SEASHELLS BY THE SEASHORE Culinary Gems Abound

If you’re up for an out-of-the-way food adventure and willing to explore, there are unique culinary experiences in Walton County, Florida. Whether your savory search leads you to fried green tomatoes with a Gulf Coast twist, homemade ice cream at an 80s-themed café or one-of-a-kind fried New Orleans bread pudding in a historic Florida downtown, we’re here to help you navigate through Walton County’s hidden culinary treasures.

Royal Palm Grille

Just off Scenic Highway 98 in Miramar Beach, a landmark for thirsty beachgoers is connected to a restaurant with a Gulf view and a menu worth sinking your teeth into. Located right on the sand, the Beach Bar offers a selection of thirst-quenching cocktails, but many patrons don’t realize the bar is connected to a casualdining seafood sports bar. “They come for the location, and we keep them with the quality of the food,” says owner Nicki Cox. A hidden gem on their menu is the Gulf Coast-style fried green tomatoes topped with sauteed jumbo shrimp and a spicy beurre blanc sauce. This dish combines a classic southern staple with a taste of the Gulf. It’s an appetizer made to share, but you won’t want to.

Also, enjoy a free beach bonfire every Monday and Friday evening after grabbing a frozen drink at the

Beach Bar, fresh sushi from the restaurant or trying a new dish from their extensive menu.

Polished Chef

In Walton County, there’s no need to leave your home or vacation accommodations to enjoy fine dining. The award-winning Polished Chef Nathan Davis specializes in custom-catered cuisine, offering a variety of fresh seafood, meat and produce to bring you a personalized culinary experience.

Davis, based in Santa Rosa Beach, says other private chefs and catering companies will batch cook, preparing the meal ahead of time and reheating it. “I don’t take shortcuts,” says Davis. The Polished Chef cooks with a higher standard and prepares everything in your home. “While they’re eating their salad, we are just now cooking their fish,” says Davis.

Davis came up with the Polished Chef brand while working in hotel restaurants at the start of his career. He would be sent to assist at restaurants in other cities, and those chefs seemed to have doubts about Davis because of his age.

“I was the young gun. I was 23… These guys were working for John Besh or Emeril Lagasse,” says Davis. “They were very serious about their business when it came to food. They used to always say, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll like him. He’s polished.’”

NICK’S SEAFOOD

Located on the Choctawhatchee Bay, one of Freeport’s oldest restaurants began as a fishing camp and grew into a 60-year-old family-owned restaurant.

“My Grandaddy started the business in 1956,” says owner Trey Nick who proudly carries on the family name and business. With waterfront views of the Bay and fresh local seafood, it’s no wonder this mom-and-pop operation with a familyfriendly atmosphere is a locals’ favorite.

“We have the best fried shrimp you’ll find anywhere,” proclaims Nick, “We also are known for our blue crabs and fresh mullet.”

Caf Nola

Tucked away in historic DeFuniak Springs, Café Nola offers an authentic Cajun experience with an old Florida vibe. Walking into the 20s-style restaurant will take you back 100 years to when the freemasons first built the place.

The most popular dessert, created by restaurant owner Chef Ernie Danjean himself, is the Deep-Fried Bread Pudding. “People have had bread pudding every kind of way before, but they’ve never had it deep fried. And I know that because I invented it,” says Danjean. “You know, we warn people – you will be coming back and back.”

Previous Page: Royal Palm Grille offers Gulf views and a menu worth sinking your teeth into. 2A’s Mossy Head Diner is an 80s-themed café that boasts a variety of specialty grilled-pressed sandwiches.

This Page: Nick’s Seafood is a family-owned restaurant that serves up bay views, fun times and some of the best fried shrimp.

“We’re spearheading the redevelopment of this really awesome downtown DeFuniak,” says Danjean. “It’s nice to see old-town America making a comeback.”

2A’S MOSSY HEAD DINER

Mossy Head’s newest diner is a blast from the past. This 80s-themed café in north Walton County boasts a variety of specialty grilled-pressed sandwiches like the Grilled Spicy Thai Chicken, a 2A Café original grilled sandwich with smoked pulled chicken flavored with Thai red curry, peanut butter and orange marmalade.

Owners Jason and Amanda Ramsey started their restaurant journey after being shut out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their entrepreneurial spirit and love of food led them to founding the 2A Cafe Food Truck in June 2022.

They recently expanded and opened a storefront located off Highway 90 in Mossy Head, Florida, with 80s-themed décor that draws in folks from

WE’RE

all walks of life. “We get people that have cars that are more expensive than our house, and we get people pulling up on 4-wheelers that are our local friends,” says Jason Ramsey.

Along with their love of the community and welcoming attitude, they also offer specialty sandwiches, including alligator. “People say they have never had gator until they eat our sandwiches,” declares Ramsey.

Often the best part of any vacation is experiencing new flavors. Walton County offers an out-of-the-box experience, in sometimes the most unexpected places, that brings hungry visitors and locals alike back for another course.

This Page: Polished Chef specializes in custom-catered cuisine. The Deep-Fried Bread Pudding at Café Nola will keep you coming back. Walton County’s creative culinary scene stretches from the sugar-white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of Lake Jackson.