I'mmm baaaaaaccccckkk.....

                                                                    
Blog and eating, oh, how I've missed you! (Hugging screen).  After a long, long, long months of healthy eating and exercise, I can now have my moments of moderation (or cheating on my diet, hope he forgives me) with the food I love dearly, like everything that's bad for you, but you wish was good for you.

Beginning with tonight at Folio Weekly's Bite Club event at Bold Bean where Eric and I shall dine on gourmet sandwiches, breads, salads, beer, wine, and duh, coffee, I plan on being fully caffeinated and fully stuffed.  I'll be Tweeting live tonight and will post my review on http://fwbiteclub.com/ after the event! Happy eating!


                                                             

Organic, fair trade coffee fresh roasted and brewed at Riverside Bold Bean Coffee

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Jay Burnett, one of the owners of Riverside Bold Bean Coffee (869 Stockton Street) at Folio Weekly's last Dessert Bite Club event (check out my comments at http://fwbiteclub.com/), and was quite anxious to try their wonderful organic, fair trade coffees so before teaching my class (and needing the caffeine to stay awake for a night class), I stopped by to get a latte (soy milk please, dash of caramel syrup). Roast of the day offered was a wonderful, rich nutty Peruvian coffee so I was one happy coffee drinker that day! Moist and not-so-sweet zucchini bread was a perfect accompaniment - baked goods come from Bakery Moderne.  I will definitely be back - in the same strip as 13 Gypsies and Bakery Moderne.  Genius. Bold Bean is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to midnight on Friday; 7 a.m. to midnight on Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
More info can be found in Florida Times Union and Metrojacksonville.
  

Inside seating, not shown - board games, mags, cozy couches, too!

Roasting in house, as Jack Black would say, SO BRILL!

Peony Asian Bistro, my preview for Thanksgiving!

Last week, I had a great excuse to preview what ended up being our Thanksgiving bird (not a big turkey fan, even deep fried or Cajun injected, brined, etc, I just don't excited about that bird).  Being Asian, Peking duck was much on my family's mind for Thanksgiving instead of turkey.  Lunch with a good friend and great conversation rounded out our meal at the only place in town, Peony Asian Bistro, that serves crispy Peking duck.  Chan's northside used to serve Peking duck but stopped doing so over a year or so ago; I remember our sadness when we heard the news. Peony does a nice crispy duck, delicious to sauce up with hoisin and eat as is or put in the pancake with scallions and cucumber. Yes, that's the head, don't freak out, you don't actually eat it.

Notice how the light was shining on the sign, perhaps this was God's plan for me to eat there that day??

They were open on Thanksgiving so I can cook up every dessert and side possible then simply pick up my Peking duck later! LOVE it. Below are the warm, billowy traditional pancakes it comes with.

Domo Crepes & French macarons by Jesse Bruton = Jax is going French!

Years and years ago, my family did several European trips (very much like National Lampoon's European Vacation, except we did not have matching French berets) and one of my fave foodie trips was (can you imagine) in Paris.  The pastries, fabulous French food galore, delicate crepes filled with chocolate, fruit & apricot jam, or some other rich filling, and my first macaron.  Crispy meringue like cookie with a delicate centre of filling (usually fruit jam, but chocolate and other fillings can be joyfully found in these), perfect at a quaint French cafe with your coffee.  I ate so many pastries and cookies every chance I got, my dad cut my travel spending allowance in Parish (necessary but cruel in my opinion). 

So if you can't get to Paris, where's a foodie going to get crepes and macarons?? Domo Crepes, the Subway replacement in 5 Points, offers breakfast, lunch & dinner.  Savory or sweet crepes, paninis, flatbreads, coffees, and wine bar, all in 1 place. Nice.  Yesterday, lunch with Mitch and Cathy was in order. Entrance:

Order at table, here's the front counter pic:

Firecracker crepe, Mitch really enjoyed this.

Ordered Mediterranean Veggie Crepe, got the chicken version instead. This was quite tasty (manager discounted my meal due to mistake, thanks!).

Inside of my chicken crepe.

Cathy's crepe sans steak but with chili, Mexican-inspired lunch.

Thanks for free banana nutella crepe, delicious!

Overall, we all enjoyed our lunch; crepes were a tad chewy but flavors were right on.  Still working out kinks in the kitchen but potential is there - good crepes, attentive service, and adorable location and ambiance, too. See my comments at Folio Weekly Bite Club dessert event at http://www.fwbiteclub.com/ for Bruton's Macarons info and more!

Arabic coffee at Casbah Cafe

Last night on a spontaneous whim, Eric & I decided to do date night at Casbah Cafe, known for their hookahs, exotic beers, wines, teas, and coffees, and belly dancing on the weekends.  First time there, sad, I know, I have lived here over 10 years and have never been to this place. 

I had read their food was pretty good (many options for traditional Mediterranean items), but as we had already eaten dinner, we opted just for coffee and dessert.  Eric ordered the organic locally grown Bold Bean coffee, and I was excited to try their Arabic coffee sweetened, as I have heard how delicious it is with its spices like cardamom and aromatic fragrace (not to mention it seemed sexy as hell to me).  Dessert offerings included carrot cake, baklava, or a vanilla cake with strawberry icing. Baklava was the dessert of choice, as I thought the nutty sweetness of the dessert and flakiness of the pastry would go very well with my Arabic coffee.

Warning: Arabic coffee, if made traditionally, takes time; Eric's coffee was brought out quickly but expect a wait to enjoy properly brewed Arabic coffee.  It was worth the wait.  Served in a beautiful gold container perched on a tray with creamer and a small expresso size cup with a small handle and matching gold detail, the fragrance of the spices (could swear it was cardamom) was exotic and lovely.  On a starlit night with the cool fall-is-coming breezes and great conversation to catch up with my hubby, we sipped and sat, enjoying the simplicity of the moment.  Baklava was tender, flaky and simply delicious; and perfect with our coffees. Eric loved my drink the best, and who can blame him? It was far more complex and interesting than simply organic coffee, although we both enjoyed his coffee as well.  I am now a huge fan of Arabic coffee (or Turkish coffee, I'll be trying their Turkaccino soon). 

Chew at Eat Up Downtown: Let the Pictures Do the Talking

Sweet corn bisque

Mussels

 Crispy pork belly, stone-ground grits, lime, cilantro, house-made hot sauce



Carrots, fennel, tomatoes, nicoise olives, buttered pappardelle, braising jus



Ratatouille

New school year, Eat Up Jax, I'm ready for fall!

As my girls get ready for school, new teachers, new shoes, new everything, I sense their excitement and anticipation.  And I feel it, too.  To start off this new school year, Eric & I will be meeting his friends at Chew during Eat Up Downtown, where numerous Jax restaurants offer for a limited time $25 3 course meal options August 15-28, 2011.  Don't miss this event, foodies around town are already hitting up these restaurants and rightfully so! Now that I have FINALLY joined this century and bought an iPhone, I'll post pics on Twitter as we eat along. 

As we get uber busy this fall, it's important to remember the simple things: a sunset, hugging your kids, sharing a moment with your significant other that does not include discussing the grocery list, saying a prayer for someone in need, making a friend laugh or calling them up just to say hello.  Or how about just breathing and enjoying the moment? When was the last time you did that?

Savannah, GA is a mecca of great eats!

For Eric's birthday, I surprised him with a brief trip (too brief, that is!) to Savannah, Gawgia, with a romantic stay at Azalea Inn, thanks to a lovely Livingsocial deal that included chocolate covered strawberries, gourmet picnic basket, one night stay, amazing breakfast (grits with cheese and sausage in tomato gravy, so rich and delicious), and wine and appetizer evening social.  B&B was also located in the historic area, no need to drive around! 

We walked to our little hearts' content around the gorgeous historic area, serene and oh-so-Southern charming with old oak trees draped in Spanish moss, quaint park squares in between, breathtaking historic homes complete with working gas lamps, and a carriage ghost tour ride in the rain.  (Rain added to the spooky mood and our wet butts, yes, water CAN come in sideways while you're sitting in the back of a horse-drawn carriage).  Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was beautiful; founded by French immigrants, this church is open to the public for tours. 

Our foodie tour included Second Line (awesome buttery, tasty crawfish and roast beef po-boys, try their "debris" po-boy), Leopold's Ice Cream (can you say foodgasm?? OMG, that ice cream, try their peanut butter chippy and Tutti Frutti), Blowin' Smoke BBQ (their baby back ribs will cause loud groaning of pleasure), and Savannah Candy Kitchen (Willy Wonkaish machinery inside, free salt water taffy, and serious pecan logs). We missed our lunch reservation at Olde Pink House as we were already stuffed from picnicking in the park but we'll be back - so much food to try (B.D. Burgers, Lulu's Dessert Bar, Clarys, Rocks on the River, etc.), so little time!!

4th of July = beach, bbq, fish tacos and beer!

While the smoke subsides (glad to still have my lungs, LOUD applause for firefighters!), 4th of July is this weekend, and summer has officially arrived! We heralded the summer by inviting friends for a serious bbq dinner, complete with grilled Vietnamese pork ribs, teriyaki ribeye steaks, veggies, mac-n-cheese (I gained weight just looking at that side dish), and another Sanibel mermaid cake, Oreo cookie cake.  Crushed Oreos baked into a butter yellow cake with Oreos in the frosting, too - oh yeah, baby. Here's the recipe:

For cake:
1 box Duncan Hines butter yellow cake mix (need butter, eggs, and water for this)
1.5 - 2 cups of crushed Oreo cookies

For frosting:
2 8 oz bars of neufchatel cheese (softened to room temp)
2 cups crushed Oreo cookies
2 sticks of butter (softened to room temp)
2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tbsp pure vanilla extract (not the imitation cheap stuff please)

Prepare the butter yellow cake according to instructions - of the 2 cake buttered pans you'll use, place 1.5 or 2 cups of crushed Oreos (if you're a real Oreo cookie lover, add more Oreos) on bottom of plan.  Put batter on top of crushed Oreos; bake both cakes in 2 pans (you need 2 layers, only the top 1 layer has Oreos baked into it).  While cakes are cooling, prepare the frosting:
On low to medium setting, whip the neufchatel cheese, butter, confectioners sugar and vanilla extract until well blended.  With a spatula, mix in crushed Oreos into frosting until well incorporated.  To frost cake: place plain cake layer on bottom, invert the top layer so baked Oreo cookie side is in the middle of 2 layers.  Frost entire cake. Expect loud groans of joy.

Folio Weekly's Bite Club Event at Uptown Market & Deli May 27th

A wise priest told me I need to relax, have some wine, and take a much needed break.  Good advice, I say! So Eric and I were invited to attend Folio Weekly's Bite Club event on Friday, May 27th at Uptown Market and Deli in Springfield.  Normally, they are open for lunch and breakfast but just for Bite Club, they treated us to a wonderful buffet feast, with whaddya know?, wine pairings for $13 bucks!

(Fave Pinot Grigio that evening).

Details of the offered food can be found here. I loved the Pinot Grigio from Italy; Eric adored the Spanish tortilla bites with its bits of fresh potatoes inside and salty creaminess.  I enjoyed the shrimp gazpacho, tart, spiked with sherry vinegar and refreshing.  The evening was off to a very good start.

I wanted to try all the dinner options and was very pleased to learn we could! While the lovely crisp salad with champagne vinegariette and lovely fresh baked bread was served to all, dinner was served buffet style so you can try them all.  I got so excited with the options that I completely forgot to take pics of my plate or the buffet.  My faves? Lamb and chicken - duck was pretty delicious, too.  Heck, I loved them all, okay?

Two glasses of wine later and a heaping plate of food, I was more than content.  Chocolate chip cookies and coffee rounded out my meal (missed the macaroons but I was too busy reminiscing about my days living in Spain years ago with a fellow Spanish native foodie and talking jamon) .  Eric and I were too full and lazy to head to the Jazz Festival that night, but left the evening hoping Uptown will offer dinners soon! (Could be in the near future, they say).  My next post will be about the best damn Vietnamese I've ever had - two words: Little Saigon.  In downtown Orlando, it's lip smackin' GOOD. I need energy to do that write up, there's so much to say.

Sanibel's famous "Mermaid" orange crunch cake and Eric's BBQ

This spring has been chock full of celebration, 1) to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary by renewing our vows and 2) to celebrate our daughter's First Communion (we were so proud yet amazed how fast time flies and how our little ones are growing like weeds!).  With celebrations, thankfully, comes CAKE!! Lots of cake, and being the dessert freak I am, I was incredibly happy to eat Sanibel's famous "mermaid" cake, ie orange crunch and Oreo (a huge hit). 

Both cakes can be purchased at the Bubble Room in Captiva Island or Baileys General Store bakery in Sanibel, Florida.  I, of course, ordered both, much to the delight of our guests.  Both were moist, rich, yet delicious; we decorated the chocolate seashells ourselves with edible pearl dust.  Easy and fun.

Okay, now you know my alltime favorite drink: mojitos! Minty, fresh, limey, slightly sweet - so, so good.

Just a cool hair shot - BUT check out my yummy conch soup.  If you get a chance to go to Sanibel/Captiva Island, you must check out Doc Sanibels and try their banana leaf snapper, fried calamari, fish tacos, and even their pork chops or steak.  Other recommendations are Island Cow and the Holy Smokes BBQ, both also in the area.  I loved the orange crunch cake so much, I baked it myself for Bella's First Communion:

Not bad, although it was more lemony than orangey flavor.  The 4 sticks of butter probably made it taste really good - and the cream cheese frosting.  I'll be exercising all week burning this cake off, but it was worth it!  Forgot to mention Eric's BBQ pork ribs, marinated in a concoction of plum sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, honey, and a load of minced garlic and ginger, grilled to perfection. I get hungry just thinking about it.

New Disney AMC Theatre opening May 16th with real food!

I am not big on popcorn and soda during a movie when I am hungry for a meal, know what I mean?? 
Disney now offers movies, the quintessential Disney way.

Located in Downtown Disney Orlando, this new experience offers in-theatre dining starting on May 16, 2011. This 24-screen cineplex gives food top billing with great menu choices in six of their auditoriums. The menu will include quesadillas, burgers, flatbread pizzas, grilled sandwiches, specialties, and tempting appetizers and desserts (see a sample menu here). You can even order beer or wine.  (Great for date night!)

Guests will watch feature films while savoring cuisine and cocktails! AMC Dine-In Theatres offer this meal with your movie option along with a convenient bar and lounge, MacGuffins, for gatherings before or after the flick. When you opt for the Dine-In experience, you’ll enjoy casual, table top dining with reserved seats. Best of all, you won’t miss a minute of the on-screen action with personalized service brought to your seat and a call button to quietly signal your server.  Let's go the movies!

Patio at Pastiche and fresh seafood from Captiva Island

Before we left for Sanibel/Captiva Island for a much-needed and overdue family vacation, mom, Cathy and I ate at the new renovated The Patio at Pastiche.  Cucumber soup was delicious, cool yet full of flavor (sampled mom's appetizer); I had the rock shrimp that my littlest one, the pickiest eater, gobbled up.  Crisp yet right amount of rock salt and slight sweetness for balance - I am actually craving it right now.

I also ordered a salad (inadvertently with the same rock shrimp on top but I did NOT mind as I barely got some from my appetizer) - again, a winner, no complaints at all, dressing, cannot recall what it was, was light and delicious.  Their new website is not up yet with their new menu, but I highly recommend you going by there, lunch or dinner, or stop by for a quick meal take out as they also sell items market style (easy to go containers), specialty beverages, and desserts (a new and lovely trend, it seems). 

As for fresh seafood, it does not get any better than catching fresh saltwater fish (grouper), roasting it in the oven with sea salt, pepper, and some butter and eating with your fingers with toes in the soft sand, your loved ones right next to you sharing a meal with you. as you watch the gorgeous sunset (a daily vacation ritual).  Spending a week in Captiva Island just relaxing, swimming, fishing, and being with family and friends was absolute heaven - take time to cook a simple meal and share it with loved ones, life is too short to do otherwise! 

Twinn Bridges, Slow Food Movement, funny chickens, and Chef Gray





Chef Tom Gray and Assistant Chef getting lunch ready!

Sunday is a day of rest.  Or a day to run with chickens, tour a wonderful earth-friendly farm, buy awesome produce (still sad I was too late for those lovely colorful carrots), picnic with my girls and one grandma, and eat a wonderful farm fresh lunch.  Although it was quite hot, we had a lovely time, chatted with Chef Gray about supporting local farmers and the importance of buying local and using the best, fresh ingredients as possible, and got to see about 250 chickens run amuck, happy and well fed (the way it should be).

With chickens running free range, eating the restaurant leftovers and farm scraps and bugs (easy natural pest control), eggs are rich in yellow color in the yolk and so flavorful.  My egg salad sandwich, salad, homemade chips, and chocolate chip cookie was a great introduction to the farm as we arrived early to do the 1:30 pm tour.  Farm owner Scott Francis also shared with us that Chef Kenny Gilbert will buy fromTwinn Bridges for his new restaurant, Nippers Beach and Grille, set to open right before Memorial Day in Jacksonville Beach.

During the tour, we viewed the transitional crops from spring to summer, learned how Twinn Bridges uses biodiesel fuel (even demonstrated how clean the tractor runs) converted from spent restaurant vegetable oil, how natural pest control methods are employed (love the windshield wiper scarecrow, wonder how to make one to keep my kids in their beds at night), how seedlings are handled to transfer to the crops, walked through the greenhouses (tried to eat the chard right out of the raised bed), and overall, got incredible insight of how much backbreaking hard work and dedication it takes to run this farm.  But oh, the produce it offers: 

Chef Gray provided sample produce during his talk, and I love that my youngest finally ate her sugar snap peas raw and very happily! With fresh, sweet and delicious  produce like this, who can resist? And I love, love, love that we are not consuming typical pesticide chemicals. 

After the talk, we sat on our picnic blanket, resting in the shade, and soaking in the environment.  Girls wanted to take some chickens home, but I had to break it to them that taking them home was not part of the tour.  I went crazy at the farmstand and bought rainbow chard (cut fresh for me, thanks to those lovely ladies!), Russian kale (see pic below after I steamed it for dinner that night), sugar snap peas (devoured by the kiddos at home), soaps made from recycled oils, strawberry cake, and carrot cake.  Luckily, Twinn Bridges sells their lovely produce at Neptune Beach farmers market Saturdays from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.  A bit of a hike for me but who cares? It's almost summer and it gives us an excuse to hit the beach more often! Here's what my steamed kale looked like, dressed simply in good quality extra virgin olive oil, sea salt & freshly ground black pepper:

Check out this article from Florida Times Union for a detailed article about Chef Gray and Bistro Aix's commitment to buying local, from farms like Twinn Bridges.  Kudos to Scott and Denise Francis (and all the Slow Food farm tour participants and volunteers) and Chef Gray and his staff for sharing their passions! Buy local, buy fresh, folks!



Chef Tom Gray's Menu for this Sunday's Farm Tour!

The entire family plans on touring Twinn Bridges Farm this Sunday, April 10th, part of many Slow Food First Coast farm tours, kids in tow, coolers, burning desire to learn more about growing fresh, local produce and chickens, and a hefty appetite.  But the burning question on my mind is what's for lunch??  Here's the lowdown from Sarah Marie Johnston, marketing director, of Bistro X, one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Jax.
"We will be offering lunch all day (from 1pm - 5pm), either to enjoy at the farm's picnic tables, or boxed to-go. Please pay via cash the day-of. If you know which lunch you are interested in, please let me know, otherwise you can decide the day-of.

OPTION 1: $11

Egg Salad Sandwich on Rosemary Bread with Twinn Bridges Farm Eggs & Greens
Chopped Farm Salad featuring Twinn Bridges lettuce, cucumbers, tomato, spring onion, carrots, radishes, basil & red wine vinaigrette
Bistro AIX Crispy Chips
Fresh-baked Bistro AIX Chocolate Chip Cookie

OPTION 2: $13

Chicken Salad featuring Black Hog Farm Pulled Roasted Chicken over Farm Fresh Lettuce & Creme Fraiche Dressing
Chopped Farm Salad featuring Twinn Bridges lettuce, cucumbers, tomato, spring onion, carrots, radishes, basil and red wine vinaigrette
Bistro AIX Crispy Chips
Fresh-baked Bistro AIX Chocolate Chip Cookie

Assorted Beverages available for sale"

Decisions, decisions......

Alhambra Theatre's food is much improved but don't expect Matthew's restaurant food

I was fortunate to be able to spend time with great friends a few weekends ago to watch Hairspray and finally eat the buffet food that used to have a sad reputation of being almost inedible.  I can safely say that not only was the show fantastic (what a great, young, energetic cast!), but the food has been MUCH improved since Chef Matthew Madure revamped the menu and the food preparation.  Renovations also improved overall appearance (although carpet is still worn). 

Menu changes with each new show (a nice change as former patrons complained that the menu rarely changed in years past) so I was able to try the eggplant rotini, Italian breaded chicken, penne with marinara sauce, green beans with tarragon butter, and carved roast beef with au jus (I usually soak it completely).  While green beans out of a can does nothing to impress me, the eggplant rotini was quite tasty, with the right amount of cheesy goodness, and my roast beef was tender and flavorful.  Penne was average, but the chocolate mousse was light and airy, yet full of chocolate flavor.  I loved their cocktail (name escapes me) that tasted like a lovely melted cherry lollipop but did not scream sugar.  No room for the cinnamon raisin bread pudding, but my friends enjoyed it thoroughly.  Should have grabbed some.

I was not able to make it to Caps on the Water; instead, we went to Blue Crab Crabhouse in Mandarin.  My full review of that restaurant including pics can be found here.  With summer fast approaching, I'll be sure to try as many outdoor seafood dives and beach haunts as much as possible! All in the name of eating and writing about food. 

Hairspray at Alhambra Theatre but how is the food?? Caps on the Water FINALLY!

With Matthew Madure revamping the food and menu at Alhambra (which historically has been known for its rubbery tasteless food and clunky sides but good shows), I look forward to trying out the caesar salad with dried tomatoes and croutons, new york strip steak with and rosemary roasted Italian breaded chicken, green beans with tarragon butter (my choice, 2 other choices include eggplant rotini or mushroom pasta with mozzarella), and chocolate mousse (or cinnamon raisin bread pudding, or can you choose both?).

Menus change with each show, and Hairspray runs until April 3, 2011 with matinee and dinner shows available.  Tickets run from $42 - $49, but your entire 3 course meal and a show is included.  What a deal for a Saturday night with friends!

For date with my hubby, Caps on the Water in St. Augustine beckons us. 

Read oyster rockefeller is worth a shot, fried shrimp, and the lovely beach view - with perfect balmy Florida weather, who can resist this? Cannot believe I've lived here 10 years and never tried Caps once - until this weekend.  Get outside people! And support local business if you can. 

German chocolate cake at Edgewood Bakery

I'm officially addicted.  I've written about Edgewood Bakery at examiner.com and urbanspoon.com (Three Layers in Springfield is also a cake favorite of mine), but man, I cannot get enough of their German chocolate cake.  Happily, I had an occasion to order one for my mother in law's birthday last week and happened to finish the entire damn thing, save a few slices that actually made it into the birthday person's mouth.  When the last slice was gone, I was quite sad and despondent.

Must find another occasion to order a 2nd one.....oh wait, my birthday!! (Eric, call Edgewood, stat). 2 layers this time, please.  I promise to eat salad only in the month of April. 

You have a favorite addictive food you can't get enough of? Email it to me! I'll post the results (with no names).

Save your show!!

The House will vote today on a bill that would bar federal funding for public broadcasting, such as National Public Radio, PBS shows like Sesame Street, NOVA, etc.

I am heavily reliant on news from NPR, PBS nightly news, and wonderful programs for my kids, science, documentaries about American life and history, various other educational programs and so on - all publicly funded and are now "under the knife". Please, I urge you to go to http://170millionamericans.net/ and urge your elected officials to vote NO on the budget cuts - to reach your specific elected reps, go to http://www.capwiz.com/170ma/home/.

We are already facing unprecedented budget cuts for public schools in the state of Florida; please do not let Congress public broadcasting as well. Education for our families and getting first rate global news is too crucial to lose! Thanks for your time and feel free to forward this to as many people as you like.
Sincerely, Maria

Augustine Grille spoils Folio Weekly's BiteClub with fresh, farm to table quality dishes and drinks galore!



Sawgrass Sunset

Tuesday night, I had the extreme pleasure to get spoiled rotten at Folio Weekly's BiteClub event, hosted by Caron Streibech, at Augustine Grille located inside Marriott Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. I was a BiteClub virgin, so going alone (Eric had to work late sadly), I didn't know what to expect except I was happy to see my good foodie friend, Mike Mina, already downing a Motorbike and encouraging me to try the ladies "Sawgrass Sunset" (drink descriptions at BiteClub blog, link above).  I was also skeptical about dining in a hotel, as most resorts tend to serve mostly wedding chicken type fare.  I was about to be seriously checked on this thought.

Appetizers were gloriously circulated (did I mention I was famished?), so I started a love affair with the tuna tartare goodies with balsamic glaze on a crispy cracker below that after who knows how many, some ended up on my shirt:

Followed by these lovely aged beef potstickers: 

While noshing and waiting, lobster bisque shooters came round, with surprise, lovely tender bits of lobster at the bottom (sorry, no pic here).  Chef Brett Smith warmly greeted all of us, a CIA graduate, and was very passionate about their use of farm fresh ingredients from local and out of state farmers and vendors.  Fully tantalized, we were seated inside the tasteful, dark wood interior of the Grille.

 

Some of the farmers and vendors spoke about supporting local farmers, and to hear their passion and sense of hard, back breaking work, it was inspiring.  We started with pork belly, red pea, andouille, and greens, tender, perfectly seasoned cooked deliciousness with andouille flavored red peas.  My favorite (besides the chocolate crunch later) for the night, hands down.  Reminding me a little of Filipino lechon, it was an elevated crispy and soft pork experience.

We moved on to the next course, and the picture below does not do the beautiful red, sweet beets justice.  The truffled goat cheese was a creamy sensational treat and together with the peppery, bitter arugula (not my fave salad greens), it was a wonderful combination.

Next up was the Mayport shrimp, grits cake, greens and tasso gravy.  While the shrimp was huge and cooked well, the spice and saltiness overwhelmed the dish a bit, but combined with the lovely cucumber herbed spirit drink, it went very well together.

At last, the beef course: house dry aged prime natural strip loin, gnocchi, and brussels sprouts.  I love beef, but for steak, I'm a lover of ribeye and often, restaurants can easily screw a good piece of steak (medium rare, please, and don't forget to season the damn thing).  The steak was a little more on the medium than medium rare side, but aging the beef did so much to add flavor and depth, and the seasoning was spot on.  The gnocchi was a nice, buttery rich accompaniment (this is a whole new take on steak and potatoes, men), and the brussels sprouts helped me not feel so guilty about this meaty indulgence.  Lovely. The merlot with this dish was a perfect marriage.  (Eric, sorry hon, you missed a great beef dish, you would have cried over the pork belly).

Now, the finale, sweets: chocolate crunch, pot de creme, and truffles, can I get a hallelujah? The hazelnut encrusted truffle and milk chocolate truffle were only the beginning; the pot de creme was creamy and dreamy but not overly sweet, and the chocolate crunch (on the right below) was the grand slam.  I'm still thinking about that dessert, and thanks to the lovely lady who had no room in her belly so that she gave hers to Mike Mina and I to split.  Clearly, one chocolate crunch was not enough for our ravenous sweet tooths.

Oh, did I mention that a lovely almond port was served with the desserts as well as this lovely chocolate mini martini glass concoction?  At the end of a fabulous meal that resulted in standing ovation and applause for the entire kitchen staff, I had to roll out to my car, like the blueberry girl in Willy Wonka, a content, smug smile on my face.  God bless BiteClub and Augustine Grille.