The Riverside Arts Market may be known for the huge collection of artists and craftspeople who display their wares but for me the market is all about the food. I’ve had great produce, met some of Jacksonville’s best chefs and eaten something at virtually every purveyor of tastiness that RAM has to offer. As good as all of that has been, I’ve only dreamed, and I do mean literally dreamed, about eating one precious meal – The Lunch Lady’s Shrimp Wrap with Voodeaux Bakery’s Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert.

The Lunch Lady does most of her business way out on Blount Island, delivering her tasty lunch treats to businesspeople in need of lunchtime sustenance. But, on Saturdays, you can find her at the Riverside Arts Market. The menu is small, just two or three items, but the Shrimp Salad Wrap ($6) is absolutely the best sandwich/wrap menu item at the market in my opinion. Add a soda pop for a buck and it’s all the lunch that even the biggest appetite could need.

The shrimp is hand cleaned and shelled by the small staff. The veggies inside are crisp and the shrimp is shockingly plentiful. Ounce for ounce, it’s the most seafood for the money at the market. There’s just enough pleasant warmth in the seasoning to make the dish refreshing in the heat but still satisfying and warm in the chill of autumn. Do NOT miss the Shrimp Wrap!

Voodeaux Bakery is also one of my favorite booths at the market. They consistently put out some of the best baked goods in Jacksonville. The lavender rolls are beautiful, fragrant and soft. The lemon pound cake is moist and delicious. Each loaf of bread is more unique and visually pleasing than the last. But, for me, it’s all about the cookies. I’ll say from the outset that I’m not a big cookie person. I bake a lot of cookies, but I give them away to friends and small children. It’s hard to get me excited about cookies. But, their “Infamous” Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies are just perfect.

Marrying citrus to chocolate is not a new concept, but when one of these tender, soft and scrumptious cookies explodes in your mouth with orangey, chocolaty goodness, you too will be converted to practicing Voodeaux (Bakery) every chance you get.

New food vendors are added almost every week to the RAM but I hope these two will stick around for a long time to come.

The Lunch Lady can be found at her booth near the stage at the river in the Riverside Arts Market.
Voodeaux Bakery is close to Farmer’s Row at the Arts Market. Now you can also check out Voodeaux’s great offerings at www.voodeauxbakery.com or visit them at 2642 Rosselle Street in Riverside Monday through Friday beginning at 6:30 a.m. for your bakery and breakfast needs and from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for your lunching pleasure. Check out their delivery options, too!