One of the most beloved restaurants in Seaside is Great Southern Café. Known for their fresh local seafood and produce, fun loving staff, and a happy hour that is perfect for people watching on the side deck, the chef and owner is Jim Shirley. As a member of the state board of directors of the…
Read More
If you are new to the 30A scene you might not know that it’s been rapidly expanding for well over a decade, as more and more people visit the area and decide to stay. I was one of those people 22 years ago, when with two babies in tow, I followed my own parents who…
Read More
Brutal summer temps are unavoidable in the South. But with Seaside’s breezy beach to stroll, a plethora of refreshing swimming pools, and amazing restaurants with sweet and savory delights, you will feel chill in no time. The languid heat of summer is not an ideal time for pot-stirring, or for toiling over a Bolognese sauce…
Read More
Sticking to a gluten-free way of life during your South Walton vacation is easy thanks to fresh Gulf seafood and a variety of other dishes that our local chefs serve up daily. Here are just a few recommendations for gluten-free breakfast, lunch and dinner below. Also, check my @30aeats Instagram for local tips and recipes.
Read More
The Gulf Coast of Florida’s Panhandle is a favorite beach escape, routinely voted among the prettiest in the world. And, while being known for its rolling dunes and sugar white sand, most may not know it’s also a great dive destination. For the underwater hunter, Northwest Florida is a gold mine, with miles of open…
Read More
Chris Hastings and his wife Ide have such a passion for cooking, preserving food history, and sharing local ingredients on the plates at Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Alabama, while celebrating all farmers and fisherman that bring them the best products. This 17 year collaboration between the couple has shifted the perception of…
Read More
Cooler temperatures and the holidays bring family and friends to the beach. While activities together are always important, so is the need to eat good food, and together is the way we like to do it! Unfortunately, this year, it’s difficult with the pandemic. Whatever you choose to do, I wish you and your…
Read More
Fall in South Walton is a time to celebrate cooler temperatures, less crowded beaches, local cuisine, and to appreciate family and friends during a Thanksgiving week spent in Seaside. For many Americans, the Thanksgiving meal includes seasonal dishes such as roast turkey with stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. The holiday feast dates…
Read More
James Moseley, better known around the South and especially the 30A community as “Mo”, was born in Louisiana and cut his teeth on the fine dining restaurant scene, with years spent in Huntsville and Montgomery. He eventually made a permanent move to South Walton in the 90’s, and has been with Bud & Alley’s Waterfront…
Read More
Most restaurants peppered along the Gulf Coast claim to serve fresh local seafood, but when you utter the name Harbor Docks, claim becomes fact. Owned and operated since 1979 by Charles Morgan, a former private boat captain turned successful restaurant entrepreneur, Harbor Docks Seafood emerged with humble beginnings as a place for commercial fisherman to…
Read More
Located at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin, Emeril’s Coastal Italian is the first of Emeril’s Restaurants in Northwest Florida. Originally, Emeril was not entertaining the idea of opening a restaurant in his adopted home town of South Walton where he lives with his family. But, many like myself were thrilled when he reconsidered. Emeril’s Coastal Italian…
Read More
Go to the beach every day, eat fresh seafood, and make lasting memories- probably your vacation bucket list. After all, that’s exactly what I’d do- hours spent on the beach and hours spent eating the best local food 30A has to offer.
Read More
