My Review of The Salty Fig Restaurant and Billy Elliot the Musical.
Prior to hitting the Jacksonville Broadway scene yet again, we headed to an early dinner at The Salty Fig (5 Points). Standing at a towering 4’10”, my scrappy Mother-In-Law Melanie is by far the shortest date I have ever had (not including that horrible speed dating event I would just assume erase from my memory).
Prior to hitting the Jacksonville Broadway scene yet again, we headed to an early dinner at The Salty Fig (5 Points). Standing at a towering 4’10”, my scrappy Mother-In-Law Melanie is by far the shortest date I have ever had (not including that horrible speed dating event I would just assume erase from my memory).
The Salty Fig,
located at 901 King Street, Jacksonville, is a southern gastropub serving up
seafood and other local and seasonal fusion favorites with Cajun and Creole
influences.
Prior to The Salty Fig
opening in December 2012, the two brothers, Jeff and John Stanford, ran The Salty Fig
Food truck, a favorite among businessmen and women and locals alike. This increasingly popular business model
of testing out the market with first opening up a food truck is
genius! It gives locals an
opportunity to try out the chefs’ new offerings, and begin buzzing about your
concept with a low start-up cost to restaurateurs.
We parked in the rear of the building and slipped in though
the back, where immediately our mouths began to salivate. We walked past the open kitchen to find
the staff already hustling to prepare the Chefs’ latest seasonal
creations. I also took notice of
the pantry full of fresh produce pickling in mason jars. Right then I knew I was in for a treat!
The eclectic ambiance was light and airy with a very
casual-comforting vibe without a hint of pretension. Even the acoustic guitarist was the perfect accompaniment to
our pre-dinner cocktails and light conversation.
What We Ate/Drank:
The Dark Moon - Catdaddy Moonshine,
fresh lemon, agave, apple juice and ginger ale.
Spicy Watermelon Margarita – Tequila, Cointreau (Triple
Sec), Fresh watermelon puree, Jalapeño infused simple syrup, fresh lime.
Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup
Plant City Strawberry Salad (Arugula Base)
Citrus Mahi-Mahi
Cochon de Lait (Pork)
After reading a review of The Salty Fig on Yelp that states
“Eat here…no seriously…Eat here,” I had high expectations right out of the
gate. I am happy to report that
those expectations were not only met, but exceeded!
I twisted Melanie’s arm into trying the Dark Moon (since I
had to drive us to the show), and I settled on the Spicy Watermelon Margarita
(ordered with Patron Silver and light on the Simple Syrup). Both drinks were light and refreshing
and absolutely amazing! I could
have had many more, but thought it wise to stop. My favorite quote was from my Mother-In-Law this morning
“Did I really drink Moonshine…whoa that drink must have been strong.” Yes it
was, and yes you must order this on your next visit!
Any squash/potato/carrot soup is kinda my thing and this
Sweet Potato soup is die for, with the perfect notes of ginger and peanuts to
balance out the richness. The salad was also a homerun with the slightly bitter
arugula, spicy-salty pecans and sweet-rich goat cheese.
Moving on to our main courses, even though my pulled-pork
dish, topped off with a rich mushroom gravy and hollandaise sauce was extremely
flavorful, I couldn’t help regretting not ordering Melanie’s Mahi-Mahi. After noticing my envy, I was offered a
bite of this perfectly cooked fish with a wonderful citrus-butter sauce with
mangos. So delicious! Sorry – no room for dessert, but I hear
the Tempura Brownie is a top notch!
Thank you Gentlemen for this wonderful addition to the
restaurant scene in Jacksonville ~ This is my new favorite restaurant! Now only
if I lived closer (sigh).
The Salty Fig is open for lunch and dinner seven-days-a-week, with plans for brunch service early this spring.
The Salty Fig is open for lunch and dinner seven-days-a-week, with plans for brunch service early this spring.
Just a quick shout out to my sister Tina, who is not only
one of my biggest fans, but also my biggest critic. She asked that I include price points in my review from now
on. My total bill for the evening
was $75 (including 2 drinks, soup, salad and 2-dinners). Not bad eh! (Drinks are about $8-$10, but mine was more with the upgrade
to a higher end liquor). Very good
considering my martini at the Cheesecake Factory was $13 (seriously….seriously)?
On with the show!
Opening night of Billy Elliot at the Times Union Center,
downtown Jacksonville, was hustling and bustling with the cities finest! Not knowing much about this production
prior to attending, I didn’t quite know what to expect. We hurried to our Orchestra seats and
with the rise of the curtain were transported to Northern England in 1984, with
the beginning of the Coal Miners Strike during the Margaret Thatcher
reign.
After accidentally stumbling upon a ballet class lead by a
character favorite Mrs. Wilkinson, our young Billy Elliot begins to pursue his
God-given amazing talent of dancing.
Favorite line from the production: (Billy reading his name
out-loud on the acceptance, or denial letter, from the National Ballet School
in London) “Billy Elliot, is-a-queer”……(Long Pause)……(Dad) Oh! Esquire! (The crowd roars with laughter).
Many have the misconception that Billy Elliot is a production that touches on other political references (ok, there is one cross-dressing number), but that is just a very small blip in this historically-accurate journey for an exceptionally gifted ballet dancer. Not only was the storyline of this musical just wonderful, but it was also these innuendoes that poke fun at the misconceptions that make this show hilarious!
Many have the misconception that Billy Elliot is a production that touches on other political references (ok, there is one cross-dressing number), but that is just a very small blip in this historically-accurate journey for an exceptionally gifted ballet dancer. Not only was the storyline of this musical just wonderful, but it was also these innuendoes that poke fun at the misconceptions that make this show hilarious!
I am of the opinion that the Billy Elliot character is one
of the hardest characters for a young actor/dancer to play. For nearly 2 ½ hours, Billy is moving
around on stage like it’s nothing at all! This on-the-road production employs
four Billy Elliot’s, all young-men ranging from 12-15 years old. Last night, actor Ben Cook (North
Carolina) dazzled the audience with his superb acting, ballet, tap dancing, gymnastics
and singing (all with a British accent). This kid is unstoppable and will go
far in his career!
Everything from the sets, to the lights, dancing, acting and
music (symphony featuring traditional British instruments) had the entire house
at its feet for a standing ovation!
I highly recommend seeing this show – you won’t regret it!
While I believe this show will appeal to conservatives,
liberals, young and old, I will give my usual disclaimer that a select few may
be put-off by the incessant working-classes choice of words. Hey, it’s culture and to me, only
intensified the emotions that surrounded this time in history.
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| The Salty Fig |
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The Salty Fig Kitchen     |
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| Billy Elliot |
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| Actor Ben Cook as Billy Elliot |
My Review of Billy Elliot for the Artist Series
