Food

Many South Walton restaurants are lauded as exceptional -- for their food, ambiance, service, architecture -- any number of things can make a restaurant famous. Café Tango incorporates all those things and more.

Almost hidden from view on Scenic 30A, Café Tango is nestled about 100 feet off the main drag on Vicki Street, just about a half mile east of Gulf Place. Small and unpresuming, Café Tango occupies an old wooden beach house, with more charm and character than Katherine Hepburn.

Alys Beach, Florida is one of the newest "new urban" towns in South Walton and it is perhaps the most visually unique because of its distinct blend of mediterranean and island style. Take a stroll down the center of town along the stone-lined pedestrian path and feel yourself transported to another world.

Here are a few of our favorite things to do and places to see in Alys Beach:

The Alys Beach Amphitheater is the perfect place for families to enjoy outdoor concerts, movies and children's plays!

Entrepreneur, local restaurateur and “chef to the stars” Tim Creehan says he didn’t set out to become famous. 

“I didn’t go looking for success. I was looking for a career in culinary arts. I wanted to be a chef from the time I was 14 years old.

“When I wanted to become a chef, being a chef wasn’t cool. We were no different than plumbers or mechanics. When I left work to go to the store to buy something for the restaurant, I’d bring a T-shirt and take off my chef jacket because I didn’t want anyone to think I was a cook or butcher or whatever.”

If you want to know what's going on in SoWal, all you have to do is sit on the porch at Grayt Coffee House with owner Cheri Peebles for a half hour. And If she doesn't know what you want to know, then one of the many locals walking in and out likely will.

Bam! You can't get more fresh or local than pulling veggies right out of the ground and in to the pan at the new outdoor kitchen at the Seaside Neighborhood School's Corner Garden. Chef Emeril Lagasse was on hand to break in the brand-new burners and grill as part of the school's mentoring program.

Lagasse has a foundation dedicated to helping deserving kids get fed, and helping school kids get a healthy and nutritional meal. One school where he has made his mark increased their grade scores from the 50s to the 80s thanks to better nutrition and parent involvement.

If you have a wet suit and sandy feet on a warm and sunny beach day, there's nothing like walking up to Pickle's and ordering a juicy burger, fries, and a shake. The Seaside eatery is the scene of so many special SoWal beach memories. Now it's much, much better.

The Sandestin Wine Festival is a picture-perfect festival, complete with white tents, flowing wine, gourmet food and live music at The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.  It’s SoWal-sponsored event not to be missed every spring in Sandestin!

Tina Stansfield has been baking in the SoWal area since 2007, but since September 2011 she'se devoted herself to it full time through her business, Sweet Henrietta's Treats.

How long have you lived in the area and where are you from? 
We moved to Santa Rosa Beach in 2006 from Missouri.

How far do you travel for the market? 
We live on the Bay so the market is a short convenient commute.

Santa Rosa Cheesemaking Company has been offering their wonderful products at the Seaside Farmers Market for about a year and we are so hppy to have them. Come see us every Saturday morning from 9am-1pm in the Central Square in Seaside behind Raw & Juicy's airstream.

How long have you lived in the area and where are you from?  I was born in Panama City, Florida about 42 years ago and still live there.  Actually, I'm about to move to Panama City Beach.

How far do you travel for the market?  about 45 min.

We're impressed every weekend at the growing list of awesome vendors and products in the heart of Seaside every Saturday from 9am - 1 pm.