Want to know where to dine on Scenic Hwy 30A and in The Beaches of South Walton [MAP]? You've definitely come to the right place. Use our comprehensive Restaurant Directory to find info on restaurants and eateries all over South Walton and follow the local Culinary Scene on this Blog.
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Are you going to be in South Walton for Thanksgiving this year? Look no further. Here is the 2nd Annual Guide to Thanksgiving Dining 2009 in South Walton county to help you plan for the big day if you don't feel like slaving in the kitchen yourself this year. Gooble gobble - Happy Turkey Day, folks!
Help update this list! Know of any additions? Please email all the fine details to: jill@southwaltonscene.com .
Continue reading "Thanksgiving Dining in South Walton county, Florida 2009" »
Enjoy a "A Taste of France" this Thursday at Lumpy's Wine Bar at Baytowne Wharf Savor the flavor of french wine and cheese this Thursday, October 22 from 6-8pm at Lumpy's Wine Bar [MAP]. Hosted by Matt Clymer of Old World Wines, for $20/per person participants will sample a flight of two white and three red wines paired with cheese. Special discounts will be extended that evening as well. Call 850-267-2526 to make a reservation.
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"Night Out" @ La Botana with Table Five Personal Chef October 29 Grab your better half or your favorite foodie friends and head to a "Night Out" featuring "A Flavor of Fall" created by Chef Philip McDonald of Table Five Personal Chef on Thursday, October 29 at 630pm at La Botana on Scenic Hwy 30A in Seagrove. For $100/per person, diners will be treated to a 5-course dinner featuring such autumn-inspired dishes such as Arugula Panzanella, Seared Grouper Cheeks and Garlic & Rosemary Crusted Lamb Chops, paired with wines from J Vineyards of the Russian River Valley. To make your reservation, call 850.231.0716.
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"Adieu", "Hello" and Seasonal Closings It's that time of year when we begin to see some local restaurants and eateries turn off the burner for the fall & winter to take a much needed break and prepare for the next tourist season which will begin next March. Included as of this post is: JamBone Express in Grayton Beach (JamBone and JamBone Express have closed), Elmo's Grill in Santa Rosa Beach and Senor Mojitos Waterfront Grill & Oyster Bar just south of the Hwy 331 bridge in Santa Rosa Beach.
{sigh} A few others have turned the burner off permanently and we bid them adieu, including Cafe' Bouchee in Seagrove Beach, Guigliamo's Italian Grill in Santa Rosa Beach and PJ's Coffee of New Orleans and Planet Smoothie in Redfish Village and WaterColor Town Center.
And let's welcome Christiano's Italian Restaurant which opened recently in the Guigliamo's location in Santa Rosa Beach!
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Destin Chops 30A Available to Host Your Private Function Destin Chops 30A, an upscale steakhouse with a contemporary twist located on Scenic Hwy 30A, is now accepting reservations for private functions and events. With a capacity of 250 people, it is the perfect venue for wedding receptions, anniversary dinners, birthday celebrations, or holiday parties.
“While this region plays host to a number of delightful eateries, there aren’t many venues that can truly accommodate large wedding receptions or other private events with the class, professionalism, and style that Destin Chops 30A can provide,” said Jim Altamura, proprietor of Destin Chops 30A. “We are happy to offer this added amenity for our faithful patrons.”
For more information, call 850.231.4050.
Tastefully Simple and Children's Volunteer Health Network Teaming Up CVHN is hosting a Tastefully Simple benefit party on October 23 from 5-7pm at the Seagrove Highlands Condominiums pool [MAP]. Enjoy an evening of camaraderie, great food and wine. 20% of all sales as well as future orders placed through their Tastefully Simple consultant will go directly to CVHN. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to admin@cvhnkids.org by Wednesday, October 21. Questions? 850-622-3200.
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"Restaurant Week/Dining For A Cause" Coming to Grand Boulevard at Sandestin Grand Boulevard [MAP]
presenting Restaurant Week/Dining for a Cause from November 9 – 13,
featuring one-of-a-kind menus at reduced prices ($15 - $32.95) from the
five signature restaurants of Grand Boulevard including Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse &
Wine Bar, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Cantina Laredo, Tommy Bahama’s
Restaurant & Bar and Mitchell’s Fish Market . $1 dollar of every meal sold will go to the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center. Each time you dine, you can also enter to win a $1,000 shopping spree from Grand Boulevard.
Restaurant week culminates on Friday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Grand Park, when the winner of the $1,000 shopping spree will be drawn by special guest and author, Sister Schubert, of Sister Schubert rolls fame. Coast 93.3, the presenting media sponsor, will be on hand in Grand Park that night from 6 pm. to 8 p.m. with a live remote and a DJ playing music from their “80s all weekend”. Sister Schubert will also sign copies of her new cookbook Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters. Proceeds of her glossy 180-page coffee-table cookbook go to Sasha’s Home, an orphanage in the Ukraine supported by Sister Schubert.
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Oysters on the half shell.
For some the mere mention makes them squirm in disgust, for others it is culinary music to the ears. We are fortunate indeed with the bountiful variety of fish and shellfish from the Gulf of Mexico that show up on dining tables here but did you know that Apalachicola Bay oysters are considered some of the finest eating oysters available...in the world? (read all about it in the NY Times here). Located about 95 miles to our east, Apalachicola is close enough that most oysters found on menus in South Walton will originate from there BUT there are other varieties that you will find as well that are excellent in their own right.
Revered by the culinary adventurous and those who have grown up where the bivalve mollusks are plentiful, these briny "mouthfuls of the sea" are a local South Walton delicacy served straight up over ice, shucked and raw, and are at their best now through spring.
(Just a side tidbit - that whole thing about only eating raw oysters during months that contain an "R" is a myth although it is true certain naturally occurring marine bacteria, like Vibrio, are higher in coastal waters during warm weather months. But you can still get ill during the colder months as well. Read about who should not ever eat raw oysters and other safety facts here).
So where can you go in these parts to indulge your oyster on the half shell craving? Here are our picks. Feel free to add your favorite or comments below.
Caliza Restaurant at Alys Beach
Info | Directions
Apalachicola Oysters and Washington State Wellfleet Oysters. Served on ice with lemon, cocktail sauce and shallot-cucumber vinaigrette.
Acme Oyster House at Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin
Info | Directions
Louisiana Oysters. Served on ice with lemon, horseradish and cocktail sauce.
Goatfeather's Seafood Restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach
Info | Directions
Apalachicola Oysters. Served on ice with a lemon and a variety of sauces (eg. hot sauce, cocktail sauce, remoulade sauce.) Oyster Happy Hour daily until 6pm.
Continue reading "Eight Places in South Walton to Indulge Your Oysters on the Half Shell Craving" »
Shades at the Loop Family Restaurant and Sports Bar
10952 E County Highway 30A # 1, Inlet Beach, 32413 | 850-231-9410 | website
"Good Food. Cold Beer. Hot Wings." is their tag and Shades doesn't disappoint for those on the east end of Scenic 30A looking for a spot to watch the big game. With several flatscreens throughout the bar, they offer the "largest draft beer selection in N.W. Florida" for you beer aficionados as well as weekend bar specials to sweeten the deal, including $3 domestics, $13 buckets of beer, $8 pitchers and a food special to keep your energy levels up during your favorite game! Shades is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week, from 11am - midnight
JamBone Beach Barbeque and Raw Bar JamBone has closed.
3906 US Highway 98 W, Santa Rosa Beach, 32459 |850-267-1497 | full info
Drive by JamBone on a weekend afternoon during football season and chances are the parking lot will be bustling with the die hard football fans amongst us. Championship BBQ, slap your mama good specialty burgers, cold beer, flatscreens throughout and premium sports channels ... yeah, this is definitely a popular spot to watch the game. They are open daily from 11am - 2am, and offer Sunday brunch featuring sinfully delish egg "bennies" offered 9 different ways, an buy-one-get-the-rest-free build your own bloody mary bar and endless champagne from 11am - 2pm.
Ballyhoo Bar and Grill
3711 W Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, 32459 | 850-622-4092
Located on 30A, Ballyhoo offers football fanatics a fun and lively sports bar atmosphere to enjoy the game! With 7 flatscreens and the Direct TV NFL package, there are always 4 of the big games on the boob tub at any given time. Enjoy drink specials - $1 drafts and $2 bottles o' beer - as well as rotating food specials and a full menu to satisfy everyones craving for carbs and grub. Open daily at 11am.
Really neat idea!! World Dining Series at Chan's Wine World - Destin Travel through Chan Wine World's "World Dining series" offered each Tuesday night from 5-9pm at Chan's in Destin [MAP]. Discover France, Argentina, Italy, Spain and all of the world’s greatest wine & culinary regions. A traditional one dish meal perfectly paired with a wine from that region will allow your taste buds to experience the world. It’s like we say, “If it grows together, it goes together.” Better yet? Two can dine for only $29.99! That's a deal! Reservations encouraged but not required at (850) 269-2902.
Here is a peek at the latest event menu (which took place last night!)
September 15 – Italy/San Francisco
Cioppino – served family style. Served with an 08 Lagaria, Pinot Grigio or 02 Formulae, Chianti. Add $10 and try one of these: 07 La Tunella, Pinot Grigio or 06 Badiola, Red Blend. Add $20 and try one of these:08 Santa Margherita, Pinot Grigioor 05 Ruffino Riserva Ducale, Chianti
Courtyard Wine and Cheese asks, "What is better than college football, smoked meats, and wine?" Courtyard Wine and Cheese in downtown Rosemary Beach are bringing the trifecta straight to your palate this Labor Day weekend at their first annual Labor Day Weekend BBQ and Wine Event Here are the details:
What: Courtyard's first annual BBQ and Wine Event
When: Labor Day Weekend (Saturday and Sunday, noon-until)
Where: Courtyard Wine and Cheese, 66 Main Street, Rosemary Beach [MAP]
Why: If you have tried pairing wines with smoked meats, you know what a great match it can be. The ribs, sausage, and beef will be smoked a minimum of six hours by an award-winning BBQ master on a trailer sized smoker. We will then pair wines to match the meats that will be available as a sampler platter with several wines. Live music will be going on both nights from 7-10 pm, and College Football will be on the TV.
Contact: CourtYardWineandCheese.com, 850-231-1219.
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"WinesDay" Wednesdays at La Botana in Seagrove Beach La Botana located on Scenic Hwy 30A in Seagrove Beach [MAP] where the tag is "See Friends. Feel Love. Drink Wine." has a special Wednesday promotion going on every Wednesday from 5:00pm - 11:00pm where ALL bottles of wine are 50% off! Pair that with some of their Mexican small plates and a group of your favorite people and you have a fabulous way to spend Wednesday evenings!
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Prime Rib + Lobster Special at Santa Rosa Beach Club in Dune Allen Beach In the mood for some surf and turf? Head on over to Santa Rosa Beach Club on Scenic Hwy 30A every Wednesday night where, for $28/per person, you can dine on prime rib, whole Maine lobster, a house salad and a starch-side. Santa Rosa Beach Club is located at 4801 W. Co. Hwy. 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, 32459. Reservations - 850-267-2305.
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Lunch Specials at Summer Kitchen Cafe in Rosemary Beach If you find yourself on the east end of Scenic Hwy 30A with an appetite for a good lunch, head on over to Summer Kitchen Cafe in Rosemary Beach [MAP IT] from 1030am - 3pm. A sampling of this weeks specials?
When visiting any coastal area in the country, never never never pass up an opportunity to indulge in what is considered a staple street food in coastal areas of Mexico - the Fish Taco. Said to be discovered in the Baja Pennisula, the ingredient list can counted on one hand - white fleshed fish, breaded and fried or grilled, cradled in a corn or white tortilla alongside cabbage, pico de gallo and a creamy sauce. And as foodies know, it is usually the most simple foods that bring the greatest joy. And oh boy - when it comes to Fish Tacos - this is the truth!
Although you won't find little foods stands along the road selling this tasty on-the-go, inexpensive fare, you will find Fish Tacos on menus all around South Walton. The fish used here is typically grouper, but expect to also find mahi mahi, too.
Here is where I like to go for my Fish Taco fix. Feel free to add your favorite spots in the comment section below.
Hurricane Oyster Bar
37 Logan Lane, Grayton Beach, 32459 | 850-231-0787 | www.hurricaneoysterbar.com
Hurricane Oyster Bar serves my personal favorite fish taco in South Walton as I like my fish as untouched as possible (read: no breading or deep-frying). It is kept nice and simple here. They offer theirs blackened, grilled or pan-fried (no breading) and serve them on flour tortillas with cabbage, cilantro, pico de gallo and a creamy red pepper sauce I could eat with a spoon. ($10 for two fish tacos with a choice of a side)
TACO Bar
2236 E. Co. Hwy. 30-A, Seaside, FL 32459 [MAP IT] | 850-231-4781 | BudandAlleys.com/taco_bar.php
If you are looking for authentic Baja-style fish tacos served in an on-the-go atmosphere, this is the spot to check out. A little outdoor eatery where you order at the counter and eat under a handful of shaded tables, they use Mahi Mahi served grilled or breaded with cornmeal and fried, served on a grilled corn tortilla with cabbage, pico de gallo and a squirt of avocado mayo. ($4/per taco)
Smiling Fish Cafe
37 Town Center Loop, Santa Rosa Beach, 32459 | 850-622-3071 | www.smilingfishcafe.com
Smiling Fish Cafe is a popular lunch spot (they were voted Best Ultra Casual Dining in South Walton) - they are only open for dinner on Tuesday nights - and lunch is the only time to can order their SUBSTANTIAL Fish Tacos. If there were a stick-to-your-ribs version of a fish taco, this would surely be it. Grouper is breaded and deep-fried and served on grilled flour tortillas with a spicy Southwest Slaw, chopped tomato, chipolte sour cream, cilantro and guacamole. ($9.95 for two fish tacos with a side of orzo pasta salad).
George's at Alys Beach
30 Castle Harbour Drive, Alys Beach, 32459 [MAP IT] 850-641-0017 | GeorgesatAlysBeach.com I absolutely love the ambiance at George's at Alys Beach. The offer dining on a covered porch (no bugs to swat away) and, although crowded, there is always a good and happy vibe in the place. It's the crowd that actually makes it fun! The locally famous "Senora Anna's Fish Tacos" are also served at their sister restaurant, Seagrove Village Market, down the road in Seagrove Beach. Their grouper "fingers" are battered and fried and served in ample amounts in white tortillas with a delicious roasted poblano/lime tartar sauce and pico de gallo served on the side. ($13 for two fish tacos with a side of brown rice and beans).
It's Saturday. You have a day off or you are on vacation - or you have a day off and want to act like you are on vacation (hey, you live at the beach!). It's hot and humid out. Quite miserable actually. You want a refreshment to parch that thirst, to cool you down, after some time spent on the beach. You want it with a nip of something to help you unwind - to relax and decompress.
Margarita anyone?
This Mexican tequila-based cocktail has become analogous with vacation in any tropical region in the world. For me personally, until I have had a margarita, my vacation hasn't officially started.
So where can you find a good Margarita in our slice of beach paradise? Give one of these six (or all of them) a whirl and let the good times begin. Cheers!
Fruit Cocktail at SEASIDE
This "funky walk up bar" is the newest Airstream addition in what is being called the “Land Yacht District” in downtown SEASIDE. Offering top shelf ingredients, they use fresh fruits and purees in their Margaritas.
Continue reading "Six Places to Find a Good Margarita in South Walton" »
I recently attended a culinary focused Studio b event and I must say it was a fantastic way for this foodie to spend an evening! (see pictures here) I spent a few hours learning new techniques, exploring new tastes (Cucumber/Bourbon cocktails!), and making new friends around the dinner table as we shared the fabulous meal we had all participated in creating. Our hosts were a lovely couple from NYC - James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst - who are blazing paths in the new generation of foodies and professional chefs. Brooke is a published author and James has made appearances on the Food Network. It was a treat rub elbows with the rising stars and to talk with them one on one.
The next Foodie Event at Studio b is sure to be a crowd pleaser as well. Enjoy a night of demonstration and tasting on Friday, September 5 at Studio b in Alys Beach. And participants on Saturday, September 6, will immerse themselves in the cuisine of Morocco at an absolutely ideal location - the Caliza Pool at Alys Beach. Full details are below. Grab your friends and make your reservations soon as these events are limited in size.To register, email scoop@studiobthebeach.com.
