by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: Caring Chefs
When: Oct 15th @ 7pm
Where: The Avenues Mall
Admission: $50
Every year Jacksonville’s assorted foodies and event seekers look forward to the Caring Chef’s affair. This year more than two thousand people will be eagerly streaming into the Avenues Mall to sample cuisine from some of the top chefs in Jacksonville. A fifty-dollar ticket not only buys you food, drink and live entertainment, it also helps children. For twenty-three years, the Children’s Home Society has been using this fundraiser to help First Coast families in need. It has raised almost two million dollars for this cause.
Over fifty of the Jacksonville area’s best eateries will offer samples of their provisions. Slake your thirst at any of the fine wine stations. Three bands in different sections of the mall will be there to entertain the crowd as they eat at the two and a half hour event.
Tips and tricks
If you’re a first timer to the event, do make sure to pace yourself. If you’ve brought a friend, share your samples so you can taste a wider variety of food before you’re over-stuffed. Even though people dress well for the event, ladies should wear sensible shoes because most of eating is done standing up, and you’ll want to move from booth to booth. Don’t be afraid to ask a complete stranger what they’re eating, if it looks good, but be prepared to exchange information when they ask you what you’re eating or what you recommend so far. Some tables will have longer lines (like Sticky Fingers last year) but you shouldn’t waste your time waiting in them, simply move on to the next table. That way you can come back later when the line is shorter, or you’ll be too full and happy to care. The idea is to try new things in small quantities. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with the order of your meal; lines at the Peterbrooke Chocolatier will be shorter at the very beginning of the evening because they serve what people consider to be a dessert item. Although there will be beer, wine and other beverage stations throughout the event, if you want the good stuff look for either The Grape or Simon’s Wine Bar for your quality vino.
Sneak Peek
Speaking of desserts, Bistro Aix will have a dessert heavy selection this year with pumpkin tarts, assorted fruit tarts, a vanilla cheese cake, lemon bars and much more. Also serving up sweets will be Cobblestone’s at the Creek. They’re going to be offering up their signature mini-indulgences: dreamy, creamy desserts (like chocolate mousse) in artfully arranged tall shot glasses. The Athens Café will once again be passing out their flaky, superbly sticky baklava. Chocolate lovers will be making a bee-line for the Peterbrooke tables and its impressive chocolate fountain. It’s one booth that has a line for most of the night.
Blue Bamboo will be attending for their second year, with Chef Dennis Chan serving up the cold chile soy noodle salad and orange cake that were such a hit last year. Chef Chan also hinted at a surprise item for this year’s menu. Lemongrass will also be sticking with last year’s selection of their tasty chicken satay with a divine peanut sauce.
Fionn MacCool’s, a newcomer to the event, will be the only Irish pub in attendance. They’re going to be serving classically Irish fare: corned beef and cabbage. Roy’s will take us to Hawaii with their signature, thin-sliced, blackened ahi tuna served with a spicy soy mustard butter. The dessert selection will be a light coconut cake served with fresh fruit. Going with an Italian theme this year, Mai Oui! Gourmet plans to present rivers of different sauces: marinara, alfredo and rosa sauce in a sort of Italian sauce fondue. Bread and other foods will be available to dip in the sauces. Morton’s Steakhouse will be going all-American with their filet mignon finger sandwiches, served with a horseradish mustard mayo.
|
