Five Locally-Owned Restaurants Comprise New San Marco Dining District, a Co-Marketing Partnership to Celebrate Jacksonville's Premier Dining Destination
The San Marco Dining District features special offers and events on its Facebook page at facebook.com/SanMarcoDining
Jacksonville, FL, October 06, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Five neighboring restaurants have joined forces to raise awareness of the unique, independently-owned dining options available in Jacksonville's historic San Marco area. The San Marco Dining District consists of bb's, Bistro AIX, The Grotto, Matthew's and Taverna. The restaurateurs share a common goal to promote San Marco as a choice dining destination, a common philosophy that great communities treasure great food, and a commitment to use local ingredients whenever possible. Special offers, promotions and events are featured on the San Marco Dining District Facebook page at facebook.com/SanMarcoDining.
The group's beginnings were organic. “We already had good relationships in place, we shared ideas, supported each other and enjoyed each other's food,” said Sarah Marie Johnston, Marketing Director of Bistro AIX. “We started with a solid foundation of mutual respect and genuine appreciation of culinary talent,” agreed Mitch Woodlief, Owner and Sommelier at The Grotto. Woodlief added, “A few months ago, we started talking about how collectively we've created a very special dining destination in San Marco and by pooling our ideas and marketing efforts, we could tell the story more effectively.”
The group tapped Wingard Creative for branding and marketing. That's when the Chalkboard Manifesto was born. David Wingard, president of Wingard Creative, commented, “We wanted Jacksonville to appreciate San Marco for what it is, a premier dining district in the heart of the city. We wanted to showcase that these restaurants use local ingredients, feature very talented chefs and are locally-owned. With that goal in mind, we narrowed in on the artisan quality of dining in San Marco, and designed a look-and-feel for the San Marco Dining District inspired by the chalkboard, and the tradition of daily chalkboard specials.” The Chalkboard Manifesto reads: We believe great food starts with local ingredients hand-crafted by artisan chefs, with passion. Great restaurants share this food in a meaningful way. They know food is more than a meal, it is an experience. Great neighborhoods treasure great restaurants. San Marco is one of those neighborhoods. Great food comes from San Marco.
For Jacksonville, the San Marco Dining District offers the opportunity to experience a variety of the city's best restaurants, each with a distinctive cuisine and ambiance, all within a few blocks. The offerings include:
bb's: bb's specializes in made from scratch cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh, local, in-season ingredients. Chef Joshua Agan’s creative twists on southern classics and eclectic regional cuisine continues bb’s legacy. Agan's quest for the freshest ingredients has driven bb's to take “local to the next level” in the form of Jacksonville’s first and only rooftop herb garden. bb's award winning desserts are prepared and delivered by its bakery daily, and the restaurant features artistic house infused martinis, bottled beers, and an extensive Wine Spectator award-winning list of wines.
Bistro AIX: Named after the French town, Aix-en-Provence, Bistro AIX is a high-energy bistro offering a menu full of soul-stirring, rustic flavors in a stylish, big-city setting. With an emphasis on locally-grown, sustainable, organic and natural ingredients, the seasonally-driven menu features a mix of regional French and Mediterranean specialties complimented by a full bar and extensive international wine list.
The Grotto: Jacksonville's unrivaled wine bar, The Grotto features more than 70 wines by the glass and more than 300 stocked bottles to enjoy “to go” or in its inviting, brick-walled Italian wine cellar-style setting. Chef Scott Houser has expanded The Grotto menu to include more of its popular tapas dishes, heartier tapas selections and light entrees, all seasonally inspired and perfect accompaniments to a glass or two of wine.
Matthew's: Under the expert direction of Chef Matthew Medure, Matthew's Restaurant has been one of Northeast Florida's most distinctive, innovative and elegant fine-dining restaurants for over a decade. Matthew's menu is crafted each day to take advantage of fresh, seasonal ingredients, and a variety of options are offered, from a tasting menu to early dining.
Taverna: Featuring a stylish and warm ambiance, Taverna specializes in seasonal Italian cuisine with Mediterranean influences. Chef Sam Efron works closely with local farms and frequently changes the menu to take advantage of the best local harvests and provide guests with the freshest products available throughout the seasons. Mirroring the philosophy for food, Wine Director Kiley Wynne Efron has built a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list that focuses on distinct regions of Italy, as well as an eclectic sampling of wines from around the world.
About San Marco Dining District
The San Marco Dining District is comprised of five of Jacksonville's best chef-driven restaurants, each locally-owned, and all located within historic San Marco. They include bb's, Bistro Aix, The Grotto, Matthew's and Taverna. Find the San Marco Dining District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SanMarcoDining.
Media Contact:
Caryn Best, 904-708-4134, caryn.best@gmail.com
The group's beginnings were organic. “We already had good relationships in place, we shared ideas, supported each other and enjoyed each other's food,” said Sarah Marie Johnston, Marketing Director of Bistro AIX. “We started with a solid foundation of mutual respect and genuine appreciation of culinary talent,” agreed Mitch Woodlief, Owner and Sommelier at The Grotto. Woodlief added, “A few months ago, we started talking about how collectively we've created a very special dining destination in San Marco and by pooling our ideas and marketing efforts, we could tell the story more effectively.”
The group tapped Wingard Creative for branding and marketing. That's when the Chalkboard Manifesto was born. David Wingard, president of Wingard Creative, commented, “We wanted Jacksonville to appreciate San Marco for what it is, a premier dining district in the heart of the city. We wanted to showcase that these restaurants use local ingredients, feature very talented chefs and are locally-owned. With that goal in mind, we narrowed in on the artisan quality of dining in San Marco, and designed a look-and-feel for the San Marco Dining District inspired by the chalkboard, and the tradition of daily chalkboard specials.” The Chalkboard Manifesto reads: We believe great food starts with local ingredients hand-crafted by artisan chefs, with passion. Great restaurants share this food in a meaningful way. They know food is more than a meal, it is an experience. Great neighborhoods treasure great restaurants. San Marco is one of those neighborhoods. Great food comes from San Marco.
For Jacksonville, the San Marco Dining District offers the opportunity to experience a variety of the city's best restaurants, each with a distinctive cuisine and ambiance, all within a few blocks. The offerings include:
bb's: bb's specializes in made from scratch cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh, local, in-season ingredients. Chef Joshua Agan’s creative twists on southern classics and eclectic regional cuisine continues bb’s legacy. Agan's quest for the freshest ingredients has driven bb's to take “local to the next level” in the form of Jacksonville’s first and only rooftop herb garden. bb's award winning desserts are prepared and delivered by its bakery daily, and the restaurant features artistic house infused martinis, bottled beers, and an extensive Wine Spectator award-winning list of wines.
Bistro AIX: Named after the French town, Aix-en-Provence, Bistro AIX is a high-energy bistro offering a menu full of soul-stirring, rustic flavors in a stylish, big-city setting. With an emphasis on locally-grown, sustainable, organic and natural ingredients, the seasonally-driven menu features a mix of regional French and Mediterranean specialties complimented by a full bar and extensive international wine list.
The Grotto: Jacksonville's unrivaled wine bar, The Grotto features more than 70 wines by the glass and more than 300 stocked bottles to enjoy “to go” or in its inviting, brick-walled Italian wine cellar-style setting. Chef Scott Houser has expanded The Grotto menu to include more of its popular tapas dishes, heartier tapas selections and light entrees, all seasonally inspired and perfect accompaniments to a glass or two of wine.
Matthew's: Under the expert direction of Chef Matthew Medure, Matthew's Restaurant has been one of Northeast Florida's most distinctive, innovative and elegant fine-dining restaurants for over a decade. Matthew's menu is crafted each day to take advantage of fresh, seasonal ingredients, and a variety of options are offered, from a tasting menu to early dining.
Taverna: Featuring a stylish and warm ambiance, Taverna specializes in seasonal Italian cuisine with Mediterranean influences. Chef Sam Efron works closely with local farms and frequently changes the menu to take advantage of the best local harvests and provide guests with the freshest products available throughout the seasons. Mirroring the philosophy for food, Wine Director Kiley Wynne Efron has built a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list that focuses on distinct regions of Italy, as well as an eclectic sampling of wines from around the world.
About San Marco Dining District
The San Marco Dining District is comprised of five of Jacksonville's best chef-driven restaurants, each locally-owned, and all located within historic San Marco. They include bb's, Bistro Aix, The Grotto, Matthew's and Taverna. Find the San Marco Dining District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SanMarcoDining.
Media Contact:
Caryn Best, 904-708-4134, caryn.best@gmail.com
Contact
Caryn Best
904-708-4134
904-708-4134
Contact
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