A Dockside Dining Experience

Located dockside at St. Andrew’s Marina, hobby chef Ernie Hall is following the Food Truck Movement in his own way. He turned a pontoon boat into a fully equipped and self-contained kitchen and keeps it docked on the dock at St. Andrews Marina, right next to Bayview Avenue. A simple whiteboard menu greeted us after walking down the dock (or you can “walk the plank” for a more direct route). We sat at a table right beside the “Just the Cook” Pontoon Boat and checked out the menu. Music played from the boat’s speakers as the chef and owner, Ernie Hall, introduced himself and explained the day’s offerings. Drinks were served from a cooler by the dockside and, after some contemplation, we settled on a crab cake sandwich and a “diver down” burger.

Ernie Hall has operated this food venue for insiders for three years now and has a very limited but refined menu. We sat back in the simple chairs beside a graffiti adorned table and relaxed in the sun while waiting for our food. The crab cake sandwich was beautiful, on a split bun, plated with an artful line of sauce dots (a nice touch, even on disposable dinnerware!) My “Diver Down” burger, with lettuce, onion, double cheese, hickory smoked bacon, topped with a fried egg was a sight to behold. The flavors combined perfectly, and I decided that no home-cooked burger was ever going to be complete again without an egg on top. While we were enjoying our meal, Ernie Hall delivered to the table next to us an order of Salmon Tartine, a beautiful looking dish of smoked salmon, dill crème, creamed collard greens, pickled onions, and a sunny side up egg all on a piece of focaccia. I almost forgot about my burger and was tempted to order a serving of Salmon Tartine for myself.

The good food, great service, and unbeatable relaxed-meets-quirky atmosphere made our lazy Sunday afternoon meal on the dock just the way to end the weekend. Do yourself a favor, slow down a little and go and give Ernie a visit at Just the Cook. Don’t forget to ask Ernie how it came to be that Food Network chose him as one of the top 16 cooks in America.

By Paul Ashman