Jazzy Jelly Fish Café reopens
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Nine year olds Jacob Cross and Matt Davis meet with David Presnell as part of their preparations for the reopening of the Jellyfish Cafe.

What happens when you ask an elementary school class to plan dinner? If you asked Leslie Jolly's third grade class at Gulf Breeze Elementary School, you'd get a gourmet four-course meal.

For the second year in a row, Jolly's class will operate the Jazzy Jellyfish Café every Thursday night in April.

"It's sharing that community spirit that I get excited about," said Jolly, whose class raised $4,000 for charity through the café last year.

This year her students have been working hard to put together the ultimate school project; a restaurant developed, advertised, and operated by third graders. Jolly divided her class into several groups and committees including management, advertising, accounting and a board of directors.

"This is a whole new board of directors and they will have to uncover some of the same challenges as last year," Jolly said. "They don't just serve as the staff, they're learning how to be business owners as well."

To learn the skills of entrepreneurship, the students will be given tips by Gulf Breeze News Publisher Vici Papajohn, Big Rhino Screen Printing and Embroidery Owner David Presnell, Ben Nolan with Delta Consulting, Cheryl Broscious with Firehouse Subs, Frances Yeo with Junior Achievement and many others.

"This was a new endeavor. I've never really done anything like this before," Presnell said between meetings with 9-yearold accountants. "I'm not smart enough to be a teacher, but it's a way I can help and know that I'm helping point kids in the right direction."

The class is even employing other members of the student body and staff that didn't get to join in the fun last year. Patti Triplett's third grade class will donate the produce from their small garden including onions, potatoes, lettuce and parsley.

"This particular potato patch produces more potatoes any other school in the county," Triplett said with a wide smile as she looked down at the humble garden. "Last year we produced about 40 pounds of potatoes."

The school cafeteria's food service manager is getting to stir the pot as well. Kim Schmitz, who holds a culinary degree from Pensacola Junior College, was actually lined up to help with the event last year but missed nine months of work after a skydiving accident.

"I think [the Jellyfish Café] is wonderful because it's a good cause," said Schmitz, who works for the school district's food service contractor, Sodexho. "I always enjoy doing something for someone else. I appreciate [Jolly] asking me to be apart of it."

The Jazzy Jellyfish Café is open for business starting April 5, and will be open once a week for a month in the Gulf Breeze Elementary cafeteria. Only ticket holders to the exclusive eatery will be served, and those vouchers are going quickly. For only $12 per adult and $8 per child, patrons will be served a feast fit for a king. All proceeds will be donated to Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida and Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen in Pensacola.

The menu will rotate every week with patrons attending April 5 and 19 enjoying a creamy chicken fettuccine alfredo while consumers attending April 12 and 26 will enjoy beef stroganoff.

The evening will also feature performances by local jazz saxophonist, Joe Occhipinti, to make Jolly's Jellyfish seem jazzier.

"Live music elevates any fine dining establishment to a higher level," Occhipinti said. "It makes your establishment stand out a little more."

The musician described the educational venture as a puzzle, with activities such as ordering, cooking and serving acting as pieces of a larger picture.

"When they put all the parts together, if they pay attention to it, they realize what it takes to put a restaurant together," he said.

For more information or to purchase tickets for one of the exclusive sittings, call Gulf Breeze Elementary at 850-934-5185.