SANDESTIN – Fine dining restaurant Ovide has launched new breakfast, brunch and dinner menus, focusing on the flavors of the Gulf Coast and its inherently Southern roots. From Coconut Chia Seed Parfait to Deviled Eggs, Watermelon & Feta Salad to a Lobster Roll, and Crispy Pork Ribs to Goat Cheese Corn Casserole, the new menu includes ample vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, too. The Ovide staff welcomed 30A Food and Wine for a four-course menu, highlighting some of the best the kitchen has to offer, as well as a sneak peek of possibilities to come.
Slideshow: Ovide at Hotel Effie
The corn bread sharing plate is a traditional corn bread topped with egg yolk, served with strawberry jam and honey butter dredged in corn flakes. The bread is beautifully sweet and tender with the slightest crunch on the edges. This vegetarian-friendly starter is available on the dinner menu.
Ovide’s she-crab soup is fall comfort food in a bowl, and the kitchen is not skimping on the seafood! Available all day, this soup is made with crème fraîche and fresh chives.
A feast for the eyes and the tastebuds, the Mega Toast lives up to its name. Served with a steak knife – and for good reason – this brunch and lunch item is built off deliciously caramelized Black Bear Bread Co. sourdough with smoked salmon, poached egg yolks, Boursin cheese, heirloom tomato and radish.
Chef Karim El Kady’s lamp chops special is not currently on the menu, but is something he’s hoping might be someday. Seasoned with aleppo spice and chilis, the chops are grilled then finished in the oven. Chef serves this with heirloom grain polenta with Parmigiano reggiano, and is topped with tomato-okra stew.
Ovide is located at 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd, Miramar Beach, within Hotel Effie in the Sandestin resort. Serving guests year-round, breakfast is offered 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday to Friday, lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner runs 5 to 9 p.m. nightly, open until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A weekend brunch is held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.hoteleffie.com/dining/ovide.
Brunch restaurant draws inspiration from three continents
By Michelle Farnham Oct. 4, 2023
MIRAMAR BEACH – Open since the Fourth of July, the brunch hotspot Bistrology lives up to its name. Bistro: a European eatery owned by management, and -ology: a subject of study.
With its highly visible frontage on Highway 98, the months-long remodel of the former Jordano’s Pizza drew a lot of attention as owners Henry Guerrero and Jonatan Gallen – who have a construction company together – poured many hours and many dollars into their dream.
“All of the kitchen, the bathrooms, the flooring, the decorations: we put every single detail in this place from scratch,” Henry said.
The interior is well-appointed and makes a great place to hang out.
Plan extra time for your trip here, not just because the menu is extensive and warrants a thorough consideration, but because, as Henry puts it, Bistrology “is not a rushed experience.” Everything, from the food to the fresh-squeezed orange juice, is made from scratch and to-order, so don’t expect fast food wait times. Don’t expect food that tastes like fast food, either.
“Everything is homemade and it’s made fresh. All the time we try to explain this to the customer because our plates take 30 minutes to make. We don’t have anything pre-prepped or frozen,” Henry said.
“We want to make this a whole experience for our guests, so we have really great WiFi, we installed purse hooks on the tables, it’s beautiful inside – all these little touches make this a comfortable place to spend time.”
An outdoor patio with sunshades and fans is offered for those wanting to dine al fresco, and Henry said they can accommodate large groups with a reservation during the week.
Cappuccino is a delightful balance of espresso, steamed milk and foam.
Sips to savor
Bistrology proudly pours “art-made coffee,” either run through their espresso machine, lovingly dubbed “Emily,” or their Japanese syphon system, which is a show in itself. While Henry and Jonatan pride themselves on shopping locally for as much product as possible – especially the seafood and Florida oranges – the coffee is imported from the best destinations in the world: Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Rwanda by way of Destin Coffee. Enjoy it by the cup or take a Bistrology-branded bag, roasted and ground in-house, home with you.
For espressos, find the expected standards – Americano, latte, cappuccino and frappuccino – but also hot or cold versions of Nutella with Oreo crumbles, Pistachio with dulce de leche, and cinnamon topped with whipped cream and burnt cinnamon.
Robust bites
What about the food? Henry, who hails from Colombia, and Jonatan, a native of Spain, wanted to create a unique fusion of their cultures’ cuisines with traditional American brunch fare. Here you’ll find standards like pancakes, French toast, egg dishes and avocado toast, but with a decidedly international flare.
“We tried to make a fusion of Colombian and Spanish food, but using American food as the base,” Jonatan explained. “All the sauces and everything is homemade. We do everything here.”
Food is prepared by Colombian chefs with experience cooking for major hotels in the capital city of Bogatá.
Alfajores are a caramely South American treat.
“We’ve got a couple plates from south of America, like Peru, Mexico. We took the best from every country,” added Henry. A dessert case of Alfajores offers the traditional Argentinian dulce de leche cookies, too.
From the pancake menu, the Ham & Cheese Symphony leans in an unexpectedly savory direction, crowned with a sunny side up egg. If you’re after waffles, the Spanish Passion features Serrano ham and manchego cheese with a passion fruit glaze. Croissants and avocados each come stuffed, like the the Dulce de Leche croissant with singed marshmallow, or the Peruvian ceviche with shrimp and fried green plantains. More standard “American” flavors are available, too, including some gluten-free options.
Bring your appetite, as portion sizes are impressive.
“I’m a foodie guy,” Jonatan admitted with a laugh. “When I go to a restaurant and they serve a $30 plate, and it’s just a small plate, I hate that! I prefer to make a good breakfast with big portions.”
If you’re thinking more lunchtime fare, order off the sandwiches or burger menu. The Steak Brie Fusion comes with skirt steak, caramelized onion, brie and pesto mayo, topped with a fried egg. Or try the Lomo Saltado, a traditional Peruvian stir fry dish starring beef tenderloin, onions and tomatoes.
“We are really happy with the local people for the support,” Henry said of business, which has been booming since day one. “Of course when you open a business, you think it’s going to be successful, but not like this.”
Bistrology, located at 10004 Highway 98 in Miramar Beach, is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week. Reservations are available on weekdays. In addition to take-out, delivery is available through Uber Eats and Door Dash. Visit them online at www.bistrology.restaurant.
Photos by Michelle Farnham
Pictured at top: The Gallen Ciabatta Toast: A fusion of flavors from Spain treating two ciabatta bread toasts with an avocado base, burrata cheese, secret sauce based on paprika and caramelized peppers, all topped with a crispy pork belly.
Hotel Effie restaurant features fresh ingredients inspired by the coast
Sept. 26, 2023 Special to 30A Food & Wine
MIRAMAR BEACH – Ovide, the signature restaurant at Hotel Effie at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, has launched new breakfast, brunch and dinner menus highlighting the flavors of the Gulf Coast and the freshest, in-season ingredients. All menus include ample vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
“We are excited to launch our all-new breakfast, brunch and dinner menus showcasing the in-season ingredients and seafood from the Gulf Coast,” said Hotel Effie’s general manager Jim Marino.
“We work closely with regional farmers and vendors to ensure we incorporate the freshest, most sustainable ingredients into our plates.”
Avocado Toast features sourdough topped with feta cheese, heirloom tomatoes, pickled red onions, avocado mash and pepitas; add on poached eggs, fresh crab or chilled Gulf shrimp.
Breakfast menu
For breakfast (available Monday through Friday from 7 to 11 a.m.), starters include the Summer Fruit Plate ($15), featuring berries, melons and dragon fruit; fan-favorite house-made Effie’s Biscuits ($12), served with sweet butter and strawberry pepper jam; and Steel-Cut Oats ($12), with brown sugar, granola and blueberries. “From the Griddle” options include Brioche French Toast ($18), topped with bananas Foster and candied pecans, and Buttermilk Pancakes ($15), topped with vanilla whipped ricotta, blueberries and maple syrup.
“From the Farm” breakfast plates include Two Farm-Fresh Eggs ($19), served with breakfast potatoes, a choice of meat (bacon, turkey bacon or sausage) and toast (wheat, white, English muffin or Effie’s biscuit); Summer Quiche ($19), made with zucchini, yellow squash, marinated tomatoes and feta and served with breakfast potatoes; Eggs Benedict ($20), with poached eggs, spinach, hollandaise, pork belly and breakfast potatoes (add lump crab meat for $12); and 3-Egg Omelet ($20) with choice of three ingredients – mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers, onions, cheddar cheese, bacon or sausage (each additional item is $2) – and toast.
Breakfast “Specialties” include Biscuits and Gravy ($16), Effie’s house-made biscuits topped with sausage gravy and sunny-side eggs; Avocado Toast ($15), sourdough topped with feta cheese, heirloom tomatoes, pickled red onions, avocado mash and pepitas (add poached eggs for $6, fresh crab for $12 or chilled Gulf shrimp for $15); Toasted Bagel with Lox ($18), a Black Bear sesame bagel topped with whipped cream cheese, pickled shallots, capers and cucumber; Ovide BLT ($20), toasted sourdough topped with applewood-smoked bacon, avocado and buttermilk dressing (add egg for $3); Shrimp and Grits ($29), with Gulf shrimp, stone-ground grits, seafood tomato sauce and andouille sausage; and Corned Beef Hash ($24), with potatoes, pepper, onions, pickled red onions, avocado and sunny-side egg. Diners can also choose the Full Gulf Breakfast ($35), which includes a fruit plate, any entrée (excluding Lump Crab Benedict and Shrimp and Grits), bloody mary or mimosa, and coffee or tea. A limited kids menu is also available.
Brioche French Toast is topped with bananas Foster and candied pecans.
Brunch menu
The brunch menu (available Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.) features many plates from the breakfast menu, plus special brunch items, including starters like the Coconut Chia Seed Parfait ($12), with lime, summer berries, toasted coconut and granola; Shrimp Cocktail ($18), with Gulf shrimp and cocktail sauce; Emerald Coast Smoked Fish Dip ($21), with pickled red onion and sourdough; and Deviled Eggs ($14), with cornichons and Parma ham.
A brunch-only “Specialty” is the Steak & Eggs ($36), a New York strip steak served with grilled tomatoes, chimichurri, eggs over-easy, toasted sourdough and breakfast potatoes. A brunch-only “From the Farm” dish is the Crab Cake Benedict ($32), served with poached eggs, hollandaise, spinach and grilled tomato.
The brunch menu also features several salad and sandwich options, including the Watermelon & Feta Salad ($17), with pine nuts, basil, Aleppo pepper and olive oil (add Gulf shrimp for $15 or fresh crab for $18); Caesar Salad ($16), with romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, Parmesan cheese, creamy Caesar dressing and crispy lardon (add grilled chicken for $9, shrimp for $15 or fresh catch for $24); Lobster Roll ($32), with tarragon aioli and celery; Blackened Grouper Sandwich ($26), toasted ciabatta topped with house slaw and lemon-garlic aioli; and Effie Burger ($22), a brioche bun topped with pimento cheese, Effie’s sauce, butter lettuce, vine-ripe tomato and pickles (add bacon, egg and/or avocado for $3 each). The Grand Sandestin Brunch ($35) includes a fruit plate, any entrée (exclusions apply), bloody mary or mimosa, and coffee or tea.
The new dinner menu includes snacks, raw bar options, mains and sides.
Dinner menu
Ovide’s new dinner menu (available Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.) includes a selection of “snacks,” including Pimento Cheese ($12) served with artisan crackers; Spinach & Artichoke Dip ($17), served with pita; Crispy Pork Ribs ($19), with benne seed BBQ sauce, honey and cilantro; and Beef Tartare ($24), with bone marrow aioli, quail egg and Black Bear sourdough. Soup and salad options include She-Crab Soup ($20), featuring lump crab, charred corn and tomatoes, and Burrata ($19), served with heirloom tomatoes, baguette, pickled red onion, basil, corn and English peas.
The dinner menu also features several raw bar options, including Half-Shell Oysters (half dozen, $20; dozen, $36), served with black pepper mignonette and sourdough crackers; Classic Oysters Rockefeller ($24), with bacon, Parmesan bechamel and spinach; and a Seafood Platter (market price), with half-shell oysters, shrimp cocktail, smoked fish dip, snapper ceviche and crab claws. For the main course, options include Pappardelle ($29), with basil pesto, English peas, asparagus, zucchini and Parmesan cheese; Grouper ($43), served with warm quinoa salad and herb vinaigrette; Crispy Skin Snapper ($50), served with coconut broth and charred summer vegetables; Low Country Boil ($36), with Gulf shrimp, potato, tomato, andouille sausage, corn and garlic bread; and Crispy Half Chicken ($36), with Southern collard greens, black-eyed peas and grilled lemon. Grilled options include the Berkshire Pork Chop ($43), served with stone-ground grits, peach chutney and herbs; Prime 8-Ounce Tenderloin ($66); and Prime 16-Ounce Boneless Rib-Eye ($68).
Dinner sides ($12 each) include Goat Cheese Corn Casserole with goat cheese feta, peppadew and cilantro lime aioli; Charred Broccolini with jalapeño maple and lemon; Southern Collard Greens; Smoked Turkey; Whipped Potatoes with boursin cheese; and Potato Croquettes served with Effie’s sauce.
Ovide is located at Hotel Effie, 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd. in Miramar Beach. Reservations can be made at www.hoteleffie.com/dining/ovide.
GRAYTON BEACH – You could say the popular brunch spot Crackings. has been in the egg business for close to two decades. What started as an independently owned Another Broken Egg location in Destin expanded into a second South Walton spot for 13 years, before the Green family – Marcia, Tommy, Clayton and Kristy – decided to set out on their own, rebranding their eatery as Crackings. in March of 2018.
Kristy and Clayton Green
They closed up shop after a busy Sunday, changed the name, changed the menu, and re-opened two days later as Crackings.
So why the period in their name?
“A sentence ends with a period, right? It’s a statement!” Kristy said. Marcia was actually the one to dream up the new name, ending weeks of family brainstorming, and that dream included the resounding punctuation mark! The Greens also liked the idea of including the word “King” in the moniker, a nod to their strong sense of faith.
“Many people think our name is ‘CrackLings,’ Kristy admitted, “So we politely correct them by saying it’s like ‘cracking an egg.’”
While husband-and-wife Tommy and Marcia oversee the Destin location, next generation couple Clayton and Kristy run operations in Grayton Beach. The younger Greens actually met in the restaurant industry while students at Florida State, and the rest is history!
The last few years have truly been a time of transition for Crackings., not only the rebrand, but evolving to withstand the pandemic. When the going got rough, the Greens took it outside: outside seating, that is! Parking lot space became a temporary dining room shared with neighboring dinnertime restaurant Grayton Beach Seafood Co., and a band house arose, bringing live music to the table.
“Noticing the beauty of outdoor dining, we took the opportunity during the off-season of February 2021 and began remodeling our now beloved side-patio,” Kristy said. “Our pet-friendly outdoor dining and daily live music is here to stay.”
Eats and sweets
Turning attention to the menu, Kristy pointed to Summertime French Toast and the Fresh Gulf Snapper & Grits as two customer favorites.
“The French toast has beautifully unique flavor combinations that someone does not normally experience while eating French toast,” she said. “Aside from being topped with luscious fresh fruit, the two handmade sauces drizzled on top make it quite the experience that our guests rave about.”
While admitting that people may not think of fresh fish for breakfast, it’s worth a look on the Crackings. menu, served four ways: atop Gouda grits, Benedict-style, as part of the avocado toast called the Flocking Flat, and on the “wildly favored” Snapper Sandwich.
“We partnered with a local purveyor to provide us the freshest red snapper straight from the Gulf,” Kristy said. “We serve it fresh until we sell out, never frozen.”
You’ll also find Croisseignets (a cross between a croissant and a beignet), chicken and waffles, and a Sriracha breakfast sandwich on the menu, as well as clearly-marked vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Of course no brunch place would be complete without a little something to sip on, and Crackings.’ Cheers menu includes beer, wine, bloody Marys and their famous Mason jar mimosas.
Clayton has dubbed Kristy the “Crackings. mad scientist” when it comes to developing new mimosa combos – all made with fresh juices and fruits. Look for new flavors to be announced this season, in addition to best-sellers like blood orange, blueberry passion fruit, and pineapple coconut.
Although seating is first-come, first-served, diners are able to join the list before arriving via Yelp Waitlist, which is especially handy during those peak weekend brunch hours.
“This helps when we reach long wait times and guests can join our wait list from their phone while still at their house,” Kristy explained. “They can watch their place in line and head to the restaurant when they see they are reaching the top of the list.”
Crackings. is located at 51 Uptown Grayton Circle in the Grayton Beach area of Santa Rosa Beach. They’re open Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Mondays. Visit them at crackingsfl.com or call 850-231-7835.
SANDESTIN – This Mother’s Day, Hotel Effie, located at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is offering a relaxing retreat to the special women in your life. Guests who book by Friday, May 12 save 20% off when booking two or more nights for a stay between Thursday, May 11, and Sunday, May 14, with complimentary late checkout on Sunday, May 14.
The on-site restaurant Ovide invites her to enjoy delectable dishes, live music and more with a special Mother’s Day Brunch. Guests who take advantage of the celebratory offers at Hotel Effie save 10% when they reserve a table for Mother’s Day Brunch at Ovide. Brunch is priced at $90 per person, excluding gratuity and tax, $25 for children under 12 years old, free of charge for children under 5.
Breakfast includes eggs Benedict, bacon and sausage, and vegetable frittata. Guests can enjoy an omelet station, French toast bar and stone ground grit bar, complete with all of the toppings and inclusions. Entrees and seafood include prime rib, roasted red snapper, gnocchi and bagel and lox, which can be paired with an assortment of salads and sides. Dessert includes peaches ‘n cream, Nutella and mascarpone cannoli, blueberry cobbler and more. Reservations are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and can be made via Resy.
Pamper Mom with a rejuvenating spa day at Spa Lilliana and receive 10% off spa treatments with promo code MOM23 while booking. Dedicated to well-being and self-care treatments on the second floor of Hotel Effie, Spa Lilliana features a menu of relaxing treatments using quality skincare products like OSEA and Biologique Recherche.
SANDESTIN – Dubbed “The Kentucky Derby of wine festivals,” the Sandestin Wine Festival is back for its 36th installment this April. Rain or shine, guests come to choose from hundreds of wines to sip, and dine on a selection of local eateries’ offerings.
The party gets started with the official kick-off Thursday night at The Village Door from 7 to 9 p.m.
Gourmet food and wine pairings will take place at merchants throughout the Village of Baytowne Wharf all four nights.
Food tents are offered along the wine festival grounds.
Two days of Grand Tastings feature table after table of vintners, pouring everything from Riesling to Cab Sav and plenty in between. Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 1 to 4 p.m., guests can taste as many varieties as they choose, making notes of favorites along the way. Savor South Walton tents will dot the grounds, featuring some of Baytowne Wharf and South Walton’s best restaurants and their kitchen crews. Sample bites from steak to seafood to sweets.
Ticket-holders 21 and over are given a wristband and tasting glass, meaning non-drinking guests are welcome to enjoy the festivities as well. The heartiest of wine enthusiasts can opt for the 2-day Grand Tasting ticket to enjoy a discount, while supplies last. VIP lounge tickets have already sold out.
Yoga, mimosas and the beach converge for a morning of relaxation during Saturday’s Seas the Day session, starting at 9 a.m. Enjoy a good stretch and a sip at this yoga class held at the Sandestin Beach Access, presented by Hotel Effie & Spa Lilliana. If rain dampens the zen, the event moves indoors to Hotel Effie.
Two days of Grand Tastings feature table after table of vintners.
Round out the weekend with the New Orleans Bottomless Brunch held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pick from two seatings, 10 or 11:30 a.m. to enjoy a creole menu, bottomless mimosas and a bloody Mary bar.
All this fun is for a good cause, as proceeds of the Sandestin Wine Festival benefit its longtime charities: Fisher House of the Emerald Coast – providing a home away from home for military families – and Sandestin Foundation for Kids, helping local children in need.
“Last year we raised a combined total of $45,000 for our charities,” explained Village of Baytowne Wharf Events Manager Kensley Brooks. “They are a big part of helping the Sandestin Wine Festival run day-of. They help out by volunteering as pourers, ticket scanners, runners, set up, clean up, etc. We really couldn’t do it without them and we can’t thank them enough.”
The Sandestin Wine Festival weekend is slated for April 13 to 16, 2023, throughout the grounds of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach. For more information including ticket sales, food vendors and the Taster’s Guide, visit www.sandestinwinefestival.com.
SOUTH WALTON – A trio of local eateries are welcoming guests for special Easter brunch Sunday, April 9, while WaterColor is offering holiday meals to-go or delivered.
Havana Beach Bar & Grill
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy buffet fare featuring brunch specialties, a prime rib carving station, chilled seafood bar, kids’ selections, desserts and more. The price is $85 for adults, $45 for children 12 & under. Call 850-588-2882 to make your reservations and inquire about the full menu.
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The culinary team is opening the restaurant early and offering a chef selection of springtime favorites, along with a Mimosa Bar and Dessert Bar. Reservations are not accepted; walk-ins welcome.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy an egg-travagant Easter Brunch at the WaterColor Lakehouse, including an extensive breakfast menu, omelet station, salad garden, seafood bar, carving station, hot selections and kids’ cuisine. Email WCISocialEvents@stjoe.com for reservations; cost is $85 per adult, $42.50 per child ages 6 to 12, and complimentary for children 5 and under.
Easter Brunch To-Go or home delivery within WaterColor
The WaterColor team is offering a family-style Easter Brunch for four to-go, and delivering within the WaterColor neighborhood. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. delivery or pick up; place your order by emailing WCISocialEvents@stjoe.com by noon on Friday, April 7. Price is $275. Pickup location is Gather Kitchen + Bar, at 34 Goldenrod Circle in WaterColor.
The meal starts with coastal greens salad, chicken and vegetable soup. Mains and sides include blackened shrimp with yellow grits and tomato gravy, roasted prime rib with horseradish cream and red wine jus, loaded mashed potatoes, honey roasted carrots and rolls. For dessert: carrot cake with spiced cream cheese frosting, French silk pie with Nilla wafer crust. Kids can enjoy carrots and celery with ranch dip, chicken tenders with BBQ sauce, Easter cupcakes and mixed fruit salad.
SANDESTIN – Ovide at Hotel Effie Sandestin is hosting a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9. Locals and travelers alike can enjoy delectable dishes, live music and more. Brunch is priced at $95 per person, excluding gratuity and tax, $25 for children under 12 years old, and free of charge for children under 5.
The buffet features various stations where guests can savor the taste of traditional favorites and new, innovative dishes. The breakfast station includes scrambled eggs, eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage and cocktail shrimp, made with lemons, cocktail and tartar sauce. In the action station, guests can enjoy a fresh omelet with assorted toppings and a french toast bar complete with fruits, whipped cream, peanut butter, Nutella and chocolate chips.
Guests can pair assorted breads and rolls with fresh salads like the spinach and kale salad with seasonal berries, goat cheese, pistachio, red onion and black pepper honey vinaigrette, or a wedge salad with bacon lardons, blue cheese, heirloom tomatoes and buttermilk dressing.
At the carving station, guests can indulge in prime rib with horseradish cream, leg of lamb with mustard mint jus, salmon with beurre blanc and glazed ham with maple jus. Glazed carrots, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, cream corn and crispy Brussels sprout are featured in the sides station to pair with any dish. Make sure to save room for dessert, including banana pudding, carrot cake, strawberry cheesecake, lemon bars and assorted cookies.
Brunch will be hosted at Hotel Effie at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, where guests can enjoy an upscale ambiance and indulge in a combination of local Gulf Coast flavors and classic French techniques. Reservations are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and can be made on Resy.
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.
INLET BEACH – Canopy Road Café’s new 30-A restaurant, located at 12805 US-98, promises to shake up the old breakfast routines of locals and tourists alike. This isn’t your grandmother’s bacon-and-eggs breakfast joint.
From whimsical dishes like Fat Elvis pancakes (in case you were wondering: peanut butter and banana pancakes filled with chopped bacon and topped with a peanut butter drizzle), to customized skillets with every ingredient under the Emerald Coast sun – Canopy Road Café has you covered.
From sweet to savory and everything in between!
Children will love Canopy Road Café because they aren’t treated as an afterthought. When they see that plate of Cookies and Cream French Toast headed their way, the expression on their faces is priceless. And when they take a picture of it and send it to their friends, you’ll know you picked the right breakfast spot.
But Canopy Road Café isn’t all sprinkles and whipped cream – there is something for the entire family. From five different “benedict” dishes to handhelds, omelets and house favorites, every breakfast base is covered.
And if the lunch hour has arrived, you can dig into an Angus burger, fries and wash it all down with a cold beer before heading back to work or the beach.
Many of the items served come from the Sunshine State.
Canopy Road Café is the creation of Brad Buckenheimer and David Raney, college buddies who worked at a Tallahassee diner but knew they eventually wanted to start their own business.
Now, Canopy Road Café is taking off with eight locations sprinkled throughout the state and more on the way.
“We love what we do, and we love making people happy,” said Brad. “Smiles and sighs are our goal – smiles because breakfast was fun and sighs because they were satisfied.”
Brad and Dave are Florida boys who honor their roots – all of the meat and produce served at the restaurant come from the Sunshine State.
“We use local art in the restaurants, local vendors and cater to locals first,” Dave said. “Local diners will find that it doesn’t take long for our staff to learn their names and what they like. We hire local people and treat them well to keep turnover at the minimum.”
Open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, Canopy Road Café is located at 12805 US-98, Inlet Beach, within the 30Avenue complex. Find them online at www.canopyroadcafe.com.
