Food in the Urban Core
As revitalization efforts in the urban core of downtown Jacksonville continue to evolve, the question still remains: which comes first, the people or the food?
Candy Apple Café Debuts New Menu
Bonjour Y’all! Fans of Candy Apple Café & Cocktails have something trés delicieux to look forward to this summer. Known for whimsical décor and Southern fare with French influences, the downtown Jacksonville restaurant is updating its menus across the board in June.
According to executive Chef Jamey Evoniuk, many of the tried and true favorites remain. “Candy Bacon isn’t going anywhere, but we’ve added 15 exciting new menu items,” said Evoniuk, who added that dinner options in particular are expanding.
For dinner, Evoniuk recommends starting with buffalo chicken croquettes made with house made blue cheese, franks red hot and shaved celery slaw. “You also can’t miss the short rib pot-au-feu served with oxtail, bone marrow, celery root, cornichon and a toasted baguette,” said Evoniuk.
With new entrees ranging from $17 - $32, the dinner menu growth came about in part due to the increase in activity taking place in the urban core.
“Downtown and the surrounding areas are booming,” said Jennifer Earnest, co-owner of Candy Apple Café and Cocktails. “The Jacksonville Symphony, for example, had a record season last year. There’s always something going on downtown, and we recognize the need to keep our menu fresh in order to attract existing and new patrons.”
In addition to food, Candy Apple is updating its beer and wine list and refreshing its cocktail list to include eight new handcrafted concoctions. Well-known for topping drinks with Sweet Pete’s candy, patrons can now enjoy salted caramel apple brulee made with serpent’s bite apple cider whiskey, frangelico, housemade sour mix, white cranberry juice, cinnamon and, of course, Sweet Pete’s famous sea salt caramel, for example.
This is the restaurant’s first menu update since opening in December 2014. In addition to refreshing the menu, the restaurant will offer valet parking Thursday – Saturday evening. Valet services are already available Monday – Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
With the new menu also comes a new creative look for Candy Apple Café & Cocktails. The Bonjour Y’all campaign was created by On Ideas. “We took our cues from the whimsical décor and Southern and French menu items,” said David Bonner, partner at On Ideas. The new look celebrates the “joie de vivre” atmosphere of the restaurant with a slightly irreverent attitude.
“Candy Apple and Sweet Pete’s is a summer destination for many Jacksonvillians,” said Earnest. “People come for a break from the heat and to celebrate the fun in everyday life. So this was a natural time to add to our menu and update our look through the Bonjour Y’all campaign.”
The Candy Apple Café & Cocktails is a full service restaurant located in Downtown Jacksonville that serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch daily, as well as dinner Tuesday – Saturday. With a menu of French and Southern fusion cuisine, a full bar and three private event spaces, The Candy Apple Café & Cocktails celebrates the decadence of everyday life. For more information, visit thecandyapplecafe.com.
New Menu Items
Brunch:
VEGAN HASH GF/VA ($11)
roasted red potatoes, wild mushrooms, haricot vert, baby carrots and wilted spinach with romesco sauce
PORK BELLY & CHEDDAR WAFFLE ($15)
mustard glaze, apricot preserves
COUNTRY FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLE ($15)
with spiced brown sugar and cinnamon glazed apples
Appetizers, Soup, Salads & Sandwiches
BEEF TENDERLOIN TARTARE GF ($13)
house chips, soft boiled egg)
BUFFALO CHICKEN CROQUETTES ($9)
house made blue cheese, franks red hot, shaved celery slaw
HOUSE CHIPS GF ($6)
with smoked bacon dip
WEDGE CAESAR GF without crouton ($10/7)
sweet gem lettuce, boquerones, crouton, pepper-parmesan dressing
FRENCH ONION SOUP GF without crouton ($8)
sherry, caramelized onions, gruyere
BLACKENED CHICKEN SANDWICH ($11)
cherrywood smoked bacon, house blue cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado, brioche
Entrees
HERB ROASTED CHICKEN MOUTARDE GF ($24)
potato dauphinoise, grilled asparagus
SHORT RIB POT-AU-FEU GF without baguette ($28)
oxtail, bone marrow, celery root, cornichone, toasted baguette
CHAR GRILLED FILET MIGNON ($32)
savory brioche bread pudding, wild mushrooms, roquefort, grilled asparagus
WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO GF/VA without reggiano ($17)
lobster and chanterelles, sage beurre noissette, shaved reggiano
Desserts
GINGER CARROT CAKE ($8)
crystallized ginger, buttermilk glace, mascarpone vanilla bean mousse
ORANGE CHEESECAKE $8
mixed berry compote
Cocktails
SALTED CARAMEL APPLE BRÛLÉE ($10)
serpent’s bite apple cider whiskey, frangelico, housemade sour mix, white cranberry juice, cinnamon, sweet pete’s sea salt caramel
SARSAPARILLA FLOAT ($11)
jeremiah weed sarsaparilla whiskey, brown jug bourbon cream, vanilla ice cream, root beer
BOURBON S’MORES ($12)
housemade chocolate infused four roses yellow label bourbon, kahlua, kerry gold irish cream, milk, demerara syrup, marshmallow fluff
VERDICT’S IN ($12)
mezcal, pressed lemon juice, blackberry-raspberry puree, housemade jalapeno simple syrup
BLUEBERRY PROVENÇAL ($11)
ketel one vodka, pressed lemon juice, fresh blueberries, housemade lavender syrup
BOLD-FASHIONED ($10)
grind espresso rum, four roses bourbon, demerara syrup, orange bitters, egg whites
FRENCH CONNECTION ($12)
bombay gin, bolla prosecco, grand marnier, pressed lemon juice
THE GOLDEN TICKET ($9)
malibu black coconut rum, orange liqueur, housemade, sour mix, pineapple juice
GF - gluten free item VA - vegan
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