Beginning SOUPS: Culhane’s Irish Pub

We have finished the DESSERT CRAWL, time to come up with another. So we’re doing SOUPS, finding the best soups in the Jacksonville area. We all agree it’s going to be a little challenging drawing a book full of soups and making each one different, but we will stretch our creative brains and see what we come up with.

Our first visit was way back just before St. Patrick’s Day in March at Culhane’s Irish Pub. I had had their Potato Leek soup before, and it was a real favorite. I can’t recommend it enough – thick and creamy with a beautiful flavor of fresh herbs. Culhane’s was decked out appropriately for the season so we were off to a good start. Shania was our wonderful server and quick to see to any of our big group of 12. This is a fun place, and the soups are delicious as well as the bread pudding and Scotch eggs. And the Irish coffee too!

St. Augustine’s River House

On a gorgeous day in March, a small group of Sketchers gathered at the River House in St. Augustine to sketch by the river. It’s a beautiful wedding and event venue, but it also has classes during the week sponsored by the St. Johns Council on Aging. We saw an art class and a yoga class in session, but they have a full list of all their classes – from music and dance to computers, science and sign language.

The weather was perfect for sitting outside so we sketched and ate our brown bag lunches overlooking a view of the lighthouse. And beside us was the most stunning mosaic, but no one seemed to know who the artist was. Thank you, Joanne, for inviting us to this lovely venue.

Can you find the River House in Lynne’s composite drawing?

Spring Park Coffee

   The drive, alone, down to Spring Park Coffee was a beautiful trip. We rolled along oak-lined State Rd 13 to Shands Bridge and crossed  the St. Johns to Green Cove Springs noting some early wild crabapples blooming in the woods. Spring Park Coffee is located on the main street not far from the Springs, 328 Ferris Street. It’s a busy spot with plenty of seating – not only tables, but couches and soft comfy wing chairs one could nap in! Indeed, several folks were reading, using laptops, visiting in small groups, and we were sketching it all! 

   Now, this is a true Coffee Shop, so it offered every type of coffee I’ve run into, as well as flavorings and pretty hearts on top. Good coffee, too! They also have nice pastries. Even better, they serve bagels, waffles, and homemade biscuits until noon. These can become breakfast sandwiches, too! All delicious and for nominal prices.

There’s no better place to sit, sketch, drink good coffee and nibble on a biscuit than this super cute and cozy spot! Our pictures say it better. 

Bistro Aix

Delightful is the perfect word for our time spent at Bistro Aix! Thanks to the manager for arranging for a table with great light, and our jovial server, Spencer, who was most attentive and helpful. Everyone raved about their lunches! My Spring Salad was delicious!  They have a beautiful bar area in the restaurant, too, with special fare for evenings. A return to this spot is in my book!  (Written by Sandie as I was not there. Thank you, Sandie, and I will go back with you – it looks delicious!)

The End: Z is for Zen and Ginger

We have come to the end of our Alphabet Dessert Crawl. A small group traveled to St. Johns County to find a tiny restaurant called Zen and Ginger. With amazing graphics on the walls, this place serves specialized flavored teas and coffee as well as sweets, appetizers, rice and noodle dishes. Derick, the owner, was so friendly and patient with our somewhat indecisive group of sketchers. Thanks, Derick.

I have certainly expanded my food knowledge over this past year or so. For instance, we have been several places with Boba Tea. So do you know what it is? Bubble tea or Boba tea is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s. Taiwanese immigrants brought it to the United States in the 1990s, and it is made of tea, milk, water, sugar and tapioca pearls. Iced sweet milky tea is given a good cocktail-style shake, after which tapioca pearls are added. Typical versions use black, green or oolong tea, although recently more flavors and types have appeared. Zen and Ginger was a favorite.

Blueberry Artisan Bakery

First you may notice the giant mural of blueberries on the side of a brick building in St. Nicholas. Then you will notice the smell of delectable pastries inside… Once again the Cafe Sketchers discovered a new place and completely took it over one morning for sketching and eating. (Disclaimer: we always keep an eye out for customers vs. empty tables and make sure we leave some if necessary.) Serving breakfast, lunch and artisanal pastries, this place is a find. Blueberry Bakery is the birthplace of their interpretation of desserts from around the world, boasting more than 45 European inspired desserts, including: truffles, brittle, pies, cakes, cheesecakes, pastries… Needless to say, this group enjoyed it very much. Thank you, Eric and Kat.

Treylor Park

Yes, “Home is where you park it!” And this unique cafe in Nocatee was the site of a small group of Cafe Sketchers’ last meetup in January. The food was amazing, but I will have to admit I did not know “Buffalo” meant very hot and spicy! Which my salad was. Sandie’s grilled apple pie sandwich with fried chicken on brioche was to die for – and she graciously shared with me. It’s a fun place to go, day or night.

Y is for The Yard Milkshake Bar

Woo-hoo! Another one of these fun and creative places for sweets! The Yard in Town Center was so awesome – they have loads of unusual choices of ice cream combinations, and you can build your own (which I did). The decor was just as fun with many cows gracing the walls. James, the owner, and Gabe, his sidekick, were great sports with our indecisive crowd of 11 and very helpful, giving each one of us something beautiful to draw and, of course, eat – so very over-the-top delicious. Thanks James and Gabe.

After the Unicorn, the Mermaid, the Old School Banana Split, the Chocolate Brownie Mudslide and my version of the Doughnut Touch my Mermaid…..there was even one named for our Mayor, the DONNA, which Carolyn enjoyed in her matching sweater. They were ALL to die for.

Mary Owen

We’re almost to the end of the alphabet – stay tuned for Z.

Vevetas by Pink Salt

We never got to Pink Salt Restaurant before they moved from San Marco, but now they are in Lakewood (in Jacksonville) and have a Tapas/Rum Bar as well. It’s full of color – on the walls and ceiling – and really good food. I’d go back for the beet salad alone as well as the bread pudding with bourbon sauce. Noelle was our server and did an amazing job with our group of 10. We all LOVED the umbrellas!

Sandie said her oxtail mac and cheese was very good.

X Marks the Spot!

We couldn’t come up with a dessert restaurant for “X” so we gave everybody only the address on US 1, St. Augustine, and let everybody find The Spot. I eat breakfast here often, and it is a favorite of mine. Pam and her serving staff are so helpful and friendly, and Larry, in the kitchen makes the best “fluffy” omelets. This day Alyssa was our very attentive server, and she did an amazing job of taking care of our group of 13 women. (Not everyone drew, I think.) We came for dessert, and since the special of the day was coconut crusted French toast with fresh strawberries… that sounded like dessert to me. It was oh, so good. Another Sketcher had the Elvis French toast with bananas, peanut butter, chocolate and caramel syrup with whipped cream… another dessert? It’s a wonderful, warm friendly place with huge portions of fantastic food. Open for breakfast and lunch. I’ll be back certainly. It hits the SPOT!