321 Flavor Bites: It's a short holiday week! Plus brunch worth the trip and wine dinners
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Happy Fourth of July week, everybody!
This is going to be a short one, because, well, holiday, which means I've got a short work week. (Yay!) I know some folks will be celebrating all week long, but here's hoping your neighbors aren't rowdy into the wee hours. As Independence Day 2023 fades into the past, here are some of my thoughts on the whole week of fireworks thing, if you care to read them.
Meanwhile, I'm using my time off to try some new spots and to revisit some old favorites.
Have you been to Big Daddy J's 5 Great Things in Cocoa Beach? If not, you've got to go! Why? Read this to find out. And I'll leave you with this teaser: Biscuit Bread.
In search of brunch?
Restaurant critic Lyn Dowling is raving about the brunch she had recently at Le French Restaurant in Indian Harbour Beach. You can read her review here.
And if you're wondering about Eggs Benedict vs. Eggs a la Benedick in the review, here's Lyn's explanation:
"It was a direct quote from a menu and that is the way it was spelled at the time," she said in response to a question in our 321 Flavor: Where Brevard Eats group on Facebook. Here's a little history from whatscookingamerica.net: "Chef Charles Ranhofer (1936-1899), Ranhofer came up with Eggs Benedict. He has a recipe called Eggs a’ la Benedick (Eufa a’ la Benedick) in his cookbook called The Epicurean published in 1894."
So no, this wasn't a matter of poor spelling. It was a history lesson.
And now for some more food news:
Adventure on the Seven Seas at Jao Thai
You need not get wet while enjoying an adventure along the Seven Seas, as in the Seven Seas Roll that sushi chef Kunakorn “Ace” Petda is featuring as a special at his Jao Thai Kitchen, 914 W. New Haven Ave., Melbourne.
It’s smooth sailing with this $16.95 roll, which features spicy tuna, cucumbers and asparagus, topped with rainbow fish and roe. Like a three-masted schooner, the nautically themed sushi beauty is elegant. Tastes great, too.
Petda suggests a pairing with his restaurant’s signature sushi, the Jao Thai Roll. Also $16.95, the roll includes eel, krab, escolar, avocado, cucumber and roe topped with tuna tataki and flakes.
Jao Thai Kitchen’s menu additionally boasts a selection of Thai specialties that are not run-of-the-mill. Petda just returned from an extended trip to Thailand that has added to his already impressive repertoire of dishes.
For a closer look at a mouth-watering menu, visit jaothaikitchen.com. For information, call 321-914-0708.
A king of a dinner at Cafe Margaux
Café Margaux, 220 Brevard Ave., Cocoa Village, will spotlight the wines of Oregon’s King Estate Winery during a six-course dinner at 6:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday, July 13 and 14.
Guest speaker David Baricevic, manager of the King Estate portfolio for Florida and a member of the Society of Wine Educators, will discuss the wines of the singular winery located in the misty and marvelous Willamette Valley. King Estate is the largest Biodynamic certified vineyard in North America.
Situated on 1,033 acres southwest of Eugene in the Willamette Valley, King Estate is a working farm with 465 acres “under vine,” or planted with grapes, including 143 acres of pinot noir, 314 acres of pinot gris, with the balance in muscat, gewürztraminer and other varietals. Another 26 acres feature greenhouses, vegetables, berries, lavender, flowers, beehives, and a 14-acre orchard with apple, pear and plum trees.
Paired with King Estate wines will be a menu that begins with pear and Roquefort soup; a salad course of roasted root vegetable slaw, gingered apples, raisins and walnuts; halibut roulade; hasenpfeffer, aka rabbit stew, with braised red wine gravy; River’s Edge chevre cheese; and dessert of Frutti di Bosco, shortcrust pastry filled with cream, a layer of sponge cake and mixed berries.
For full menu, visit margaux.com. For reservations, call 321-639-8343.
Tres bien! Wine dinner at Le French
Le French Restaurant, 1924 State Road A1A, Indian Harbour Beach, will host a wine dinner at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 12.
The four-course event begins a reception with French sangria. Courses include pink shrimp with homemade mayonnaise, beet salad with goat cheese, apples and walnuts, Bouef Bourguignon with mashed potatoes, green beans and garlic and rice pudding sous vide with sugar crust.
Cost is $95. Reserve at 321-622-8977.
Celebrating fried chicken, and lots of other food
July 6 is National Fried Chicken Day, and with that in mind, some of my colleagues from across the USA Today Florida Network put together a list of some of Florida's best fried chicken joints. You can check it out here. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't include any place from our area. All my favorite independent fried chicken spots have closed in the past year. If you've got suggestions, please send them to me at sleonard@floridatoday.com. And keep in mind, I'm looking for bone-in fried chicken, not wings, not tenders and not sandwiches. I need a non-chain chicken fix!
Other food holidays to celebrate this week, according to nationaltoday.com.
National Apple Turnover Day, July 5
National Graham Cracker Day, July 5
National Fried Chicken Day, July 6
National Hand Roll Day, July 6
National Dive Bar Day, July 7
National Strawberry Sundae Day, July 7
World Chocolate Day, July 7
National Blueberry Day, July 8
National Chocolate with Almonds Day, July 8
National Ice Cream Sundae Day, July 8
National Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket Day, July 9
National Sugar Cookie Day, July 9
National Pina Colada Day, July 10
Pick Blueberries Day, July 10
National Blueberry Muffin Day, July 11
National Mojito Day, July 11
National Ranier Cherry Day, July 11
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
Maria Sonnenberg contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: A new Cocoa Beach restaurant, plus our new favorite brunch spot
