321 Flavor Bites: A new pool hall, a Yom Kippur meal, and Hug a Vegetarian Day
If you're reading this missive, I can only assume you're a big fan of the Space Coast food scene.
And if that's the case, you're probably a member of our 321 Flavor: Where Brevard Eats group on Facebook. We're creeping up on 54,000 members, which is just crazy, considering just a few years ago we celebrated hitting 5,000.
I love the group. I learn a lot from it, and I've met some awesome people through it. But I also have seen it bring out the worst in people. I especially was saddened by a recent discussion about the loud use of profanity in restaurants.
You can read the column I wrote about it here.
And just to be clear, I'm not anti-cussing, per se. But I'm very, very (and one more time for emphasis), very anti the Me-Me-Me Movement. While you may have the right to act any way you want in public, kind humans recognize that their actions affect others. Really, do you think your right to a good time supersedes that of everyone else in an establishment?
Come on, folks. We can do better.
Now on to some restaurant news
If the thought of a pool hall conjures images of a dim, smoky, slightly grubby place with a gravel parking lot, think again.
Pockets & Putters in Rockledge is here to change your mind.
It's spotless, huge and smoke-free. Plus, I'm told it's got a great smash burger.
Learn more about this new bar, restaurant and family entertainment center here.
Where\'s Brandon?
And one more story produced by our food team this week: Have you wondered what happened to award-winning chef Brandon Basista, formerly of Bearded Chef fame?
Well, he's been hanging out at Station 49 in Palm Bay.
Here's Lyn Dowling's review of the pizza joint that's so much more than a pizza joint.
Around the world in 80 beers at Cafe Margaux
The total won’t be 80, but there will be a variety of beers served at Café Margaux’s International Beer Dinner at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 21.
Selections include Einstock Porter from Iceland, Czechvar Legacy from the Czech Republic, India’s Kingfisher, Augustiner Brau Edelstop from Germany, Alpha from Greece and Morretti beer from Italy.
The five-course menu features Black Diamond Cheddar and Porter Soup, baby spinach, curly endive, chevre and dried cranberries salad with a guava vinaigrette, blackened mahi mahi, schnitzel of veal tenderloin with Emmental and Ganax spaetzle, a Roquefort and triple brie cheese course and wild strawberry tart for dessert.
Cost is $110 per guest. Reserve by calling 321-639-8343. For more information and complete menu, visit Margaux.com. The Cocoa Village restaurant is at 220 Brevard Ave.
Palm Bay diner hosts Yom Kippur meal
Jersey Brothers Diner, 2162 Harris Ave NE, Palm Bay, is accepting reservations for its Yom Kippur Break the Fast meal from 4-8 p.m. Sept. 25.
Cost is $35; $15 for children.
Guests can choose from a menu that features matzoh ball soup, latkes, bagels, coleslaw, potato salad and half sour pickles, chopped liver, whitefish salad, tuna salad, chopped herring salad, egg salad, chicken salad, nova and lox, whitefish, pastrami, turkey, corned beef, tongue, blintzes and miscellaneous desserts.
More information is available by calling 321-676-1200, or follow the diner on Facebook.
Cuban dinner at Suntree United Methodist
Tickets are expected to fly out the door for the Cuban dinner hosted by Suntree United Methodist Church to raise money for Methodist churches in the troubled Caribbean island.
For $25 advance tickets, guests can enjoy a traditional repast of Cuban mojo pork, rice, beans, plantains and dessert prepared by Southern Accents BBQ at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at the Suntree church, 7400 N. Wickham Road. The price at the door is $30, if space is available.
Guest speaker Rev. Rene Rojas, a Cuban pastor and missionary, will provide keynote remarks and stories of transformational change in the Methodist churches across Cuba, as well as the need for food, medicine and other basic needs of Cuban Methodists.
“We are also encouraging attendees to bring unopened, unexpired over-the-counter medications and non-prescription reading glasses for the congregations of Methodist churches in Cuba,” said director of communications Tanner Smith.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Complimentary childcare is available for those who pre-register.
Purchase tickets at suntreeumc.org/events. For more information, call 321-242-2585.
Food to celebrate this week
I always celebrate food, but this week's nationaltoday.com calendar has some very specific food holidays in mind for the next seven days. So get ready to hug your favorite vegetarian before binging on quesadillas and chimichangas.
National Fried Rice Day, Sept. 20
National Punch Day, Sept. 20
National Chai Day, Sept. 21
National Pawpaw Day, Sept. 21
National Pecan Cookie Day, Sept. 21
Hug a Vegetarian Day, Sept. 22
National White Chocolate Day, Sept. 22
National Great American Pot Pie Day, Sept. 23
National Cherries Jubilee Day, Sept. 24
National Horchata Day, Sept. 24
National Mofongo Day, Sept. 24
German Butterbrot Day, Sept. 25
National Quesadilla Day, Sept. 25
Better Breakfast Day, Sept. 26
National Chimichanga Day, Sept. 26
National Dumpling Day, Sept. 26
Until next time, happy eating, y\'all.
If you have questions about any of our food content, feel free to reach out anytime via email at sleonard@floridatoday.com. Or connect with me on Facebook: @SuzyFlemingLeonard or on Instagram: @SuzyLeonard
FLORIDA TODAY food editor
Freelance food and lifestyles writer Maria Sonnenberg contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Food News: A Yom Kippur meal in Palm Bay and Hug a Vegetarian Day
