By Mary Swift-Swan

With the air turning crisp and the leaves beginning to fall, Chef Fabrice Foinels and Director of Food and Beverage Operations, Abbas Mahallati, welcome their Jack London Square neighbors and ferry riders to the new season with an array of new North Western Mediterranean Mezza and Tapas choices. The new selection is just right for after-work treats so tasty they could be a meal or shared for a spark to warm the night. Difficult to pick favorites among the many choices of new tasty small plates, notables include:

Paella, saffron risotto, market fresh seafood, prawns and shell fish, Lamb Skewers, Saffron marinated with hummus on pita chips and saffron aioli Goat Cheese, marinated in olive oil, fresh herbs with roasted pepper salad Chorizo De Pamplona, Dry cured Manchego cheese shaving walnut gerkins, Prawns Provencale, Extra virgin olive oil cherry tomato medley, olives and garlic Lima Beans, Sautéed fresh chorizo de Bilbao, Portobello and Anaheim pepper confit.

In addition to the delicious items listed, and several more new items, Jack’s has kept their most popular choices available: Jack’s Bistro Crab Cake with 2 pepper sauce, Lobster Ravioli with Americaine Seafood sauce and Calamari with caper aioli, on the Tapas menu. Ready for a Mediterranean treat in the form of a libation? Try Jack’s “World Famous Sangria.” It is a heady, good tasting brew that goes down so easily that a few of the wonderful new dishes to go with it is great idea. Tapas range in price from $4.50-$7.00. They can be a meal or a true appetizer to the fine fare at Jack’s Bistro.

Music is an added treat at Jack’s Bistro when unwinding from the days labors. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Jack’s provides evening listening music from 6-9:30pm and on Friday and Saturday nights 9-12:30pm enjoy lively dancing bands. Jack’s has a mix of jazz, blues and funk dancing music in October: Rolando Morales Trio play on the Friday ($5 cover charge) the 3rd and 24th. Bobby Young Project R&B Dance Band play Saturdays Oct. 4th and 18th. Martin Franco plays Latin Jazz Funk Friday Oct. 10th and Saturday Oct. 25th. Dave Matthews Blues Band play Saturday Oct. 11th and Marc Kay Dance/Funk band play on Friday Oct. 17th. Sunday Brunch at Jack’s Bistro is a very pleasant way to end shopping at Jack London Square’s Farmer’s Market while listening to Simon Russell on piano from 10am to 2pm. Except for the Trio, music at Jack’s if free.