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Janca's Jingle Bell

Janca’s Jingle Bell Jamboree is Dec. 17

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Friends of Chef Brannon Janca present festive benefit

Nov. 29, 2022
Special to 30A Food & Wine

SANTA ROSA BEACH – A group of locals have come together to help Chef Brannon Janca, owner of Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach. The holiday fundraiser, called Janca’s Jingle Bell Jamboree, will be held at Down Island on Dec. 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. and will include live music, a wine walkabout, local area chef demos, a large silent auction, a professional photo booth, and so much more. Tickets are $100 (food and wine included). Tickets can be purchased here: Janca’s Jingle Bell Jamboree is also on Facebook @jancasjinglebelljamboree.

Janca's Jingle Bell Jamboree

Chef Brannon Janca is a kind-hearted, incredibly talented, driven, and an all-around great guy. Brannon worked at Stinky’s Fish Camp for years alongside his partner and mentor, Jim Richard, but it was always his dream to open up his own spot. In 2017, he sold his part of Stinky’s and started the process of building his dream restaurant, Down Island.

Halfway through renovations, however, Brannon was diagnosed with lung cancer. He didn’t want this to stop him, so he kept working on Down Island while fighting this health battle behind the scenes. By the grace of God, and just before Down Island opened, Brannon reached clinical remission. Everything was going well until recently his treatment stopped working and the cancer became active again. He has recently started chemotherapy while still cooking and operating the restaurant as much as he can.

Obviously this brings all plans to a screeching halt, and now both his health and lifelong dream are at risk. To help alleviate some of the financial burden and stress, a few of his closest local friends are putting together this benefit on Brannon’s behalf.

Community members are asked to help supporting Brannon and Stefani Janca, longtime locals, neighbors, friends, and small business owners! The group is still securing volunteers, silent auction donations, and sponsors. Contact Jill Tanner at jill@clutchmediaworks.com to help, donate or sponsor.

Pasta

Covington appointed new executive chef at Seagar’s

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SANDESTIN – Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa has named Fleetwood Covington as the new executive chef at the onsite Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood. In his new role, Fleetwood will oversee all aspects of the AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse’s culinary initiatives to ensure consistency in presentation and quality of all dishes.

“Our team has built a strong reputation for providing excellence in the overall dining experience,” said Frank Flautt, co-founder of Sandcastle Resorts, the management team behind Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. “Fleetwood’s ability to maintain the steakhouse’s classic standards while pushing the envelope with unique seasonal menus and new dish developments make him the ideal fit to further enhance Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood.”

Having joined the Seagar’s team in 2017, Fleetwood worked his way from the kitchen’s sauce station to his new executive chef position. He was able to train under the leadership of renowned chefs and absorb every aspect of the culinary behind the scenes to create a vision for a new level of expertise in service and dishes. Drawing on inspiration from the surrounding coastal setting to his previous time spent in Europe as a professional concert pianist, Fleetwood combines local and internationally celebrated flavors into each carefully crafted plate.

Most recently, Fleetwood served as chef de cuisine, where he directed food preparation and collaborated with the team to produce dishes that displayed a high caliber of taste and design. In this role, Fleetwood was tasked with growing the steakhouse’s kitchen staff and has played a pivotal role in developing the team into the successful operation it is today. Fleetwood and team continue to craft menu items that speak to seasonal and locally inspired products.

“His range of responsibilities since starting at the resort’s steakhouse has paved the way for him to hold this leadership position and create an even higher level of excellence at Seagar’s,” continued Flautt.

For more information on Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood or to make a reservation visit www.seagars.com or call 1-850-622-1500.

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Hotel Effie’s Ovide launches new fall menus

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Dishes curated by James Beard Award-winning Chef Hugh Acheson

Nov. 17, 2022
Special to 30A Food & Wine

MIRAMAR BEACH – Ovide, the signature restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Hugh Acheson, has launched a new dinner menu highlighting fresh fall flavors and ingredients. Located at Hotel Effie, inside the gates of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Ovide embraces the flavors of the Gulf Coast, showcasing Acheson’s creativity and passion for distinctive ingredients and cooking techniques by fusing coastal cuisine with a sophisticated French influence.

The new menu features fresh and wholesome salads, including the Fall Salad ($17), with pomegranate seeds, apples, sweet potato, pecorino, spiced pumpkin seeds and bourbon maple vinaigrette, and Beet Salad ($18), combining burnt rosemary panna cotta, watercress, orange vinaigrette and pistachio. Appetizers include Charred Octopus ($28), served with citrus, frisée, cured olives and mint vinaigrette, and Roasted Gulf Oysters ($18) with chimichurri sauce.

Fall salad
The Fall Salad comes with pomegranate seeds, apples, sweet potato, pecorino, spiced pumpkin seeds and bourbon maple vinaigrette.

The dinner menu also offers a selection of new entrées, including the Sweet Potato Gnocchi ($29), served with kale-cream sauce, spiced pumpkin seeds and ricotta cheese; Poached Sable ($44), paired with charred Brussels sprouts and hazelnut on a bed of carrot salad dressed with carrot-ginger sauce; Grilled Snapper ($42), served with maitake mushrooms, leeks and sweet garlic-lemon broth; Braised Short Rib ($48), made with parsnip butter, kilt greens, broccolini and crispy shallots; Poulet Rouge ($42), served atop a sweet potato purée, warm mushroom salad, apples and fine herbs; and Bone-In Pork Chop ($48), topped with whipped potatoes with dashi-braised turnips, shishitos, persimmons and mirin glaze.

“We are excited to launch this new menu showcasing the fresh, forward flavors and local seafood of the Gulf Coast combined with ingredients and flavors for the fall season,” said Chef Acheson. “We work closely with local farmers and vendors to ensure we’re bringing the most sustainable and freshest ingredients straight to your plate.”

Avocado toast
Avocado toast with smoked ricotta, heirloom tomato, prosciutto and poached eggs.

Breakfast and lunch menus

Aside from the new dinner menu, Ovide also updated its breakfast and lunch menus which have been available since Oct. 27. For a breakfast of champions don’t miss out on their house specialty, Biscuits and Gravy ($14), with sausage gravy and sunny-side eggs. For lunch go for the Hot Chicken Sandwich ($24), with Brussels slaw, tomato, pickle and chipotle aioli – to feel extra seasonal, pair it with sweet potato fries. Kids are also in for a treat as their lunch and dinner menus have also been revamped, offering all time favorites including pastas, cheeseburger, chicken tenders and grilled cheese.

The new brunch menu launched Nov. 3 and includes their Brioche French Toast ($18), with banana foster and whipped cream; or the hearty Fried Green Tomato Benedict ($25), with jumbo lump crab, poached eggs, spinach, goat cheese and hollandaise.

Ovide is open daily for breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. and for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner is available Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. Brunch will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations can be made at www.hoteleffie.com/dining/ovide.

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Seeing Red Wine Festival: Come for the wine, stay for the bites

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Seaside’s wine weekend marks 30th year

By Michelle Farnham
Nov. 12, 2022

SEASIDE – The 30th annual Seeing Red Wine Festival returned after a two-year hiatus, and this year’s culinary offerings – a lineup of 16 Seaside-area vendors – matched the 21 tables worth of wine in their splendor.

Jim Shirley properties The Meltdown on 30A and The Chicken Shack served brie and bacon grilled cheese, and sweet tea brined fried chicken, respectively; while Airstream Row resident Mr. Gyro Hero offered gyro bites, baklava and hummus. Seaside Farmer’s Market mainstay Derryck’s Pastries plated a six-item taster of South Asian delights and Amavida kept the crowd running with coffee and chocolates.

Derryck's Pastries
In addition to savory bites, Derryck’s Pastries had baklava.

Ashley Beecher, co-owner of The Dawson Group, had two of her company’s five restaurants represented at the festival. Pickle’s Beachside Grill was offering loaded french fries with all the fixings, while at the Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs tent, Beecher served a Wagyu beef chili queso dog.

“Everyone has been saying it’s the best hot dog they’ve ever had! They want to know where to get it and it’s so easy because I can just point to our Airstream trailer,” Beecher joked. “This is so great to be a part of, and we always love to participate in anything Seaside puts on.”

The Green Stream
The Green Stream offered guests a lime garlic avocado baguette.

Of course it wouldn’t be a wine festival without the wine, and with nearly 90 bottles to choose from, taste-testers had plenty to explore.

Brigid Babb was pouring the 2019 Project 18 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2017 RMS Blend for Lerner Project.

“This is our inaugural appearance at Seeing Red Wine and it’s wonderful,” Babb said. “We’ve had a great response to the wines and a really nice, intimate visit last night through the vintners dinner.”

Other winemakers included Priest Ranch, Arano, Baccio Divino Cellars and Tamber Bey Vineyards, to name just a few.

Time to get tasting!
Time to get tasting!

Friends Karen Peck, Sandy Taylor and Gary Howell came into town for the festival from Houston. Peck is a veteran attendee, but Taylor and Howell were really taken aback by their first Seaside soiree.

“Oh I love this!” Howell exclaimed. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done!”

He pointed to The Chicken Shack and Wild Bill’s as his top dining spots, while Taylor was impressed by the wines from Bricoleur Vineyards and Great Southern’s Grits A Ya Ya.

“If you twisted my arm, I may come back!” Taylor added with a laugh.

Houston
Karen Peck, Sandy Taylor and Gary Howell traveled from Houston.

The Seeing Red Wine Festival is a four-day annual event comprised of a Thursday evening Vintners Dinner at Bud & Alley’s, Friday’s Al Fresco Wine Tasting on the Lyceum Lawn, Saturday’s Grand Tasting and Sunday’s Celebration of Bubbles brunch.

Smiles and sauvignon
Smiles and sauvignon!
Slick Lips

Slick Lips Seafood and Oyster House to open second location in Pensacola

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Nov. 7, 2022
Special to 30A Food & Wine

SANDESTIN – The owners of Slick Lips Seafood and Oyster House, Bryce and Miranda Jarvis, along with Captain Gary Jarvis, mayor of Destin, will be opening a second location in Pensacola, at 102 S. Palafox Street.

Located in the Zarzaur Law building complex, Slick Lips Pensacola promises the same fresh seafood and family friendly environment that can be found at the original location, nestled in the heart of the Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

The name “Slick Lips” was chosen from the popular nickname among fisherman for Amberjack fish, who don’t have any teeth. With Gary’s longtime experience as a boat captain and Bryce’s expertise in restaurant management and menu development, Slick Lips was created and developed as a seafood restaurant emphasizing local, sustainable seafood. The fish and seafood featured on the restaurant’s menu are locally caught, brought in fresh off the docks in Destin, and filleted in-house daily. Since opening their doors in 2018, the restaurant has been recognized with numerous awards, including “Best Seafood Restaurant,” “Best Chef,” “Best Oysters,” “Best Bartender,” and “Best Gumbo” by the readers of VIP Destin Magazine.

Slick Lips

The Pensacola location is currently undergoing a full renovation with brand new floors, finishes, and layout to offer plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options as well as a brand-new oyster bar.

“We always knew we wanted to be in the downtown area,” Bryce said. “After finding this space, we’ve been working hard every day to get our doors open as soon as possible so guests can come sit, relax, and experience what Slick Lips has to offer in their own neighborhood.”

Bryce Jarvis and his wife, Miranda, have strong ties to the Pensacola community so it only made sense that this would be the next place for their second location. Miranda was born and raised in Pensacola, and it is also the place where Miranda and Bryce met.

“Pensacola has become a second home to us. It just made sense to expand Slick Lips to the area and share our family founded restaurant with the community here,” said Bryce Jarvis.

Slick Lips Pensacola will offer lunch, dinner, and a weekend brunch menu utilizing the finest, locally sourced ingredients, including fresh produce and sustainable Gulf-caught seafood. Chef Jay Ammons, who serves as the director of operations for the company, has curated a menu for Pensacola that offers many of the same Slick Lips classics. There will also be a brand new weekend brunch menu.

Photos courtesy of Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House

Paradis

Restaurant Paradis hosting Prohibition Repeal Wine Dinner

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Seventh annual event benefits Food for Thought Outreach

Nov. 4, 2022
Special to 30A Food & Wine

ROSEMARY BEACH – Restaurant Paradis is proud to present its seventh annual Prohibition Repeal Wine Dinner, presented by 30A Luxury Vacations, on Saturday, Dec. 10, benefitting Food for Thought Outreach.

Paradis flier

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., guests are invited to delight in a cocktail hour featuring a specialty cocktail made with Distillery 98’s Dune Laker vodka served in a commemorative glass, courtesy of Buddy’s Seafood. Attendees will then be whisked away to the main dining room for a Gatsby, Prohibition-era inspired evening.

Guests will experience a special, four-course meal presented by Driftwood Wine and Spirits, Rosemary Beach Realty, SoWal House, and Swiftly Catered, paired with wines by Vineyard Brands. Prepared by Paradis’ award-winning chef, Mark Eichin and his culinary team, each course will feature the local produce, fresh Gulf seafood, and fine meats that Paradis is known for. Throughout the night, attendees will be surrounded by live music, sponsored by Inlet Beach Real Estate, and photographed by Jennifer Filippone, courtesy of 30A Cottages.

Proceeds from the evening will be donated to Food for Thought Outreach, a local 501(c)3 organization that works to bridge the meal gap in the lives of food insecure children in Walton and Okaloosa counties and empower them to get the most out of their education. 

The restaurant will be closed for the private event and transformed into an elegant event space that emulates the Prohibition era. In keeping with the night’s theme, guests are encouraged to dress in 1930s, Gatsby-theme attire. There are a limited number of tickets available for $200 per person that includes all food, beverage, and gratuity. Tickets can be purchased online at www.restaurantparadis.com.

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Ovide unveils Thanksgiving offerings

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SANDESTIN – This Thanksgiving, locals and travelers visiting the Emerald Coast can remove the holiday stress from their plate, leaving room for extra turkey and mashed potatoes. Guests of Ovide, the ground-floor restaurant at Sandestin’s Hotel Effie, can choose from two chef-driven holiday meals for the whole family:

Thanksgiving Brunch at Ovide

Perfect for hotel guests and locals, skip the clean-up and dine in at Ovide, Hotel Effie’s in-house restaurant. Ovide, the restaurant by award-winning celebrity chef and 2-time James Beard nominee, Hugh Acheson, is offering a feast of roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, savory gravy, Effie’s iconic homemade biscuits and much more.

This experience includes a seafood buffet alongside a family-style dinner, including starters, salads, entrees, sides, and delicious desserts to taste. Brunch is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $65 per person and $30 for children under 12. Make reservations here or call 850-351-3030 by Nov. 18.

Thanksgiving Fall Dinner

Leave your cooking utensils at home and enjoy an elegant home-cooked meal at Ovide with all the flavor and none of the stress. This elevated Thanksgiving dinner features a three-course meal with an array of all your favorite fall classics. Ovide’s chic, well-appointed interior and sophisticated ambiance is the perfect setting for a heart-warming meal with loved ones. Make reservations here or call 850-351-3030 by Nov. 18.

Hotel Effie is located at 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd., in Miramar Beach.

Down Island

Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant hosting Thanksgiving

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Nov. 1, 2022
Special to 30A Food & Wine
 
SANTA ROSA BEACH – Chef Brannon Janca will present his first Thanksgiving feast Thursday, Nov. 24 at Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant.
 
Down Island Thanksgiving
The meal will include three courses for $48. The first course is a choice of lobster bisque or shaved Brussels sprout salad. The second course will be a turkey plate with oven-roasted and spice-injected turkey with gravy, oyster dressing, Too Too’s corn soufflé, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole with pecans and marshmallows, and mayhaw-cranberry sauce. The third course will be a choice of bananas foster bread pudding, wood-fired pumpkin pie or pistachio creme brulee.

There will also be an a la carte menu from which to order. Guests can order only the adult turkey plate by itself for $37 as well. Down Island will have a full kids menu or a kids turkey plate for $15. Call or text 850-586-3015 for reservations. Walk-ins are also welcome if available.

Christmas Charity Ball

Café Thirty-A to host Christmas Charity Ball Dec

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Proceeds to benefit Caring and Sharing of South Walton

Oct. 27, 2022
Special to 30A Food & Wine

SEAGROVE BEACH – Café Thirty-A will host its annual Christmas Charity Ball benefiting Caring and Sharing of South Walton on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

Cafe Thirty-A Christmas

From 6 to 10 p.m., the restaurant will be transformed with festive holiday décor for the annual evening event. Attendees will be greeted upon arrival with complimentary valet sponsored by Corcoran Reverie along with a glass of champagne. Inside, they’ll enjoy passed heavy hors d’oeuvres, a dinner buffet, and a cash bar sponsored by Foundation Title and Escrow Series, LLC. There will be music by DJ Wub Control sponsored by Centennial Bank, along with a commemorative Epic Photo Co. photo booth sponsored by McNeese Title Company. Guests are encouraged to dress in evening attire, black tie optional.

The event will boast a large silent auction featuring items from various local businesses, as well as a generous raffle package from Hotel Effie, with all proceeds benefiting Caring and Sharing of South Walton’s efforts to provide food and financial assistance to local area families and individuals in need. In 2021, the annual Christmas Charity Ball raised over $35,000 through ticket sales, donations, raffle tickets, and auction sales. For area businesses interested in silent auction donation, please contact Jessica Bracken at jessica@proffittpr.com.

“We look forward to this event every year and we know a lot of our regular customers and loyal patrons do too,” said Café Thirty-A owner, Harriet Crommelin. “We invite everyone to join us to kick off the holiday season and give back to those who need it most in our local community. The holidays can be tough for a lot of people so we hope this event will bring relief to a lot of those families.”

Cafe Thirty-A is located at 3899 E. Co. Hwy. 30A. Ticket prices will be $125 per person with 100 percent of the ticket sales and auction proceeds benefiting Caring and Sharing of South Walton. Funds raised from ticket sales will go directly to providing neighbors in need with access to food, financial assistance, mental health counseling, case management, and connection to other community resources. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cafethirtya.com.

Grace Pizza

Grace Pizza and Shakes opens second location on 30A

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Oct. 23, 2022
Special to 30A Food & Wine

GRAYTON BEACH – Grace Pizza and Shakes will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, Oct. 29 at their newest restaurant, located in the old Pickle Factory at 38 Clayton Lane in Grayton Beach.

Grace Pizza

Founded in 2021 by Adrian Hembree and Vincent Nandlal in Alvin, Texas, Grace is the story of their mission and values expressed through the art of food, leadership, and serving others. The name “Grace” comes from a time when both Hembree and Nandlal faced hardships in their personal lives, and turned to their faith for grace, leadership, and love.

Nandlal and his father long knew that they wanted to open a pizza restaurant but didn’t have the knowledge or expertise of the business. They turned to their friend Adrian Hembree, who they had become close with through community service work including Hurricane Harvey relief, the Pearland Police Officer Benefit, and volunteering after the Santa Fe School Shooting. Due to their close bond, Hembree decided not only to advise on the business but partner with Nandlal to bring the concept to life. They both share the same passion and idea that food, a love for people, and serving others brings people together. Today, their goal is to extend Grace to the community, one slice of pizza, or one fun shake, at a time.

“Adrian had an idea for a pizza concept but wanted to shake it up with something different,” Nandlal said. “I love the milkshake idea, so I was able to help Adrian put together an over-the-top menu, and with his many years of restaurant experience and my passion for creativity, we were able to create this cool, unique concept.”

After vacationing to 30A for decades, both Hembree and Nandlal knew they wanted to open a business in the area to have a more concrete connection to the community and be in the area full-time. The decision became clearer when a friend let them know a restaurant space would soon become available and that they should take the opportunity to expand.

“We prayed and God told us to go for it, so we made an offer and the rest is history,” said Nandlal. “The Grace concept is perfect for locals and visitors because it brings a family friendly, cool environment that everyone will love, no matter what age you are. We are so beyond blessed and grateful to be here.”

Grace Pizza and Shakes 30A offers a wide variety of hand-crafted pizzas, salads, local craft beers, and over-the-top ice cream shakes, including their signature 30A Cake Explosion, made with locally sourced baked items. Their founding principles are based off the old proverb, “To each, his own,” meaning that none of their pizzas are the same and each is unique in flavor.

Community members, guests, and children are invited to the locally owned and operated restaurant from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 to commemorate the official grand opening and taste some of the restaurant’s most popular fare. The Halloween-themed event will offer samples of various pizza pies and shakes, along with craft cocktails from Distillery 98, craft brews from Grayton Beer Company and the Lewis Bear Company, along with sips of Good Clean Wine. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes and the best costume will be awarded a special prize. There will also be live music from Nashville-based recording artist, Cole Degges, along with kids face painting and a DJ later in the evening.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ohana Institute, a non-profit, private, exploratory, and innovative school serving middle and high school students. The school operates year-round on a flexible calendar that emphasizes project-based learning and combines both theoretical and real-world experiences for students through an engaging and broad array of subjects.

The new Grace Pizza and Shakes 30a is 1,000 square feet with an intimate dining area along with a plethora of outdoor seating options. The new restaurant has created 30 to 40 jobs in the community and since their soft opening in May 2022, they have partnered with several local businesses and organizations to give back to the community.

To learn more about Grace Pizza and Shakes 30A, visit www.gracepizzaandshakes.com and follow their social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook.

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