My Life in Gluttony: A Culinary Adventure
Amazon
A 2020 Gold Award winner from the Florida Book Awards. Jeffrey Spear confesses “Living to eat is no longer an admission of gluttony or a problem with self-control. It has, in fact, become a badge of honor.” With this in mind, Spear gives readers a glimpse into his lifetime of culinary obsessions sparked by a willingness to eat just about anything and a job that takes him to some remarkable destinations around the world.
The Incredible Appeal of Dumplings
National Culinary Review
No matter where you look, chefs are delivering authentic culinary experiences with previously unexplored flavor profiles, ingredients and presentations. One application, best described as “filled dough” or simply “dumplings,” is experiencing tremendous popularity. Whether savory or sweet, chefs are experimenting, exploring traditional dumpling recipes from around the world, elevating them with innovative colors, folds and fillings.
The Top 10 Foodservice Trends for 2026
American Culinary Federation
The American Culinary Federation asked me to prepare an overview of the top 10 foodservice trends for the year ahead. Based on in-depth research, including current dynamics in foodservice as well as the prevailing consumer interest in dishes that are authentic and connect with them emotionally, this just-published report gives chefs useful perspectives and ideas to consider while planning for 2026.
Why Florida Theatre Is Jacksonville’s Must-Visit Entertainment Landmark
Food, Wine & Travel
The League of Historic American Theatres bestowed the “2025 Outstanding Historic Theatre Award” to Jacksonville’s Florida Theatre. This beautifully renovated, historically significant movie palace, built in 1926, is highly recommended as part of any visitor’s agenda.
Unlimited Potential
National Culinary Review
Chefs are recognizing just how versatile eggs can be, revitalizing old favorites, using them as colorful toppings on sandwiches and salads and creating exciting new applications. Whether included for breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner or after-hours, the opportunities for visually engaging and flavorful applications that feature eggs are virtually endless.
Coffee Companies Brew Up New Options
Food Technology
Coffee, one of the world’s most highly traded commodities, is America’s favorite beverage. Recognizing that younger generations are relating to coffee in ways that are completely different from their parents, and as preferences diversify, a surge of innovative coffee products is redefining the daily brew with sustainable solutions and novel experiences.
The Emerging Flavors of Africa
Food Technology
Every year, CPG producers are eager to know which flavors and cuisines will be the ones that capture the attention of consumers. While global flavors, especially those emerging from southeast Asia, have been performing well, the question is which region, country or cuisine will influence the next culinary trend. Recently, a few spices, spice blends and prepared dishes from the African continent have been attracting attention.
Pioneering Regional Chinese Cuisine
National Culinary Review
A large number of Americans view Chinese cuisine as one style of cooking. With more than 5000 dishes, many falling into distinctive regional styles, it’s easy to lose the thread to traditional foods, techniques and flavors. It could take some time before these distinctive regional styles find their way into American culinary culture. Clearly, there is tremendous opportunity for chefs to lean into their foundations and introduce them onto their menus.
The Ultimate Guide to Jacksonville’s Iconic Camel Rider Sandwich
Food, Wine & Travel
Some iconic American foods indelibly align themselves with specific cities. Philly has its cheesesteaks. Boston has clam chowder. New Orleans is synonymous with Po’boys, as is Chicago with its deep-dish pizza. In case you didn’t know, Jacksonville Florida has the Camel Rider.
A Day in Orlando’s Park Avenue District
Food, Wine & Travel
Vacations in Florida are typically infused with sunshine and coastal beaches. But land-locked Orlando, best known for its abundance of world-class theme parks, is the state’s most visited destination. Should your idea of an enjoyable getaway eschew both beaches and theme parks, your time will be much better spent across town in the Park Avenue District, a beautifully revitalized Main Street community in Winter Park.
The Cuisine of the Other Georgia Gains a Foothold in the United States
Restaurant Hospitality
Awareness of Georgia, a small country in Eastern Europe, remains limited among Americans. There is, however, a growing number of restaurants specializing in its cuisine, especially where populations include considerable numbers of Georgians, Russians, and Ukrainians. The demand for new and exciting culinary experiences, especially among Millennials and Gen Z, is also adding to their appeal.
Oodles of Noodles
Jacksonville Magazine
What’s not to like about noodles? Whether you grew up with Chef Boyardee, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Nissan Cup O’ Noodles, or Maruchan Ramen, you learned from a very early age just how good they can be. Whether they’re served at breakfast, lunch or dinner, enjoyed hot or cold, slurped, twirled or shoveled using a fork, spoon or chopsticks, they are remarkably satisfying and undeniably fun.
The Vegetable Renaissance
National Culinary Review
Chefs are always looking for ways to deliver new, indulgent and flavor forward culinary experiences. With growing interest in plant-based and healthier meal choices, there are exciting new fruit and vegetable varieties with distinctive visual attributes, bold flavors, appealing textures and exceptional nutritional benefits suitable for every section of their menus.
Innovation With Raw Seafood
National Culinary Review
Chefs around the country are finding that dishes featuring raw fish are resonating favorably with their guests, influenced heavily by the longstanding popularity of sushi and unmistakable demand for dishes with distinctive global origins. Whether it’s served as sushi, ceviche, aguachile, crudo or poke, raw seafood can be incorporated into a variety of dishes, including alluring appetizers, healthy salads and innovative main dishes.
Georgia’s Best
Enterprise Georgia
Throughout its long and storied history, Georgia has always been an agrarian country. Today, with increased productivity, quality and opportunity, agriculture endures as one of the country’s economic mainstays. “Georgia’s Best” (abridged) provides a glimpse into a few of the country’s most productive agricultural sectors. The full, unabridged “Georgia’s Best” catalog is available upon request.
Regional Classics, Global Inspiration.
National Culinary Review
Pizza is undoubtedly one of America’s most beloved foods. Its most popular configuration is either oven-baked New York style, wood-fired Neapolitan, or a hybrid of the two. In some parts of the country, there are other styles that dominate the foodservice landscape. To better understand these variables, this story offers a little insight into the styles, toppings and flavors that are trending, including a look into a few noteworthy pizzerias that are breaking with tradition.
Downtown Revival
The Local Palate
Every community has its Main Street, where essential transactions take place, stories are swapped over coffee, and delicious meals are enjoyed among friends and families. While some have lost their luster, others celebrate their history, embrace preservation-based economic development, and are enjoying new vitality. This story highlights a few favorites across the South, where small town hospitality meets historic charm.
We’ll Drink to That
Jacksonville Magazine
If you haven’t visited Jacksonville’s downtown lately, you’re most definitely missing out. There’s a surprising number of bars and restaurants offering a wide variety of foods, drinks and exciting entertainment experiences, all contributing to a vibrant nightlife. To fully understand what’s available, we visited some local favorites and discovered some wonderful new venues along the way.
A Gin Soaked Journey
The Local Palate
I used to think there wasn’t much in the way of flavor or distinctiveness when it comes to Gin. Based on my experiences with a number of Florida-based distilleries, there are some unique drinking experiences to be found.
The Cuisine of Georgia
Food, Wine & Travel
Based on an ever-expanding interest in global cuisines, the country of Georgia has been attracting attention, with restaurants and markets popping up in cities that are home to sizable numbers of the Eastern European and Russian diaspora.
An Enduring Affair with Hot Dogs
First Coast Life
Americans have a thing for hot dogs. Called by many names and served with a dizzying variety of toppings, any way you make ’em, we’ll eat ’em. Whenever and wherever they’re served, from backyard barbeques, rolling carts on city streets, at sporting events or carnivals, hot dogs are an indelible part of the American culinary narrative.
The Enduring Appeal of Tuna
National Culinary Review
Today’s consumers are pursuing healthier lifestyles while maintaining diets that embrace lean proteins and nutritionally dense ingredients. In response, chefs and restaurateurs are developing new dishes and adjusting their menus to better align with these preferences. Recognized as a nutritious source for high quality protein, tuna performs consistently well across all day parts and in every imaginable application.
Discover the Wonders of Wafu Italian
firstcoast.life
As a writer for several local and nationally distributed food publications, I encounter interesting new ingredients, talk to some of the most innovative and well-respected chefs in America and am introduced to innovative new ways to prepare food. Most recently, I uncovered an exciting cuisine that, at least here in America, is still in its infancy – Wafu Italian.
Smothered & Covered
Jacksonville Magazine
It’s easy to understand that mood-boosting, high-fat and high-sugar comfort foods can be an effective remedy during stressful times. Whether you’re facing dramas, or simply need a little warmth and sunshine, there are places in Jacksonville serving deliciously smothered and covered comfort foods.
Slices with Life
Jacksonville Magazine
Pizza is America’s favorite food. No matter where you live, or who you ask, finding the best pie in town is difficult. After ten destinations, ten pies and plenty of beer, we learned what it takes to make a truly great pizza. It was a dirty job, but someone had to do it.
Ode to Corned Beef
firstcoast.life
What is it about corned beef that elevates its stature to the level of an Oscar winning musical performance? What is it exactly that makes it so consistently crave-worthy and satisfying? From a historical perspective, corned beef (salt cured beef) has been around for a long time in many cultures. Today, you can find really good corned beef in many parts of the country.
Breakfast Around the World
Edible Northeast Florida
While coffee and tea tend to be the default morning ritual for many, and eggs are undeniably popular most everywhere, many countries boast their own distinctive breakfast dishes that are sure to brighten your day. The good news for all of us here in northeast Florida is that a growing number of restaurants, open for either breakfast or brunch, have included many of these items on their menu.
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