Seascape

August 11, 2023

Eggs on the Beach: Where charity meets charcoal

By Michelle Farnham
Aug. 11, 2023

MIRAMAR BEACH – Every fall, something special fires up in Seascape Towne Centre. Teams of grilling enthusiasts huddle around rows of smoking Big Green Egg grills, cooking their hearts out in the name of culinary glory and charity. This year’s ninth installment of the Eggs on the Beach grilling competition promises bigger and better things Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sponsored by Bay Breeze Patio’s Susan Kiley and Wayne Paul, event co-organizer Tracy Louthain shared some details of what’s cooking for 2023.

Q: For someone who hasn’t attended before, what do attendeeds (tasters) get for their ticket?

A: Tasters receive five votes and can try unlimited bites from 25-plus cook teams. The event also includes spirits samples, live music, and chances to win prizes in a beautiful setting at Seascape Towne Centre. It’s a deliciously fun day while raising funds for important local causes. You’ll leave with a full tummy and full heart.

Eggs on the Beach

Q: Are there any new facets planned for this year’s EggFest?

A: Yes! We’re going to add a kids’ cooking competition this year. It will be limited to five teams. Kids ages 8 to 14 can enter a team and they must have one adult for supervision.

Q: How many cook teams are you expecting to have in 2023?

A: We’re expecting 25 teams. We’re hopeful that InDyne (founding sponsor/cook team) will be back as well as some of the great non-profits including Boys & Girls Club, Healing Paws, South Walton Academy, and Sinfonia Gulf Coast, to name a few.

Q: What are the teams competing for this year in the different categories?

A: Cook Team Prizes: The “People’s Choice” grand prize is a large Big Green Egg (valued at over $1,000). Second place prize is a medium Big Green Egg and runner-up will win a Mini-Max portable Big Green Egg.

Non-profit Team Prizes: Win a donation to your favorite charity. The non-profit cook team with the most taster votes will win a $3,000 donation for their cause. The second place winner will receive a $2,000 donation for their non-profit and the runner-up will receive a $1,000 donation. The entry fee is waived for all Non-Profit Cook Teams!

Judges Awards: Our celebrity judging panel will taste cook team bites and vote for their favorites. Trophies are presented for first, second and third place.

Kids Awards: Grand Prize: Mini-Max Big Green Egg, second place prize: Grilling Tools Set, third place prize: Grilling Tools Set.

There will also be a “Best Bite” category.

Eggs on the Beach

Q: How much money was raised for your two charities last year, and do you know total dollars raised since the event began?

A: The 8th annual Big Green Egg cooking competition, Eggs on the Beach, raised $45,000 for local non-profits. Proceeds from the event were divided between the winning non-profit cook teams and the two benefiting charities: Food for Thought and Fisher House of the Emerald Coast. This year, they both received a $19,500 donation to support their missions. Since its inception in 2013, Eggs on the Beach has donated more than $250,500 to local non-profits.

For more information and Taster Ticket presales, visit www.eggsonthebeach.com. Seascape Towne Center is located at 556 Seascape Drive in Miramar Beach.

Photos by Michelle Farnham

June 12, 2023

Cook Team registration open for Eggs On The Beach

Blog, Home Page Blog

Big Green Egg Fest seeks non-profit, backyard, restaurant and kids cook teams

June 12, 2023
Special to 30A Food & Wine

MIRAMAR BEACH – Bay Breeze Patio, an official retailer of the Big Green Egg, announces the cook team registration is now open for the 9th Annual “Eggs on the Beach” EggFest Cooking Competition on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach. As one of the official Big Green Egg Festivals held around the country, Eggs On The Beach has earned a reputation as one of the most fun, cook-friendly competitions in the Southeast.

“We have enjoyed growing this annual cooking competition over the past eight years, and are humbled by the outpouring of support and positive feedback for the annual event,” said Bay Breeze Patio co-owner and Grill Master Wayne Paul. “The event is made possible through the amazing talent and efforts of our cook teams. We’re extremely grateful for their hard work and are looking forward to welcoming back our previous participants as well as first-time competitors. In addition, we’re excited to add a new category this year: a Kids Competition!”

Cook Teams are invited to create bite-size portions of their favorite recipes to be judged by the public as well as honorary judges. Each team of up to six is given a large or extra-large Big Green Egg to use during the competition. Bay Breeze Patio provides the lump charcoal, fire starter, table, and tent. Tasters vote for their favorites, as teams vie for bragging rights and prizes, including the grand prize, a brand new large Big Green Egg.

In addition to the People’s Choice Awards, Cook Teams may compete for Judge’s Awards, and Non-profit Teams Awards, which include a donation toward their cause.

New to this year’s event, Eggs on the Beach will include a Junior Chefs Competition. Open to five youth cook teams, the junior cook team category will allow young chefs, ages 8 to 14, an opportunity to showcase their talents and compete for the grand prize: a Mini-Max Big Green Egg. Second and third place runners-up will receive a grilling tool set and all winners will be recognized with a medal and bragging rights. Junior Cook Teams may include up to five young chefs and one adult chef per team, and will present their bite to the honorary judges who will evaluate each bite based on taste and presentation.

Presented by Bay Breeze Patio, the family-friendly event benefits two local charities, the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought.

For those who are interested in owning a Big Green Egg, demo Eggs used during the event will be sold in advance with nest (metal stand) and plate setter for a discounted price. Both large and XLarge Eggs will be sold and all come with a limited lifetime warranty and a complementary ticket to attend Eggs on the Beach. Demo Eggs can be picked up after the event, between 3 and 4 p.m. on Oct. 14.

Cook team registration is $50 for a team of six and each team member will receive a welcome bag, including a commemorative t-shirt and Wayne’s Get Grillin’ Rubs. Youth Cook Team registration is $25 and includes a welcome bag for each participant. Cook team fees are waived for non-profit cook teams, which are competing for a cash donation toward their cause. Teams can register online at EggsontheBeach.com, or to avoid online fees, register in-person at Bay Breeze Patio (32 Forest Shore Drive, Miramar Beach).

Taster tickets are also on sale now with special advance pricing of $45 per adult, $15 per child (ages 11-17) and kids 10 and under are free. Sponsorships are also available. To learn more or to register a cook team or purchase a taster ticket, visit www.EggsontheBeach.com or call 850-269-4666.

October 17, 2022

Eggs on the Beach: A griller thriller

Blog, Home Page Blog

Bites

Sea Market: Smoked pork belly with mac & cheese

Sea Market: Smoked Scottish salmon with passion fruit

InDyne: Grilled bacon-wrapped Gulf shrimp

Healing Paws For Warriors: Korean brisket burnt end with pickled veg

Food For Thought: Meatballs

K’Eggs Over Easy: Texas Twinkies

Sea Market, K’Eggs Over Easy, Healing Paws big winners

By Michelle Farnham
Oct. 17, 2022

MIRAMAR BEACH – Seascape Towne Centre was smoking Oct. 15, as hungry taste-testers had their fill – and then some – at the eighth annual Eggs on the Beach grilling competition.

Event organizer and Bay Breeze Patio owner Susan Kiley was all smiles, basking in what she called “chamber of commerce weather” as she watched the EggFest unfold, trusty clipboard in hand.

“We have 20 cook teams. New this year, Knob Creek is sampling a lineup of cocktail drinks and Abita Beer is sampling beers in our beer garden,” Kiley pointed out. “The raffle is probably the best raffle we’ve ever had, but I have to say – by far – this is the best food year I have ever seen. The food has been unbelievable.”

Cook teams are competing for prizes, including Best Knob Creek Bite, deemed to have most effectively utilized the Kentucky bourbon; Best Non-Profit Team; and the highly coveted Taster’s Choice, which allows attendees to vote via ticket system.

For the Judges’ Choice category, five honorary judges sampled food from each team, determining the winner based on such categories as taste and appearance. This year’s panel included Texas barbecue legend Chef John O’Neil, Chef Al Massa of Brotula’s Seafood House, private chef Kali Davis, Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood GM Mike McIntosh, and freelance food writer Abigail Abesamis Demarest.

Chef John O'Neil — Chef John O’Neil take his turn at the Big Green Egg.

O’Neil – who has a house here on the bay – even got called into duty, filling in after a member of the Food For Thought cook team had an emergency.

He was elbow-deep in beef, creating a dish he called “How Do You Do Your Wagyu?” using Honor Wagyu from Dallas, including beef bacon, New York strip and flat steak. His secret ingredient was his homemade non-alcoholic coffee syrup barbecue sauce, combined with Knob Creek to make a candy glaze. He topped everything off with his own Dude Food Fire spice blend.

When it comes to judging duty, O’Neil said he was really looking for depth of flavor.

“Anyone can grill, but if you have access to 15 hours of cooking, it had better taste deep,” O’Neil said. “Taste is 50 percent, but what did you do for creativity, what did you do to run with an idea, what did you do for visual aesthetic?”

Compared to the traditional Texas barbecue he’s accustomed to, O’Neil noticed beach barbecuers liked to incorporate a lot more tropical fruit, salt, and more heat, the latter he attributed to the area’s New Orleans influence.

Pete Goldman of Breezy’s Biscuits teamed up with “G-Stack” and “A-Stack” on the Mind If I Smoke? team. Together they created pork belly burnt ends with Knob Creek maple bourbon glaze, served with sweet sliced pickles, smoked mac and cheese, accompanied with one of Goldman’s hatch green chili cheddar biscuits.

This was Goldman’s first EggFest, and he was blown away.

“I think this is an amazing event! The turnout is probably 10 times what I expected!” Goldman said. “Food is what drives this city – as well as the beach – and we’re brining Georgia, we’re bringing Tennessee, we’re bringing Florida flavors right here.”

Across the complex, the Smoke on the Bay team included Jimmy Powell and Keith Landry, who were first-time attendees in 2021 and decided to enter as a cook team this year with their authentic Cuban pork with beans and rice.

Landry said the dish was inspired by a dinner served at a Cuban friend’s house. Starting with a pork roast, they marinated it in a spice rub, slow-cooked it for 15 hours, made a mojo sauce using freshly-squeezed oranges, and a side of Cuban beans and rice.

“My friend made this dish and I thought it was the best pork I’d ever eaten,” Landry explained. “We’ve been making this for at least 25 years. The dish just lends itself to being cooked on the Big Green Egg. When you’re smoking it, you’re doing it low and slow, and that’s the idea.”

Eggs on the Beach has both good food and good causes. Proceeds benefit The Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought, and has raised well over $200,000 since its inception.

Chef Gio Filippone checks out the growing vote jar at the Eggstrahs table.

CONTEST WINNERS

Judges’ Choice

1. Sea Market
2. InDyne
3. Brock Pest Control

Best Knob Creek Bite

1. K’eggs Over Easy
2. Brock Pest Control
3. Sea Market

Best Non-Profit Pick

1. Healing Paws For Warriors: Blue Mountain Bakery
2. The Eggstrahs: South Walton Academy
3. Food For Thought

Taster’s Choice

1. K’Eggs Over Easy
2. Nice Racks
3. InDyne

Photos by Michelle Farnham

Winner gallery

Brock Pest Control

Healing Paws 4 Warriors

InDyne

K’Eggs Over Easy

Sea Market

Nice Racks

South Walton Academy

August 11, 2022

Eggs on the Beach firing up Oct. 15!

Blog, Home Page Blog

Where charcoal meets charity

By Michelle Farnham
Aug. 15, 2022

MIRAMAR BEACH – The Eggs on the Beach grilling extravaganza is unlike any other culinary event on the Emerald Coast. Each fall, dozens of cook teams fire up their Big Green Egg grills and battle it out for barbecue glory.

Eggfests are held all around the country, allowing Big Green Egg enthusiasts to demonstrate the versatility of the kamado-style ceramic charcoal barbecue cooker. The local iteration, however, elevates the cuisine to a level you’d expect from South Walton; we’re talking much more than beans and weenies here. Past events have seen everything from tuna dip to pizza, grilled pineapple bites to bacon-wrapped venison, smoked wings and even skateboards made of sausage.

Proceeds from Eggs on the Beach benefit two local non-profits

Hosted by Bay Breeze Patio owners Susan Kiley and Wayne Paul, this celebration of food and flame is back for its eighth installment Saturday, Oct. 15. Last year’s fest moved to a new location at Seascape Towne Center, a move organizers plan to stick with.

“We got a lot of positive feedback about the new location, being on that beautiful deck, the wonderful bar, playing the most popular college football games, the beautiful open space there at the point with the permanent bathrooms,” said event organizer Tracey Louthain. “This year we’re going to stick with the more intimate feel of last year’s event; we want the tasters to feel like they got their money’s worth!”

The event is about good food and good times, but also good causes. Proceeds from Eggs on the Beach benefit two local non-profits: Food for Thought and Fisher House of the Emerald Coast. You’ll see volunteers from both organizations on hand, helping to keep things running behind the scenes.

Follow the smoke to the grove of white tents on grill day and you’ll find more than 600 ticketholders, putting in the hard work to determine the winner of the coveted Tasters’ Choice award. In 2021, the crowd couldn’t resist the adorable canine companions at the Healing Paws 4 Warriors tent, or their food from Blue Mountain Bakery, winners of the top prize and an XL Big Green Egg grill.

Judges — A team of judges made up of local culinary stars also peruses the fare.

Non-profit groups have their own category, too, competing for thousands of dollars to benefit their charity. Once again, the Healing Paws 4 Warriors team walked away with the $3,000 grand prize.

“We’ll definitely be bringing back our non-profit category this year,” Louthain added. “It’s been a lot of fun and allows us to extend and help a lot more non-profits.”

A team of judges made up of local culinary stars also peruses the fare, awarding trophies to their top three dishes, like last year’s team from Brock Landscaping representing Fisher House.

Knob Creek Bourbon has been an event sponsor the past three years, challenging cook teams to incorporate the Kentucky whiskey into their dish. Occasionally teams will try to win votes by pairing their bite with a complimentary whiskey cocktail, too. The 2021 Knob Creek Best Bite went to the South Walton Academy team “The Eggstras.”

Cook teams – both professional and amateur – are already being sought for this year’s competition.

“We want to grow our cook teams and get some new teams this year,” Louthain said. “We love the teams we’ve partnered with in the past and it would be great to see some new blood, too. We’ve had a lot of success partnering with restaurants in the area, sharing their special creations, showcasing what they can do on the Big Green Egg.”

Eggs on the Beach EggFest Cooking Competition will be held Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Seascape Towne Center, on the South side of Highway 98. Tickets and cook team registration will be available at www.eggsonthebeach.com.

Photos by Michelle Farnham

May 2, 2022

Acme Oyster House: Let the good times roll!

Blog, Home Page Blog

By Michelle Farnham
May 2, 2022

SEASCAPE – Acme Oyster House offers diners the taste of New Orleans, right here at the beautiful beaches of South Walton. Founded in the Big Easy all the way back in 1910, Acme’s Miramar Beach location is one of six found along the Gulf Coast.

Front-and-center on the restaurant’s menu is their specialty, that beautiful brackish bivalve: oysters on the half shell. Served raw with lemon and cocktail sauce, chargrilled with herb butter and cheese, or for the truly adventurous, as a shooter with cocktail sauce and vodka, Acme has the goods, all shucked-to-order.

“Everything comes out of Louisiana, but at times from Texas when the Louisiana beds are closed,” explained Mac Carroll, Acme’s Southeast regional director of operations. “We’re based out of Louisiana and try to keep that consistent.”

Make your mark on Acme by participating in the 15 Dozen Club, a challenge that asks guests to put down at least 180 raw oysters on the clock.

“At our location, we’ve got about 20-plus people who have completed the challenge. That’s eaten in one sitting in one hour, or you can extend beyond that and try to go for the house record, which here is 42 dozen,” Carroll said with a laugh. “There are some parameters; we need to make sure we’re staffed with additional shuckers and such. You get a shirt and some goodies when you reach that milestone!”

Boom Boom — The Acme menu extends beyond oysters.

More than mollusks

Carroll was quick to point out the menu’s cuisine extends beyond oysters.

“We have a really great seafood étoufée, and the key is to add fried crawfish tails. It makes it much mo’ betta!” he admitted, with more than a hint of Cajun affect in his voice.

The New Orleans Medley gives you a little taste of everything, from jambalaya, to red beans and rice, to a cup of gumbo.

“You can choose between our seafood gumbo, or for those who aren’t a seafood eater, we have our chicken and andouille sausage gumbo,” he said.

A catering menu is also offered, available take-out style, or the Acme team can set up a shucking station at golf tournaments or other off-site events.

The Fried Peace Maker Po-boy combines fried oysters and shrimp, with Tabasco-infused mayo.

A toast to the coast

Acme also boasts a full bar, where you can face the wrath of the Hurricane, with its flavored rums and juices, wine, or one of their beers on tap.

“The Acme Sunset (Don Q Cristal, Hiram Walker Creme de Banana, grenadine, pineapple, orange and cranberry juices) is a specialty and we do a Patron Perfect Margarita (Patron Silver, Patron Citronge, Gran Gala, Zing Zang Sour Mix, lime and orange juices), which is a really big seller,” Carroll said. “The Voodoo Mary is a signature morning after or anytime of day drink.”

Although reservations are not accepted, Carroll assures any wait for a table you might experience is a pleasant one.

“We’ve got a seating system so that once you get on the list, it texts you to let you know your table’s ready,” he explained. “We’ve got the arcade right next door or you can get cocktails at the bar and go out by the lake around back, so there’s activity while you wait and before you know it, your table’s ready.”

Speaking of activity, Game Day is a big deal at Acme, which boasts about a dozen and a half big screen TVs.

“We track down and find whatever games are available to us through the cable. If you request a certain game, if it’s somewhere we can find it, we’ll sure put it on for ya,” Carroll said. “Come on down and see us and have some oysters and a good ol’ cold beer!”

Acme Oyster House is located at 90 Seascape Drive in Miramar Beach and is available by phone at 850-460-7773 or on the web at www.acmeoyster.com. Current business hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week, but Carroll urged diners to call the restaurant to see if they’re holding extended hours during the season.

Photos by Romney Caruso

October 17, 2021

Eggs on the Beach: Fired up for fun and philanthropy

Blog, Home Page Blog, Uncategorized

Seventh EggFest celebrates Big Green Egg grills

By Michelle Farnham
Oct. 17, 2021

SEASCAPE – Good food, good weather, good fun and good causes converged at Seascape Towne Center Oct. 16, as the Eggs on the Beach EggFest Cooking Competition returned for a seventh time.

Susan Kiley of Bay Breeze Patio co-organizes the event, and was very pleased with how the 2021 installment turned out.

“We had to change venues so that we could spread people out, put each group in individual tents, and it ends up that this is really a perfect venue. Everyone is loving it,” Kiley said, adding the decision to move the EggFest from September to October was also wise. “To not be 97 degrees is delightful.”

Natural Light — Team Bad Day to be a Naturday manning the Big Green Egg.

The eats

With nearly two dozen cook teams competing for fame and prizes, competitors had to bring creativity and originality to catch the attention of tasters, who used tickets to vote for their favorites. Team “Here for the Beer” passed out their Texas Twinkies: bacon-wrapped jalapeño peppers with zesty cheese filling. The Combat Diver Foundation had eggs frying to top their huevos rancheros plates. BE-CI satisfied the sweet tooth with their smoked bananas foster bite.

Mike Sturdivant was helping to man the “Hot Decks” table for Walton County Skate Society. The organization that built the skate park in Santa Rosa Beach drew inspiration from their sport, constructing an edible skateboard: smoked sausage wheels, a Black Bear Bread deck, mozzarella cheese, topped with a blueberry reduction sauce.

The battle of the smoked tuna dip was waged between Food For Thought, Saltwater Grill and Team No Bad Days. Sinfonia Gulf Coast enticed voters with cups of vodka tea lemonade accompanying their grilled shrimp with gazpacho – a collaboration with Destin Ice Market 30A – but also promised a musical fanfare from the student musicians for each ticket collected.

Volunteering at the Blue Angels Foundation table, Terry Mauer of the Florida SBDC joked their strategy was to overwhelm tasters with their giant plates of smoked beef molé chilaquiles with avocado hollandaise.

“Our goal is to fill everyone up so they don’t have room to taste any of the other food!” Mauer said with a laugh.

Tasked with picking Judges’ Choice winners were local culinary experts Chef Dan Vargo from Fine Coastal Cuisine, Chef Dave Bishop of Bud & Alley’s, Chef Gary Serafin of Emerald Coast Catering and Chef Mimmo La Innusa from Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano.

“We’re judging on taste, presentation and uniqueness, but also different ways the teams are able to use the Green Egg.” – Chef Dan Vargo

“Of course we’re judging on taste, presentation and uniqueness, but also different ways the teams are able to use the Green Egg,” explained Vargo. “There are a few here that really used it on every aspect on their plate, from the oil to the spice rub to the bread – everything. It’s always fun to see cooks that aren’t professional cooks and what they can do.”

Vargo was especially pleased to be involved with this year’s event after the 2020 EggFest was cancelled due to the pandemic.

“It’s great to see people out and about,” he said. “The event does great things for the community charities, and of course we’re all benefiting from the social aspect of it.”

Chef Dave Bishop of Bud & Alley’s considers the entry from the Blue Angels Foundation.

Knob Creek Bourbon was back as an event sponsor, offering its own tier of awards for the cook teams that incorporated the Kentucky whiskey into their dishes.

In addition to ticket sales – which Kiley estimated exceeded 600 – additional funds were raised through a raffle drawing for everything from a MiniMax Big Green Egg to a condo stay, with all of the day’s proceeds benefiting Food For Thought and Fisher House of the Emerald Coast.

EggFest Awards

Knob Creek Best Bite

1 – South Walton Academy The Eggstras
2 – BE-CI
3 – Food For Thought Get Out the Grill
Honorable Mention – Premier Group
Honorable Mention – Confidential BBQ

Non-Profit Group

1 – Healing Paws 4 Warriors – $3,000
2 – South Walton Academy The Eggstras – $2,000
3 – Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast – $1,000
3 – Sinfonia Gulf Orchestra – $1,000

Judges’ Choice trophies

1 – Brock Landscaping/Fisher House
2 – Blue Angels
3 – Saltwater Grill

Taster’s Choice prizes

1 – Healing Paws 4 Warriors – XL Big Green Egg
2 – Saltwater Restaurants – Large Big Green Egg
3 – BE-CI – MiniMax Big Green Egg

Photos by Michelle Farnham

Photo Slideshow:

Cajun shrimp with gouda grits

Brock Landscaping’s Cajun shrimp with gouda grits took the judge’s trophy.

Chef Gio Filippone of Mama Clemenza’s offered his talents to South Walton Academy, bringing his bacon-wrapped venison rolls with banana pepper.

Chef Kyle Swift of Blue Mountain Bakery collaborated with Healing Paws 4 Warriors.

Mike Sturdivant of Walton Skate Society served edible skateboards.

It was blue skies and barbecue at the seventh annual EggFest!

The chicken wings from Boys & Girls Club tied for third in the non-profit division.

October 6, 2021

Eggs on the Beach: Firing up the grills again Oct. 16

Blog, Home Page Blog, Uncategorized

By Michelle Farnham
Oct. 6, 2021

SEASCAPE – While the coals were extinguished last year due to the pandemic, local grilling enthusiasts are back to cooking with fire for the seventh annual Eggs on the Beach EggFest Cooking Competition!

“Tasters can taste unlimited bites from our cook teams, many of which serve multiple recipes and sometimes pair their bite with a complementary cocktail.” – Susan Kiley

Hosted by Bay Breeze Patio, this beloved culinary event celebrates the Big Green Egg, a kamado-style ceramic charcoal barbecue cooker capable of cranking out anything you can do in a grill, oven, or smoker.

Bay Breeze owners Susan Kiley and Wayne Paul are planning a smaller, more intimate affair this year, scheduled for Oct. 16.

“We’re moving to the Seascape Towne Center where cook teams will have individual tents instead of being under one large tent,” Kiley said. “The open-air setting will allow for social distancing and masks are encouraged.”

She said their goal is 24 cook teams – a combination of non-profits, backyard grill teams, and local restaurants.

Ticket holders – also known as Tasters – make their rounds through tents to visit each team’s grilling station. Alongside an esteemed panel of judges, they vote for their favorites using their allotment of five tickets.

“Tasters can taste unlimited bites from our cook teams, many of which serve multiple recipes and sometimes pair their bite with a complementary cocktail or beverage,” Kiley said. “In addition, Knob Creek has traditionally held tasting seminars, and ENCO Electronics sponsors our Sports Zone, broadcasting the most popular college football games. In addition, we have a Kids Zone for those who bring their family.”

Competitors — Dozens of community organizations compete for the title.

Teams are competing for those tickets, and thus bragging rights and prizes.

“For our backyard and restaurant teams, they are vying for a chance to win a Big Green Egg,” explained Kiley. “Our non-profit teams are competing for a cash donation toward their cause.

“All cook teams are competing for a Judge’s Trophy. Our honorary judges come out to ensure cook teams are not just competing for Taster votes, but also the prestige of being recognized by our judges, which are reputable local and regional culinary celebrities.”

In 2019, the Non-Profit Division saw South Walton Academy walk away with top honors and a $3,500 prize, while Sinfonia Youth Orchestra and Rotary Club of Destin also earned funding ($2,500 and $1,500, respectively). Judges’ Trophies went to Saltwater Restaurants, SETCO Services and Westonwood Ranch. People’s Choice winners included Saltwater Restaurants, Scenic Sotheby’s and Five Wild Blazing Medical Cooks.

Enjoy live music as you mingle and taste – rain or shine. The festivities are about more than good food and a good time, though, as proceeds will benefit local non-profits Food For Thought and Fisher House of the Emerald Coast. A drawing for prizes – including a Mini-Max Big Green Egg – also raises money for these groups.

“When we created Eggs on the Beach, we wanted to be sure to create a deliciously fun event that benefitted our local community,” Kiley said. “With the large military presence in our area, we really wanted to benefit those who serve our country. We connected with the team at the Fisher House for our inaugural event and it’s been a great partnership. We added Food for Thought in year two to serve kids in need in Walton and Okaloosa counties.”

Eggs on the Beach EggFest Cooking Competition will be held Saturday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Seascape Towne Center, on the South side of Highway 98. Tickets and cook team registration will be available at www.eggsonthebeach.com.

Photos by Michelle Farnham

September 6, 2020

Seascape Towne Centre: Escape to Seascape

Blog, Home Page Blog

Sept. 6, 2020
By Liesel Schmidt

MIRAMAR BEACH – Whether you’re on vacation at Seascape Resort or just want to spend your day pretending you are, Seascape Towne Centre is a great destination for fun, unique shops and great restaurants and nightly live entertainment, all in one convenient locale just steps away from the beach. Offering everything from hearty breakfast items worth rolling out of bed for to comfort food and decadent desserts as well as great entertainment, this picturesque little resort enclave is one you’ll love to escape to, time and again.

2 Birds Coffee + Café

For anyone who loves fantastic coffee and great food that focuses on flavor and freshness, 2 Birds Coffee + Café has the perfect way to perk you up and chase away your hunger. From freshly made pastries and sweet treats to breakfast bowls and their signature “Fancy Toasts” and creative “Sammies,” this fun eatery definitely knows how to satisfy. And whether your drink of choice is a strong cup of joe, a fruity Chardonnay, a refreshing IPA, or a classic cocktail, they have the perfect solution for slaking your thirst. Located at 80 Seascape Drive, Suite 103, Miramar Beach. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Does not accept reservations. For more information, call 850-279-3375 or visit www.2birdscafe.com.

Acme Oyster House

Specializing in exactly what their name would imply, Acme Oyster House offers a wide variety of oyster and seafood dishes with a decidedly New Orleans flair, showcasing the bold flavors and spice that have made the city such a beloved food destination. From a massive menu of po’ boys and fried seafood selections to classics like jambalaya, gumbo, etoufee, and – of course – oysters, the cooks in the kitchen at Acme are serving up great food filled with soul. Located at 90 Seascape Drive, Suite 101, Miramar Beach. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Does not accept reservations. For more information, call 850-460-7773 or visit www.acmeoyster.com.

Mezcal Mexican Grill

While most people don’t necessarily picture an upscale atmosphere when they think of Mexican food, Mezcal Mexican Grill takes authentic Mexican cuisine and elevates it, using the quality of their ingredients and their attention to detail and beautiful presentation to take the dining experience to a new level. Pairing their inspired menu of unique tapas, burritos, tacos, and fajitas along with juicy burgers and fresh soups and salads, each plate is a sensory trip across the border that you’ll want to take again. Naturally, no Mexican meal would be complete without a refreshing margarita, and Mezcal offers a wide variety of top-shelf margaritas as well as signature cocktails, wines, and beers. Located at 80 Seascape Drive, Suite 101, Miramar Beach. Open Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Does not accept reservations. For more information, call 850-837-8350 or visit www.mezcalmexicangrill.com.

Mezcal Seascape Towne Centre Tiki Bar

Serving the same cuisine that has made them such a destination for foodies, Mezcal Mexican Grill has expanded their vision to create the Seascape Towne Centre Tiki Bar, offering a more casual atmosphere in their outdoor dining space and full-service bar. Perfectly situated on a large deck that overlooks the water and the outdoor events plaza, the shaded area of the tiki bar is an ideal spot to watch live entertainment while enjoying delicious Mexican food and sipping margaritas as the sun goes down. Located at 80 Seascape Drive, Suite 101, Miramar Beach. Open Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Does not accept reservations. For more information, call 850-837-8350 or visit www.mezcalmexicangrill.com.

Moo La La Ice Cream & Desserts

I scream, you scream… With 24 decadent flavors of smooth, creamy ice cream on their menu in addition to freshly made pastries and desserts, Moo La La Ice Cream & Desserts is a dessert lover’s dream come true. From ice cream sandwiches made with their fresh-baked cookies to shakes, sundaes, splits, cups, and cones, you can fulfill all your sweetest wishes, complete with whipped cream, sprinkles, and the cherry on top. For those in search of a different kind of sugar rush, try out one of Moo La La’s other indulgent confections, or get a hit of caffeine from their café menu. With all the sweetness on offer in this fun, barn-inspired shop, there’s nothing you won’t love. Located at 90 Seascape Drive, Suite 106, Miramar Beach. Open Monday to Friday 3 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Does not accept reservations. For more information, call 850-654-3333 or visit www.seascape-resort.com/towne-centre/moo-la-la.

Village Door Music Hall

For fans of great music and live entertainment, Village Door Music Hall is the place to be; but they don’t just stop at being the it venue for a good time. Featuring five bars that shake things up with an impressive array of handcrafted cocktails, beer, and wine as well as a restaurant space offering a menu of satisfying sandwiches, wood smoked barbecue, burgers, and seafood that makes your tastebuds sing, Village Door has food deserving of its own stage, and every bite is definitely headliner material. Focusing on comfort food and Southern-inspired dishes, they don’t miss a beat when it comes to flavor. Whether you’re in the mood for a platter of tender ribs or have a hankering for chicken and waffles, they have your perfect tune and a drink to match. Located at 80 Seascape Drive, Suite 101, Miramar Beach. Open daily 11 a.m. to midnight, until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturday. Does not accept reservations. For more information, call 850-502-4590 or www.villagedoormusichall.com.