Food

Fish Out of Water at WaterColor Inn and Resort has added another trophy to its growing list with its “Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator magazine.

Fewer than 3,000 restaurants worldwide make the list, according to a Wine Spectator description, for offering "a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Typically these lists offer at least 90 selections."

Taste of the Beach, Northwest Florida’s premier culinary and wine celebration, is uncorking its 2014 lineup of five unique events with Vine to Wine-A Wine Preview on August 22 from 6-8 p.m. at Seascape Golf, Beach & Tennis Resort.

Vine to Wine will offer tastings of more than 200 wines that will be featured during the Taste of the Beach, October 31-November 2. Guests will also enjoy gourmet food pairings and receive a limited edition Reidel wine glass. Tickets for the event are $55 per person in advance.

The new Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant in Panama City Beach is heating up summer with a full series of special events, promotions and a live music showcase. The place is hot and the location on Grand Lagoon has spectacular views of the water with lots of activities all around. The location in the heart of the working waterfront is just steps from the Lighthouse Marina, and next to Captain Anderson’s.

Uptown Grayton is a busy place, from the first light of day until near midnight. It would be a fun challenge to begin your day with a fabulous breakfast at Another Broke Egg Cafe, shop all day fueled by coffee breaks at Bad Ass Coffee, and handle some business while you're at it. 

South of Philly Restaurant opened on Hwy 393 (just north of Scenic 30A at Gulf Place) last Fall. Owner Jeremy Price moved his popular eatery from Seagrove Plaza into the location formerly occupied by Enzo’s Italian Restaurant.

Jeremy always wanted to make cheesesteaks. Growing up in Pennsylvania he grew to have a genuine passion for the “real” cheesesteaks.
 

Some folks in the South seem born with thick, red, spicy sauce flowing thickly through their veins. Byron Chism is one of those folks. He grew up in Texas eating and loving barbeque and ended up here in SoWal with sand between his toes. When he arrived in South Walton, little did he know that he would someday be selling his own barbeque seasoning famously known as “Bad Byron's Butt Rub”.

A new farmers market is coming to Grand Boulevard at Sandestin starting Wednesday, June 25 from 10am–2pm in Grand Park. The Grand Boulevard Farmers Market is being organized by Diane and Charles Kolopanas, organizers of the 30A Farmers Market at Rosemary Beach.

With more than 700 guests in attendance, the inaugural Great American Picnic at Watersound Origins was the place to be for a new South Walton family-friendly tradition. The free community event featured live music by the Forrest Williams Band, classic American picnic food by Watersound Origins Café and lots of family-friendly activities to entertain the kids. The evening ended with a truly spectacular fireworks show over Wind Garden Park.

We are looking forward (you could say stoked) to a new venture by SoWal local husband and wife team of Tommy & Patty Stein. Tommy's father is Tom Stein, a longtime local contractor based in Point Washington, whose company recently finished the renovations on the Seaside amphitheater.

Tommy and his wife are finishing up the remodel of a 1975 Airstream which will be placed at the west end of Airstream row this week with plans to open by July 1.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort recently appointed Eric Chopin to the position of Executive Chef. Chopin is a professional chef with more than 30 years of experience. Born in Guerande, Brittany, France, Chopin has been seasoning his way through the cooking world in Europe and America since the early age of 14. He began cooking in Paris as a charcutier and is classically trained in the art of making delicious, unique pastries and savory masterpieces, while always respecting their natural flavors and textures.