More Than Soul...

The Chefs of The Potter's House Soul Food Bistro were eager to show off their culinary prowess at a blogger event this past Wednesday. Their scope goes farther than the soul food they're known for, and they excel at doing catered events. Most often they're asked to do soul, of course, but they love doing the fancier events. Executive Chef Celestia Mobley says she learned “how to cook” from her Grandmother and she learned “the whys in culinary school.” There and during her career, she's picked up different styles of cooking from French cuisine and beyond.

Assistant Manager Chef Ardelia “Ardy” Speed-Johnson cooks up healthy versions of soul food. I know, healthy and soul food seem to be mutually exclusive, but Chef Ardy proves that isn't so. For the event she did something that was a little more swanky than soul, the better to show off her range. She did a turkey ricotta meatball, no breadcrumbs, on a cooked kale bed with chipotle plum sauce. Garlic lead prominently, but it didn't overwhelm the other flavors, instead it seemed to frolic a bit with ricotta and the plum sauce, standing up well to the light bitters of the kale. With a pretty plating, this dish wouldn't be out of place at a fine dining catered event. If you're a bride to be, I'd say you need to be booking Soul Food Bistro for your wedding, now!

Chef Greg Fountain, who brings the flavor of the Caribbean to Potter's simply cooked up shrimp and rice seasoned with a lively yellow turmeric and an endearing little sprig of dill. It was another classy dish that looked as good as it tasted. And it looked like spring and sunshine.

We asked for dessert Chef Valerie Harris (known as Miss Val) to come out after a taste of what she could do, just so we could tell her, in person, how delightful all her selections were. My favorite of the bunch was the coconut cream pie, which for me, was life-alteringly good (your mileage may vary, of course).

I have no idea why Potter's hasn't been on Diners Drive-ins and Dives. Seriously, Guy Guy Fieri needs to make a trip back to Jacksonville to hit this place up, the mac and cheese alone would make it worthwhile. They have garnered some recognition on a more national basis recently, getting nominated just this year for Best Soul Food at the Neighborhood Awards (hosted and put on by Steve Harvey).

 Locations: 5310 Lenox Avenue suite 1, Jacksonville, FL 32205, 904.394.0860 + 11876 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32225, 904.394.2801 See website for full hours. Closed Mondays.