So Sofie

I hate to break it to everyone, but this week's review is far less exciting than the Cowford experience from last week. Zach and I headed to Cheddar's for an impromptu dinner last week and were sorely disappointed. I get it...every new restaurant has its learning curves. We were expecting average, slow service, but our unfortunate experience went far beyond that. Food For the record, we ordered totally normal food and I did no prior research on Cheddar's specialties. Honestly, the food isn't even worth discussing. It was somehow a combination of cold and overcooked with average flavors (at best). The spinach and artichoke dip appetizer was the best part of our entire meal but still completely average when compared to other restaurants. Service Our poor server. He couldn't have been over 16 years old and was waiting on close to 15 tables. With sweat drenching his shirt and an overwhelmed demeanor, we only got to see our server about once every 20 minutes. ...

The highly anticipated dinner at  Cowford Chophouse  has come and gone and I'm left incredibly full (even the next day!) and in awe of the breathtaking atmosphere and impressive cuts of meat. There might be a dent in my date's wallet now, but it was so worth a small fortune (in my very humble opinion...) Cowford Chophouse is exactly what downtown Jacksonville needs -  a dining experience and not just a dinner spot. Atmosphere The food was certainly great, but I could write an entire blog post about the architectural experience. Beautiful shades of white and black marble bounce from floor to ceiling in every room on all three floors. Oh yes, there are three floors. The first floor of this early 1900s renovation features a simple entryway with tall ceilings, a gold elevator and enticing stairway. To the right of the entrance is a lavishly decorated modern bar and low tables for more casual dining. Beautiful, sprawling paintings of cows and steers hang behind the blac...

Alright, this is a totally new spin on my "New Eats" blog. The highly anticipated Cowford finally  opened this week and I scored a reservation for this Friday. Heck yeah. Regardless of my excitement, I'm valeting my car and walking in with a very concise set of expectations (take note, Cowford's chef). I know good food, and I certainly know a good piece of steak...so listen up as I chronicle my hopes for my Cowford Chophouse experience. Food Trust me, I've done my research. Prices aren't listed on the online menu, but I've never let that hold me back from ordering food! Clearly, I'm starting with the Duck Fat Cornbread. Maine Lobster and Crab? Yes, please! I'm not so sure if this appetizer will take the shape of a filling skillet of spoonbread or a small sliver of cornbread...all I know is it'll be in my stomach a few minutes after I'm seated. My entree order isn't as obvious as the appetizer. There are 17 choices on the "C...

Il Desco ? More like "Eh" Desco. I really don't like writing negative reviews, I mean it. I'm a fan of the Forking Amazing Restaurant Group so it never  crossed my mind that the food at their modern Italian restaurant would fall flat. When the bill is over 100 bucks, the atmosphere and food should reflect it. Drink We ordered a yummy full-bodied Tuscan red and it certainly didn't disappoint. I spotted a wine from "Montepulciano" on the lengthy list and I didn't hesitate. I made a quick day trip to this Tuscan hilltop town while spending my summer in Italy and couldn't resist reminiscing on the flavors from that day. 15 or so samples later in Montepulciano and I was totally sold on the town's wine. Food When I see burrata on the menu you can bet I'm ordering it. What can I say...I'm a sucker for cheese soaked in cream. Unfortunately, the complexity of this dish was that of a brand new chef preparing burrata for the first tim...

I'm not sure what's better about the tiny Restaurant Doro - the incredibly perfect decor or the simple, fresh food. My mom and I have been dying to try this new spot in the AB town center and it absolutely exceeded all expectations. Although, it's tough to go wrong when the evening starts with a bottle of Prisoner wine... Food I was a bit nervous about the food because the menu is so, so  simple - borderline bland. We started with the burrata appetizer, of course. Could I be any more predictable? The huge hunk of (possibly homemade?) burrata was on a layer of chunky peach jam, large pieces of raw tomato and a light drizzle of saba and pecan oil. Don't know what saba is? It's nearly identical in color and production to balsamic vinegar but there's no aging involved. The end result is a milder, thinner syrup.  After devouring our crazy amazing appetizer, we decided to split the second course. I'm happy we did, because I still went home with lef...

Thanks to some fabulous risotto and a Rosie True gift box, my family is in the clear for celebrating my birthday a few months too late! Cooper's Hawk exceeded all of my expectations, likely because I rarely build anticipation when it comes to chains. A small group of us headed to the restaurant this Thursday to celebrate my 21st birthday and put our name down for the 45-minute wait. We solidified a spot at the bustling bar in the lobby and ordered our first three complementary samples. I traveled around Italy this summer, so this wine tasting was right up my alley! From the peppery Cabernet to the fabulously dry Meritage, I was thoroughly impressed with the quality and flavor profiles of Cooper's Hawk's signature wines. Now onto the food... Drink Five glasses of wine later (sample sizes, people), we were walked to our table. One of the first things you'll notice when you enter the Cooper's Hawk dining room is the abundance of elaborate decanters placed on th...

It's clear by now that food and cooking is a huge passion of mine, but finding time in the day to make it all happen is another story. I work a full-time job, take 18 credit hours and freelance write...yeah, cooking a full meal is often the last thing I want to do after a long day of work. But, I might've found a solution. I recently received a coupon in the mail for $30 off my first Hello Fresh box, so  hello  I couldn't pass that up! Here's how it went:

You'll rarely catch me at a chain restaurant, but I had to make an exception for all of the new spots at the St. Johns Town Center! From Brazilian steakhouses to Tex-Mex, there are about to be dozens of new dining choices. My first stop of the new crop was Chuy's Tex-Mex. After a 45-minute wait on a Wednesday night (pretty impressive, I'd say) and a couple margaritas later, we finally got seated.

Osteria del Gato e la Volpe makes the best pasta I've had in my life, and I don't say that lightly. It was  so good that I had the same dish, Pici alla Senese alla Burrata, 12 times during my six-week stay in Florence. There's just something about piping hot pasta lightly tossed in the most perfect sauce and topped with a cold chunk of burrata...I'm drooling on my keyboard. Coming home put an end to my Pici alla Senese habit, so last night I did my best to recreate it. Here's how it went:

The little square of San Marco is many things - quaint, clean, vintage. In recent years, this little nest in downtown Jacksonville has become a huge foodie destination, with Town Hall being a huge contributor. The owners of Moxie decided to expand their skillset outside of the St. Johns Town Center, and downtown Jacksonville residents are certainly celebrating. Although the restaurant is doing many things well, there are a couple categories where they've fallen short. Atmosphere Was I walking into a tiny restaurant or entering a living room straight out of the West Elm catalog? This place is beautiful and takes advantage of every square inch (with less than 100 seats, they really didn't have much choice). Upon entering, a couch and chairs are set up living room style to the left, with a sprawling yet empty bar along the wall. Why does the bar appear empty? Oh, I'll get to that later. Continue walking through a tiny hallway and you'll reach the back room of the resta...