What is Jacksonville's signature dish?

[rjp2008]

The judge would be the bottom line - which one lights up the $$ register the most.

It's more art than competition - often these amazingly known dishes get created when someone "just throws an extra this or that in the mix" and gives it a name.

Look at wings - they were scrap parts of chicken soup before getting fried and 'tized in hot sauce and served as a side meal with cool sauce.

[Liz Van Hooser]

Unfortunately, I can't take any credit for the signature dish story as it was proposed by our online department in July. The story that ran yesterday (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090408/lif_326705455.shtml) is a small part of an online series we're doing this football season looking at the cuisine of opposing teams.

Please send along ideas for the city's dish to dish@jacksonville.com, and keep the debate going here.

Our original plan was to narrow down the suggestions and do an online poll, although I like RJP2008's idea of doing a chef cook off.


Cheers,
Liz Van Hooser
food writer, Florida Times-Union
liz.vanhooser@jacksonville.com

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Be sure to let me know if any of this Chef Cookoff stuff comes to fruition.  Id be more than happy to help, participate, photograph, judge, watch, whatever.....

Im all about it!

[David]

Inspired by this thread, the JaxByDefault household went out to try JAX's proposed "signature dish," the LUBI.

I found the sandwiches bland, greasy, and terrible -- a stale, unspiced, salty hamburger-helper-on-bun. The cherry-limeade was too sweet to drink. Even if the food hadn't made me (and spouse) literally sick, I'd still vote "no" on the Lubi on (the lack of) taste alone.

I'd vote for JAX/S.Georgia-style BBQ over the Lubi and anyone who knows me likely knows my views on yellow BBQ sauce and chopped pork.   It may not be real BBQ, but it is tasty. [Insert further light-hearted red sauce favoritism here.]

Shame no one has created a signature dish for this town that features Mayport shrimp.

Edited 09/04/08 to add: The TU has picked up this discussion.

Do you like greasy food in general? The original lubi has a pretty good/unique flavor I thought. However, I have tried other variations and haven't been a fan. But seriously, it doesn't take much to make something stand out, look at the Philly Cheesesteak!

The problem with other plates, such as bbq and seafood is a lot of it isn't unique to Jacksonville, so that's what we're trying to figure out here. Alot of the well known city signature foods ARE greasy goodness and not so much a dish. Wings, pizza and dogs, but it would be nice to have a real dish to claim the hometown title. The hard part is getting everyone to agree on what "signature" is. I'm in Seattle currently and I've heard similiar debates when asking the locals to name a local distinct cuisine that doesn't involve coffee.

[Ocklawaha]

Sorry it just doesn't cut it without fresh fried Mayport shrimp and oysters. Another thought no one has hit on is the local BLUE CRAB which is fantastic, (unless he's hanging onto your toe at the USN hospital at NAS Jax).

Singletons at Mayport or the little restaurant on St. George St. East side, about a block from the North gates of St. Augustine. Oh, my such seafood.

Back in the day, My personal recomendation (and those who know me will probably agree) is about 5-6 tender fried oysters, and a double straight whiskey, followed by oyster, double, oyster, double, double, oyster, double, double, double, oyster, double dolp'dbl. dubbll. oooostr, sddo
U9UGWEOTY399DRF CS

Of course I don't do that anymore... just skip the oysters! LOL

OCKLAWAHA "hick"

[JaxByDefault]

Do you like greasy food in general? The original lubi has a pretty good/unique flavor I thought. However, I have tried other variations and haven't been a fan. But seriously, it doesn't take much to make something stand out, look at the Philly Cheesesteak!

I'm a fan of well-executed food of all sorts. There are some greasy foods that are works of food art. A good Philly cheesesteak can be sublime and I love chicken-fried anything.

I agree that many of the best signature dishes are unfussy and simple in concept.

[JOHANNA747]

Anything that is cool and clean-like a really great pasta salad with the works. Oh yeah and create your Jax'ville own pasta dressing.
deb of jacksonville

[BigHache]

I'm rather fond of Seven Bridges. Not a beer drinker, but I do like many items on their menu (especially their homemade root beer). Though for the life of me, I can't figure out how their cole slaw never tastes good.

[David]

I'm rather fond of Seven Bridges. Not a beer drinker, but I do like many items on their menu (especially their homemade root beer). Though for the life of me, I can't figure out how their cole slaw never tastes good.

Seven Bridges has been a staple in my dining/night life for as long as I’ve been of age. I can't say it's an experience you could  only find in Jax, but if you're in town, especially on the Southside it's worth a stop by. It's been great for me and my friends because we had the same bartenders for nearly 7 years and the restaurant itself has all these great historic pictures of downtown Jacksonville ranging from construction of the first Acosta Bridge from the 1920's to the Modis tower being built in the 1970's.

As for the food, my favs are the pepperjack nachos, southwestern eggrolls, seared tuna, the bbq chicken pizza, hazelnut crusted chicken, smokey mountain pasta w/chicken and....alright, I’ll stop there!

The microbrewed beers are pretty good as well. I usually sip the southern flyer, southside pilsner & brown ale but they're all pretty tasty.....they're not paying me I swear! I've just spent almost every Thursday night there since they first opened , that's all.

[ProjectMaximus]

Well, there's no reason something in Jax can't get on the show. They feature interesting little places in a lot of random small towns.

I agree, the Lubi is an appropriate signature dish. I did Lubi's semi-regularly back in high school. I'm sure it's not healthy, but that's probably not a problem for Jax.

Tell the Food Network to send over that Diners, Dives, and Drive-Thrus guy...

Done.

Here's a link to their site http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_dv

I just sent an email to them with info on the Lubi and a link to our discussion so that if there are any other unique foods  in the NE Florida area, they can be mentioned here.

Also, you can write them @ DDDinfo@mac.com .

As Charleston Native said, they do it alot in other places so i don't know if it's truly unique but hey, i figured it's worth a shot.

[heights unknown]

How about chitlins and hog maws? (kidding)

Heights Unknown

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

are you saying that Jacksonville is a tad urban?

[civil42806]

Inspired by this thread, the JaxByDefault household went out to try JAX's proposed "signature dish," the LUBI.

I found the sandwiches bland, greasy, and terrible -- a stale, unspiced, salty hamburger-helper-on-bun. The cherry-limeade was too sweet to drink. Even if the food hadn't made me (and spouse) literally sick, I'd still vote "no" on the Lubi on (the lack of) taste alone.

I'd vote for JAX/S.Georgia-style BBQ over the Lubi and anyone who knows me likely knows my views on yellow BBQ sauce and chopped pork.   It may not be real BBQ, but it is tasty. [Insert further light-hearted red sauce favoritism here.]

Shame no one has created a signature dish for this town that features Mayport shrimp.

Edited 09/04/08 to add: The TU has picked up this discussion.

The problem with the bbq, which I love, jenkins and Georgis in particular, is that its not unique.  you find the sauce and such all over the carolinas.

[civil42806]

Inspired by this thread, the JaxByDefault household went out to try JAX's proposed "signature dish," the LUBI.

I found the sandwiches bland, greasy, and terrible -- a stale, unspiced, salty hamburger-helper-on-bun. The cherry-limeade was too sweet to drink. Even if the food hadn't made me (and spouse) literally sick, I'd still vote "no" on the Lubi on (the lack of) taste alone.

I'd vote for JAX/S.Georgia-style BBQ over the Lubi and anyone who knows me likely knows my views on yellow BBQ sauce and chopped pork.   It may not be real BBQ, but it is tasty. [Insert further light-hearted red sauce favoritism here.]

Shame no one has created a signature dish for this town that features Mayport shrimp.

Edited 09/04/08 to add: The TU has picked up this discussion.

The problem with the bbq, which I love, jenkins and Georgis in particular, is that its not unique.  you find the sauce and such all over the carolinas.

Also by the way red sauce sucks 

[ProjectMaximus]

But there are lots of styles of BBQ. I've seen the Food Network/Travel Channel compare Texas, Memphis, Carolina BBQ's and everything in between. Not that Jax has a unique style, just saying it's possible.

Inspired by this thread, the JaxByDefault household went out to try JAX's proposed "signature dish," the LUBI.

I found the sandwiches bland, greasy, and terrible -- a stale, unspiced, salty hamburger-helper-on-bun. The cherry-limeade was too sweet to drink. Even if the food hadn't made me (and spouse) literally sick, I'd still vote "no" on the Lubi on (the lack of) taste alone.

I'd vote for JAX/S.Georgia-style BBQ over the Lubi and anyone who knows me likely knows my views on yellow BBQ sauce and chopped pork.   It may not be real BBQ, but it is tasty. [Insert further light-hearted red sauce favoritism here.]

Shame no one has created a signature dish for this town that features Mayport shrimp.

Edited 09/04/08 to add: The TU has picked up this discussion.

The problem with the bbq, which I love, jenkins and Georgis in particular, is that its not unique.  you find the sauce and such all over the carolinas.