Three events to round out February

Below you'll find three events to finish out your month! Highland Games, a masked ball in St. Augustine or the Florida Strawberry Fest. Check it out.

Florida Strawberry Festival
February 26- March 8

February is a time for love, chocolate and Florida Strawberries. You don't hear much about Plant City the rest of the year, but when the Florida strawberry season comes around, it's big. Entertainment at this big fest ranges from Jessica Simpson and Kellie Pickler to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Randy Travis and Brenda Lee. They pick a Strawberry Queen, have most of the events and entertainment associated with a county fair, plus lush fresh strawberries and other local produce. Info: flstrawberryfestival.com


Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games & Festival
Saturday, February 28 from 9 am- 10 pm

Have a hankering for some haggis? Or at least a deep fried Mars bar? Besides the caber toss, that's why I show up for the Scottish Games. I'm hoping I show up BEFORE they run out of the Mars bars, unlike last year. At the Clay County Fair grounds. Info: neflgames.com or 725-5744


Noche De Gala (Night of the Gala)
Saturday, February 28 at 6:30 pm

Be a part of this 16th century masked ball celebrating the 490th birthday of St. Augustine's founder, don Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Guests will be escorted to the festivities by re-enactors in period clothing. Cocktail reception and dinner will be catered by the Casa Monica Hotel, followed by dancing to contemporary tunes. Attire is black tie or 16th century costume. Lightner Museum and Ballroom, 75 King Street in St. Augustine. Admission is $175. Reservations are required. Info: 825-5033

The Landing & Should I Give Koja a 5th Chance?

I actually liked Mongos at the Landing. So I'm sad they closed.

Sure, it wasn't high cuisine but it was fun. Plus you had no one but yourself to blame if you hated the flavor of your food.

The food at Twisted Martini ranks as the best place to eat at the Landing as far as I'm concerned. But it's less like dining and more like eating food at a bar. You can't blame them for that. They can't help that the word martini is in the name.

Otherwise I've found the Landing to be a bit of a culinary hole so far.

One of the places that's always gotten undeserved lavish praise (IMHO) is Koja Sushi. I've never had an experience there that blew me away. It's either been mediocre or a bad experience.

Like the time they served us something called a sweet and sour pork that turned out to actually be some sort of curry. And on a separate occasion all of our sushi plates turned up without wasabi. Turned out they had run out of it a few hours before. Did the server let us know this before they put in our order? Nope. And for me wasabi is central to the sushi experience. I would have ordered something else.

To be fair, the sweet and sour pork was probably the Korean version of the dish. We asked if a mistake had been made and they said it was the correct dish. Since the place is presented in a Japanese manner, you sort of expect what you'd get at the standard Japanese-style steakhouse or sushi place. Yes, I know these little differences are what people treasure about the Koja, but now undomesticated equines couldn't drag my husband to the place.

Service has never been great and the quality of the fish in the sushi I've been served has not been the best. I also find their eel to be too crispy. (They claimed that they never get complaints about it and that everyone but me loves it).

After three annoying experiences and one so-so one, I stopped going. In the last year I've only hit them up for some kim chee to go.

There are just so many other sushi options where I have had a great experience every time that I find no reason to go. So my questions are these: What do people love about Koja? Should I give them a fifth chance? Were they really the best sushi in town in 2006 when they took home that Best of Folio Award?

Sushi picture is actually from the now defunct Tokyo Bay.

The Rebranding of Matthew Medure

Matthew’s Market in San Marco closed in late January. One of owners, Chad Labenz, said it was due to the misconception that they were more expensive, according to a Jacksonville.com article. It’s true that the sandwiches there were a steal and the items they sold in the market were about at the price level of Fresh Market. But as a friend of mine commented: “If they wanted it to be seen as inexpensive, they should have taken off Matthew’s name.” I can’t disagree with that. Matthew Medure isn’t just a person in Jacksonville, he’s a brand. By putting his name on the market, it was seen as luxurious and expensive. Even if they sold deli meats out of the back of a truck*, if Matthew Medure’s name was associated with it, it would be seen as quality, expensive, luxury food. Normally that’s not a problem, it’s an asset, but the economy has made it a liability.

Medure’s, his Ponte Vedra restaurant, which closed late November of last year is supposed to be reopening eventually and will feature lower cost items. Again, the name Matthew Medure does not equate to affordability in the minds of most people on the First Coast. He’s going to have a devil of a time rebranding himself, if that’s what he intends to do. I think that if he’s lowering the price point he should be associated with the place but not use his name in the title.

Matthew’s, his main restaurant, is still open and busy. In fact, they’ve been running a relatively reasonable prix fixe menu of four courses that serves two for just $89. That’s a super deal for one of the fanciest restaurants in town.

Also, according to Jacksonville Confidental, Matthew's along with Bistro Aix and Cafe Carmon are actually offering coupons in the latest MINT Mag. Check out the post!

*As far as I know Matthew Medure has never sold anything out of the back of a truck, nor is his name associated with anyone who has.

West Inn

West Inn Cantina looks like a bit of a hole, what with it being attached to a liquor store. While I am not a fan of the decor there (tacky Southwest mixed with Southern neighborhood bar). I am a fan of the food there.

Not only are the portions more than decent for the price, they also like to sneak in a taste of India or some gouda in these "typical" Southwestern dishes. I love that I get better food and more of it for the same price I'd pay at a TGI Fridays. The service isn't always stellar, but I tend to go later in the shift, when servers are cut and those left are clearly thinking about going home.

Still. I friggin' love it.

You can find the much adored West Inn in Avondale 3644 Saint Johns Ave
Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 389-1131

I Love Orange

Like I said last month, orange is underrated as part of decor. Sometimes it's hard to find what you need in orange, if you're a fan. I've found three orange items lately that have piqued my interest.

First, this slim bookcase from CB2, the less pricey hipper spinoff of Crate & Barrel.



I like it because you don't have to mount it anywhere and the size means that you can place them all around your house. Also comes in at least one more staid color. I believe it comes in some sort of grey. I am considering for my bedroom, which always needs books, but is short on floorspace.

The next item is out of Pottery Barn. It's the orange one. Just a couple of hardworking orange nesting tables to add a little something. These are great if you want a little surprising color but you're worried about committing to a huge hunk of orange or red or whatever. I don't have anywhere to put these. So I won't be getting them.








The last bit of orange is a bit of mod lighting from lightology.com Sure, I love it, but at $1,405 there's distinct possibility it ain't never coming home to momma. Ah well. Here's the little lovely: