Avondale mainstay Sterlings to transition to new restaurant

[Steve]

Fishing is a vital local industry that we should be doing more to support.

While I'm not going to touch Cybertique's post a couple back (other than to say that as a moderator, the person attacks will NOT be condoned whatsoever on the board), JBD is abslutely right that we need to support the local fishing industry.  This is something we should take pride in that comes from our local waters.  Jacksonville isn't known for much outside of the city, and seafood could be one of those things.  Let's embrace a local industry, and in order to do it, we need to start with the restaraunts in our own backyard.

[mtraininjax]

110 Seafood Restaurants in NE Florida according the Yellow Pages. Sure some are Capt. D's, but some are Clark's, Bonefish grill, and these are JUST the restaurants that call themselves "seafood", where-as you can go to West Inn for special fish tacos with local fish, but not a seafood restaurant, or go to the Brick for their famous locally caught Grouper, again, not a seafood restaurant.

Believe me, the local fishing industry is supported locally, and you don't have to go to "seafood" restaurant to find the support either.

[cybertique]

Yes, i hear you all loud and clear, and perhaps the "idiot" remark was a bit much, just let me add that the additional cost associated with making a restaurant "green" is substantial and thats why there are so few certified green esablishments in business.  It would be much easier and less expensive to just pass on it and throw out the glass, plastic and paper in the dumpster and not recycle, you have to spend extra to have this stuff picked up.  Additionally, there is additional cost in purchasing the green products to use in service.  Why are you all demonizing this place for becoming one of the few "green" restaurants in NE Fl?  How much glass and plastic does Biscottis or the Brick dispose in their dumpsers on any given weekend?  The business environment is tough and expenses are high and they are willing to cut some out of the profit margin to give back in the form of recycling and use of green products.  As to "flying" fish in, all restaurants buy some products that require importing and it is necessary to provide the dining public a menu they will patronize.  While promoting "local" products seems like a good idea in theory, the reality is quite different, pricing among vendors varies and many times you find yourself buying from lists that include imported products based on cost and quality. 

[Captain Zissou]

I wouldn't say that we're "demonizing" the restaurant, I am personally very excited for it to open, but I think many of us are tired of the green movement and green-washing.  Recycling should be a given, but I know that's tough to do in a busy restaurant. 
I think much of the opposition to your viewpoint was caused by the way in which you attacked JBD, especially because it was your first post.  You have to build up a rep before you can post ridiculous statements, just ask Fayeforcure.....or me.

[Steve]

Why are you all demonizing this place for becoming one of the few "green" restaurants in NE Fl?  How much glass and plastic does Biscottis or the Brick dispose in their dumpsers on any given weekend? 

I'm not demonizing the place at all.  I hope it does well, because one more good restaraunt in the area will help everyone out (including the community).

Keep in mind however that while the fact that the place is green is nice, I don't choose my dinner locations based on footprint, but on food and service.

[cybertique]

Understood.  I do appreciate the thoughtful and educated replys placed on this site's various posts and enjoy reading them.

[BridgeTroll]

Welcome cybertique.  I have always wondered why this is... anyone care to educate me?

It would be much easier and less expensive to just pass on it and throw out the glass, plastic and paper in the dumpster and not recycle, you have to spend extra to have this stuff picked up.

I have asked more than a few bar owners why they do not recycle the thousands of beer bottles and cans they throw out weekly and they all tell me the city charges to recycle from businesses.  Why are residential recycling programs free yet businesses are charged?  Huge amounts of landfill space could be saved if the city collected ALL recyclables rather than just some...

[mtraininjax]

It costs more to recycle glass and plastic now that it costs to create new virgin plastic or glass. There is no money in recycling of these items, until the government sets prices. If the city charges commercial restaurants for recycling, and every penny counts, sure they are just going to throw in the dumpster.

The City and State need a better recycling program for non-residential establishments. Until this happens, throwing the items out will be status quo. Just imagine if you had a value on a glass or plastic bottle, kids, junkies, everyone would be looking for bottles and cans for recycling.

I'd rather have a recycling program that teaches us how to re-use than to spend $900 billion to give 13 million people insurance that most don't even want.

[BridgeTroll]

It costs more to recycle glass and plastic now that it costs to create new virgin plastic or glass.

While this may be true ( I dont know) What is not figured into this cost is the cost of buying and preparing a new landfill because we filled the old landfill with recyclabe material.

[mtraininjax]

What happened in the last quarter of 2008 was unprecedented by all means. The LDPE (low-density polyethylene) scrap prices, which were prevailing at $900 per metric ton in the beginning of September of 2008, went to $280 by the middle of October of 2008. That was a drop of 60 percent to 70 percent in pricing in just three weeks.

The cost of a landfill is figured into our trash pickup, but with Waste Management suing the City over its contract who really knows?

[Brian Siebenschuh]

We started recycling cardboard, glass, and plastic at Orsay over the summer.  With regard to the city charging for recycling pickup from businesses, the city doesn't offer it at all - we use a private company, and yes, we obviously have to pay for it.  Bistro Aix and Biscottis started using the same service earlier this year as well (they were both actually on board ahead of us!)

[BridgeTroll]

Thanks for the info Brian... FYI... will be at Orsay tonight for dinner...

[Dog Walker]

A 5 cent or 10 cent deposit on all can and bottles would go a long way towards cleaning up our roadsides and getting this stuff recycled.

[mtraininjax]

Advanced Disposal, here in town, will recycle glass, plastic, cardboard, etc. So will Southland, I am pretty sure, but again, it costs money to have a good heart. Until the City or State subsidizes the recycling of these items, people will throw them away.

Advanced waits to get truckloads worth of the material, to make it worthwhile to send out for the recycling plants. We're talking 40,000 pound containers of stuff. So everyone looks at the benefit of recycling and you have to have a LOT of this stuff to begin to break-even on it. Hence the reason there are so few companies locally offering any sort of recycling.

[north miami]

Frank Gallo will indeed nest in Chicago- just for rambling info he in fact is reported to be remaining as a partner.
Better to stay in Chicago bless his heart.........to go to Sterlings meant one had to be subjected to a personal table side visit with Frank.....a long one that could stretch through three courses.Could this be a reason for the spooky visual;a Friday night with street side parking full and Biscottis,Brick,Cas bah et al packed.....and Sterlings empty??

Good to have an alternative to Biscottis....every since Barbara's husband had a hand in the speculative sale of Ortega Boat Yard...now the horrific "Ortega Landing" it is been hard to patronize.Now that is shopping locally!!In fact,we no longer do.
Indeed Ortega Boat Yard was run down and the owner wanted out....with the emergence of the "Landing" spectacle there were alternative local buyers for Ortega but they could not compete with the wild speculative pricing. The sale was allowed on selfish grounds.It gives Biscottis food 'bad energy'.