My kids had a great time at Jax Cooking Studio. The class was informative, fun, and kid-friendly…read more The facility was clean and it's always nice to support a local small business. It's a bit pricey, but the experience was enjoyable and memorable for the kids. Great place for any and everyone! Date night, solo time, family outings, girls day, whatever... it's a solid experience.

Chef Carl, along with his sous chef and dishwasher were professional, experienced and patient as he…read moredemonstrated techniques and offered handy tips while preparing courses and kept all the cook stations tidy. A misunderstanding about attendance was quickly resolved and we began our evening. This meal was a requested duplicate from a few months back using bourbon and it was very very good. Demonstrations have live feed camera and you can watch screen, if you cannot get up to the counter! Would highly recommend. A great experience with group or date night too!

Chef Vernetta is absolutely amazing!!! She catered my graduation party. She was able to create a…read moremenu that met the needs of my guest while providing delicious food that my guest continue talking about. Communication and billing was a smooth process and she and her team were very professional. If you haven't had the pleasure of trying Chef Vernetta's food you can order from her restaurant or sign up for a cooking class. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Just delicious! Happened to be in the area, and we decided to grab lunch/ early dinner here at the…read morePalete, I have met Chef Vernetta a few times and she is the sweetest, I was very happy to see her and a few ladies inside ready to cook you up a meal. The menu is smaller which I like, my thinking, make a few things great instead of a bunch average....we ordered: *Chicken Alfredo- this was my favorite! the chicken is marinated on skewers and was so good! It was moist and flavorful, the pasta has a great sauce on it, served with sautéed rainbow carrots and green beans, loved this dish! *Crabcakes- 2 large crab cakes with the same veggies and roasted corn salad, yum, I always feel like crab cakes are a special meal! *Chicken over rice- this was that same marinated chicken skewers, served over yellow rice, with veggies, very good! I enjoyed each dish, and liked the concept of you pop in a pick up a gourmet meal to take home, I like to meal prep my lunches for the week and this place would be wonderful for that also!

Blue Bamboo has been on our radar for years but somehow with all our time in Jacksonville we still…read morehadn't been.. That was till last weekend went we made a reservation a week out and locked in. We came in for dinner and were quickly seated. We started off with checking out the drink menu and I had to try the Asian Whiskey Smash which sounded very refreshing. Once ordered I have never seen a drink come out faster which made me think it might have been premade but it was still good. Of course course also had to get an appetizer and when with a classic for us that being the Crab Rangoon's which are made with actual Lump-Crab and not Krab....I was also a big fan of the sauce it came with since I'm not a huge fan of the radioactive Sweet & Sour Sauce that many come with. I ordered another drink and this time went with Sake. I got the Sakari Demon Slayer which came in a "Juice Box" which was fun. Not the best Sake for sure but fun and cheap. For my entree I went with the Red Curry Shrimp & Grits. Being such a Curry and Shrimp & Grits fan it's just the best of both worlds. Ashley got the General's Chicken and we also ordered the Chow Fun with Beef for a noodle dish to share. The Red Curry Shrimp & Grits was very good and for sure a must try. It was rich and loaded with shrimp, veggies, and those tasty grit cakes. I have only had a Curried Shrimp & Grits once before and this one was for sure better and that one was good too. Now as if I couldn't speak more on thr Red Curry Shrimp & Grits that wasn't even the best dish of the night. That has to go to the Chow Fun with Beef! This was the best Chow Fun I have ever had by far. This is a must get every time you visit Blue Bamboo. The beef was so tender and the Chow Fun was cooked perfectly and so flavorful. We will for sure be coming to Blue Bamboo again!

Trying to be fair here..... we lived in the far east and NYC Montreal San Fran China towns…read more Ambience? Very nice. A five Star. Service? Same. We had curry noodles off the regular menu a four star. However when it came to the dim sum? Does not compare to other Jacksonville dim sum restaurants.....Not many choices. Ribs were terrible we ordered four different dim sums. The sauces with them were blah as were the dim sums A lot more work needed here

Insider secret bring your own wine. Most fun you can have…read morewith your clothes on. Been to this place 4 times now, unfortunately moved to Tennessee so too hard to get there now. Experienced going to the morning market to pick out fresh ingredients for hour meal. This class was more of a demonstration class than actual cooking and you are served by a professional chef what could be better. Also he is a comedian that perhaps should be playing a part at a comedy club. In closing I hope I can get back there someday, absolutely wonderful experience.

Trying to find a cooking class in the area was challenging. I was looking for a hands on class but…read morefor the weekend that I wanted, nothing was available. I settled on a demonstration class with Chef Thompson. The menu for that Saturday night was "Low Country Cuisine", which included a roasted butternut squash salad with goat cheese, smoked bacon, and pickled red onions; Mayport shrimp and Carolina clam perlou; and a winter citrus "french toast" with pear coulis and limoncello whipped cream. Given that my friend is allergic to seafood, I asked about a beef or chicken option substitute and the chef was very accommodating! He added skirt steak to the menu. When we arrived around 5:30 pm for the Saturday class, a group of three was already there. The chef offered wine and water as we settled into the counter-height directors chairs to watch him prepare a delicious meal. Chef Bill is a natural teacher. He seamlessly cooked, talked about the food and the inspiration behind some of the dishes, and interacted with us. The smells, the tastes, and the whiffs of food were incredible! He definitely knows what he's doing! About 2 hours later, we were ready to eat. Chef Thompson set up a buffet for us and we were encouraged to fill our plates and to get seconds. There was more than enough food. This was definitely a five star experience but my OCD with germs drops it down to four stars. I'd have just liked to see a little more hand washing as he was touching his face and other items around the kitchen as he was cooking. But, that was a minor issue and one that I'm sure only I noticed. If you're looking for a little something different for a dinner date or for an activity with friends, check out this culinary institute. You'll be in for a delicious meal that night and with the recipes and tips that you'll get, you can recreate the meal at home too.

I have placed several orders from Donna and it was always a hassle getting the products I paid for…read more She would outright lie about having mailed the order and then weeks later would say "Oh I'm sending it today." There was always an excuse! My last (and I mean last ever) order was not filled and she refuses to refund the money. She is a scammer and a thief in my opinion so beware of doing business with this place

This place would be my dream business. This is like a candy store for anyone who is into…read morealternative health, herbs, teas, spices and natural products. It's also a place to find some really unique gifts for loved ones. Donna, the owner and herbalist, is very approachable and runs a school where people in the community can come and learn various skills from soap making to attaining an herbalist's certificate right at this location. I'm so impressed with the array of ingredients that she carries [some that are very difficult to find] and the quality of the finished products that are available to purchase. The prices are very reasonable for everything. I love the fact that you can go and smell, touch, see and feel the plethora of wonderful products and bulk herbs available here! Much better, in my opinion, than blindly buying it online somewhere else. It smells amazing in here and now I know where to get my ingredients for my tea addiction at extremely reasonable prices. I just can't say enough about how amazing this resource is for locals and the entire community! Everyone is very welcoming, knowledgeable and generous with their time. If you are in the area, this is a hidden gem that you cannot miss!

Sur La Table is a whole experience!…read more Sur La Table was such a vibe! This class ended up being one of the absolute highlights of my trip to Jacksonville. My friend and I had the time of our lives, and it honestly felt like the perfect mix of learning, laughing, and connecting. One thing I loved most was how inclusive the whole experience is. Everyone gets a role, everyone gets involved, and you naturally end up chatting with new people. We met the sweetest couple and clicked instantly--it felt like we'd known them forever. Such a great way to build community while doing something fun. Quick note for anyone with dietary restrictions: I don't eat meat, and this particular class featured steak. They let me know that if I had called ahead, they would've happily made accommodations. So if you have allergies or restrictions, give them a heads‑up! They're extremely accommodating, which I really appreciated. We booked the Chef's Table date night class, and the menu was incredible. We made homemade gnocchi, a fresh salad, and a strawberry‑thyme sorbet that was a 10/10. The whole meal was simple, approachable, and taught in a way that made even "fancy" dishes feel doable at home. I left feeling inspired and ready to recreate everything in my own kitchen. Huge shoutout to our chef--he was from South Florida, and although I can't remember his name, he deserves all the praise. He explained everything clearly, shared a bit about himself, made everyone feel comfortable, and kept the energy fun and collaborative. His team and the store staff were just as amazing--kind, helpful, and genuinely excited to be there. From the safety walkthrough to the hands‑on techniques, everything was thoughtful and well‑organized. I'm already looking forward to coming back and doing it all over again. Thank you, Sur La Table, for such an unforgettable experience!

I am extremely disappointed with the way my 16-year-old daughter was treated at the Sur La Table…read morecooking camp. My daughter has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a disabling condition that prevents her from standing for long periods. During the first two days of camp, my husband explained her condition to the staff, and they provided a chair so she could fully participate without unnecessary pain. On June 24, however, Chef Josh Sziranko handled the situation very differently. When my daughter politely asked for a chair, he questioned why she needed one. After she explained that she had a medical condition, he dismissed her request, threw up his hands in frustration, and refused to provide the accommodation that had already been given the previous two days. As a result, my daughter was forced to stand far longer than she could physically tolerate, causing a severe CRPS flare-up. Weeks later, she was still experiencing increased pain because of what happened. She was even unable to finish the remainder of the camp because of the pain. What disappointed me just as much was the lack of response from management. I contacted the store immediately after the incident and spoke with Casey, who said General Manager Kathleen would call me. Kathleen called the following day and said she would handle the complaint. Still, after that, despite another follow-up call from me, we never received an update, an apology, or any indication that the matter was taken seriously. A business that welcomes children should also know how to treat children with disabilities. A simple chair had already been approved and provided by staff on previous days, yet my daughter's request was dismissed, causing her unnecessary pain. I hope Sur La Table takes this experience seriously, provides disability awareness and ADA accommodation training to its staff, and ensures that no other child or customer with a disability is treated this way. I cannot recommend this location based on our experience.

Thanks so much for your patience to take us through the four weeks journey and. We are so much…read moreproud to be students of Jacksonville cakes and more. We really enjoyed the cake too. Great job mama.​

I have been getting supplies from Mrs. Evette and her husband for a couple of years now, and they…read moreare always courteous and professional. I participated in a couple of their cake decorating classes to better my skills and recommended them to a couple of other friends that are also trying to get into the cake decorating business and they were so glad I did. They are a gem in Arlington and a wealth of knowledge!! You must check them out!!

My husband and I recently hired Chef Walter Busconi as our personal part-time Chef. He has been…read moreoutstanding in every regard. He is an excellent chef, with all the credentials, including expertise in nutrition. Chef Walter has an extensive collection of tried and true recipes and has self-published several cookbooks. He is creative and knowledgeable when it comes to food prep, pleasant to be around, eager to please and focused on the job at hand. We like him a lot. His meals have great eye appeal, contain healthy ingredients and have been delicious. Best of all, Chef Walter suggests a meal plan, does the shopping, prepares three meals that are easy for me to reheat and get on the table with minimal fuss, and leaves my kitchen spotless. I highly recommend Chef Walter Busconi. Kathleen Cort

For Valentine's Day this year, I decided to mix things up a bit and hire a private chef to cook…read moredinner for me and my wife. After some back-and-forth with several prospects, I decided to go with Chef Walter Busconi Lage or "Chef of the World" as he bills himself. He created a few different menus based on our preferred cuisines and we worked together to mix and match some of the elements of each to come to a three-course meal I knew we'd both enjoy. Arriving promptly at 4pm for a 6pm service, he was very friendly and accommodating. Chef Walter brought all of the necessary equipment to perform his craft, and right around 6pm we sat down to our first course of a goat cheese souffle. Impossibly light and rich at the same time, it was a fantastic starter. It came with some mixed greens on the side that were dressed with a flavorful vinaigrette. Our entree was surf and turf: bison ribeye with lobster, served with potatoes dauphinoise and asparagus in an orange zest hollandaise. The bison was cooked to perfection, with a delicious compound butter that helped with the natural leanness of bison. The potatoes were rich and yielding, and the asparagus was tender but still with a nice snap and the creamy hollandaise made it a joy to eat. The one miss on this course was the lobster, which was overly soft and didn't add much to the plate. For dessert we were served a cognac creme brulee with whipped topping. This was the best creme brulee I've ever eaten; the hint of cognac really set off the other flavors and it was not overly sweet. While not inexpensive, Chef Walter is a man who knows his craft. He was friendly, hospitable, punctual, and I wouldn't hesitate for a second to work with him again in the future.

I've been to this cafe a couple times over the years since I started working at FSCJ. The workers…read moreare actually the culinary students practicing their craft. I've never been disappointed coming here. Every Fall/Spring semester, they have a different theme. These photos are from the Fall Semester where the menus were curated based on different countries. I went to the Japan one. They served a sushi appetizer, my entree was the chicken katsu with noodles, and the dessert was a matcha cheesecake with ice cream on top. It's only $7 for lunch, but it's advised to pay in cash.

Fl.State College of Jax (FSCJ) has a culinary program for restaurant as well as hospitality…read moremanagement. With very limited, available reservations one can have lunch or dinner in their simulated restaurant lab for very reasonable cost! Today our book club lunched with a Chinese theme and it was wonderful! We had a "pork belly bao" pre-appetizer, then either shrimp siu Mai or scallion pancakes then a pick from four entree with fried rice and sichuan dry fried green bean and lastly a delicious dessert with French-press coffee-sweet! It is hard to get reservations and they are open only Tuesday/Thursday, the menu changes but the experience will be the same! Wonderful!

Great Indian store. Falooda my favorite! This place is a gem when it come to Indian treats and…read moreother things you might need to cook. This place got me hooked on Falooda. The noodles, ice cream combination on something that looks like a shake it's out of this world. You should try it.

I love this store! The owner is very helpful and kind. I tried the Samosas for the first time and…read morethey were wonderfully flavored, but a bit spicy for my pallet. Would love to try their cooking class when they start them up again.