Dish Update – April 2013

by ERIN THURSBY
A build-out proposal for an1,800 square-foot addition to the back of Burrito Gallery passed the Downtown Development Review Board last month. BG is reportedly in talks to expand in cooperation with Indochine, their upstairs neighbor.
Two Doors Down Restaurant, 436 Park Street, introduces “Dinner Bell”, a modern concept in take-home dining. Dinner Bell gives busy families the opportunity to sit down to a wholesome dinner at their own table, without turning on the stove. Freshly prepared by renowned Chef Theo Kouremetis, the menu consists of traditional family dinner favorites with a contemporary spin and a touch of gourmet.The rotating menu can be viewed two weeks in advance at Dinnerbelljax.com. Orders can be placed all day, any day via website or phone 598-0065, and can be picked up during business hours on the date chosen by the customer. Dinner Bell proudly offers Two Doors Down southern fried chicken, a local favorite, available for dinner for the first time. Dinner Bell is open Monday thru Friday 4 pm-7 pm.
Open where Pastiche used to be in Avondale (4260 Herschel Street), is Terra. It’s the brainchild of Michael Thomas, founder of former dining landmarks Sterling’s and 24 Miramar. Richard Cooper, who worked his way up to sous chef at Taverna and Pele’s Wood Fire Grill, collaborated with Michael to develop the menu, which features organic, sustainable and fine ingredients. Expect herbs hand-picked from the restaurant’s own garden, which was designed by Carmen Franz, the coordinator of UNF’s Organic Gardening. Terra will offer both lunch and dinner service Monday through Saturday. Sunday brunch service will follow in the coming weeks. Open 11 am-2 pm for lunch, 5-10 pm for dinner/. Happy Hour runs Monday – Friday 3 – 6 pm with reduced wine, beer and small plate pricing including $4 glasses of wine, and over 20 wines by the glass at half-price.
Guy Ferri, formerly of Black Sheep is now working for Matthew Medure.
Edgewood Bakery and Dreamette are teaming up for ice cream cakes! This my friend, is a match made for your mouth! Edgewood Bakery’s made from scratch Coconut cake with the Dreamette’s rich Honeymoon Ice Cream (Cherries, Coconut, and Pineapple) sandwiched in between and covered with whipped topping and shredded coconut. There are lots of variations, though, so order your ice cream cake 48 hours in advance by calling Edgewood Bakery at 389-8054.

The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach is bringing back “Farm To Table…a Cultural Experience.” This series of events is at the very end of April and beginning of May, but you’ll want to plan ahead. From April 29th – May 4th, 2013 there will be cooking classes, Celebrity Chef Dinner and Farm plus a Food & Art Market at the Cultural Center.

Cooking Classes (M-F, 4/29/13 – 5/3/13)
Cooking classes and Lunch and Learns will be offered all week, April 29th through May 3rd at The Cultural Center and will feature popular topics designed to inspire us to experience the benefits of eating and cooking with natural foods. Check back for detailed class descriptions, schedules and costs on the their website.

Farm to Table Dinner at Nocatee’s Crosswater Hall (Thursday, 5/2 6pm – 10pm)
The celebration of eating healthy with locally grown foods continues with our elegant dinner featuring cuisine based on locally grown, seasonal ingredients and prepared by local chefs from our communities best restaurants. Guests are encouraged to interact with our chefs about the preparation of the food they are about to savor. Participating restaurants include Matthews Medure, Ragtime Tavern Seafood & Grill, Augustine Grille (Sawgrass at Marriott), The Fish Company, The Floridian, Villagio Italian Grill (Renaissance/World Golf), The Alhambra Dinner Theatre and Tomo Japanese Restaurant. Individual tickets are $100/member; $125/non-member. Tickets can be bought online at www.ccpvb.org or by calling 904-280-0614 x 205. Limited Seating.

“Farm, Food & Art Market”
Saturday, 5/4 from 9am – 1pm.
At the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach.
The Farm, Food & Art Market will showcase fresh produce from local farmers, vendors selling organic and all-natural products and original art from artist-members. Farm, Food & Art Market is free to the public.
BOX BOTTOM

Apr 6 Contemporary Classic: Artisan Edition An evening of contemporary art, cuisine, cocktails and entertainment will showcase local talents and local flair – from celebrated chefs and bartenders to Jacksonville artists and entertainers. Enjoy an earlier start to the evening with a special seated dinner in the galleries created by local chefs with local ingredients. Or, celebrate with exciting cocktails and special bites prepared by some of Jacksonville’s finest purveyors of cuisine and rock star mixologists as you start your evening in style throughout MOCA’s lobby and continue the party outdoors on Laura Street. The evening also features dancing, revelry, and other interactive art experiences. Proceeds from these ticket sales support MOCA’s mission to serve the community through its exhibitions, collections, educational programs and community outreach initiatives. Tickets start at $200 for the seated dinner in the galleries and $50 for the party. To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, call Director of Development Jason Kirk at (904) 366-6911, ext. 202 or visit www.mocajacksonville.org/event/cc

Apr 15 Luncheon Celebration of Downton Abbey WJCT invites community members to attend a luncheon celebration of Downton Abbey featuring guest speaker Jessica Fellowes, author of The World of Downton Abbey and The Chronicles of Downton Abbey and niece of Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in the WJCT Studios. wjct.org/events
Apr 16 Riverside Dishcrawl Criss-cross the oak lined streets of Riverside and indulge in four local foodie hotspots in the Riverside neighborhood. Tickets are $45 and include all food at the four restaurant stops. 7pm dishcrawl.com/jacksonville

Apr 20 Rock the Bridge Gala An event to benefit the historic Florida Theatre will offer guests a memorable evening, including fabulous cocktail reception and elegant dinner atop the iconic Main Street Bridge followed by a performance by the O’Jays at the Florida Theatre.T he evening promises to be one of the city’s most unique and exciting social affairs to date. Space is limited. Tickets are $500. For information on sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets contact Angela Gieras, Director of Development, at 3555661 ext. 232 or visit http://floridatheatre.com/event/rock-bridge-gala.Tickets

Apr 25 Dining Out for Life Local restaurants will donate a percentage of their proceeds to fight the growing epidemic of AIDS on the First Coast. The 2013 Dining Out for Life (DOFL) event will benefit Northeast Florida AIDS Network (NFAN), a non-profit organization that serves the city’s more than 1,500 HIV and AIDS patients. Carmine’s Pie House (50%), Lola’s Burrito Joint (50%), Biscottis, Hamburger Mary’s Jacksonville, Joseph’s Pizza (Main St. & Atlantic Beach locations), Pizza Palace Baymeadows, Mossfire Grill, O’Brothers Irish Pub, & Espeto Brazilian Steakhouse.. For more information and a full list, visit www.diningoutforlife.com.

April 25 An Evening with Anthony Bourdain Internationally renowned chef, author, and television host, Bourdain is the chef-at-large at New York’s famed Brasserie Les Halles. For one night only, Bourdain will spend the evening sharing candid, often hysterical insights about his life’s work and travels, including an open question and answer session with the audience. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $40-$75. Artist Series, Times-Union Center, 632-3373, www.artistseriesjax.org
April 27 A Taste of St. Augustine A Taste of St. Augustine has grown to be the city’s premiere outdoor food festival. This signature food festival serves up exciting “tastes” from over 20 of St. Augustine’s famous restaurants. Restaurants will compete for the prestigious TOStA (Taste of St. Augustine) awards, with categories including Best Family Dining, Best Ethnic, Best Upscale and Best Dessert, as well as the ever popular “People’s Choice.” A live music festival all day, special children’s area and a culinary marketplace add to the fun. Don’t miss a Race to the Taste 5K – which takes place during this event (http://www.racetothetaste.org).
St. Augustine Amphitheatre on A1A South, http://epicbh.org