Published: January 06, 2009 11:14 am      

Jacksonville restaurant maven takes over HOPE’s kitchen

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Jacksonville resident Nora Reynolds fulfilled a longtime wish Friday when she started her new job as kitchen coordinator for HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Enrichment) Inc.

“I’ve wanted to do more here for a long time,” she said. “But I’ve always been at other jobs. I’ve made desserts with my church and sent food over here on occasion, but I always wanted to do more.

“But it worked out that this was available when I closed my business, so obviously this is where God wants me,” she said.

Reynolds owned and operated the Lunch Box restaurant for 12 years before closing its doors in September, after power outages during Hurricane Ike caused damage to a couple of her most important pieces of kitchen equipment.

“I’ve worked in food service since I was 16,” she confessed. “And we have a big family with seven kids, so I’ve cooked most of my life. That’s what God has me do.”

Former kitchen coordinator Chris Jordan resigned to attend mortuary school.

Reynolds said her specialty is simple home-cooked dishes like chicken and dressing, meat loaf and hamburger steak.

“I don’t know what the menu was like before, so I can’t say that I’m making a lot of changes — I like to cook liver and onions, but I don’t know how that’ll go over,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t do anything fancy, but some of my customers ( at the Lunch Box) came clear across town to eat lunch with me.”

One change she does anticipate is taking more of a hand in preparing desserts offered at the kitchen.

“Right now a lot of our church groups bring the desserts,” she said. “I want to start doing the desserts myself, so they can bring other things that are needed.”

Reynolds said she’ll definitely continue keeping her menus healthy.

“I want to make sure it’s all good, and good for you,” she said.

With Reynolds on board, HOPE officials have been able to adjust the kitchen’s breakfast hours, which are now 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Lunch will continue to be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“Nora brings a lot of excitement, enthusiasm and experience to the kitchen,” HOPE Executive Director Fran Daniel said. “We’re thrilled to have her here. She really cares about people. I think she’ll be a great asset to our kitchen.”