viCARIous: What is Jacksonville's Cuisine?

[Metro Jacksonville]

viCARIous:  What is Jacksonville's Cuisine?



This question has been at the front of my mind since I moved here at the beginning of the year. Whenever I travel or move to a new place, my first priority is always to seek out restaurants or products that capture a unique sense of place. Foods you can?t find anywhere else, or that teach you about local culture in a way no hour-long trip on a sightseeing bus ever could. Sometimes it?s easier than others. Like, when a city or region has an iconic dish or food product that you MUST seek out when you visit. Guinness in Ireland. Asado in Argentina. Parmigiano-Reggiano in Emilia-Romagna. Wagyu beef in Kobe. Lobster on the coast of Maine. Oftentimes I look to the unique, to products you can?t easily obtain anywhere else. Kangaroo and camel in Australia, crispy bugs in Thailand, roasted guinea pig in Peru, and all manner of exotic seafood in Japan come to mind.

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http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-aug-vicarious-what-is-jacksonvilles-cuisine

[viCARIous]

Whoa - will definitely do some research on the garlic/ black pepper/ tomato/ fatback/ macaroni dish... and southern fried chicken with Italian food... ??!!!  Sounds interesting!!

Working on a post about beerboiled shrimp, cheesy grits, etc.

Thanks so much for the ideas!

[simms3]

The exotic Lubey Sub .  I have never personally had one, but you must go to Lubey's to find it.  I think there is a Lubey's on Beach, but I am sure someone else can help out with this.

[rjp2008]

Jax doesn't have an iconic food yet. Southern food like fried chicken, grits, catfish greens, macaroni - can be found anywhere in the south, especially poorer areas. Jax is a melting pot of so many cultures anyway, nothing really stands out.

I would like to see more amazing BBQ foods highlighted though. Smoked pork and chicken, ribs, etc.
Im not a seafood person but Jax should be tops in that area being situated right on a river!!!

[fieldafm]

Combining southern fried chicken with italian food (either pizza or spagetti) and serving milk.  All served on separate dishes of course.

It seems like everyone I knew as a kid had this familiar combination of foods.

We used to serve this in my mom's old place.  Was always a popular item.

Cari, there is an extremely southern dish here made with garlic, black pepper, stewed tomatoes, bacon (or fatback) and macaroni that I have never eaten elsewhere.

Chilled, beerboiled shrimp is another.

And of course, there are any number of cheesy grits with fried catfish and stewed tomato and okra variations (usually wth hotsauce) that I havent ever seen in other southern cities.

Plus 1.. a trip to Homestead or even better, Clark's would get you right with the Lord of catfish.

The exotic Lubey Sub .  I have never personally had one, but you must go to Lubey's to find it.  I think there is a Lubey's on Beach, but I am sure someone else can help out with this.

Lubi's... four locations around Jax(I really miss the former Landing location) one on Beach Blvd near 9A, one at Jax Beach, one on University, and one on Sunbeam.  Best hangover food ever invented.  

[02roadking]

For catfish, I'm partial to http://www.whiteysfishcamp.com/restaurant.html

[heights unknown]

Black eyed peas, ham hocks, collard greens, rice, fried chicken, catfish, and pig ears.

"HU"

[Abhishek]

good bbq at Crackers (Race Track Rd and San Jose). I hear their lima beans side is made from scratch and is to die for.

[duvaldude08]

I think Jacksonville has a variety of cultural food here, its just not advertised. For example, before I moved to baymeadows I had no idea there were so many Indian restaurants out there! Im going to try Element 313 ( I believe that's the name) that occupies the old applebees building. The smell coming from there is yummy.

And of course there are a ton of soul food restaurants, Thai restaurants, etc. So I wouldn't say there isn't a variety. Things in Jacksonville just aren't covientant. Most cities would have all these restaurant's on one long strip in downtown. However, its not like that here.

[danno]

Thats 5th Element.  The lunch buffet there is a good place to start.  The Village Inn decor is a bit odd, but the service and food are very good.  The Mango soft serve ice cream is great for desert.  They even do it on Saturdays.

[duvaldude08]

Thats 5th Element.  The lunch buffet there is a good place to start.  The Village Inn decor is a bit odd, but the service and food are very good.  The Mango soft serve ice cream is great for desert.  They even do it on Saturdays.

Yess!! Thats it. LOL (Im at work so Im brain dead at the moment). I will try them out soon.

[thelakelander]

good bbq at Crackers (Race Track Rd and San Jose). I hear their lima beans side is made from scratch and is to die for.

The all-you-can-eat fried fish, shrimp and cheese grits on Fridays is worth trying as well.

[billy]

donax soup

[viCARIous]

Butter Roasted Cobia, seasoned with white and black pepper and garlic, served with friendly white rice and a sauce made with garlic, stewed tomatoes, okra and shrimp.

Side of hush puppies made with a little bacon lard, and served with a mayonaisse, ketchup, sweet pickle relish and ginger tartar sauce.

You just laid out my menu for Saturday night.  Where can I find cobia?

I'm learning a ton from these comments - home-cooked local specialties that you don't often see on restaurant menus. 

Yum.

[fieldafm]

Where can I find cobia?

In a restaurant?  I like Sliders in Neptune Beach.

If you want to cook it yourself... Fisherman's Dock or Beachside Seafood are where I get the best selection of fresh fish.