Callahan
Callahan, FL · Local Life
The Florida Times-Union
Best artisan bread in Jacksonville? Here are 4 must-visit bakeries
Whether you're craving a crusty sourdough boule, a pillowy slice of milk bread or a sweet pastry to share with a special someone, Jacksonville’s artisan bread scene is rising. Across neighborhoods like Murray Hill, Baymeadows, Springfield and others, family-owned bakeshops and chef-driven bakeries are crafting loaves with stone-ground flours, long fermentation times and recipes rooted in tradition. It's estimated that more than 312,000 artisan bakeries were operating last year in the U.S. and Canada. Fresh breads and pastries accounted for most of their baked goods, according to Market Growth Reports research data updated in October. If you’re wondering where to find artisan bread, in search of the best sourdough in Jacksonville, or picking up a sweet treat, these four bakeries are a delicious place to start. 1. St. Gabriel Bakery (Southside) A newcomer that opened in March 2024, St. Gabriel Bakery is a family-run traditional artisanal bakeshop on the Southside. Founded by Carol Vela, her husband, Kevin Suarez, and her sons Donny, Sebastian and Rodrigo Tortola, the bakery routinely turns out 40 to 45 varieties of scratch-made Guatemalan and international breads. What makes St. Gabriel Bakery special? What's the baker's secret ingredient? St. Gabriel began in the family’s home kitchen,
hoodline.com
Fernandina Beach Firefighters Sweetly Blame Local Bakery for Irresistible Treats
The Fernandina Beach Fire Department has had a delicious problem recently, according to their latest social media update. In a light-hearted post, the department has pointed a playful finger at a local bakery, Thirteen Bakery, for causing potential waistline expansions among its ranks. "If you notice our firefighters moving up a pants size, we’re blaming Thirteen Bakery," the post begins, highlighting the sweet dilemma of resisting delectable treats from the beloved gluten-free establishment.
News4Jax.com
Amaretti’s Desserts on Old St Augustine Rd. celebrates Mardi Gras with more than just King Cakes
King cakes go back centuries to France, where they were baked for Epiphany, or King’s Day, often as a ring-shaped sweet bread with a hidden bean or trinket to choose a “king” for the day. Today’s versions, especially along the Gulf Coast, are usually a soft, brioche-style dough swirled with cinnamon, covered in icing, and decked out in purple, green, and gold sugar that symbolize justice, faith, and power. A tiny plastic baby is now tucked inside, and whoever finds it is crowned king or queen of the party and is traditionally on the hook to bring the next cake. Here in Jacksonville, Amaretti Desserts in Mandarin carries that made-from-scratch tradition into their own case, as a family-owned bakery known for its scratch-baked desserts, pastries, and locally roasted coffee at their shop on Old St. Augustine Road.
The Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville dining scene to get new restaurants, check these ones out
Jacksonville Daily Record
Birdie Coffee Downtown opens at 1 Independent Square
Birdie Coffee Downtown is taking a swing at operating a coffee kiosk in the lobby of 1 Independent Square, according to a Feb. 11 news release. As the name implies, it is a golf-themed company. Its website says it was founded “by golfers, for golfers.”. The Birdie Coffee Co....
Jacksonville Daily Record
Former Landstar CEO planning restaurant with pickleball courts in Mayport
The retired CEO of Jacksonville-based trucking company Landstar is planning a restaurant complex with pickleball courts, a stage and more in Mayport. James Gattoni, who retired in 2024 after 28 years with Landstar, said Feb. 10 he was targeting a spring 2027 opening for the restaurant at 2989 Mayport Road. The site is near the Wonderland Drive intersection north of Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park.
thejaxsonmag.com
11 Black cultural heritage sites to visit in town
The ruins of the Fitzpatrick Plantation at Cedar Point are near the southern tip of Black Hammock Island. Built in the late 1700s, land was originally granted to Samuel Mills and later acquired by the Fitzpatrick family. Enslaved African laborers were forced to produce salt by boiling seawater. The plantation was destroyed by Union forces during the Civil War. Today, Cedar Point is a part of the National Park Service’s Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. (Courtesy of Ennis Davis, AICP)
The Florida Times-Union
Outdoor food hall, live music venue The BLOCK Jax sets opening date
A first-of-its-kind, family-oriented Jacksonville entertainment venue with an outdoor food hall featuring eight restaurants and a craft brewery, plus a kids' park, live music pavilion and a private dog park, is getting ready to open. The BLOCK Jax will debut March 20-22 with a grand opening weekend celebration, owner and founder Daniel Moffatt told the Times-Union on Feb. 11. "It's official. I'm going to make it happen one way or another. Unless there is something catastrophic that happens, we're in a good spot. We're wrapping up construction in the next week, and then we've got inspections and licensing at the end of the month," Moffatt said. The 2.5-acre venue at 7520 Quarter Mill Drive off Gate Parkway — roughly a half mile north of IKEA on the Southside — has been in the works for slightly more than two years. "It wasn't a cookie-cutter project. … The biggest challenge has just been building something new and unique to this area that hasn't been done before," Moffatt said. "Essentially, we've built eight different restaurants on site. We have a live music pavilion area. We have a kids' park and then the Kanine Social dog park area." Restaurants, craft brewery at The
whatnow.com
Soul Out Kitchen Launching with Country-Style Soul Food This Spring
This spring, a new food truck will set up shop in Jacksonville at 2056 Emerson St, serving up country-style soul food favorites. It’s called Soul Out Kitchen, and it’s working toward a launch this April. “It’s going to be country-style soul food,” Edward, a co-owner in the project,...
whatnow.com
New Dunkin’ Opening Near Normandy and Chaffee in Jacksonville
With about 9,990 locations currently open in the U.S., Dunkin’ Donuts has proved its early-2000’s slogan “America Runs on Dunkin’”. Well over 900 of those locations are in Florida, and more are on the way: multi-unit franchisee Andy Patel is planning to launch another new location on 11410 Normandy Blvd, near Chaffee Road (as the Jacksonville Daily Record reported in January).
904happyhour.com
Jacksonville Food & Wine Festival returns March 7, 2026
Mark your calendars… The Jacksonville Food & Wine Festival returns March 7, 2026, taking over Historic Riverside’s Artist Walk for a high-energy celebration of the city’s food, culture, and creativity!. Sip, savor, and explore an unforgettable day featuring 25+ top chefs and culinary teams, dozens of world-class...