Fancy & historical eating comes to GR8RJax™

September 24, 2013

Greater Jacksonville Foodie Red Alert: Flavors of Florida’s Historic Coast starts Tues.., Oct. 1 in St. Augustine.

All next month, gentle readers, 22 restaurants in St. Augustine and the Beaches are offering lunch and dinner with prix fixe (pronounced “prefix”) menus – three-course meals for one money.

Welcome to Flavors of Florida’s Historic Coast month – brought to you by the St. Augustine, Ponte Verda and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Most meals will run you about $30 per plate, less bar tab, tax and tip.

Here’s the skinny

On offer at each restaurant is your choice of a starter, an entrée and a dessert for one money.

That’s right! An appetizer, an entrée and a dessert for one price.

Historic flavors

There’s a little something for everyone in Florida cuisine.

Even people who are allergic to seafood can eat well on native Florida ingredients.

Think about it – for way longer than 500 years the Indians and the Spanish and the Irish (Spanish governors) and the Portuguese and the French, the Dutch and the English have had access to our fresh seafood, locally produced beef and pork, Zellwood-quality vegetables, and, of course, the citrus fruit the Spanish claimed to bring from the Olde World.

When Africans and Asians finally made it to Florida, they added their flavors, and the result is what you find in Florida eateries grand and humble.

Flavors of the Historic Coast Top-Chef Cook-Off – A benefit for Home Again St. Johns

Have foodie fun and good a really good thing at the same time.

On Thurs., Oct. 10 from 6-9 p.m. the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort hosts the Flavors of Florida’s Historic Coast Top-Chef Cook-Off.

Featuring celebrity chefs as competitors, the Cook-Off is a benefit for Home Again St. Johns, a clearinghouse agency dedicated to coordinating service providers, government, individuals, community and faith-based organizations to end homelessness in St. Johns county.

Dishes are prepared Iron-Chef™ style and judged by local celebrities.

Tickets are $30 per person and include five tastings.

So, GJE, where can I eat historically & fancily?

Here’s a list of participating restaurants and their menus for next month.

Most require reservations.

Drink water. Ask for lemon wedges.

AMICI ITALIAN RESTAURANT – 1915 A1A South | St. Augustine Beach, Fla. | 32080 | 904-461-0102 | www.amicistaugustine.com

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $23

Starter:

Soup
Garden Salad with Your Choice of Dressing
Clams Arreganata

Entrée:

Veal Saltimbocca – Veal sautéed with sage, onions and butter, then topped with prosciutto ham and mozzarella cheese on a bed of spinach served with a choice of pasta or vegetable, or potato
Capellini Lobster Provenciale – Lobster meat sautéed with mushrooms and tomatoes in a light cream sauce served over angel hair pasta
Grouper Francese – Fresh fillet of grouper dipped in a light egg batter, then sautéed in a lemon, butter and wine sauce served with a choice of pasta or vegetable, or potato

Dessert:

Tiramisu
Spumoni
Cannoli

Aunt Kate’s – 612 Euclid Ave. | St. Augustine, Fla.| 32084 | 904-829-1105 | aunt-kates.com

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $25

Starter:

Coconut Shrimp – lightly hand breaded in coconut breadcrumbs served with creamy orange marmalade

Entrée:

Shrimp and Grits – shrimp sautéed with bacon and country gravy over cheddar cheese grits

Dessert:

Key Lime Pie

AVILÉS RESTAURANT – 32 Avenida Menendez | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-829-2277 | www.hiltonhistoricstaugustine.com

Prix Fixe Lunch Menu – $20

Starter:

Aviles House Salad
Crispy Crab Cakes
Pulled Pork Empanada

Entrée:

Cuban Sandwich
Polenta Del Mar of the Day
Fresh Catch Sandwich

Dessert:

Tiramisu
Citron Cheesecake
Rustic Apple Tart

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $30

Starter:

Aperitivo Manchego
Spanish Caesar Salad
Shrimp & Chorizo

Entrée:

Lamb Shank Mostaza
Pork Chop Manzana
Fresh Catch of the Day

Dessert

Chocolate Torte
Bread Pudding
Classic Crème Brûlée

BISTRO DE LEON – 12 Cathedral Place | St. Augustine, Fla. 32084 | 904-810-2100 | www.bistrodeleon.com

Prix Fixe Lunch Menu – $19.95

Starter:

Chef's Appetizer of the Day
Original Lyon’s Onion Soup – baked with caramelized croutons and Swiss cheese

Entrée:

Entrée of the Day
Croque Monsieur – ham, bechamel, cheese, broiled in oven, and salad

Dessert:

Dessert of the Day

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $24.95, complimentary glass of house wine with dinner – paired to suite entrée du jour

Starter:

Chef’s Appetizer of the day
Terrine du Jour – Example: Poultry and Tarragone Terrine – candied onion marmalade with side salad

Entrée:

Chef’s Entrée du jour

Dessert:

Dessert of the Day

BLACKFLY – THE RESTAURANT – 108 Anastasia Blvd. | St. Augustine Beach, Fla. | 32080 | 904-201-6300 | www.BlackFlyTheRestaurant.com

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $32

Starter:

Strawberry Coconut Salad
Tomato Datil Bisque
Spicy Shrimp with Grilled Foccacia

Entrée:

Fresh Catch – parmesan risotto, sautéed green beans, tomato bacon butter
Flat Iron Steak – mashed potatoes, vegetable of the day, blackfly steak sauce
Lobster Mac & Cheese – caramelized onions, black truffle, white cheddar sauce

Dessert:

Coconut Brownie – coconut sauce, coconut crusted ice cream
Mango Sorbet – pistachios, coconut sauce
Banana Rangoons – cinnamon caramel ice cream, rum caramel sauce

BULL & CROWN PUBLIK HOUSE – 53 St. George Street | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-342-2869 | www.ColonialQuarter.com/Dine/Bull-and-Crown-Publick-House

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $17

Starter:

Six succulent chicken wings

Soup:

Minorcan Clam Chowder – seasoned with datil pepper

Entrée:

Tender Roast Beef Sandwich – with Stilton bleu cheese on a pretzel bun

CAFE ATLANTICO – 647 A1A Beach Blvd. | St. Augustine Beach, Florida | 32080 | 904-471-7332 | www.cafeatlantico.net

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $28

Starter:

Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio – with basil oil and parmesan
Open Face Ravioli – filled with garlic shrimp & seasonal vegetables
House Garden Salad – with arugula emulsion

Entrée:

Potato gnocchi – in a creamy saffron sauce, with broccoli, mushrooms, shrimp & scallops
Eggplant Parmesan – served with pasta of the day & roasted vegetables
Local Farm raised Chicken Breast – balsamic marinated and grilled, paired with a caper cream sherry sauce & potato gateau

Dessert:

Tiramisu
Warm Dark Chocolate Tart

CAPS ON THE WATER – 4325 Myrtle St. (North Beach) | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-824-8794 | CapsOnTheWater.com

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – no price listed at press time

Starter:

Greek Baked Scallops – Fresh scallops baked in tarragon sauce with cheese, panko, green onions, feta and olives with toast points
Butternut Squash Soup – cup of yellow curried roasted butternut squash soup with ginger custard and a parmesan stick

Entrée:

Key Lime Shrimp – herb-marinated, grilled Mayport shrimp served with wild rice with pineapple salsa and a key lime beurre blanc

Mussels Provencale – mussels in broth made with butter, white wine, carrots, celery and onion. Served with rustic bread slices

Dessert:

Lemon & Lime Trio – three small bites: a key lime pie made with shortbread macadamia crust, frosted key lime cake, and a limoncello mascarpone goat cheese pie
Goat Cheese Cake with Strawberries – made with goat cheese on shortbread macadamia crust with ginger and lime marinated fresh strawberries

HOT SHOT BAKERY & CAFÉ – 8 Granada St. | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-824-7898 | www.HotShotBakery.com

Prix Fixe Lunch Menu – $12.95

Starter:

The Daily Soup – fresh homemade soups

Entrée:

Hubba Panin – sliced turkey, cream cheese, provolone, sliced apples and Dat’l B Good citrus jam grilled on chibatta roll
The Bufis Wrap – house-made chorizo, roasted potatoes, sliced tomato, scrambled egg, sautéed green pepper and onion with Dat’l B Good citrus jam on a wrap of your choice

Dessert:

House Baked Pastry of the Day

JAYBIRD'S RESTAURANT – 2600 N. Ponce de León Blvd. | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-217-0049 | www.JayBirdsRestaurant.com

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $19.95

Starter:

Soup of the Day – chef’s choice
Garden Salad

Entrée:

Meat Lasagna

Dessert:

Créme Brulee

OLD CITY HOUSE INN & RESTAURANT – 115 Cordova St. | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-826-0113 | OldCityHouse.com/Restaurant

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $39

Starter:

St. Augustine Datil Pepper Crab Bisque

Entrée:

Florida’s Coast Flounder – potato crusted flounder over yucca cake, caramelized Belgian endives, pea purée, lemon grass dill sauce

Dessert:

Old City House Gourmet Citrus Chocolate Truffles
Carpatian Mountain

RAINTREE RESTAURANT – 102 San Marco Avenue | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-824-7211 | raintreerestaurant.com

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $30

Starter:

Lobster & Red Pepper Bisque
Traditional Caesar Salad
Raintree Salad – with gorgonzola & balsamic Vinaigrette

Entrée:

Grilled Salmon – topped with tomato tapenade
Filet Mignon Tips – in a Marsala wine sauce
Chicken Breast Zingara – with pesto, port wine & provolone

Dessert:

Key Lime Pie
Crème Brulée
Bread Pudding

RESTAURANT MEDURE – 18 A1A N. | Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. | 32082 | 904-543-3797 | RestaurantMedure.us

No menu available at press time.

RHETT'S PIANO BAR & BRASSERIE – 66 Hypolita Street | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-825-0502 | rhetts.com

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $39

Starter:

Goat Cheese Crouton – toasted multi-grain crouton layered with fresh goat cheese purée sautéed with wild mushrooms and finished with Madeira crème sauce

Entrée:

Red Wine Beef Short Ribs – slow cooked and served over a bed of creamy butternut squash risotto complemented with a mushroom demi-glace
Panko Crusted Chicken Breast – free range boneless chicken topped with a roasted garlic and mushroom crème sauce

Dessert:

Jameson Banana Bread Pudding – warm banana raisin bread pudding with hints of aged Jameson Irish Whisky and caramel topped vanilla ice cream

SCARLETT O'HARA'S BAR & RESTAURANT – 70 Hypolita St. | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-824-6535 | www.scarlettoharas.net

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $21.95

Starter:

Scarlett’s Famous Tabasco Onion Rings – hand-dipped onion rings
Buffalo Chicken Dip – house made cool and creamy dip served with tortilla chips

Entrée:

· Hickory Smoked BBQ Pork Sandwich – pit smoked hickory BBQ served with coleslaw and choice of french fries, jalapeno cheese grits or vegetable medley

Dessert:

Double Chocolate Cake – a delectable chocolate cake that speaks for itself

SOUTH BEACH GRILL – 45 Cubbege Rd. (on the beach) | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32080 | 904-471-8700 | www.southbeachgrill.net

Prix Fixe Lunch Menu – $14.99

Starter:

Cup of Minorcan Conch Chowder
Cup of Blue Crab Chowder
House Salad

Entrée:

South Beach Pasta – add chicken or shrimp for just $2 more
Fish or Chicken Tacos
6-Piece Fried Shrimp Platter
Breaker Salad – add chicken or shrimp for just $2 more

Dessert:

Keylime Pie
Turtle Cheesecake

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $19.99

Starter:

Cup of Minorcan Conch Chowder
Cup of Blue Crab Chowder
House Salad

Entrée:

Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
White Seafood Burrito
Pulled Pork Platter
8 Piece Fried Shrimp Platter

Dessert:

Keylime Pie
Turtle Cheesecake
Milky Way Cake

THE REEF – 4100 Coastal Highway | St. Augustine, Fla. | 32084 | 904-824-8008 | www.thereefstaugustine.com

No menu available at press time.

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $28

Starter:

Gazpacho con pizcos – cold tomato soup with garnishes of chopped boiled egg, scallion, sweet pepper and cubes of bread toasted in olive oil
Ensalada Mixta – chopped romaine hearts with artichokes, sliced red onion, Spanish olives, roasted peppers, and whole grain mustard vinaigrette
Spanish Ceasar – romaine hearts with crispy Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, and creamy Caesar dressing

Entrée:

Guava Glazed Grilled Pork Tenderloin – with yucca fries
Crab Stuffed Shrimp – with grilled asparagus and red pepper coulis
Arroz de Monte – rice dish that has texture of paella, loaded with chicken, pork, mushrooms, asparagus and white beans cooked perfectly and tender

Dessert

Tres Leches – with house made caramel
Mixed Berry Tartini – with vanilla whipped cream

VERNON'S – Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort | 1000 PGA Tour Blvd. | Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. | 32082 | 904-940-8623

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – No price listed at press time.

Starter:

Kettle – chef’s daily selection from the chowder bar

Entrée:

Harvest Catch – blackened, fried or pan searedrice pilau, broccolini, citrus beurre blanc
Datil Pepper Jerk Chicken – rice pilau, broccolini, Georgia peach chutney

Dessert

Deep Dish Key Lime Pie
Sea Salt Pretzel Crust
Italian Meringue

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu – $35

Starter:

Mushroom Cavatelli – homemade cavatelli, kale, cippolini onions, ricotta salata, mushroom brodo
ried Smoke Mozzarella – charred squash, zucchini, arugula, pickled shallots, tomato couli

Salad:

Asparagus Salad – prosciutto, frisse, pancetta, shaved almonds, parmesan vinaigrette
Caesar Salad – artisan romaine heart, sourdough crouton, parmesan crisp

Entrée:

Local Fish – potato gnocchi, kale, orange emulsion, pickled fennel
Chicken Saltimbocca – smashed potato, roasted pollo jus, broccolini

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OFFICIAL BIO: K Truitt is a second-generation, native Floridian born in Jacksonville. Truitt worked in public higher education for 25 years and knows newspaper publishing, printing and graphic design. Contact: kt.4examiner@yahoo.com