jim shirley

September 5, 2022

The Chicken Shack • C-Bar: A chicken walks into a bar…

By Liesel Schmidt
Sept. 5, 2022

Over the years, restauranteur Jim Shirley has proven himself to be the master of whatever he puts his mind – and his hand – to. With an empire that includes everything from high-end Southern cuisine and beautifully executed seafood to casual beach fare and wood-fired pizza, the man does not back down from an idea – especially when it has the recipes to back it up.

The latest among his culinary adventures, The Chicken Shack is built on that very Southern staple of fried chicken. As this is Jim Shirley’s brainchild, however, not just any fried chicken. Rather, the recipe is a secret concoction that uses sweet tea as a brine, combined with Chef Shirley’s own special blend of breading. The result accomplishes something that Jim has had on the back burner of his very busy brain for quite some time.

“He has been musing over the idea of a chicken shack for a while, and when the opportunity arose to work with the Seaside team to bring his vision to fruition, he couldn’t pass on the chance to make what he calls ‘Every Mama’s Chicken’ for the masses,” explained Madison Shirley, director of brand and storytelling for Jim Shirley Enterprises. “Every mama has their ‘family’ recipe, and it’s a staple at many dinner tables.”

Because this is, at its heart, a fried chicken restaurant, the kitchen was built specific to that essential task of frying chicken. Boasting fryers large enough to fry 24 pounds of chicken in five minutes, warmers that circulate hot air to keep the chicken crisp yet moist, and other details that make the kitchen “chicken friendly,” The Chicken Shack is, indeed, perfectly designed to execute the best chicken possible.

With signature dishes including Buckets O’ Chicken, the menu offers Jim’s delicious fried chicken, Shack Fried Chicken Tenders, and wings, all of which display his love for fried chicken. Not to mention that famous way he has with food and creating an experience.

“There’s nothing more seemingly basic than a box of chicken, but it’s a meal that is designed to be shared with friends and family,” noted Madison. “He loves creating dishes that bring people together to break bread (or chicken), talk, and make memories.”

C-Bar

Making memories is also something to be done over a great cocktail, and the newly opened C-Bar adjoining The Chicken Shack is just the place to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset. An upcycled shipping container, C-Bar—or “Container Bar”—has a casual vibe with seating on both sides, with a large end space for walk-up drinks.

“The urban style gently contrasts with the Great Southern Cafe’s shaker cottage, so it feels like a new and exciting space for guests to experience,” Madison noted.

Offering the same menu and specialties as The Great Southern Cafe, C-Bar focuses on great cocktails like mojitos and famous food items like Grits a Yaya, though the bar also boasts a carefully curated lineup of craft beer that highlights the local Southern craft beer industry.

“C-Bar is a fun, low-pressure bar that allows guests to choose their experience,” said Madison. “Whether they’re grabbing a seat and unpacking their day or walking up to the to-go window, ordering a drink, then exploring the town or beach, guests will love the opportunity to enjoy the C-Bar.”

The Chicken Shack and C-Bar are both located at 87 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach. The Chicken Shack is open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and reservations not accepted. For more information, visit www.thechicken-shack.com. Find the C-Bar at online at www.thecbar.com, service runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

July 25, 2022

North Beach Social: A whale of a tale

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By Liesel Schmidt
July 25, 2022

SANTA ROSA BEACH – Coming over the bridge into Santa Rosa Beach, the view of all that lies before you is breathtaking: the sky, the water, the absolute majesty of nature. And as your eye explores the skyline, it lights on one particular burst of color that seems to demand attention: A massive depiction of a Rice’s Whale, seemingly swimming up toward the clouds. But this is no ordinary whale, and the story behind it is no ordinary tale. It begins, in fact, with a dream shared by an artist and a chef, using an unconventional canvas for this incredible work of art that embodies the uniqueness, the unconventional spirit and beauty of the 30A community.

And so we begin at the beginning, when artist Andy Saczynski approached Dan Tinghitella, the COO of Jim Shirley Enterprises, about an idea to create a life-size whale art installation. Tinghitella, in turn, mentioned it to Jim Shirley, who was preparing to open his new restaurant, North Beach Social. The result was a collaboration between the two men that brought Saczynski’s vision to life and gave Shirley’s new venture a wow-factor unlike anything in the area.

“Jim has been supporting Andy’s work for years, so he felt confident that whatever went up on the wall would be breathtaking,” explained Madison Shirley, director of Brand & Storytelling for Jim Shirley Enterprises. “What makes this particular installation remarkable, though, is its ability to embody Jim and Andy’s passions and aspirations for the local community. It’s not only a beautiful piece of artwork, but it’s also a message of preservation of the natural world. Rice’s Whale is just one example of endangered species – some still undiscovered – that make the Gulf Coast the slice of heaven that it is. Engaging with locals and visitors alike in such a beautiful statement is sure to leave guests thinking about how they can positively impact their community and world.”

Having created other pieces for Jim’s restaurants, Saczynski knew that the collaboration would be well matched. And, given North Beach Social’s location, the installation seemed a natural fit.

“When thinking through the piece’s placement, there was no better spot than North Beach Social,” Madison contended. “Not only does it make a dynamic backdrop for our guests and events, but it is a fantastic way to welcome visitors coming across the bridge into Santa Rosa Beach.”

As a restaurant whose space is designed to bring people, families, and artists together in a daily celebration of good food, the local community, and the stunning Choctawhatchee Bay, North Beach Social is a concept whose aesthetic – and ethos – perfectly assimilates Saczynski’s work.

“This piece fits nicely into our vision, from the reclaimed materials used in making it to the symbolism of instruments and schools of fish across the whale’s body,” Madison explained. “It’s a taste of what makes Santa Rosa Beach beautiful and North Beach Social so special.”

Artist Andy Saczynski — Saczynski spent a total of 55 hours on his masterpiece.

Delivering his materials to the restaurant property on Feb. 8, 2022, Saczynski began the actual construction and installation of the piece the next day. After cutting, layering, placing and carrying pieces of plywood up scaffolding to create the whale and then painting it with spray paint and house paint, Saczynski spent a total of 55 hours on his masterpiece. At completion, the whale measured 30 feet wide and 12 feet tall, using a total of 800 pounds in materials.

But why this particular whale? As he began planning his piece, Saczynski came across an article about a whale he had never heard of called Rice’s Whale, named after Dale W. Rice. It was Rice who first published evidence that Bryde’s whales are present in the Gulf of Mexico in 1965, thus earning him the namesake. According to NOAA Fisheries, Rice’s Whales are members of the baleen whale family Balaenopteridae. Fewer than 100 individual whales remain, making Rice’s Whales one of the most endangered whales in the world. Consistently located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, Rice’s Whales are the only resident baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico and are most closely related to Bryde’s whales.

“After finding out that these spectacular whales call our part of the Gulf home, it just made sense to use them as the inspiration for the piece,” said Saczynski.

With its whimsical style and imaginative conception, the whale is a benediction on the restaurant, a welcome to its guests, a reminder of just how special a place the 30A community is and what an invaluable gift it has in its natural surroundings.

North Beach Social is located at 24200 US-331, Santa Rosa Beach. Open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. No reservations are accepted. For more information, visit northbeach.social.com or call 850-622-8110.

Photos by Lori Saczynski

May 18, 2022

Chef Jim Shirley: Running a culinary empire

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By Laura Holloway
May 18, 2022

SANTA ROSA BEACH – Something about 30A acts as an artistic magnet, drawing in talented artists in every medium, inviting in those drawn to inspire and be inspired. The culinary arts are no exception, with 30A enticing and keeping the talents of truly unique and creative chefs. Their food is just so good, and with an exceptional menu comes an area of mystique and celebrity surrounding the gifted culinary artists who have made 30A their homes and legacies.

Chef Jim Shirley is one of the most celebrated chefs in the area (and beyond), and for someone who started “flipping burgers in Gulf Breeze” when he was 14 and has now been invited to cook at The James Beard House four times, Shirley has more than earned his place in the history and growth of the 30A area. With seven unique locations and a line at each place, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Great Southern Café
Perhaps most beloved and well known is the Great Southern Café in Seaside. Loved by tourists and locals alike, the casual-yet-special eatery is a favorite location for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and mojitos and bloody Marys in between. Described as “new-fashioned Southern cuisine,” the Great Southern menu offers something for everyone for every meal.

At breakfast, there’s Avocado Toast (buttered, grilled, and topped with avocado, red onions, tomato, spices, and EVOO), Crab Cake and Fried Green Tomato Benedict, and the ever-popular Chicken and Waffle (topped with crispy fried chicken and covered in Orange-Rosemary Glaze). Be sure to arrive early enough at breakfast for an order of Beignets, which tend to sell out quickly.

For lunch and dinner, try a steaming plate of Blue Crab Claws (served with garlic, cream, sherry, butter, and Romano cheese with warm pita bread for dipping), the Great Southern Seafood Platter (with fresh oysters, chilled shrimp, lobster tails, and West Indies marinated jumbo lump crab), or the wildly popular Grits a Ya Ya, made with blackened shrimp, sauté of smoked bacon, spinach, portobello mushrooms, and cream on a bed of smoked Gouda cheese grits. Shirley has a recommendation of his own: “Chef Innocent’s making Duck Call Rolls with confit and pepper jelly!”

Great Southern is located at 83 Central Square and is open 365 days a year for breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. and lunch/dinner from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested, but walk-ins are welcome. For more information, visit thegreatsoutherncafe.com or call 850-231-7327.

The Bay
The Bay is Shirley’s answer to a need for delicious food north of 30A, a place that celebrates the Southern comfort of a bonfire and the gentle lap of water on bayside sand. This family-friendly waterfront restaurant offers a full menu of Southern gulf coast cuisine, 12 beers on tap, an impressive wine and cocktail menu, and a sampling of mouth-watering sushi found only in this special place overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay.

Offering brunch (like a Crab Cake Benedict served over fried zucchini with two poached eggs and hollandaise), lunch (like Point Washington Rolls filled with alligator Tasso and poblano served with Hog Island sauce), and dinner (like Pesto Snapper and Crab Cake, topped with an Asian fusion pesto and fresh mint, basil and cilantro), The Bay is everything your taste buds have been longing for. And if you’re a burger aficionado, don’t leave without a taste of the Bomber Burger, dripping with sauces, caramelized onions, asiago cheese crisp and a roasted tomato.

The Bay is located at 24215 Hwy. 331 and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with Happy Hour each day from 2 to 4 p.m. Live music and outdoor fun is a regular occurrence, and more information and reservation opportunity can be found by visiting baysouthwalton.com or calling 850-622-2291.

North Beach Social
Relaxing, photo-worthy, and delicious – all the things you are hoping to find in a coastal restaurant, and all found at North Beach Social, is Shirley’s second bayside culinary offering. Located downstairs from Farm & Fire restaurant, North Beach Social offers scenic sunsets, plenty of outdoor seating (bring your dog), and a large white sand beach for kids (and adults) to play.

The restaurant’s menu is a showcase of five of Shirley’s restaurants, featuring such favorites as the Grits a Ya Ya, the Bomber Burger, and a Pecan Stuffed Cheesecake so rich and creamy you may as well throw the culinary bucket list out the window because not much will top it. Live music five days a week, beach bocce, and a bonfire every night (weather permitting), North Beach Social is the place to unwind, catch up, and savor the area’s favorite menu choices.

Located at 24200 Hwy. 331 South, the restaurant is open daily (check website for current hours) and can be reached by visiting www.northbeach.social or calling 850-622-8110.

Farm & Fire
Shirley’s popular bayside restaurant and speakeasy exists as a Southern-style pizzeria, offering unforgettable sunset views and frequent dolphin sightings from its second-floor location on Choctawhatchee Bay at the foot of the 331 bridge. Using coal ovens, Farm & Fire presents coal-oven baked pizzas and whole-roasted fish; fresh, locally sourced salads and charcuterie; and a speakeasy bar that encourages laughter and lingering conversation. Along with a restaurant facelift, the menu is also getting an overhaul. Visit farmandfirepizza.com.

The Meltdown on 30A
For anyone who has ever dreamed of the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, this is your moment. Described as the “Best Flip-Flop Cuisine on 30A,” The Meltdown serves both traditional and gourmet grilled cheeses, soups, and chips, all with the whimsical and nostalgic flair that an Airstream restaurant offers. Located in Airstream Row in Seaside, this take-and-go restaurant is anything but fast food, with mind-bending flavor creations such as The Little Figgy (made with brie, bacon, and sweet fig compote), Strawberry Goat Forever (with Alabama goat cheese, strawberry preserves, and prosciutto), and the Cuban McConnell, made with pulled pork, brown bag ham, gruyere, pickles, and Billy’s mustard sauce.

The Meltdown on 30A is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and more information can be found at meltdownon30A.com.

And more

Shirley has recently expanded his restaurant portfolio with the opening of C-Bar and the Great Southern Chicken Shack. He said, “The C-Bar is made from a recycled shipping container and will be filled with everyone’s favorite bartenders from the Great Southern and food from their kitchen, and The Chicken Shack will have some mighty tasty fried chicken!”

The 30A food scene continues to earn its place in culinary reverence, and Jim Shirley’s restaurant portfolio expansion is a gift to visitors and locals alike. He said, “I started flipping burgers in Gulf Breeze when I was 14, ran a pizza joint when I was 17. 10 years later I opened Madison’s Diner in Pensacola, and never looked back.”

And on behalf of foodies everywhere, we thank you.

To find out more about Chef Jim Shirley and his upcoming restaurant offerings, visit chefjimshirley.com.

March 27, 2022

Chef Jim Shirley opens Chicken Shack and C-Bar in Seaside

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Special to 30A Food & Wine
March 26, 2022

SEASIDE – Just in time for the 2022 season, Chef Jim Shirley opened two new establishments in Seaside: The Great Southern Cafe’s Chicken Shack and C-Bar (Container Bar). Both are located between Sundog Books and The Great Southern Cafe and share a communal courtyard for dining and relaxing.

Shirley has been musing over the idea of a chicken shack for quite a while, and when the opportunity arose to work with the Seaside team to bring his vision to fruition, he saw it was time to cross the road and get to the glorious fried chicken on the other side. After all, there are few things more Southern than fried chicken, and Jim loves the opportunity to showcase Southern food culture, especially as the geographic diversity of guests to the beach town continues to grow every year.

Chicken Shack

Slowly marinated in sweet tea and then tossed in Jim’s secret breading recipe, each piece of chicken is cooked to perfection. While the 2-piece, 3-piece, and tenders meals are meant to share, you might find you’re fighting over the last bites! Don’t worry, though; the “Bucket O’Chicken” – eight pieces of white and dark meat chicken, four sides, and four rolls – is sure to have a little something for everyone. Along with this all-star lineup, guests can indulge their side cravings with french fries, loaded potato salad, deviled potato salad, Brussels sprout slaw, and the best garlic butter rolls you have ever tasted. The Chicken Shack’s structure is also perfect for families and groups wanting to share a delicious yet casual meal together. Orders are made at the walk-up window, and then guests can either sit in the large, open seating area or take their food to-go as they explore Seaside.

C-Bar

Container Bar (dubbed C-Bar) is right next door and offers a lineup of local craft beer, liquor, and cocktails, which can be enjoyed at the bar or to-go from the walk-up window. Guests sitting at the bar can enjoy all their favorite menu items from The Great Southern Café (including Grits à Ya Ya) at this cool new location. C-Bar is a fun, low-pressure bar that allows guests to choose their experience. Whether they are grabbing one of the 30 seats at this custom, upcycled shipping container and unpacking their day, or walking up to the to-go window, ordering a drink, then exploring the town or beach, guests will love the opportunity to enjoy the C-Bar, and Seaside, how they’d like to. The local craft beer lineup is thoughtfully put together and highlights some of the exceptional breweries in the area. The cocktail list offers a mix of Great Southern classics (like Great Southern’s world-famous mojitos) and new and inventive C-Bar specials.

Both establishments are located next to The Great Southern Cafe, 83 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach.

Photos by Jessica Anderson

September 27, 2021

North Beach Social: Social event of the summer

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By Sarah Murphy Robertson
Sept. 30, 2021

SANTA ROSA BEACH – No matter your planned approach, a trip to North Beach Social means you’re headed in the right direction. Located at the foot of the 331 bridge on the beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay, and known formerly as the North Beach Tortilla Company, North Beach Social reopened in Spring 2021.

A no-stress vibe

With the culinary acumen and expertise of Chef Jim Shirley and a spacious, open air, casual dining area, North Beach Social also boasts a large white sand beach where kids and adults can play the day away.

The space is perfectly suited for soaking in the Florida sunshine. Saddle up to the bar, grab a comfy spot where your toes are in the sand, or pick a shaded table.

“We wanted to be sure to offer an easy, no-stress vibe,” remarked Dan Tinghitella, director of culture and operations.

Recognizing guests love to bring their family and stay for hours, offering counter service was the perfect solution. Not only can every member of your group order food when they are hungry, but the beauty of counter service is you can order starters like ice-cold oysters on the half shell or crispy buffalo chicken wings while enjoying a drink or two, and then decide on entrees later.

Sip, sip!

North Beach Social serves an ample selection of local beers on tap from Grayton Beer Company, Oyster Bay, and Idyll Hounds breweries, as well as touting drink specials all day long. Ready to quench any thirst, get $3 Shock Top Drafts, $5 Bubbles, and $6 well drinks. Their friendly bar staff also spins tropical frozen drinks and pours from a wide-ranging wine list.

Supporting local is prioritized beyond the beer with 30A and Hey Mama wines available as well.

“We always work with as many local purveyors as possible; most of our fresh seafood comes right out of the Destin Harbor,” Tinghitella observed.

Open for lunch and dinner services, the food menu was built around owner and Chef Jim Shirley’s most popular dishes from his five other area restaurants. They range from lighter fare – like the flavorful Miso Caesar Salad topped with your choice of proteins including fried oysters, Gulf shrimp, or grouper, or an Asian-inspired Tuna Poke Bowl – to the decadent double-decker Bomber Burger or signature Grits a Ya Ya.

“Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, we showcase guests’ favorites all under the same roof,” explained Shirley. In all your excitement, don’t forget to order the Key Lime Pie for dessert. The meringue-topped, sky-high treat is legendary.

Thrilled to be well-patroned by loyal locals as well as seasonal visitors, North Beach lines up live music four days a week. The tunes start at noon every Saturday and North Beach Social has quickly become a favorite stop for vacationers arriving south over the bridge. After a long drive, this is the perfect place to rest and fuel up.

“We see many packed SUVs with car carriers stopping by before they can even check into their rental homes,” Tinghitella remarked.

Visit North Beach Social’s website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay in the know on upcoming events, music schedules, and dockside family movies. They’ve got your day’s fun all mapped out.

North Beach Social is located at 24200 U.S. Hwy. 331 South, Santa Rosa Beach. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Phone is 850-622-3781, however they do not accept reservations.

May 30, 2021

Chef Jim Shirley Enterprises: Yes, Chef!

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May 30, 2021
By Liesel Schmidt

SOUTH WALTON – Born and raised in Pensacola, Jim Shirley has the South in his blood – right along with cooking. Since the age of 14 when he was flipping burgers, he’s had his hand in restaurants, and it became a passion that he couldn’t ignore. Even during a stint in college that had his life pointed in the direction of becoming a doctor, he heard the call of the kitchen. It was then that he knew his life’s path.

What a ride it’s been

A self-proclaimed “serial entrepreneur,” Shirley’s first restaurant was named after his daughter, Madison. Madison’s Diner opened in 1995 and was followed two years later by the Screaming Coyote, an eatery whose specialty was giant burritos. Next came the Fish House in 1998, with The Great Southern Café making its debut in 2006 and Meltdown on 30A heating things up soon after. In 2014, Shirley opened The Bay, while 2015 brought 45 Central. The most recent of his restaurants, Farm & Fire Southern Pizzeria, opened in 2019 and North Beach Social in 2021.

“I’d always wanted my own restaurant, and each venture has been the culmination of my dream, built with a team of people who have all shared in my vision,” said Shirley. “I always had a lot of recipes and ideas, and all of these places have given me a chance to use them.”

Obviously, those ideas were good ones, as he’s met a great deal of success with his restaurants, filling the gaps in the food scene to bring something unexpected to diners who wanted more than the standards they had grown so used to. Even without any official training, he had an inherent talent that gave him a baseline, using it as a foundation for everything that he learned at the hands of other chefs.

“I trained at the school of hard knocks,” said Shirley. “I didn’t really have the chance to go to school because I already had a position in the kitchen as a chef, and you can’t really break away from that to go train somewhere. I worked my way up with some really great chefs.”

What he’s learned over the years has been instrumental in creating each of the restaurants that bear his name. A mixture of cultures have influenced him, the result of growing up the son of a Navy pilot who was stationed all over the world. At the heart of it all, however, is that Southern flair that’s become such a signature of his cuisine.

Dubbed “Modern Southern Cuisine,” Shirley’s style has been highly praised and widely celebrated, with his signature dish, Grits a Ya Ya, having been named “The best Southern dish in the state of Florida” by Florida Travel and Life magazine. The dish was also taken to Washington, D.C., for “A Taste of the South” on Capitol Hill. Even 2020 was a notable year for Shirley, as he received the 17th annual Van Ness Butler Jr. Hospitality Award in recognition of Walton County’s excellence in hospitality. Shirley was also recognized in Arkansas with the 2020 Shining Example Award – Epicurean Partner from the Southeast Tourism Society. The greatest point of pride, however, came in January of 2020, when his culinary team was chosen to represent South Walton and Seaside at the James Beard House, where they had the honor of cooking once again.

Chef-driven cuisine

There’s something special about of his restaurants, something that makes each of them unique and unforgettable. One underlining thread that connects all of them, however, is that they are all chef-driven.

“By having restaurants that are chef-driven, you can change the way they feel, and it creates a certain effect,” Shirley explained. “That’s the secret to our success, I think.”

Whatever the secret truly is, his success is undeniable. And while some of the restaurants have run their course, Shirley maintains his own little empire on the food scene in South Walton. Now 15 years old, The Great Southern Café is still a favorite, offering his signature take on Southern cuisine in dishes that are familiar yet perfectly re-imagined to make them seem new and exciting. Featuring his famous Grits a Ya Ya, the menu also includes a wide variety of delicious dishes that make breakfast a reason to get out of bed, while lunch and dinner are a celebration of Southern comfort and soul food.

45 Central Wine & Sushi Bar offers a curation of sharable small plates and sushi, set in a sophisticated atmosphere in the heart of Seaside. Pairing perfectly with the menu, the wine list offers rare and hard-to-find bottles that speak to Shirley’s discriminating taste and his understanding of flavors.

For those who go weak in the knees over a good grilled cheese, Meltdown on 30A is not to be missed, with a menu of traditional and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, house made soups, and chips all served in an old Airstream trailer. It’s casual dining at its best, with food that warms the heart and shows Shirley’s fun side.

Offering waterfront dining and a breathtaking view overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay, The Bay is Southern Gulf Coast dining at its best. Featuring a menu that has something for everyone, you’ll find creative small plates, unique seafood dishes, steaks and burgers, and a limited sushi menu. Sundays get even better with their delicious brunch menu, and the desserts are something to die for.

Taking pizza to an artisanal level, Farm & Fire Southern Pizzeria offers anything but your ordinary pie. Locally sourced, seasonal ingredients are the foundation for everything on the menu, with hand-made pizzas that come fresh from the coal ovens that cook everything in this unique gem of a restaurant. Created with an atmosphere that gives it a “speakeasy feel,” Farm & Fire also features wine and spirits that add the perfect complement to any meal.

The Great Southern Café is located at 83 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach (Seaside). Open daily for breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m.; lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information, call 850-231-7327 or www.thegreatsoutherncafe.com

45 Central Wine & Sushi Bar is located at 45 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach (Seaside). Open Monday to Friday 3 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information, call 850-231-4545 or visit www.fortyfivecentral.com

Meltdown on 30A is located at 2235 E. Co. Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach (Seaside). Open daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 850-231-0952 or visit www.meltdownon30a.com

The Bay is located at 24215 U.S. Hwy. 331 South, Santa Rosa Beach. Open ‍Monday to Thursday 4 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information, call 850-622-2291 or visit www.baysouthwalton.com

Farm & Fire Southern Pizzeria is located at 24200 U.S. Hwy. 331 S., Santa Rosa Beach. Open Wednesday to Sunday 5 to 10 p.m. For more information, call 850-622-3871 or visit www.farmandfirepizza.com.

North Beach Social is located at 24200 U.S. Hwy. 331 South, Santa Rosa Beach. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Phone is 850-622-3781 or online at northbeach.social, however they do not accept reservations.

April 19, 2021

Chef Jim Shirley Enterprises: Yes, Chef!

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By Liesel Schmidt
April 19, 2021

What a ride it’s been

Chef-driven cuisine

“By having restaurants that are chef-driven, you can change the way they feel, and it creates a certain effect,” Shirley explained. “That’s the secret to our success, I think.”

North Beach Social is a beach restaurant and bar located at the foot of the 331 bridge in Santa Rosa Beach on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Guests order from the counter and bar and enjoy beach games, toys and seating in a very laid back atmosphere. On the menu are some of Chef Jim Shirley’s most famous dishes, like Grits á Ya Ya, The Bomber Burger, fresh oysters and Tuna Poké Bowls.

Meltdown on 30A is located at 2235 E. Co. Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach (Seaside). Open daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 850-231-0952 or visit www.meltdownon30a.com

North Beach Social is also located downstairs at 24200 U.S. Hwy. 331 S. and open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Contact them at 850-622-3781 or online at northbeach.social.

March 13, 2021

Chef Jim Shirley opens North Beach Social on the bay

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SANTA ROSA BEACH – North Beach Social is officially open underneath Farm & Fire Southern Pizzeria at the foot of the 331 Bridge in Santa Rosa Beach. Formerly the North Beach Tortilla Company, the space has been brightened up and outside seating is aplenty at the bar and deck.

“Grits have paid for everything!” Chef Jim Shirley exclaimed while explaining the spirit of the newly revised concept of North Beach Social. “Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, we want to showcase some menu favorites across all of our restaurants. Our guests will be able to order our famous Grits a Ya Ya and the Bay Bomber Burger along with fresh raw oysters and poké bowls under the same roof.”

The restaurant design is not the only thing to receive a facelift; the way you get your food has changed, too.

“We thought that the best way to get folks in the door and in a beach mindset is to offer counter service ordering,” says Shirley. “As a group comes in, someone can go grab a table while another member of the party places the food order at the counter. They’ll be given a number to display on their table and an attendant will bring their food to them. Orders will come out faster this way and our customers can order a drink at the bar and start enjoying the beach and the view. It’s laid back, and low stress.”

North Beach Social will also feature daily drink specials and ongoing events and music including beach bocce tournaments and dockside family movies. Currently, NBS is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday with plans to open seven days in early summer.

Outside seating is aplenty at the bar and deck with an abundance of white sandy beach for kids and adults to play.

North Beach Social is located at 24200 US-331, Santa Rosa Beach, at the foot of the 331 bridge on the Choctawhatchee Bay.

June 12, 2020

Farm & Fire Southern Pizzeria: Waves of food

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June 12, 2020
By Sarah Murphy Robertson

SANTA ROSA BEACH – Chef Jim Shirley’s restaurants have welcomed guests to South Walton since he opened Great Southern Cafe in 2006. With the launch of Farm & Fire Southern Pizzeria in the fall of 2019, Chef now has six restaurants serving the 30A area.

Dan Tinghitella, director of culture and operations, is enthusiastic and passionate about the restaurant group’s newest endeavor.

“We want our guests to make their meal as much of an adventure as they want.” – Dan Tinghitella, director of culture and operations

“It’s been a real labor of love,” he freely admitted. “For one, we want our guests to make their meal as much of an adventure as they want.”

Sure you can order a salad, starter, and pizza. Or if you choose, you can order family-style and share a few starters and a whole roasted fish. Which essentially means: waves of food. The culinary team has designed the menu to work for larger groups, intimate date nights, and every sized seating in between.

Every dish cooked at Farm & Fire is done so in their coal-fired ovens. “We don’t have any other equipment – no grills, no fryers, no microwaves,” Tinghitella disclosed. Instead, food is prepared using the quick-cooking direct heat from 800-degree flames. One result is pizza with delectably charred crusts.

When asked what his favorite pizza is, Tinghitella admits to being a traditionalist.

“I’d order the Margarita and just let the flavors of those imported tomatoes sing and the char on its crust crackle and crunch.” But the Meatballs and Ricotta pie is another one not to be missed. The meatballs are made in-house, soaking up that homemade sauce and taking a two-day process to perfect.

Another dish that has become a guest favorite is the roasted chicken wings. The chicken is marinated for three days in garlic, fresh herbs, lemon, and olive oil and when roasted in the coal-fired ovens, the high heat gives them super-crispy skin while maintaining tender, juicy meat.

Their bar staff is shaking up cocktails comprised of cask-aged and house-infused liquors along with sharing a well-curated wine list of Spanish and Italian reds and whites. This makes choosing what to drink almost as challenging as your food order. These handcrafted sips were thoughtfully tested and Farm & Fire’s guests benefit from fine-tuned “drinks with soul.”

The special touches at Farm & Fire don’t end as your belly is getting fuller. The tableside coffee service was created by their bar manager and includes frothing the rye-infused whipped cream right at your table. Served alongside a hearty portion of Tiramisu (made with locally-roasted Amavida espresso) it might just equal a coffee lover’s nirvana. And since there’s always going to be a little bit of Southern flare on Jim Shirley’s menus, leave the diet and take the Key lime cannoli.

Yes Farm & Fire’s upstairs space has stunning panoramic water views, but trust me, you’ll also be wowed by its beautifully renovated interior. It’s unlike anything else in our area, with a distinct speakeasy-styled vibe that is all at once cozy and comfortable, yet sharp and elevated. So work up an appetite, grab your people, and head on over – pronto.

Farm & Fire Southern Pizzeria is located at 24200 U.S. Highway 31 in Santa Rosa Beach in the space above North Beach Tortilla Co. Open seven days a week for dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. and the Speakeasy bar is open until 10 p.m. No reservations accepted. Phone for more information at 850-534-3086 or visit farmandfirepizza.com

January 5, 2018

CHEF JIM SHIRLEY BRINGS A TASTE OF SEASIDE TO JAMES BEARD HOUSE

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Special Contribution to 30a Food & Wine

January 5, 2018 ~ Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Local Chef and Restaurateur Invited to NYC to Prepare Prestigious Dinner

After developing restaurants in Pensacola, Shirley’s home base has become the renowned New Urbanist community of Seaside, Florida. Co-Founder Robert Davis recruited Shirley to develop a renewed farm-to-table focus that has revolutionized the regional restaurant scene just as Davis and his architects turned traditional development on its head.

Now, local favorite Chef Jim Shirley, heads to New York City this month to prepare a Taste of Seaside Florida at the James Beard House. His fifth time invited to be a guest chef, Shirley is honored to bring his team, represent the Merchants of Seaside, and highlight the culinary strengths of the Emerald Coast.

“I’m excited for an opportunity to represent Seaside and Walton County in New York City,” says Chef Shirley. “It’s a privilege to be asked back to cook there again. I think our menu is a exciting representation of Northwest Florida.”

During the seated, five course meal entitled with wine pairings for each course, guests will also have the unique opportunity to meet Chef Shirley and his team and ask questions about the dishes they have eaten. The menu is reflective of North Florida attitude, culinary innovation, and an agricultural edge which includes dishes from smoked snapper throat gougères to a Walton pecan baklava.

The James Beard Foundation’s mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. Guest chefs are selected through the Foundation’s director of house programming who actively seeks noteworthy talent as evidenced by national or regional reputation, use of high quality, seasonal, and/or local ingredients, and other various sources.

The dinner will be held Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 7:00 PM at The Beard House.

Member Price: $135 and Public Price: $175. All events are held at the James Beard House, located at 167 West 12th Street in New York City, unless otherwise stated. Reservations are accepted Monday through Friday between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. by calling 212.627.2308 or by going to www.jamesbeard.org/events/taste-of-seaside-florida to book online.

About James Beard Foundation

About Chef Jim Shirley

Nationally recognized restaurateur Chef Jim Shirley is owner of the Great Southern Café, 45 Central, and The Meltdown on 30A in Seaside, Florida, The Bay in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Baytowne Provisions in Destin, Florida. He is also the co-owner of Great Southern Restaurants, which owns The Fish House, The Atlas Oyster House, and The Fish House Deck Bar in Pensacola, Florida.

Chef Jim uses Southern accents with great skill and spirit, traveling far afield to graze and glean, absorb culinary ideas, select fine wines, and look for pockets of sustainable farming practices. As a Pensacola native, Chef Jim uses his knowledge of local waters and his families’ farming histories to promote “New Ruralism,” a movement to champion sustainable agriculture at the urban edge.