100 Things To Eat & Drink This Summer By Joani Delezen, Hope Corrigan, Ali Rae Hunt and Emily Richey
F
rom fish tacos to watermelon to Bushwackers, it’s hard to think about summer on the Gulf Coast and not think about the fresh food that makes it special and the cool drinks that make it bearable. In honor of this beloved season, we decided to put together our biggest food issue yet— complete with all the seafood entrees and iced coffee concoctions we look forward to every summer.
July 9, 2015
To make sure we did it right, we spent the last few weeks eating and drinking new seasonal creations around town, revisiting our old favorites and debating what was good enough to make the cut. We finally whittled it down to a manageable number—100. Granted, that still sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t when you think about how long summer is, especially around here.
Our number one pick sells out most days already, so we know by adding it to this list we aren’t increasing our odds of getting one next Saturday morning. But it’s too good not to brag about and we really do want everybody to try it. So here it is, our ultimate summer “must” list, full of the dishes and drinks we love and sweets we crave. And because every good foodie knows calories don’t count when you
Instagram it, make sure you document your summer of grubbing and tag your photos #upsideofeating. We can’t wait to see what you think of the dishes on the list and what you think we missed. *Make sure you tune in next week for Part 2 of our “100 Things” series—where we promise to help you balance out all the eating and drinking we’re encouraging this week.
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100 Things To Eat & Drink This Summer }
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Almond Croissant George Artisan Bakery & Bistro 1124 W. Garden St.
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Beet Salad The Magnolia 2907 E. Cervantes St.
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14 Avocado Toast by Hope
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Grilled Fig Brochettes The Global Grill 27 S. Palafox
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Paper Mule Old Hickory Whiskey Bar 123 S. Palafox
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Papaya Salad Thai 54 Cuisine 47 Gulf Breeze Pkwy.
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Iced Honey Latte Polonza Bistro 286 N. Palafox
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Key Lime Pie Flounders Chowder House 800 Quietwater Beach Road
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Fish Tacos Cactus Flower Café 3425 N. 12th Ave.
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Irv’s Premium Crab Cakes Jackson's Steakhouse 400 S. Palafox
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House Special Bánh Mì Saigon Oriental Market & Deli 604 N. Pace Blvd.
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Pub Salad (with Health Nut dressing) The Elbow Room 2213 W. Cervantes St.
Soul Rolls
Possibly one of the most Instagrammed foods of 2014, the avocado toast trend is still going strong. With the recent comeback of the avocado as a superfood, avocado toast is healthy and easy to make—usually consisting of just mashed avocado, whole wheat toast, salt and pepper. But Constant Coffee and Tea offers a unique and delicious take on the dish by adding lemon juice and basil, and topping it with red pepper flakes and sunflower seeds. They also offer the option to add on a perfectly sliced hard-boiled egg— which is highly recommended. The careful choosing of ingredients for the toast is part of what makes Constant’s version superior. “We use our own freshly made wheat egg harbor bread, a style of speciality bread originating in Wis-
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Bushwacker The Sandshaker 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd.
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Tofu Egg Salad Wrap End of the Line Cafe 610 E. Wright St.
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Grouper Supreme Sandwich Peg Leg Pete’s 1010 Ft. Pickens Road
consin,” said kitchen manager Jason Switzer. Constant also has a slew of seasonal beverages to pick from, many of which pair perfectly with the avocado toast, like the Melon Shrub. It’s a fizzy concoction of housemade melon syrup and champagne vinegar, served over ice.
Constant Coffee and Tea 615 Scenic Hwy.
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Garlic Knots Sky’s Pizza Pie 6604 N. Davis Hwy.
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Crispy Cornmeal Dusted Oysters Restaurant IRON 22 N. Palafox
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Spiced Chai Frappe Fosko Coffee Barre 8 S. Palafox
by Ali Rae
Whether you’ve lived in Pensacola for a day or a decade, you know The Fish House is one of our city’s greatest restaurants. Sitting right on Pensacola Bay, The Fish House and Atlas Oyster House consistently serve locals and out of town guests all the fresh seafood and southern comfort foods they desire, and Soul Rolls are one of the best representations of their southern expertise. 010 1
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Artisan Roll Nom Sushi Izakaya 410 S. Palafox
Founding Executive Chef and CoOwner Jim Shirley spent his college days in Macon, Georgia where a soul food restaurant with the power to change a man was just around the corner from his favorite record store. “It was here that he had his first taste of soul food and he was hooked,” said Maria Goldberg, director of marketing, public relations and events for the Great Southern Restaurant Group. “When Chef
Jim and the Merrill brothers opened up The Fish House, he knew that he wanted to bring a bit of this soul food style to the menu and Soul Rolls would be it.” These rolls are daring to say the least. With chicken, collard greens, peach chutney, wasabi crème, and brown sugar-pecan and creole mustard all stuffed inside crisp spring roll wrappers, it’s basically a full, home-cooked meal wrapped into one sharable appetizer.
We know it’s pretty much impossible to sit down at The Fish House and not order their famous Grits à Ya Ya, but you really should start your meal with Soul Rolls next time—the true Southern Belle of the menu. The Fish House 600 S. Barracks St .
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21Caliwater
by Joani
Coconut water? That’s so last summer. This year it’s all about cactus water, thanks to California’s own Caliwater. And it’s easy to understand why. Not only does Caliwater pack a powerful dose of vital nutrients and electrolytes perfect for ultimate hydration, reviving your skin and even curing your hangovers, the prickly pear cactus also delivers a taste that’s perfectly tangy and refreshing. Plus they’ve kept it 100 percent natural, so there aren’t any preservatives or added colors. If that’s not enough, this miracle drink also makes for a great cocktail base. Here are two of our favorite Caliwater cocktails recipes—just in time for your next big beach day or pool party.
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Red Bean Mochi Ice Cream Bien Dong Oriental Market 3510 Mobile Hwy.
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Pomme Frittes Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille 997 S. Palafox
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Bananas Foster Pain Perdu Ruby Slipper Cafe 509 S. Palafox
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Southwest Salad So Chopped Salad Bar & Bistro 407-D S. Palafox
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Willie Wacker Bamboo Willie’s 400 Quietwater Beach Road
DESERT DISCOVERED 3 oz. Caliwater Cactus Water 1.5 oz. tequila Muddled cucumber CACTUS PUNCH 3 oz. Caliwater Cactus Water 3 oz. pineapple juice 1.5 oz. rum Squeeze of lime (Each recipe makes 1 serving/cocktail) Locally you can find Caliwater at Fresh Market (1650 Airport Blvd.) or online at drinkcaliwater.com.
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Super Veggie Mediterranean Sandwich Bagelheads 916 E. Gregory St.
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Island Surf Popsicle Wild Roots Market, Eatery & Beach Pops 5 Via De Luna Dr.
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Chef’s Choice Nacho Plate The East Hill Yard 1010 N. 12th Ave., Suite 111
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Mexican Shrimp Salad with Mango-Lime Slaw Carmen’s Lunch Bar 407-B S. Palafox
July 9, 2015
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Coke Icee (preferably at a movie theater, but really anywhere)
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Palafox Bowl Z Taco at Al Fresco 501 S. Palafox
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Nassau Grits Coffee Cup Restaurant 520 E. Cervantes St.
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Veggie Lo Mein Shark Fin 5912 N. Davis Hwy.
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NOLA Style BBQ Gulf Shrimp Type by Chef Blake Rushing 501 N. 9th Ave.
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Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake The Tin Cow 102 S. Palafox
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Caribbean Jerk Wings Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant 2 Via de Luna Dr.
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Vietnamese Iced Coffee Yummi Deli 2416 W. Cervantes St.
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Double Scoop of Gelato Dolce 221 E. Zaragoza St.
Grilled Seafood Salad by Emily
With it’s delightful blend of crisp lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, fennel, celery, avocado, grilled salmon, local Gulf shrimp, and bright orange slices, the Grilled Seafood Salad from George Artisan Bakery & Bistro is pretty much summer in a bowl. “I always pay attention to color,” said Chef George Lazi. A citrus dressing, made with blood orange-infused olive oil and a mixture of orange, lime and lemon juices, lends the perfect refreshing kick of flavor. Known for his Provençal and Mediterranean inspired food, Chef George is passionate about his ingredients. “My favorite thing about summertime in the Gulf is the accessibility to all the fresh and local seafood and vegetables.” While at George, make sure you check out the rest of the menu too, which embodies Chef George’s “South meet’s South”
theme. They offer artisanal baked goods and pastries—including almond croissants, which won the no. 1 spot on this very list—as well as handcrafted coffee. And don’t miss the wine list, which is carefully curated by George’s wife, Luba. She even has a pairing recommendation for this seasonal salad—a glass of crisp white wine or her special Rosé flight. George Artisan Bakery & Bistro 1124 W. Garden St.
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100 Things To Eat & Drink This Summer }
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Fried Mullet Gator’s Seafood Restaurant 4030 Farrington Road, Milton
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Irish Car Bomb Paddy O'Leary's Irish Pub 5 Via De Luna Dr.
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Pondersoa Stomp Pizza (add jalapeños and a side of sour cream) Ozone Pizza Pub 1010 N. 12th Ave., Suite 111
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Homemade Limeade End of the Line Cafe 610 E. Wright St.
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Portobello Sunrise Scenic 90 Café 701 Scenic Hwy.
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Avocado Sandwich East Hill Market 1216 N. 9th Ave.
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Big Wahoo Dog Pensacola Bayfront Stadium 351 W. Cedar St.
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Angelino The Bodacious Brew 407-C S. Palafox
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Fresh Rolls Thai 54 Cuisine 47 Gulf Breeze Pkwy.
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Fried Fish Lunch Special (Fridays only) New York Nick’s 11 S. Palafox
56 Lionfish You’ve probably heard about lionfish—the beautiful menace that’s wreaking havoc on our marine ecosystem. But you probably haven’t eaten it—yet. “I think that after the public tastes it, then the finer restaurants in town will appreciate the qualities of it as well,” said Chef Rudy Randolph of Classic City Catering. “The toughest part is the sell.” Some restauranteurs and chefs are already on board and doing their part to increase demand for lionfish by featuring it on their menus when they can. To try it this summer, look for lionfish as a special featured dish at restaurants such as Nom Sushi Izakaya. Because it can be hard to
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Bama Breeze Landshark Landing at Margaritaville Beach Hotel 165 Fort Pickens Road
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Watermelon (in anything you can find it in, anywhere you can find it)
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Lemon Drop Cupcake Oh Snap! Cupcakes 707 E. Cervantes St.
The Selfie Smoothie
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Twin Towers Sandwich New Yorker Deli and Pizzeria 3001 E. Cervantes St.
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Sampler Flight Penascola Bay Brewery 225 E. Zaragoza St.
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Gulf Coast Seafood Omelet Native Café 45A Via de Luna Dr.
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Stiegl Radler Grapefruit The Magnolia 2907 E. Cervantes St.
by Hope
prepare lionfish consistently due to the labor intensive spearing process, the staff at Nom alert customers when they’re offering it by sending out emails and posting on Facebook. “The way we most often serve the fish is through a simple sashimi with lemon, wasabi stem and white soy, accompanied by the entire fish which is tempura fried. It's a delicate fish and we like to let those flavors shine,” said Nom Chef and owner Brad Jones. Joe Patti’s also sells lionfish fillets when they have it in stock, and for the dedicated who would like to get even closer to the source, Captain Andy Ross of Nuihi Dive Charters offers lionfish spearing expeditions from his boat (no fishing license necessary).
by Ali Rae
There’s only one thing more satisfying than taking a good selfie and that’s getting your daily fruit and veggie fix. At Wild Roots Market, Eatery & Beach Pops on Pensacola Beach, you can create your own smoothie, “The Selfie,” by choosing from their long list of fresh, organic greens, vegetables and fruits. We vote for anything with 212 1
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Heirloom Tomato Salad The Global Grill 27 S. Palafox
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baby kale or spinach and a little fruit thrown in for fun and taste. But if you’re still wary of green smoothies, you can opt for a coconut milk base and fill it up with fruits galore. No matter what combination you choose, your ‘selfie’ will be chilled, delicious and nutritious. If smoothies aren’t your thing and you just want a popsicle to cool off, try
Beach Pops’ Speckled Lizard. It’s made with coconut milk, avocado, chocolate chunks and vanilla. They also have chocolate dipped frozen bananas with toppings like shredded coconut and sprinkles. Wild Roots Market, Eatery & Beach Pops 5 Via De Luna Dr. inweekly.net
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Casino Fish Sandwich Casino Beach Bar & Grille 41 Fort Pickens Road
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Brown Butter and Meyer Lemon Rissoled Gulf Redfish Restaurant IRON 22 N. Palafox
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Crispy Lobster Fingers The Grand Marlin 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd.
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Strawberry Salad The Fish House 600 S. Barracks St.
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The Alcaniz Hub Stacey’s 312 E. Government St.
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Soft Shell Crab Roll Ichiban 5555 N. Davis Hwy.
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Fried Green Tomatoes Another Broken Egg Café 721 E. Gregory St.
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Raspberry Lemonade Cocktail Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille 997 S. Palafox
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"U Peelum" Beer Boiled Gulf Shrimp Paradise Bar & Grill 21 Via De Luna Dr.
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Mini Tuna Tacos Nom Sushi Izakaya 410 S. Palafox
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Cranberry Orange Iced Tea Carmen’s Lunch Bar 407-B S. Palafox
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Pickle Chips World of Beer 200 S. Palafox
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Pesto Sampler Ozone Pizza Pub 1010 N. 12th Ave., Suite 111
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Sweet Chili Thai Bowl (with pineapple) Sluggo’s 101 S. Jefferson St.
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Sweet Potato Fries by Ali Rae
Sure, Hopjack’s duck fat fried Belgian Fries are famous around town. But their less famous, sweet potato counterpart really should not be forgotten—especially by vegetarians—considering that this version is duck fat free. The fries are made to order, hand-cut, soaked, blanched and then fried each time a sweet potato enthusiast walks in the door. They are then tossed in their signature salt-and-pepper blend, and served hot with a basil and whole-grain mustard dipping sauce. It's the perfect appetizer to share with your friends or the perfect meal to scarf down on your own. Tim Dohms, Hopjack’s in-house beer expert, even gave us some advice on beer-pairings to go with these sweet, summery fries. “The caramel-cream, toasted nuts and banana found in Pensacola Bay Brewery’s Conquistador Dopple-
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Watermelon Martini The Global Grill 27 S. Palafox
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Key Lime Shrimp Scampi Hemingway’s Island Grill 400 Quietwater Beach Road, Suite 16
DIY Tart Fro Yo by Joani
Ice cream, sno-balls, popsicles, gelato… Summer is all about finding the perfect sweet treat to help cool you off. Unfortunately, we don’t have a place around town to get tart frozen yogurt regularly. Yogurt, sure. But tart fro yo is different and harder to come by. It’s tangy and light and pairs perfectly with just about any seasonal fruit. Wild Honey (7175 N Davis Hwy.) has it sometimes, but not nearly often enough to satisfy our cravings. July 9, 2015
Luckily, tart frozen yogurt is easy (and cheap) to make yourself. All you need are two ingredients and an ice cream maker. Ingredients: 4 cups plain non-fat or reduced-fat Greek yogurt 3/4 cup sugar (you can use more or less —depending on how tart you want your yogurt.)
bock amplify the sweet potato’s flavor. Or you could also go with a clean German lager such as Hofbrau Original. Crisp body and carbonation act in unison with the Noble hops to actually scrub away fats from the palate—hence the beer’s refreshing qualities—while its notes of hay, grass and honey complement the basil-mustard dipping sauce.”
Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom 10 S. Palafox
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Bushwhacker Ice Cream Shux at Al Fresco 501 S. Palafox
Bagelheads Blast Bagelheads 916 E. Gregory St.
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Directions: 1. Whisk together yogurt and sugar until sugar dissolves. 2. Spoon mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to directions, then transfer yogurt to a container. Serve immediately for soft serve style or freeze for a firmer texture (usually about 2 hours).
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100 Things To Eat & Drink This Summer }
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Rekorderlig Passionfruit Cider The Elbow Room 2213 W. Cervantes St.
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Chef’s Salad (with Goddess dressing) Sluggo’s 101 S. Jefferson St.
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95 Cortadito by Hope
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Shrimp and Sausage Creole Red Fish Blue Fish 5 Via de Luna Dr.
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Fried Chicken Apple Market 1021 Scenic Hwy.
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“Chips and Dip” Type by Chef Blake Rushing 501 N. 9th Ave.
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Gulf to Table Whole-Roasted Fish of the Day Jackson's Steakhouse 400 S. Palafox
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Samosas Taste of India 810 E. Gregory St.
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Rib Plate Hot Spot Barbecue 901 E. La Rua St.
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Princess Peach Old Hickory Whiskey Bar 123 S. Palafox
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Your first sip of true Cuban coffee can change you. If you fall in love, you’ll be chasing those perfectly roasted beans and that jolt of caffeine from then on. Katie’s Cuban Cafe, now tucked in the back corner of Jay’s Bakery, makes starting that love affair easy. After moving to the United States from Cuba in 1995, Ekaterin “Katie” Hurtado decided to raise her children in Pensacola, a city she said reminds her of her hometown that is just outside of Havana. Almost exactly two years ago, she decided to slowly introduce Cuban cooking and coffee to the Pensacola restaurant scene. Katie’s Cuban Cafe serves traditional Café Cubano espresso beverages, such as Café con Leche, Cortaditos (a sweet, smooth blend of Cuban espresso, milk and sugar) and Coladas (pure espresso). Hurtado fully understands the appeal of a strong cup of Café Cubano.
The SPAMinator The Magnolia 2907 E. Cervantes St.
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Fried Avocado Wedges Z Taco at Al Fresco 501 S. Palafox
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Awesome Falafel End of the Line Cafe 610 E. Wright St.
Frozen Jack Daniels & Coke Slushie Hopshack at Hopjack’s 10 S. Palafox
“Pure espresso for concentration and focus,“ she said, laughing. “No need for anything else.” To pair with your coffee, try a Cuban sandwich, croqueta, empanada or the popular papa rellenas—potatoes stuffed with ground beef and onions. Even though to her Pensacola has more Southern qualities than other Florida cities such as Miami or Orlando, Hurtado has found success in filling the Cuban culinary void here. Enough success to expand even. Hurtado and her husband have now opened up a full Cuban restaurant, Old Habana Cuban Cafe, on Pensacola Beach. Tamales, black beans and rice, yuca, and of course, the classic Cuban sandwich are served daily. Old Habana also offers a full bar and Salsa night every Sunday.
Katie’s Cuban Cafe 2030 N. 12th Ave.
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Crab Cake Slider The Tin Cow 102 S. Palafox
Thai Tea Boba 97 (Saturdays only) Palafox Market
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Frozen Irish Coffee McGuire's Irish Pub 600 E. Gregory St.
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Jezebel's Flash Fried Fish & Chips The Oar House 1000 S. Pace Blvd.
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Shrimp Boat Platter Flounders Chowder House 800 Quietwater Beach Road
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Huevos Rancheros Cactus Flower Café 3425 N. 12th Ave.
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