By Ben Cox
Photos by ElCrow Photography
It was overcast and windy but it was dining al fresco on West State Street between the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Jacksonville Area Museum on Sunday, May 4.
The special, outdoor dining event commemorated the city’s bicentennial and the 40th anniversary of the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Joe Standley of Proud Richard’s, Richie Frederick of The Corner Deli, Andrew Deuel of The Little Stove, Bradly Mechol of Kitchen 63 and Abbi Kafer of The Soap Co. Coffee House were the chefs for the five-course meal complete with local wine pairings, while Hamilton’s North East provided a cheese table, bar, and tablescape touches. Karen Homolka, owner of Another Way Blooms, designed the evening’s floral arrangements. Jeff Newman and Levi Tucker provided musical entertainment.
The event was hotly anticipated by the community, as all 200 tickets sold out on April 10. The menu included: cucumber and green melon gazpacho with lump crab meat, a reimagined Caesar salad, seaside cacio e pepe, a 20-day dry aged filet mignon with chipotle cream orzo, and a vanilla bean chantilly cake for dessert.
Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brittany Henry says the whole night was a dream come true: “Plates on State was a dream realized with an unforgettable farm-to-table experience in the heart of downtown Jacksonville that showcased some of our city’s incredible culinary talent and community spirit. This year, as Jacksonville celebrates its 200th anniversary and the Convention & Visitors Bureau marks 40 years, we wanted to create something truly special — and this event did just that. With the support of our chefs, the City, Hamilton’s Catering, our serving and bussing staff, my board and a team of dedicated volunteers, we brought a vision to life that reflects the flavor, collaboration and pride of our community. I’m so proud of what we accomplished together.”
