Hometown Goodness: Picasso's in Jacksonville, Florida

Cooking is an art. Eating is an art. Comedy is art. Love is most definitely art. I’m beginning to sound like a broken record but food is meant to be shared over love and laughter. The quality of the ingredients and preparation should be of the highest quality, similar to the company you keep. If you regularly share in your version of soul food with people who elevate you, then you are participating in the world of art. I welcome you to an artistic experience, bring your comrades and an appetite because I’m taking you to a hometown favorite, Picasso’s Pizzeria, Where Food is Art. I remember the very first time I walked into Picasso’s, ordered my meal and enjoyed everything so immensely I couldn’t wait to return. I even remember the conversation that led to said meal and I could plant a fat one on the very special gentleman who suggested it. He said “you ever had St. Louis style pizza?” Being a food enthusiast bordering on snob I was appalled I hadn’t heard of this let alone experienced it. My foodie ego was bruised and just as quickly, my stomach started growling with a craving for the unknown. I wanted to be blown away in a manner I couldn’t predict. By food. Now. And so we set off, out of our comfortable suburban island, across the Buckman bridge, to San Jose Boulevard, where Picasso’s resides.

It should be noted here that Picasso’s has moved, slightly further down San Jose, passed Whole Foods, but still on the right-hand side, to an even nicer building with more space to feed the many hungry mouths. Regardless of the slightly fancier location, the down the earth staff and homey feeling when you walk in remains. Chris and Scott(co-owners and exquisite chefs) will remember your faces, your orders, your food issues (my advice? get over them, open your mouth and bite.) and even the details of your life, your kids, spouses, jobs, hobbies, etc. At Picasso’s, they love to eat, love to cook and love to share; therefore, they’re exponentially grateful for their ever-expanding clientele and the mutual love for their home-cooked grub. Obviously the food is the most important aspect to this operation, but knowing your supporting an individually run business that not only cares deeply about the quality of each ingredient in each dish, but also desires to connect with you on a human to human level rather than a role-playing, chef to patron exchange, gives me reason to spread the word and keep coming back.

What’s beautiful about this place is that you’re able to try truly excellent, unique foods from around our vast country. I hadn’t tried St. Louis style pizza or their toasted ravioli, but I did, and boy was I ecstatic. Their pizza is unique in that their cheese and sauce mixture resting on top of a delicious, home-made crust, is creamy and flavorful and just plain peculiar. Peculiar in a great way, don’t be thrown off non-adventurous eaters, be excited! This may be the best culinary thing to happen to you all year. It was for me that year. The crust is thin, the sauce mixture flavorful and a stand-out and the array of toppings to choose from is astounding. My most recent love affair between me and a pizza involved a basic St. Louis style with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes on top. It was divine, heavenly, proof that the magic of life is right here on Earth and nowhere else. Rejoice in knowing that all of life’s wonders are right here for the taking. Open up and enjoy it!

Along the way in my now 4 year relationship with this blessed place, I’ve tried their New York style pizza, perfect; their hamburgers, juicy, delectable; their fried mac ‘n’ cheese, you haven’t lived, holy hell; their salads, fresh, bright, healthy and satisfying; their sandwiches, borderless, extraordinary; their entrees, try the shrimp ‘n’ grits, holy shit; almost every appetizer, special and entrée on their menu, all amazing, all worth it; and their desserts, holy effin ravioli batman, chocolate f*cking mousse that would taste so good your unborn baby will crave it. Just trust me. They are the epitome of quality, of home-made, of soul, and of art. They're food looks, smells, feels, sounds and tastes, like art. Do yourself a favor and masticate on this.

I live in one of the greatest food cities in the world and I still crave Picasso’s, constantly. During each trip back home, I’m given the greatest gift, the ability to share in this wonderful food with my amazing family. We laughed, we chewed, we loved. It’s what we’re meant to do. It’s what I grew up appreciating and what I’m most grateful for to this day. It spawned a passion that is driving me to keep pursuing this experience, like an addiction, I need more good food, with more good people. This very simple but very primal and pivotal experiences keep getting better and I’m inspired to share in hopes that you all can feed your souls as well. And I hope you do, in whichever way you can.

Breathe. Open your mind, your heart and your mouth, wider. Be an artist. Experience art, however you define or embody it. Share it. Elbows on the table, laugh with your mouth full. Enjoy.

Want to have a humorous, comedy/food rapport with me? Then write mastic8onthis@gmail.com Follow me @mastic8onthis

Sandwiches, Salads, Soups and Soul at Panes Bread Cafe

Ahhh, bread. So simple, yet to vital. And so easy to f*ck up. There’s some colossally shitty bread out there. You know who you are. And if your idea of good bread is of the Wonder variety then you may as well move on and read the Wal Mart blog for food recommendations. This isn’t about bread though, this is also about sandwiches. Bread is very obviously the essential component in a sandwich, without it, it’d be like a hug with no arms. Apologies to my amputee friends out there. Panes bread cafe is a little Chicago gem run by a group of feisty European women. Clearly, I love them. We have the same cynicism for lesser food and the same enthusiasm for real quality food and simple ingredients. A great sandwich should not be hard to come by, but in many ways it is. Panes is attempting to make that craving for a mind-blowing sandwich an attainable reality by providing Lakeview customers with the best of the best at a great price.

Located on the 3000 block of Sheffield Ave, just south of Belmont, Panes has a small, modest sign out front, and an almost equally small operation inside. This only adds to its charm as inside is brightly painted in a beautiful Tuscan yellow, with industrial beams painted in a complimentary rustic red. It maybe sits 30 people, mostly those finding time on their lunch hour to scarf down something that will brighten their day, and their pallet. Upon approaching the counter you see a slew of freshly made breads, spanning from Spain, France, Italy and Greece inspired and cornering even the banana market. The menu is on the wall to the right and beyond selling bread, they serve appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, and of course, sandwiches.

I first had the privilege of a Panes experience about 6 months ago, when a great friend who has now left Chicago ordered it for our co-workers at my 2nd job. For $5.95 I got a large sandwich with grilled portabella mushrooms, homemade pesto, tomato, fresh mozzarella on tomato bread. It also came with a side of chips. I was so amazed the bread was not soggy in the least, despite the 1.5 mile delivery length and 30-40 minute wait. It was delicious, plain and simple. I could not wait to order again. When I did, I ordered their roast beef, which is home cooked and sliced, served with avocado, spicy mayo, grilled onions and monterey jack. Oh man, so good!

Just recently I went to Panes in person. It’s even better because you can pick up fresh bread and peruse their selection of hand-crafted desserts. I’m a whore for sweets so naturally I took home one of their “monster cookies.” I’m salivating just thinking of this. It’s a large cookie, as you probably imagined, made of peanut butter, oats, M&M’s and chocolate chips. It’s fricken fantastic. This trip I picked up a Sunny California and Super Panes sandwich and we enjoyed every finger licking bite. Not a bad item in this place, just no nonsense women giving you their best. They’re my heros.

If I’m slumming and forced to be in suburban America I’ll settle for a Quizno’s or Firehouse sub, but if I’m in Chicago and I’m fortunate to have such incredible options, I’ll ride out of my way or have Panes delivered. Every. Single. Time.

They don't even have a website, so here's a link to their menu.

Raise your expectations. And standards. Quality of life is important. Especially with food. Enjoy.

Now that you're finished giving up something, eat this...C.B.A.!

C.B.A. Chicago Bagel Authority. Enough said. Oh. My. God. I know what you’re thinking, “bagels? really? boring.” Rest easy because it’s not simply a bagel place. Oh no, it’s so much more than a bagel place. Steamed bagel sandwiches. That’s right. Steamed, mmm, such a sexy word. Steam. I’m getting hungry again and I’m fairly certain I’ve yet to digest my last sandwich from this blessed place. We first got wind of this place by walking the wrong direction on Armitage attempting to meet friends for dinner at a nearby tapas restaurant. Seeing the sandwiches being prepared through the window was enough to stop us in our tracks and set the intention to visit the establishment soon. And so we did.

C.B.A., as it’s affectionately known to Chicago residents, is situated just steps west from the Armitage (New location on Belmont! Right near the EL station) Brown/Purple line stop, in the heart of Lincoln Park. Probably one of the most charming areas of the city, with beautiful Amsterdam-like architecture, tree-lined streets, and a plethora of boutiques and restaurants, to suit any taste. Just upon entering C.B.A. you’re greeted with a waft of delicious smells you can almost taste. Meat and cheese mainly, but other goodies as well. It has a very casual charm, exposed brick lining the interior, a few rectangular high tables toward the back and a couple cozy booths perched next to the windows, mostly inhabited by moms and toddlers. Avoid it weekday late mornings, later afternoon is best as that’s when the children and moms are napping. There are random photos, drawings, and subtle odes to the Ohio State University Buckeyes, as the owners are from Ohio. No need to worry Wolverine fans, it’s a subtle homage, almost lazy in it’s execution, which adds to it’s charm, so damn casual. The staff is very friendly, at any time of day, and are composed of mostly young, relaxed bagophiles. There’s some cute ladies for the men to enjoy and one AHdorable gentleman, who despite being with my husband I make a bee line for each visit. C.B.A. is no doubt ripe with delicious meat.

The menu is broken down by the type of meat, including 7-10 veggie options that hold their weight against any meaty selection. There’s also a breakfast menu and the option to simply pick a basic bagel, prepared in-house, including a wide variety of spreads and bagels with specific flavors, whatever you fancy. There are easily 50 sandwich choices, all come steamed, and they’re described in chicken scratch on 3 large chalk boards behind the employees. For the convenience of those with regular sight, or worse, they provide menus at the bar where the sandwich artists line up and you simply let them know you’re selection, pay the cashier, be sure to tip and go anxiously wait for what will be a life-changing sandwich.

Now, at this point I’ve had at least 10 of their sandwiches, including breakfast, veggie, and at least one from each meat column. None of them, zero, have been bad or even mediocre. All have made me make the “O” face. Today, for the first time, I ordered a sandwich I’d had in the past. It’s called the Messy Katy. It’s not even on the chalk board! It’s turkey, sliced ever so thin and piled generously with avocado, tomato, sprouts, cream cheese, honey mustard, and here’s the kicker, steamed on Bialy. What’s Bialy? Those familiar with bigger cities, New York in particular, will be well acquainted with baily and all its glory. The shortest way to describe it is a bagel hooked up with an english muffin and had nothing short than the bread equivalent of a Brangelina type child. There’s no hole, its not steamed and then baked, just baked. I think. Ah, well. It’s the perfect texture and flavor for a sandwich, slightly salty, soft enough, not too thick for the sandwich and it’s co-habitants. All sandwiches have adorably clever names like the DePaul Ruben, Hide the Salami, the Ritz and so on. Again, all are highly satisfying, cleverly designed, the flavors complimenting each other perfectly and the accompanying bagel flavor perfectly snuggling and rounding out each bite. Most importantly, they’re made with love. The employees seem sincerely jazzed about their little hole in the wall and love to share in their customer’s enthusiasm.

The good people of C.B.A. gave their labor of love a name befitting of their product. They are the authority on bagels here in Chicago. We’ve made it a weekly trip. They have free wifi for customers, a cooler of tasty beverages to wash down your even tastier grub, and a selection of high quality potato chips with accompanying flavors, and for real fatty’s like myself, uber fantastic rice krispie treats, smore cereal bars, and large chocolate chip cookies. You can consume the food pyramid in one sitting and I encourage you to do so. Prices range from 5-7 bucks a sandwich, well worth it. They have a punch card for frequent customers. I hit my free sandwich milestone today.

Everyone’s life could be steamier. This is a great place to start. Enjoy.