairy brie, roasted red pepper, pistachios, roasted onion vinaigrette and truffle honey was perfection in a bowl. Colorful, peppery arugula, creamy brie, bold red pepper, crunchy pistachios and sweet honey? A favorite.

Pele’s began as a catering business, and Pizzaiolo Matt Tierney gained fans by cooking up pizzas nearby at both Riverside Arts Market and Intuition Ale Works. This was my fourth time sampling the pizza and the margherita (buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil and olive oil) was delicious as were the proscuitto and artichoke and mushroom formaggi (that’s “cheese” in Italian) topped with garlic ricotta, roasted seasonal mushrooms, fontina cheese and fresh thyme. You can craft your own as well, so there’s something for everyone.

Rivaling the arugula salad was the standout of the evening: black pepper spaghetti carbonara with smoked pork bellies, parmesan, tomatoes and egg-yolk cream: a home run! Kudos to Executive Chef Micah Windham on this one, and his encourage of Senior Sous Chef Mark Williams and Sous Chef Andrea Soccoro.

The coal-fired, dry-aged Manhattan ribeye was tender, well-seasoned and packed with flavor. Cooked directly on the coals of the fire, it’s served with sauteed spinach, whipped potatoes and a side of au jus and horseradish.

Three offerings from La Dolce Vita, or “the sweet life,” rounded out the meal. Traditional tiramasu, zeppoles (italian donut holes) and white chocolate cheesecake with cherry glaze accompanied by a chocolate-espresso pot de creme (like creme brulee, sans the sugary top). The contrast of smooth, decadent cheesecake to rich custard did me in. Three sauces accompanied the zeppoles - hazelnut-chocolate (reminscent of Nutella!), orange sea salt caramel and lemon custard. The first two were amazing, but I wasn’t impressed by the lemon. We received a cappucino featuring a stencil of Madame Pele dusted atop our Segafredo coffee from Italy.

Pele’s soon boasts service seven days a week starting at 7 a.m., serving up coffee, fresh breakfast pastries made in-house by Pele’s pastry chef, wi-fi, along with full lunch and dinner service. Welcome to the neighborhood!

Bite Club "Dessert First" at Valencia Condominiums - 11/16/11

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:58:02 -0500

Bite Club guests traveled to Valencia Condominiums’ Clubhouse, just minutes away from the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal, for a sweet dessert-for-dinner (how daring!) tasting event. Sharing its spice-flavored cupcakes and squares of moist pumpkin cheesecake was Cinotti’s Bakery, located off Penman Road near the Intracoastal. Murray Hill’s Edgewood Bakery (in Jacksonville since 1947!) served up a variety of delicious two-bite treats: mini key lime tarts, pecan pie tarts, cannolis, brownies and petit fours. Avondale’s Let Them Eat Cake, set up by Valencia’s pool area, served pumpkin cupcakes with maple buttercream, cheesecake squares and a flourless melt-in-your-mouth chocolate torte with spiced creme anglaise. Newcomer Bruton’s Macarons, out of San Marco, treated guests to a Bailey’s Irish Cream and pumpkin macaron. The crunchy but chewy sandwich cookies were a hit as many guests had never tried one. (it bears no resemblance to the “macaroon” which has coconut) Sweet by Holly, located at the St. Johns Town Center, served a wide variety of its signature mini cupcakes, and an appearance by two-time Food Network Cupcake Wars champion Hollis “Holly” Wilder surprised guests. Crowd favorites were the white chocolate cranberry, a seasonal offering, and the dulce de leche, pumpkin, black and gold, red velvet and blackout (yellow cake, dark chocolate frosting and a caramel-filled center). Many lucked out and left with to-go cupcake boxes, perfect for breakfast. Jacksonville Scene provided SweetWater Brewing Company’s seasonal Festive Ale and Riverside’s soon-to-open (November 25!) Bold Bean Coffee Roasters served organic certified Peru La Florida coffee. Top Chef Season 7 Cheftestant Kenny Gilbert’s Intracoastal eatery, Nippers Beach Grille, provided cranberry sangria. Valencia provided tours, giving guests a peek at the property and condo units, between bites.

11/16 "Eat Dessert First" Bite Club at Valencia

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:39:07 -0400

If you love dessert (who doesn’t?), then this Bite Club has your name written all over it! Valencia on (4300 Southbeach Parkway) is graciously hosting a battle of the bakeries and we’ll sample treats from across town, as well as fresh roasted coffee from local Bold Bean Coffee Roasters.

1. Check your calendar! Confirm you’re available Wednesday, 11/16.

2. This month’s question (comment on this post by 11/7): “Calories aside, what are your top 3 all-time favorite desserts from around Jacksonville and St. Augustine? What makes them so delicious?” Be detailed. Be fun. With your comment, leave your first and last name, and e-mail address.

3. If you’re not already a Bite Club member e-mail your full name, e-mail address and phone number to biteclub@folioweekly.com.

Sign-ups are not first come, first serve. Folio Weekly selects attendees at random, based on the number of seats the restaurant grants. Selected attendees will be notified before 11/11 via e-mail. After confirming, you’ll attend the event and afterwards I’ll post an event recap on the blog. You are required to leave your feedback in the comment section.

Seasons 52 Sneak Peek

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:55:33 -0400

Jacksonville is home to a Seasons 52 (the restaurant’s 20th location nationwide) and starting October 24, it will offer lunch and dinner, both complete with complimentary valet parking. Seasons 52 prides itself on using fresh, seasonal ingredients — and the most fabulous part is that nothing on the menu tops 475 calories. Even two mini indulgence desserts can be happily enjoyed for less than 1,000 calories! Many ingredients are organic, and Seasons 52 even infuses its own flavored vodka (seasonal: orange, strawberry, grapefruit, etc.). There are more than 100 glasses of wine to choose from and live music is featured seven nights a week from a piano player, performing from a swiveling platform in the bar area.

For the private blogger dinner I attended, I was fortunate to sample two of Seasons 52’s flatbreads (artichoke and goat cheese and the chipotle shrimp with roasted poblanos, grilled pineapple and feta), a delicious organic field green salad with oak-grilled mushrooms, toasted pistachios and a truffle dressing, Sonoma goat cheese ravioli in tomato broth topped with garlic and fresh basil, organic salmon and lemongrass sea scallop served on a cedar plank, and a mequite-grilled lamb t-bone chop and Manchester Farms all-natural quail with mashed sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts and a bourbon-chili glaze. Several mini indulgence desserts tempted out sweet tooth post-meal. I thoroughly enjoyed the six I tried but the key lime and pumpkin pie were my two favorites. Seasons 52 was the first restaurant to debut the mini desserts.

The atmosphere is inviting and cozy. It’s perfect for a casual lunch or nice dinner; a business meeting, or an anniversary or birthday celebration!

9/27/11 Bite Club dinner at Boston's

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:59:11 -0400

38 eager Bite Club guests, more than half of whom were first-timers, were treated to a full menu at Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar in North Jacksonville near the airport. Boston’s pizza dough is made daily, and an emphasis is placed on fresh ingredients.

A trio of crispy flatbreads (Flat Iron steak and mushroom, Spicy Chicken Pesto and Margherita) greeted guests as they imbibed a complimentary glass of cold beer, house wine or a well-liquor beverage from the bar area to start. After the group migrated to the dining room, stomachs were about to be stretched to epic proportions with a packed menu: a trio of starters, salad, a variety of signature pizzas, three entrees and a quad of petite desserts. Host Caron Streibich welcomed everyone while Boston’s Nimesh Patel gave a brief history of the restaurant.

Grilled flat iron steak perfectly wrapped in smoked bacon and topped with a blue cheese cream sauce was the first starter — and an immediate group favorite. All plates were cleaned before the Southwest Ravioli (lightly breaded italian ravioli stuffed with ricotta, cheddar, monterey jack cheese, red peppers and jalapenos) arrived with ranch dressing for dipping, and platters of nachos (melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese, ground beef, refried beans, black olives, jalapenos, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream and salsa) followed on the heels of the ravioli.

Each table shared a Santa Fe salad or Mediterranean salad, consisting of grilled chicken breast over mixed greens, Sante Fe dressing, black beans, tomatoes, black olives, sour cream, cheddar cheese and guacamole or mixed greens, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese, roasted red peppers and a sweet lemon vinaigrette dressing atop a crunchy parmesan flatbread.

Ten of Boston’s gourmet pizzas were gobbled up by those eager to try the tempting selections: tuscan (pomodoro sauce with spicy chicken, roasted garlic, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, cheddar and mozzarella), tropical chicken (creamy alfredo with smoked bacon, spicy chicken, pineapple, cheddar and mozzarella), florentine, barbeque chicken, mama meata, the flying buffalo (buffalo sauce, spicy chicken, mozzarella cheese and parmesan bread crumbs), double meat and peppers, spinach and artichoke, italian (spicy italian sausage, pepperoni, pomodoro sauce, roasted garlic, banana peppers, mozzarella cheese and spinach), and the sicilian. Two gluten-intolerant guests, including Jennifer Gornto of GlutenFreeJacksonville.com, were treated to an entire gluten-free meal but gluten-free pizza can be hard to find, and Boston’s eagerly prepares it on demand.

Sharing is caring could have been the evening’s motto, as large family-style dishes arrived next: shrimp tortellini, spicy chicken and broccoli alfredo and jambalaya fettuccine (huge chunks of spicy italian sausage and strips of grilled chicken were tossed with a spicy cajun pomodoro sauce and met with green peppers, onions, tomatoes and black olives). The garlic butter and rosemary chipotle sauce with the tortellini, shrimp and broccoli was a winning combo.

Quads of decadent miniature desserts taunted guests: which one to try first? Bread pudding, warm apple, brownie and strawberry cheesecake were among the offerings. Most everyone saved room, despite the overabundance of food served in the previous courses!

9/27 Bite Club Dinner @ Boston's Sign Up

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:58:06 -0400

Bite Club is eagerly traveling to the River City Marketplace (1-95 and Airport Road) on 9/27 to check out Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar. Known for its gourmet pizzas, Boston’s prepares its pasta and entree sauces in-house, and offers an extensive menu. Items range from six flavors of oven-roasted wings to thai chili calamari to salads, flatbreads, turkey burgers, calzones, and shrimp diablo pasta. The options are seemingly endless!

1. Check your calendar. Confirm you’re available Tuesday, 9/27.

2. This month’s question (comment on this post by 9/19): “If you could design your own menu with a sampling of your favorite items, but could select only three appetizers to feature - which three appetizers would you pick and why? Do you love the sauce that’s served with them, or maybe the texture? Or maybe it’s something that’s too complicated to make at home.” Be detailed. Be fun. With your comment, leave your first and last name, and e-mail address.

3. If you’re not already a Bite Club member e-mail your full name, e-mail address and phone number to biteclub@folioweekly.com.

Sign-ups are not first come, first serve. Folio Weekly selects attendees at random, based on the number of seats the restaurant grants. Selected attendees will be notified before 9/22 via e-mail. After confirming, you’ll attend the event and afterwards I’ll post an event recap on the blog. You are required to leave your feedback on the restaurant, food and your overall experience, in the comment section.

8/30 Bite Club dinner at Crabcake Factory

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:23:00 -0400

Executive Chef Khan Vongdara and son, Chef Christopher, whipped up a seafood feast for 38 eager foodies August 30 at Crabcake Factory. Guests kicked off the evening with a complimentary house wine or draft beer and then were treated to jumbo lump crabcakes topped with a tropical fruit salsa and a ahi tuna and jumbo lump crab meat timbale atop a crispy wonton and drizzled with honey soy vinaigrette. A self-serve station greeted guests with piping hot cream of crab bisque and a Louisiana seafood gumbo (complete with shrimp, andouille sausage, blue crab, crawfish, okra and rice - and a gradual heat), and fresh tossed mixed greens with cucumber, tomato, onion, strawberries, and green pepper served with champagne vinaigrette. Up next were an trio of individually plated entrees: a pan-seared sea scallop with lemon caper beurre blanc, caribbean jerk seared mahi mahi stuffed with shrimp and jumbo crab meat and a crab-stuffed shrimp. Whipped potatoes and asparagus spears accompanied the seafood. Dessert options were warm bread pudding or the chocolate mousse obsession, which was served with a chocolate raspberry sauce.

Eat Up Downtown: Night 4 @ Morton's The Steakhouse

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:49:00 -0400

On our fifth evening eating our way up downtown, we were treated to our first proper steak dinner of the week: Morton’s style! From the cheery valet to our attentive waitress to the maitre d’, Morton’s made us feel at home in a cozy booth overlooking the dining room. We began with a warm onion loaf and the caesar salad, which was perfect - creamy, flavorful, not over- or under-dressed - and topped with thin waves of fresh parmesan cheese and crispy toast points. We ordered the center-cut filet cooked medium rare (it was perfect!) and one broiled salmon filet topped with a rich garlic buerre blanc sauce. Both entrees were served with a plentiful helping of garlic green beans and delicious mashed potatoes. We requested extra buerre blanc and drizzled it atop everything except the steak. Morton’s dessert offering for Eat Up Downtown was a glass of belgian chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream, a raspberry and sprig of mint. The perfect way to end the evening!

Eat Up Downtown: Night 4 @ cafe nola

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:47:00 -0400

We had a tough time picking our courses at cafe nola, located just inside the entrance of the Museum of Contemporary Art. High ceilings, large windows looking out to Hemming Plaza, and modern furniture add to the variety offered at cafe nola. To help us as we debated our choices, we were greeted with warm delicious yeast rolls and the butter of the day: orange banana. We decided on the tuna tartare — chopped ahi tuna with apricot aioli, crispy toast points and served floating atop a splash of melon water and garnished with microgreens. Truly a work of art. Second starter was the warm smoked chicken salad, which captured both of our hearts: a generous serving of spring greens topped with smoked chicken shreds, tomato vinaigrette, charred corn and crumbly cotija cheese. The smoky flavor was intense but amazing! I chose the eggplant curry (fresh local eggplant, green curry sauce, coconut rice and topped with a thai peanut gremolata) and my dining companion had the shrimp and grits (seared shrimp, smoked cheddar grit cakes served over a white wine sauce with wild mushrooms and bacon, and sun dried tomato crostini). After seeing sticky fig pudding on the menu, that was my choice. It was served over warm dark chocolate and fresh figs topped the pudding and a delicious toffee sauce and cracked Daim bar were beautifully strewn across the plate. We also had the blackberry cobbler topped with peach ice cream. cafe nola is also serving up a gluten-free 3-course menu for Eat Up Downtown.

Eat Up Downtown: Night 3 @ Indochine

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:54:16 -0400

Night three of Eat Up Downtown and we were excited after looking over Indochine’s menu. A fusion of both thai and southeast Asian cuisine, Indochine is nestled above bustling lunch spot Burrito Gallery on E. Adams Street. We were lucky enough to snag a window seat!

We started our 3-course crusade by selecting one of the mini sampler platters, which included 1 spring roll, 1 crispy roll, 1 crab rangoon and calamari and two dipping sauces and one of the mixed baby green salads with tomatoes, cucumber, cabbage and a tangy sesame ginger dressing. Portions were hearty and loved the variety of flavors and textures. We missed out on the third option - the tom kha gai soup (a coconut milk and cream broth with chicken, galangal, mushrooms, onion, baby corn and lemongrass) which sounded delicious. For the second course we ordered the prah raam (peanut curry over fresh spinach and steamed broccoli with shrimp) which was accompanied by a bowl of fluffy white rice and the drunken noodles (sauteed rice noodles with egg, celery, cashews, onion, holy basil, peppers and mushrooms) with scallops, spice level 2. Delicious!

For dessert our tastebuds savored the coconut creme brulee (creamy texture, and just enough coconut flavor without being overpowering) and the chocolate lava cake which had a warm gooey center, and was served with swirls of chocolate and cherry sauce.

Eat Up Downtown: Night 2 @ Chew Restaurant

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:50:48 -0400

Chew Restaurant is moving to Riverside later this year but it’ll always be one of my favorite restaurant spaces in town, in its current West Adams Street space. The atmosphere is modern and earthy colors dance around the walls. I started off with the apple and goat cheese salad: seasonal greens with thinly sliced fuji apples, sun-dried apricots, candied almond, creamy goat cheese and then drizzled with champagne tarragon vinaigrette. My tablemates opted for the Florida sweet corn bisque with bacon and pickled cubanelle pepper relish and it was a hit! Course two was the potato-blue cheese croquettes for two of the five of us (the three others had the P.E.I. mussels with tomato, garlic, white wine, roasted sweet peppers, cayenne butter and a crispy baguette) — a standout! A perfect crunchy outer shell filled will silky eggplant puree, and accompanied by bright flavorful tomatoes, scallions and a basil aioli. Perfect texture contrast of crunchy and creamy. Chew had sold out of the chicharrones which were the third course 2 option. For the final course, I selected the summer squash, roasted tomato, and eggplant ratatouille served with two beautiful drizzles of salsa verde which complimented the flavors perfectly. The house-made pasta with Mayport shrimp, roasted pork, brocolli, carrots and smoked onion jus was another favorite for course 3. It came in a large bowl and the jus was salty and the homemade pasta was thick and ribbon-like! Our server was very attentive and we shared the warm cinnamon sugar churros with warm chocolate for dessert and the basil watermelon sorbet, both of which disappeared in a matter of seconds after being brought to the table.

Eat Up Downtown: Night 1 @ Zodiac Bar & Grill

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:51:00 -0400

Once a year Downtown Vision Inc. partners with numerous downtown restaurants (17 this year, to be exact!) to provide Jacksonvillians a chance to eat their way around downtown. All 17 venues offers a prix fixe menu and each 3-course meal is a flat $25, plus tax and tip. It’s a fun way to try new spots and know that you won’t leave hungry. Can’t beat it!

To kick off two weeks of Eat Up Downtown 2011, first on my list to try was Zodiac Bar and Grill, located on 120 W. Adams Street. At 6 p.m. we were one of four occupied tables and the atmosphere was laid back, spacious and relatively quiet: the perfect place to end a busy Monday. Art lined the walls and the tile floor was spotless. Our waitress was attentive and each course was better than the previous! From Zodiac’s prix fixe Eat Up Downtown menu, I started with the greek salad (crisp romaine topped with fresh feta, tomato, onions, kalamata olives, pepperocinis, and green pepper), then eagerly selected the scallop and swordfish kebabs over fluffy Israeli cous cous (with peas and carrots mixed in), and finally the crispy, sweet walnut and pecan baklava. The warm chewy pita bread with dipping oil and spices was so tasty we had two servings. My dining companion went with the green lentil and spinach soup, lamb and chicken kebabs and the more traditional pistachio baklava. The two sauces that accompanied the meats were delicious. Overall, four thumbs up!

May 2011 Bite Club at Springfield’s Uptown Market

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:22:40 -0400

May 2011 Bite Club at Springfield’s Uptown Market