It will do for now

Almost 3 months in and I'm getting accustomed to good ol' Jacksonville! It's been a quarter of a year, and I'm moved in, settled at work and exploring all the different restaurants around the area. What a life! I've been getting a bit home sick, but with my family visiting every other weekend, I really can't complain too much. I still miss the food though.....oh the food...

Angela and I have been texting each other back and forth about our Chinese food cravings, and decided that enough was enough and that we had to go get some. We heard that there was a chinese restaurant nearby the asian grocery store- Jax Oriental Market (apparently its the same owner) and heard it wasn't half bad- so off we went! Peony Asian Bistro!

We decided to invite a few friends so it ended up being a group of 5. The more the merrier (and the more dishes you can order)

 

Angela and I were in charge of the menu and we got some roast duck, fried shrimp, Beef Chow Fun, some veggies, seafood/tofu soup and a whole steamed striped bass. The striped bass was my fave.

Before going, I had to set some expectations with myself. I knew that none of this stuff was going to be as cheap or delicious as what I am used to in New York. No matter how hard they tried.

....but.. it wasn't too bad!

All the dishes were pretty delicious! Although the duck was a little bit too fatty and not meaty enough (definitely not as fresh as NYC), i would say the shrimp and fish were great! The soup was definitely the best priced, while the fish was very pricey (yet very delicious). The vegetables were crisp while the noodles were fine, but nothing too outstanding.

What a great find, and a great meal! But even better, I'm really glad I got to meet some new friends and share this experience with them.

If I ever go back (which I am sure I will), I will make sure to steer away from the noodles and poultry and stick with the seafood. Afterall, I am in Florida!

I'm so glad I came here with some new friends and did some family style. Although it isn't New York quality, it will do for now.


Price:$$
Ambiance:C
Food: B
Service: B-

Ocean 60

What's better than 80 degree weather in Florida? Enjoying the 80 degree weather by the beach! 

The more I get to know Florida, the more I realize that I live in such an awesome place- the beach is only minutes away! 

I love taking visitors to the beach to relax and get some dinner- the vibe is great and I love the choices of restaurants!

Eric came to visit for some job opportunities and we decided to head to the beach for some dinner at Ocean 60. I've been here on a few occasions, and I've always enjoyed their changing menu.

We weren't particularly hungry, so we just got a few appetizers to share. We got a Goddess Salad, Caprese Salad, Pork Belly with Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Fish and Chips... ok maybe we ordered a little too much for not being hungry :)

 

Goddess Salad

 

Pork Belly with Crispy Brussels Sprouts

 

Caprese Salad

 

Fish and Chips

The Goddess Salad is my absolute favorite out of the 4. This is my second time ordering the salad and I love it! The corn, bacon, cranberries and goat cheese is the perfect combination of sweet, salty and creamy. The light dressing pulls it all together and makes this a great starter.

For those of you who know me, you know I absolutely hate salad. So for me to order this on two different occasions is really saying something!

The Caprese salad was different as it was a little warm. It had a lot of balsamic vinegar which was a little bit overpowering. 

The Pork Belly dish was also OK. The pork belly itself was dried and not very tender but the brussels sprouts were roasted to perfection! The dish overall was a bit salty, but I'd still eat it again, just for the sake of the brussels sprouts! (Eric hates brussels sprouts and even found it to be delicious)

I did not like the Fish and Chips. A little overpriced for what we got, the fish was cooked well but there was no flavor. The pieces of fish were perfectly crispy, but the lack of flavor was very off putting and the chips itself were lackluster. I would skip this one.

Ocean 60 has great live music, but wouldn't be a place for you to relax and enjoy your company (or at least not in the martini bar room). The lively atmosphere was fun and the ambiance is great. 

I would return to Ocean 60 again, but I am hoping to visit other restaurants on the beach and find something even better!

Price:$$

Food:A-

Ambiance: B+

Service: B

After all, we all can't live in New York!

So far so good. I've been in Jacksonville for 2 months now and I've been getting used to the neighborhoods and culture down in the South!

I still miss the good food a big city like New York can offer, but I haven't been too disappointed with what I have seen so far. After all, we all can't live in New York!

I met up with a new friend who is also a big foodie and she took me to Orsay- a cute little french bistro!

We went for brunch and I was very excited about all the delicious items on the menu! With such variety, I was very torn. I really wanted to get the Troie Foie Mousse, but after realizing that it didn't suffice as a full brunch meal, I resolved to go with the Duck Confit Hash instead. Don't worry, I'll get the Foie Mousse next time!

Duck Confit Hash

Quiche Du Jour

What a great brunch! Not only is it one of my favorite meals of the day, the food was fresh, organic and locally grown- how can it get better!

The Duck Confit Hash wasn't what I had expected it to be. I was thinking more of a traditional corned beef-like hash (think Pamela's in Pittsburgh) but really, it was huge chunks of delicious confit duck with two fresh eggs on top. 

I really liked the flavors of the dish but I did find the duck to be a bit tough. The side tabasco rouge sauce was great as it helped tie the dish together, but without it, I really ate each component separately, which really didn't feel right. 

Never the less, I had a great time. The bread before hand was amazing and the food was still very delicious. I am eyeing other parts of the menu and I hope to return for dinner or lunch next time. The service was attentive (and although the restaurant started to get busy, they never rushed us) and the ambiance was wonderful- it had a great rustic feel. I definitely will come back again and I can't wait to try more!

It was great having brunch with a new foodie friend, and I can't wait to explore more options together!

Next stop- who knows, but you can sure bet it's going to be good!

Food:B+

Ambiance: A-

Service: A

Price: $$