I bought some lemongrass at local Oriental market recently. They were selling it in clumps of three or four stalks. I had planned to use it in cooking, but I didn't end up getting a chance to use it. I'd heard from several people that it grows quite well here in North Florida, so I decided to try it.
Lemongrass likes tropical weather and lots of sun, making it the perfect summertime crop. I've been recently demoralized in the garden department, since nearly everything I've planted is wilting and dying.
If you're worried about the winter killing it off once it gets cold, well, stop worrying. It will die off a bit, but it's hardy enough to rally most of the time. Even if it does die a cold death, it's not difficult to replace and plant.
Most gardening guides say you should place the stalks in a clear vase with water at the bottom. Change the water every couple of days and plant them when you get 1/2 long. As an experiment, I skipped that step on one of my stalks, just to see how it would do. I made sure to keep it moist in a sunny place. The experimental stalk already has new growth, about a week after I put it in the pot. It sprouted at the same time as the rest of the lemongrass, which I planted later.
As for the rest of the lemongrass, it was in the vase for about a week before I planted them. Once in the pot, it was only two days before it sprouted new growth.
My lemongrass is planted in a pot with potting soil, but I may decide to fertilize (probably organically) because these guys like rich soil (though I've heard they don't absolutely need it). I'm looking forward to cooking with fresh lemongrass from my garden.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Pepper Palace, St. Augustine
Whenever I'm in St. Augustine, I always pop into the Pepper Palace to freshen my supply of datil pepper. Of course that's not the only form of hotness they carry. For the real pepper-heads, they carry some of the hottest hot sauces you can find. The folks who work there are knowledgeable and eager to spread the datil gospel. While there I also picked up some of Pepper Palace's spice blends. So far I've tried the tequila seasoning (sea salt, chili powder, tequila, rosemary, lime, citric acid...) which is gangbusters on any kind of whitefish.
I like to toss veggies in the Old St. Augustine Sweet Heat Barbecue Sauce (sweet peppers and onions) and roast them in the oven.
I've still got two more spice blends to try out. When I do, I'll post recipes for them!
For those of you who can't make the trip to St. Augustine, don't worry, there are multiple locations and, best of all, a website.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Top Pot Donuts Seattle and Maurice's BBQ South Carolina
So I've been a bit busy. In the past two months, I've been to Seattle, drove to North Carolina and I've had three different sets of house guests. But I've been able to taste some really great food.
In Seattle, Top Pot Donuts was recommended to me by local Jacksonville Chef Dennis Chan. It was worthwhile because they were really good donuts. First, a bit of lore about the name. When Top Pot first opened, the owner was on a shoestring budget, so he bought a secondhand sign that said Top Spot. The S in spot wasn't quite operational, so he took it off. Hence, Top Spot Donuts became Top Pot Donuts, even though pots are not involved.
There are basically two different styles of donuts. The one pictured above is the "cake style" donut. The texture inside is almost like a slightly dry cup cake, perfect for dunking! The other style is the old school donut, aptly named the old-fashioned. We got a dozen. choosing as many different types as we could. It wasn't hard since they have about 40 varieties of donuts. They're really filling and they taste amazing. There's no scarfing down of five donuts because they're huge and decadent.
My other great dining experience was in South Carolina. You may have heard of Maurice's BBQ. We stopped there by chance on our way to North Carolina. We indulged in the buffet, where I discovered ribs so tender and soaked with flavor that I had to close my eyes to better experience them. South Carolina loves their sauces, and the mustard-based sauce on my ribs was amply dramatic and savory. I didn't take a picture because the camera was packed away and because, quite honestly, barbecue often isn't beautiful. It tasted beautiful, but it certainly didn't look it.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
St. Augustine's Casablanca Inn and Eco Tour
For Jacksonvillians, St. Augustine is a popular spot for a short getaway. Their B&Bs have competitive rates, and some even have great last-minute or weekday rates. We opted to go on the weekend. 
We stayed at the Casablanca Inn. Most people recognize this iconic hotel upon seeing a picture, because the white pillars and frontage on Avenida Menendez is eye-catching. A stay at the Casablanca includes a hearty breakfast served by a great staff, a parking spot close to the hotel (dear indeed in historic St. Augustine) and a $15 credit at their Tini Martini bar, over looking the bay.
They've got quite a few packages worth looking at— stay for two nights till November 4th and you get a free Eco Tour for Two complete with a bottle of champagne. There are lots of other romance packages to choose from as well.
The Inn has three buildings on its grounds, the Main House, the Coach House and the Secret Garden. The main house faces Charlotte Street. We were in the Coach House. While people most often request the Main House, perhaps because many of the rooms have an excellent view of the bay, I loved the Coach House. Not as many cars go by on Charlotte, so it feels restful and romantic. We relaxed on our small porch facing the quiet brick street. The Secret Garden Suites are better for longer stays, as they have kitchenettes and dining areas. As the name says, the suites are in a secret tropical garden tucked away in a side street you would never find without direction.
We enjoyed drinks at the Tini Martini bar, in the front of the Main House, people watching as horses trotted by, carriages and tourists in tow.
Zach McKenna has a passion for conserving wildlife and it shows. He runs St. Augustine Eco Tours in the marina next to the Bridge of Lions. You can, of course, book a tour outside of the Casablanca Inn's deal (free eco tour for two with two nights stay). They have many different tours you can take on various vessels. You can kayak, go on on a gorgeous catamaran or, like we did, hop aboard one of their rugged little research vessels. Unlike most boats I've been on, it's not a struggle to hear the guide, because the research vessel's engines are quieter and the ride fairly smooth, even when we ventured toward the sea waves.
While the main draw of the tour is the dolphins that frolic in the Matanzas, there's no guarantee that dolphins will appear. Most of the time they do, but you can't force nature. We got very lucky and saw several pods, including some tiny, just-born babies that were still learning how to swim properly. The baby dolphins were awkward, unlike the graceful adults that sliced through the water with ease. I always thought that dolphins knew how to swim by instinct, but Zach told us that it's actually a learned behavior, like walking is for humans. Once we learned what dolphins looked like after we spotted the first pod, everyone on board was on the lookout for dolphins.
Because it's a research vessel, they do have some interesting equipment. The last two pods of dolphins we encountered began talking to each other underwater, and thanks to the equipment, we got to listen in.
Though dolphins are an exciting part of the tour, Zach McKenna's knowledgeable enough about local flora and fauna that he can tell you about them as you encounter them. We saw several species of birds in our travels. A flock of gorgeously pink spoonbills waded by the shore. He pointed out tiny lady terns waiting on pilings for their suitors to bring them fish.
Post Eco Tour we ate at the White Lion. It wasn't my first choice, but I had a dim childhood memory of eating there. My husband had remarked on several occasions that he'd always wanted to go there and so we did. It is a tourist sort of place, though it's less of a tourist trap than the Santa Maria (which every local is vaguely disgusted by). The White Lion isn't terrible. prices are reasonable, it's casual, they've got an outdoor patio and they fry everything. I got a basket of fried okra.
We stayed at the Casablanca Inn. Most people recognize this iconic hotel upon seeing a picture, because the white pillars and frontage on Avenida Menendez is eye-catching. A stay at the Casablanca includes a hearty breakfast served by a great staff, a parking spot close to the hotel (dear indeed in historic St. Augustine) and a $15 credit at their Tini Martini bar, over looking the bay.
They've got quite a few packages worth looking at— stay for two nights till November 4th and you get a free Eco Tour for Two complete with a bottle of champagne. There are lots of other romance packages to choose from as well.
The Inn has three buildings on its grounds, the Main House, the Coach House and the Secret Garden. The main house faces Charlotte Street. We were in the Coach House. While people most often request the Main House, perhaps because many of the rooms have an excellent view of the bay, I loved the Coach House. Not as many cars go by on Charlotte, so it feels restful and romantic. We relaxed on our small porch facing the quiet brick street. The Secret Garden Suites are better for longer stays, as they have kitchenettes and dining areas. As the name says, the suites are in a secret tropical garden tucked away in a side street you would never find without direction.
We enjoyed drinks at the Tini Martini bar, in the front of the Main House, people watching as horses trotted by, carriages and tourists in tow.
Zach McKenna has a passion for conserving wildlife and it shows. He runs St. Augustine Eco Tours in the marina next to the Bridge of Lions. You can, of course, book a tour outside of the Casablanca Inn's deal (free eco tour for two with two nights stay). They have many different tours you can take on various vessels. You can kayak, go on on a gorgeous catamaran or, like we did, hop aboard one of their rugged little research vessels. Unlike most boats I've been on, it's not a struggle to hear the guide, because the research vessel's engines are quieter and the ride fairly smooth, even when we ventured toward the sea waves.
While the main draw of the tour is the dolphins that frolic in the Matanzas, there's no guarantee that dolphins will appear. Most of the time they do, but you can't force nature. We got very lucky and saw several pods, including some tiny, just-born babies that were still learning how to swim properly. The baby dolphins were awkward, unlike the graceful adults that sliced through the water with ease. I always thought that dolphins knew how to swim by instinct, but Zach told us that it's actually a learned behavior, like walking is for humans. Once we learned what dolphins looked like after we spotted the first pod, everyone on board was on the lookout for dolphins.
Because it's a research vessel, they do have some interesting equipment. The last two pods of dolphins we encountered began talking to each other underwater, and thanks to the equipment, we got to listen in.
Though dolphins are an exciting part of the tour, Zach McKenna's knowledgeable enough about local flora and fauna that he can tell you about them as you encounter them. We saw several species of birds in our travels. A flock of gorgeously pink spoonbills waded by the shore. He pointed out tiny lady terns waiting on pilings for their suitors to bring them fish.
Post Eco Tour we ate at the White Lion. It wasn't my first choice, but I had a dim childhood memory of eating there. My husband had remarked on several occasions that he'd always wanted to go there and so we did. It is a tourist sort of place, though it's less of a tourist trap than the Santa Maria (which every local is vaguely disgusted by). The White Lion isn't terrible. prices are reasonable, it's casual, they've got an outdoor patio and they fry everything. I got a basket of fried okra.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Revamped: Alhambra
With all the changes at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre, we thought a review of their food and new décor was in order. Dinner has improved, with Matthew Medure on board designing the menu.
The Alhambra has been in a fixture in Jacksonville community for over 40 years. In '84 it was bought by Tod Booth, who continued the proud tradition. By the late 2000s, Booth was relying heavily on out-of-town tickets, mainly from the Red Hat Society and other social clubs. But when the recession hit, this group shrunk considerably.
The Alhambra was close to closing at the end of 2009, but a group of businessmen called the Theatre Partner's Managing group and spread-headed by Craig Smith, came in to the rescue.
While they've always had community support, I think the aim today is to get more locals in their door, locals that may have abandoned the old Alhambra because of the food or the tired décor; and locals that had never been to the Alhambra.
From what I could see, the audience demographic has slightly changed. While dinner theater is still the purview of the blue hairs, there were more people there under the age of 30 who hadn't been dragged there by a well-meaning parent. The age range was wider than I'd seen it at the Alhambra (notwithstanding their yearly Christmas Carole production).
In Craig Smith's intro to the show there were jokes about what a flop High School Musical was, which I gather the Alhambra did to reel in the tween demographic, though they did chat up what a great show it was, despite the lack of audience draw. But 42 Street was a different story. They got their crowd with that one.
High School Musical was a bit of a leap for the Alhambra, off of their usual formula for choosing a show. More “avant-garde” people complain about the mundane choice in shows that some community theatres make and that the Alhambra has made in the past. The truth of the matter is that these places just can't afford to gamble with their choice of shows. Community theatre can, because they have a funding cushion and donors, so from them, you'll see at least one gamble in a season line-up. Otherwise, you get the same musicals or type of musicals in rotation, because that's what people consistently come to see.
It's refreshing to see them trying new things because dinner theatre has such a slim margin of error, financially. Trying to scratch out a profit at any theater is tough-- and then you add the logistics and cost of food, while charging close to what other shows do that don't serve food, just so you can remain competitive. (Some tickets to shows at the major venues in Jax, which will remain nameless, charge as much or more than the Alhambra and you don't get dinner).
Before the food was dramatically rolled out onstage for The Foreigner, I got to look at the most striking changes the Alhambra has made: their remodeling. Outdoors, the fountain area where I went for a pre-show stroll has been brick-paved and landscaped nicely. Inside, the cramped ticket office is now hidden away, replaced by a hostess stand. The cramped buffet room is now a cozy lounge. At gala openings this is where they pass out champagne. It feels like an exclusive little club, perhaps a VIP room tucked away in an expensive restaurant. And there's a full bar in there as well. This is where the Alhambra could royally clean up.
Mainly, they've cleared away the clutter that had built up over the years, stream-lined things and modernized. The stage and dining area is just, well, cool. It has a deliberate retro look (as opposed to their previous outdated look, which was only retro because they hadn't remodeled). Looking around, there's a distinct feeling that Jessica Rabbit might slide on stage at any moment and sing a torch song.
Basically, you feel like you've arrived somewhere very, very cool, where you might just get a show.
They've revamped the menu under the auspices of Matthew Medure, but that doesn't mean that old favorites have gone away. The much-loved chocolate mousse is still a dessert option, though they serve others. I had the delightful strawberry and cream topped scone (which they called a biscuit) instead of their signature mousse. The mousse appears to be as popular as ever.
The main courses have certainly seen improvement. While they still offer a roast carving station, they have other, more sophisticated choices available. The standout was the savory pork loin, served with crispy bacon and mushroom. If you ever stayed away from the Alhambra because of the food, you need to try it now.
It's an interesting year for the Alhambra. I can already see that they've accepted a mix of old and new. They're going to be trying new things, taking new risks, but they're building on what they already know, and that's important.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Food News and May Foodie Events
City Kidz Ice Cream & Cafe introduced its new corporate box lunch program. Healthy and tasty lunch orders can arrive for a meeting, celebration or as a large lunch order. Order 10 or more lunches and they waive the delivery fee.
On a somewhat less healthy note, Dunkin’ Donuts will be opening two more franchises here in Jacksonville. One will open in 2012 and the other will open in 2013. This is part of an expansion that will open a total of 17 new locations throughout Florida.
May 3rd Andy’s Farmer’s Market Grill will open next to the Jacksonville Farmer’s Market on West Beaver Street.
A new Urban Flats should be open at 9726 Touchton Road on the Southside.
Good news for fans of the flat bread and wine restaurant, who used to travel all the way to Ponte Vedra.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives filmed several restaurants on the First Coast. On May 7th at 9 pm the Singleton’s episode will be re-run on the food network and 13 Gypsies will be shown on the May 10 at 10 pm.
Every Friday Sake 101 5-8 pm Circle Japan, 12192 Beach Boulevard, Suite 1, 710-5193.
Every Friday St. Johns Towncenter Market 3pm- 8 pm, sjtcmarket.com
Every Saturday Riverside Arts Market www.riversideartsmarket.com/
Every Saturday Orange Park Farmers Market 10 am-2 pm www.orangeparkfarmersmarket.com/
Every Sunday Mandarin Farmers and Arts Market Noon- 4pm, www.mandarinfarmersmarket.com
Every Sunday The Avenues Mall Green Market Inside the mall rather than outdoors. Noon- 6 pm
Wine Tasting Series at Zaitoon Mediterranean Grill Held on the First Wednesday of each month 6 pm- 8 pm, $15, 13475 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 40 (located behind Fresh Market in the Harbour Village Shopping Center) www.zaitoongrill.com
April 30- May 2 The 46th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival Includes dozens of food booths featuring shrimp specialties. The Fine Arts Show has been ranked 38th in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine as part of their 200 Best Shows in the United States. Downtown Fernandina Beach, www.shrimpfestival.com
May 21 Jacksonville Craft & Import Beer Festival It’s the second year for this festival and it promises to be bigger than last year. With over 35 breweries and 200 beers to taste, you’ll be sure to have a good time. VIP party starts at 5:30 pm ($45). General Admission 7 pm ($30). Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, www.beerfestjax.com/
May 26 Indie Dinner and a Movie at Gypsy Cab presents: “Don McKay” For a midweek date, you can take a ride to St. Augustine. The Indie film series at Gypsy Cab continues with the movie, Don McKay. Twists, turns, fantasy, reality, past history, and future tragedy runs into a mass collison in this comic thriller. Doors open for dinner at 6pm and the movie starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $25 and include a buffet dinner, the movie, one non-alcoholic beverage, and a donation to the St. Johns Cultural Council. For reservations call 904-824-8244. www.stjohnsculture.com
May 29 Blue Bamboo Cooking Class This time Dennis Chan is cooking up outdoor summer barbecue and showing you the ropes! $38 per person, includes lunch and a glass of wine or cocktail. 10 am- noon, www.bluebamboojacksonville.com
May 30 Jacksonville Jazz Festival-Jazz Brunch Enjoy the sounds of jazz with a brunch buffet of fresh salads, pastries, and gourmet prepared entrees. African American artist Marsha Hatcher will be on hand to sign copies of her award-winning poster. For brunch reservations at Café Nola, call 366-6911, ext. 231. 11 am- 3pm, Cafe Nola inside the MOCA Downtown, www.mocajacksonville.org
On a somewhat less healthy note, Dunkin’ Donuts will be opening two more franchises here in Jacksonville. One will open in 2012 and the other will open in 2013. This is part of an expansion that will open a total of 17 new locations throughout Florida.
May 3rd Andy’s Farmer’s Market Grill will open next to the Jacksonville Farmer’s Market on West Beaver Street.
A new Urban Flats should be open at 9726 Touchton Road on the Southside.
Good news for fans of the flat bread and wine restaurant, who used to travel all the way to Ponte Vedra.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives filmed several restaurants on the First Coast. On May 7th at 9 pm the Singleton’s episode will be re-run on the food network and 13 Gypsies will be shown on the May 10 at 10 pm.
Every Friday Sake 101 5-8 pm Circle Japan, 12192 Beach Boulevard, Suite 1, 710-5193.
Every Friday St. Johns Towncenter Market 3pm- 8 pm, sjtcmarket.com
Every Saturday Riverside Arts Market www.riversideartsmarket.com/
Every Saturday Orange Park Farmers Market 10 am-2 pm www.orangeparkfarmersmarket.com/
Every Sunday Mandarin Farmers and Arts Market Noon- 4pm, www.mandarinfarmersmarket.com
Every Sunday The Avenues Mall Green Market Inside the mall rather than outdoors. Noon- 6 pm
Wine Tasting Series at Zaitoon Mediterranean Grill Held on the First Wednesday of each month 6 pm- 8 pm, $15, 13475 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 40 (located behind Fresh Market in the Harbour Village Shopping Center) www.zaitoongrill.com
April 30- May 2 The 46th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival Includes dozens of food booths featuring shrimp specialties. The Fine Arts Show has been ranked 38th in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine as part of their 200 Best Shows in the United States. Downtown Fernandina Beach, www.shrimpfestival.com
May 21 Jacksonville Craft & Import Beer Festival It’s the second year for this festival and it promises to be bigger than last year. With over 35 breweries and 200 beers to taste, you’ll be sure to have a good time. VIP party starts at 5:30 pm ($45). General Admission 7 pm ($30). Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, www.beerfestjax.com/
May 26 Indie Dinner and a Movie at Gypsy Cab presents: “Don McKay” For a midweek date, you can take a ride to St. Augustine. The Indie film series at Gypsy Cab continues with the movie, Don McKay. Twists, turns, fantasy, reality, past history, and future tragedy runs into a mass collison in this comic thriller. Doors open for dinner at 6pm and the movie starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $25 and include a buffet dinner, the movie, one non-alcoholic beverage, and a donation to the St. Johns Cultural Council. For reservations call 904-824-8244. www.stjohnsculture.com
May 29 Blue Bamboo Cooking Class This time Dennis Chan is cooking up outdoor summer barbecue and showing you the ropes! $38 per person, includes lunch and a glass of wine or cocktail. 10 am- noon, www.bluebamboojacksonville.com
May 30 Jacksonville Jazz Festival-Jazz Brunch Enjoy the sounds of jazz with a brunch buffet of fresh salads, pastries, and gourmet prepared entrees. African American artist Marsha Hatcher will be on hand to sign copies of her award-winning poster. For brunch reservations at Café Nola, call 366-6911, ext. 231. 11 am- 3pm, Cafe Nola inside the MOCA Downtown, www.mocajacksonville.org
Friday, April 2, 2010
Swanky Easter Brunch
Just a list of swanky Easter Brunch places here in Jacksonville I've compiled. Happy Easter 2010
III Forks Easter Brunch
11 am-3 pm
It's one of our newest upscale places to nosh (namely wet-aged steak) and you'll be happy to know that they will be open for Easter Brunch. Executive Chef Joe Everett and his team are preparing a memorable Three Course Easter Celebration, beginning with your choice of Cream of Asparagus Soup, a delightful culinary salute to the season or a famous III Forks Salad. Entree choices are all served with whipped potatoes, sugar snap peas and off-the-cob cream corn. The special III Forks Easter Brunch is $42.95 for adults and $14.95 for children under 12. (Includes tea and coffee) Call 904-928-9277. 9822 Tapestry Park Circle on the Southside.
Easter at Azurea
11 am-8 pm
Do brunch, lunch or dinner at one of the fanciest places to eat in the area. You can order a creamy She-Crab Bisque, Pan Roasted Black Cod with Mussel and Vine Ripe Sweet Tomato Broth, Potato Truffle Dauphinois and finish things off with a dessert of White Chocolate Coconut Cheesecake, Macaroon Crust with Compressed Strawberries. There's much more to their Easter Menu, so check it out at www.oneoceanresort.com/dining. Cost will vary depending on what you order. Inside One Ocean Resort at One Ocean Boulevard Atlantic Beach.
Casa Marnia Hotel Easter Brunch
10 am-2 pm
It’s a traditional family affair in Jax Beach, featuring Chef Aaron Webb’s generous buffet menu, including smoked ham, sausage, an omelet station, crab legs, macadamia crusted grouper, paella, tandoori chicken and more. Reservations required; call 270-0025. The cost is $38.95 (plus tax & gratuity). 691 N. 1st Street in Jacksonville Beach.
Easter Brunch at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville
11am-3pm
Enjoy the buffet of fresh salads, pastries and hot side items while you wait for your gourmet, freshly made entree. Over 10 choices including Shrimp and Grits, Kentucky Hot Brown & Banana Stuffed French Toast. Reservations strongly suggested. Go to their website at www.mocajacksonville.org $22/person / $8 Children under 10. Cafe Nola at MOCA 333 North Laura Street.
Orsay Sunday Brunch
11 am-4 pm
Orsay will be keeping their regular menu for brunch, which has always been good enough for any special occasion. Try the Croquet Madame or go for their raw bar and a Bloody Mary. You can see their full menu for brunch online at www.restaurantorsay.com/ 3630 Park Street in Avondale.
Easter Brunch at Salt
10 am-2 pm
Inside the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, is one of the best restaurants in the area. Admission actually includes one 5x7 family portrait. Reservations required; call 277-1100. $65 per adult, plus tax and gratuity. $32 per child (ages 5-12), plus tax and gratuity. 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island.
Zaitoon's Easter Brunch
11:30 am-3 pm
The Mediterranean restaurant Zaitoon, will be open for Easter Sunday during their regular operating hours. They will have a full buffet. Reservations are suggested; call 221-7066. Adults meals are $26.95 (includes a complimentary Mimosa) and kids 12 and under cost $14.95 (children under 4 eat free). 13475 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 40 (behind Fresh Market in the Harbour Village Shopping Center)
III Forks Easter Brunch
11 am-3 pm
It's one of our newest upscale places to nosh (namely wet-aged steak) and you'll be happy to know that they will be open for Easter Brunch. Executive Chef Joe Everett and his team are preparing a memorable Three Course Easter Celebration, beginning with your choice of Cream of Asparagus Soup, a delightful culinary salute to the season or a famous III Forks Salad. Entree choices are all served with whipped potatoes, sugar snap peas and off-the-cob cream corn. The special III Forks Easter Brunch is $42.95 for adults and $14.95 for children under 12. (Includes tea and coffee) Call 904-928-9277. 9822 Tapestry Park Circle on the Southside.
Easter at Azurea
11 am-8 pm
Do brunch, lunch or dinner at one of the fanciest places to eat in the area. You can order a creamy She-Crab Bisque, Pan Roasted Black Cod with Mussel and Vine Ripe Sweet Tomato Broth, Potato Truffle Dauphinois and finish things off with a dessert of White Chocolate Coconut Cheesecake, Macaroon Crust with Compressed Strawberries. There's much more to their Easter Menu, so check it out at www.oneoceanresort.com/dining. Cost will vary depending on what you order. Inside One Ocean Resort at One Ocean Boulevard Atlantic Beach.
Casa Marnia Hotel Easter Brunch
10 am-2 pm
It’s a traditional family affair in Jax Beach, featuring Chef Aaron Webb’s generous buffet menu, including smoked ham, sausage, an omelet station, crab legs, macadamia crusted grouper, paella, tandoori chicken and more. Reservations required; call 270-0025. The cost is $38.95 (plus tax & gratuity). 691 N. 1st Street in Jacksonville Beach.
Easter Brunch at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville
11am-3pm
Enjoy the buffet of fresh salads, pastries and hot side items while you wait for your gourmet, freshly made entree. Over 10 choices including Shrimp and Grits, Kentucky Hot Brown & Banana Stuffed French Toast. Reservations strongly suggested. Go to their website at www.mocajacksonville.org $22/person / $8 Children under 10. Cafe Nola at MOCA 333 North Laura Street.
Orsay Sunday Brunch
11 am-4 pm
Orsay will be keeping their regular menu for brunch, which has always been good enough for any special occasion. Try the Croquet Madame or go for their raw bar and a Bloody Mary. You can see their full menu for brunch online at www.restaurantorsay.com/ 3630 Park Street in Avondale.
Easter Brunch at Salt
10 am-2 pm
Inside the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, is one of the best restaurants in the area. Admission actually includes one 5x7 family portrait. Reservations required; call 277-1100. $65 per adult, plus tax and gratuity. $32 per child (ages 5-12), plus tax and gratuity. 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island.
Zaitoon's Easter Brunch
11:30 am-3 pm
The Mediterranean restaurant Zaitoon, will be open for Easter Sunday during their regular operating hours. They will have a full buffet. Reservations are suggested; call 221-7066. Adults meals are $26.95 (includes a complimentary Mimosa) and kids 12 and under cost $14.95 (children under 4 eat free). 13475 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 40 (behind Fresh Market in the Harbour Village Shopping Center)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)