Do you miss Pom's? Well, how about Old Siam? Both are former restaurants owned/run by Pom Souvannasoth. (Try and say that last name three times fast. Trust me, it's more difficult in my case--I have a lisp.)
If you're into fancy dining and you hate spending a dreary Monday night, take a gander at this:
Pom's Thai Bistro Night - Monday July 20 , 2009
Featured Celebrity Chef Pom Souvannasoth of Pom's Thai Bistro prepares a selection of his best features alongside the local favorites of Eleven South.
Authentic Thai spices and flavors transform Pom's entrees into works of art. Choose a combo of your favorite Thai dishes such as Pom's famous spring rolls or mix and match from both Pom's special menu and Eleven South Bistro favorites. (Special a la carte menu).
RSVP Required. Call 904-241-1112 to Reserve.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Whiteway Deli and the Lawsuit
If you haven't heard about this ridiculous lawsuit against Whiteway Deli, it's something you you should read.
Basically the owner of the Whiteway building/corner believes that no one can possibly use the name Whiteway unless they are renting space in his building.
Since the owners of Whiteway Deli moved a couple of blocks down, he decided to sue them for copyright infringment.
There's some confusion over whether George Martin, president of Whiteway Realty Co. is suing themover the use of Whiteway because of the corner or because of the realty company.
He tried to squeese 5 grand a month from the owner of the deli, Sam Salem, for use of the name.
Whiteway, where it's known, is almost considered a micro-neighborhood within Riverside. Personally I think it's like penalizing a restaurant called Brooklyn Diner for not being in Brooklyn...
Here's the most pertinent part of the article--the meat of the thing:
Carolyn Herman, who teaches trademark law at Florida Coastal School of Law, said if a trademark case got to trial, the burden of proof would be on Martin. He would have to show not only that he was using the name first but also a likelihood of confusion over what goods and services each business is providing.
"Is anybody going to think that Whiteway Deli is now Whiteway Realty, or that Whiteway Realty is now Whiteway Deli?" she said. That's why, for example, Delta Faucets and Delta Air Lines don't infringe on each other's trademarks, Herman explained.
Whiteway Realty registered a state trademark on the name Whiteway Corner in 2006, but by then the deli had been operating nearly 80 years. There was a Whiteway Corner Inc. formed a year before the deli opened to develop Park and King, but that company dissolved in 1943, state records show.
The owner of the Corner estimates that he's spent $100,000 on marketing the name Whiteway Corner.
You know what's sad? Whiteway Deli is far more well known than Whiteway Corner. Because the food just is that good.
Basically the owner of the Whiteway building/corner believes that no one can possibly use the name Whiteway unless they are renting space in his building.
Since the owners of Whiteway Deli moved a couple of blocks down, he decided to sue them for copyright infringment.
There's some confusion over whether George Martin, president of Whiteway Realty Co. is suing themover the use of Whiteway because of the corner or because of the realty company.
He tried to squeese 5 grand a month from the owner of the deli, Sam Salem, for use of the name.
Whiteway, where it's known, is almost considered a micro-neighborhood within Riverside. Personally I think it's like penalizing a restaurant called Brooklyn Diner for not being in Brooklyn...
Here's the most pertinent part of the article--the meat of the thing:
Carolyn Herman, who teaches trademark law at Florida Coastal School of Law, said if a trademark case got to trial, the burden of proof would be on Martin. He would have to show not only that he was using the name first but also a likelihood of confusion over what goods and services each business is providing.
"Is anybody going to think that Whiteway Deli is now Whiteway Realty, or that Whiteway Realty is now Whiteway Deli?" she said. That's why, for example, Delta Faucets and Delta Air Lines don't infringe on each other's trademarks, Herman explained.
Whiteway Realty registered a state trademark on the name Whiteway Corner in 2006, but by then the deli had been operating nearly 80 years. There was a Whiteway Corner Inc. formed a year before the deli opened to develop Park and King, but that company dissolved in 1943, state records show.
The owner of the Corner estimates that he's spent $100,000 on marketing the name Whiteway Corner.
You know what's sad? Whiteway Deli is far more well known than Whiteway Corner. Because the food just is that good.
How Restaurant Food in Florida Has Progressed
In my internet meanderings I ran across this article about a food writer named Jason Sheehan who decided he hated Florida and Florida food based on experiences he had in 1997 in Brandon and Tampa.
The interesting part was the response from chefs in the Tampa Bay area. Sheehan is quoted as saying that the food was "aggressively nonregional." Strangely enough, the chefs agree that at the time what he said was true. But they saw it as more of a national trend than something localized.
They believe that Tampa and the country has progressed and that we are now doing interesting things in the kitchen and on restaurant tables.
I do wonder what the future holds though. The recession has changed many aspects of life, so I do wonder how it will change the tablescape.
More people are eating comfort foods and staying away from the exotic. People don't want to spend money eating out unless they know what they're getting.
On a practical level, this means that fixed-price menus have become more popular in the last 3-5 years. Even if you're spending more on a meal (say $25-80) at least you know exactly what you'll be spending.
But will the economics strengthen or weaken regionalist cooking? Comfort foods are often regional, particularly the further South you go in the U.S.
Florida is kind of the exception to the rule. Jacksonville is part of American Southern culture, but the further South you get in the State of Florida, the less likely you are to have a traditional, regional American Southern dish. Miami might geographically be Southern, but in the culinary arena, it's more Cuban and international.
Tampa, I think, was probably struggling for a culinary identity. While there are Cuban influences (Ybor City) it's a little too far North to totally take on that brand of regionalism. And it's not an especially Southern-minded city, at least not in culinary idealogy.
Since the late 90s were an especially bland time in the country's palate, it's understandable that Tampa should have seen the worst of it.
The interesting part was the response from chefs in the Tampa Bay area. Sheehan is quoted as saying that the food was "aggressively nonregional." Strangely enough, the chefs agree that at the time what he said was true. But they saw it as more of a national trend than something localized.
They believe that Tampa and the country has progressed and that we are now doing interesting things in the kitchen and on restaurant tables.
I do wonder what the future holds though. The recession has changed many aspects of life, so I do wonder how it will change the tablescape.
More people are eating comfort foods and staying away from the exotic. People don't want to spend money eating out unless they know what they're getting.
On a practical level, this means that fixed-price menus have become more popular in the last 3-5 years. Even if you're spending more on a meal (say $25-80) at least you know exactly what you'll be spending.
But will the economics strengthen or weaken regionalist cooking? Comfort foods are often regional, particularly the further South you go in the U.S.
Florida is kind of the exception to the rule. Jacksonville is part of American Southern culture, but the further South you get in the State of Florida, the less likely you are to have a traditional, regional American Southern dish. Miami might geographically be Southern, but in the culinary arena, it's more Cuban and international.
Tampa, I think, was probably struggling for a culinary identity. While there are Cuban influences (Ybor City) it's a little too far North to totally take on that brand of regionalism. And it's not an especially Southern-minded city, at least not in culinary idealogy.
Since the late 90s were an especially bland time in the country's palate, it's understandable that Tampa should have seen the worst of it.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Movie Foods Party
This Saturday the Jax Foodies Club will be holding a Movie Dish party. Basically we will be cooking something inspired by a movie. My inspiration is Clemenza from The Godfather. The book gives a detailed description of the stuff that's cooked in the movie.
According to a rather obsessive Godfather site that I'm grateful for, this is Clemenza's recipe which he cooks for everyone after the Don is shot:
Clemenza's sauce recipe: Start with a little oil, and fry some garlic. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste, and fry. Be sure it doesn't stick. When boiling, add the sausages and meatballs. Add some red wine and sugar.
I rarely cook straight-up Italian, so for me it's kind of exotic. Mainly I stick to Thai. I've always loved how Clemenza cooked for them in the book. It's always been a favorite moment for me.
Maybe I'm obessed with food (hence the blog) because I also love the scene in the book with Sonny and his mother cooking peppers.
Anyone else have any favorite movie or literature moments involving food?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
At the Metro Diner
So far I've gotten a few good suggestions on Jacksonville classic must-eats. Of course because I'm a food writer, I've been to most of them and tried most of the items, but there are gaps.
Here's my list so far of what I haven't tried: Angie's Peruvian Sub, the Veggie Rider at The Goal Post and The Metro Diner.
So my question is, what should I try first at the Metro Diner? Mainly I've heard good things about the pancakes and something called the big fish sandwich.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Jacksonville Must Eats?
It occurs to me that there are still First Coast food classics that I haven't tried yet. Is there a particular Jax classic I should have eaten? Leave your comments on what you think is a must eat.
With a sense of shame I'll admit that I have still not tried the legendary Peruvian Sub at Angie's, despite being in a play that rehearsed within waking distance. (I did try, but it was closed all three times I darkened their doorstep).
What I'm hoping for is a discussion here about the things I should be trying in order to spur me into action.
Most of the things that took me a long time to try are in restaurants that only open for breakfast and lunch. The Fox, which people rave about, I have only been to twice. Metro Diner, never.
That's because I keep the hours of a hungry vampire and rarely show my face when the sun is in full force.
Rave about a particular dish and I'll endeavor to devour it and blog poetically about it here!
With a sense of shame I'll admit that I have still not tried the legendary Peruvian Sub at Angie's, despite being in a play that rehearsed within waking distance. (I did try, but it was closed all three times I darkened their doorstep).
What I'm hoping for is a discussion here about the things I should be trying in order to spur me into action.
Most of the things that took me a long time to try are in restaurants that only open for breakfast and lunch. The Fox, which people rave about, I have only been to twice. Metro Diner, never.
That's because I keep the hours of a hungry vampire and rarely show my face when the sun is in full force.
Rave about a particular dish and I'll endeavor to devour it and blog poetically about it here!
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