The Dish

We all love food with a view. Downtown's cityscape is pretty impressive dozens of stories up, but in the past the highest restaurants with an aerial Downtown view were also members only propositions. Not so any more, with the opening of the Skylight Dining and Conference Center (50 N. Laura St.) on the 42nd floor of Jacksonville's tallest building (The Bank of America Tower, originally called the Barnett Tower). Word is that you can actually eat lunch there for around $10.

The Uptown Market & Deli (1303 N. Main St.) is in full swing in Springfield. You can find it in new Third & Main building, along with City Kidz Ice Cream Cafe. (Do try City Kidz crab cakes!) Uptown is the newest place for Jacksonville's Urban set to catch a deli bite or breakfast and will be open till 8 pm. If you want table service, you'll have to go from 7 am to 2 pm, after that you can order from the deli.

Shatki Life Kitchen (51 Pine St., Atlantic Beach) is a restaurant, but they've been spreading their raw-foodist vegan cheer in more places than you would expect. They sell vegan crackers at the Beaches Green Market, Native Sun Market carries their various sundries and now European Street is selling their desserts.

We hope the Village Bread opening at the Landing will survive longer than Karlene's Deli did. Since they've weathered a less than stellar locale in the past, perhaps they will.

Don't take the loss of The Fresh Market at its 10950 San Jose Blvd locale as another sign of our doomed economy. It's merely moved just down the street (on the opposite side) to 12795 San Jose Blvd. Things must be looking up, because they've actually expanded.

Barbeque sauce

Where do you buy your barbecue sauce? Have a favorite local or not, comment here!

Jacksonville is barbecue country. One only has to look at the abundance of cue joints around town to realize that. Most of the good ones stick around for what seems like forever (Lou Bonos)but others fade away (Brown Brothers).

Even though barbecue is relatively cheap people are looking to be able to cook some at home. Even if you can't fire up the grill or smoke your own cue, you should at least be able to replicate some of that barbeque goodness at home.

The secret, as they say, is in the sauce.

Locals like to pick up theirs from their favorite barbeque places, from the blues kitchen of Mojos or the down home mustard sauce of Jenkins while some go all commercial with bottles of Sticky Fingers (not my choice, but still, to each their own).

I've just discovered Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce. I like my sauces to bring more heat than sweet, but it makes for a decent base to start with, especially when you're not actually grilling. As far as I'm concerned, it's too damn hot to grill in Florida right now, but I like barbecue flavor in the summer. I end up doing some faux grilling in my kitchen by using some barbeque sauce.

Because Country Bob's is neutral enough as a sauce base that you can build on, going more spicy (with pureed peppers) or more savory (soy sauce). They do have a barbecue sauce in their brand, but I prefer to keep their All-Purpose sauce in my kitchen.

While it doesn't do as well on the grill, the sauce isn't as thick as many barbecue sauces, so it's easier to use in regular cooking. I find that it's bit too sweet for me to start with, but as it's designed to please a variety of palates, I find it to be a good commercial sauce.

As it is All-Purpose, you'll find it goes well with a lot of things and can be used as a dipping sauce or a last minute topping for burgers.

You can get Country Bob's at any nearby Wal-mart.

http://www.countrybobs.com/

Food Allergies and Preferences

More and more people are eating specialized diets, mainly because of allergies, but sometimes because of health. Gluten-free, meat-free, nut free, peanut-free and dairy-free diets are becoming more and more common.

Restaurants are changing because of this in the way they handle food. Cross contamination from nuts and peanuts is a real concern.

On Slashfood, blogger Hanna Raskin talks about the server's role in helping customers with allergies.

She also chides those with allergies for coming to a restaurant featuring the very things they are allergic to:

As a server at a seafood restaurant, it sometimes seems like every one of those unlucky eaters has sat at one of my tables. I still can't understand why someone who can't stomach wheat or fish would choose to dine at a place renowned for its lobster mac and cheese

Unfortunately those with allergies don't always have a choice as to where they dine. Eating food is a social activity. Generally, if you want to hang with a group of people, you'll end up eating with them.

I've called ahead to talk to a chef when it's a special occasion or it's a nice restaurant. Otherwise I talk to the server. With chains I try to do research.

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.

FYI for Steak Burger Enthusiasts

I really dig the steak burger at Karlene's at the Landing, but if you want to go somewhere a little more high-rent, there's Morton's. Yes, it's a steakhouse, so most people might not think to order a burger, but did you know that their steak burger was the impetus for starting the chain? No joke.

Here's the skinny on it from one of their press releases:

Morton’s Prime Sirloin Burger isn't just any hamburger — it’s what led to Morton’s creation 30 years ago. When Morton's co-founders Klaus Fritsch and Arnie Morton first worked together at the Playboy Club, Fritsch made his signature hamburger and sent it out for Arnie Morton to taste. Morton proclaimed it the best hamburger he'd ever tasted. From that day, they started the business partnership that has become Morton's The Steakhouse. Now in its 31st year, Morton’s has 81 restaurants worldwide.

Priced at just $15, the burger is served with Morton’s popular french fries. Combined with a drink from the specials list below, diners can enjoy Morton’s at a low price.

$4 Drink Options:
Sam Adam’s seasonal selection
Budweiser
Bud Light
$6 Drink Option:
The Morton’s Spritz (Prosecco, Aperol and Orange)

$5 Drink Options:
Canyon Road Chardonnay
Cavit Pinot Grigio
B.V., Coastal Cabernet
Columbia Crest Merlot
$7 Drink Options:
Vodka “Mortini” (Finlandia)
Cosmopolitan (Smirnoff)
Palm Beacher (Skyy)

Morton’s The Steakhouse is located at 1510 Riverplace Blvd. in downtown Jacksonville. Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Sundays. For information and reservations, please call 904-399-3933. You are also invited to visit www.mortons.com to make online reservations or to view the full Morton’s menu.

Cozy Tea For Me

There's a tea room in 5-Points. It's called Cozy Tea. You might have missed it if you don't hang there on a regular basis. It's all doilies and florals inside. Pretty girlie, and a perfect place to take mom on mother's day. (Despite that they get a lot of businessmen in for meetings over tea). Really the vibe there is less funky 5-Points and more Avondale--or maybe it's just a marker of how 5-Points is changing.

The pacing can be slow, which is the complaint I've heard most often from the work-a-day crowd that only has so long for lunch. They brought up that problem before I did when I was talking to them, and mentioned that they've got a better handle on it. The atmosphere and enjoyment of a tea room is not generally fast paced, so they suggest you mention you're on the clock. That way they can speed things up a bit.

But I am digressing from my main point: the food. The scones are friggin' awesome! They are crumbly but not dry, served with rich, fresh and sweetened cream, along with a lovely cherry preserve made in-house. Took me back to England, seriously.

And then there's the chicken curry pastry. Omigod. Just try it. Shika, the owner/cook/proprietor is of Indian heritage and she does some amazing things.

If you have the time to do high tea after lunch, or you have a long meeting that could be spiced up with a touch of curry over doilies and tea pots, take it to Cozy Tea.

Hip Asian Comfort Food

I'm excited about my latest cookbook acquisition. It's by local a chef named Dennis Chan from Blue Bamboo on the Southside. Not only are the recipes straight from the Blue Bamboo kitchen, but they also have some great tips. (Assign one hand wet and one hand dry when breading and how to use knuckle measurement when cooking rice.) Chan also includes a little story on each recipe, as to what inspired it, or where it came from.

You can find the cookbook on his website ($34.95) or just go to Blue Bamboo itself on Southside. You can also find it at Cork and Keg in Julington creek, Wine Warehouse in Atlantic Beach, The Book Mark in Atlantic Beach, and Hong Kong Trading Co, next to Blue Bamboo.

If you're a bit more hands on, Blue Bamboo holds cooking classes one Saturday a month. Includes lunch and a glass of wine. 10 am-noon, different theme every month.

April 18--Blue Bamboo Favorites
May 9--Hip Asian Comfort Food
June 20--Floribbean

Blue Bamboo 3820 Southside Blvd. (904) 646-1478

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.