Emerald Coast Magazine- February/March 2015

All you need to know to bring an A-list celebrity home with you Michael Chou reveals just how chance became a delicious dream

The Emer ald Coast Maga zine

Just Dance!

These studios will put a kick in your step

Creative Couples Three husband-and-wife duos share the secret to successfully balancing work, love and life

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Legal counsel for every facet of life At the law firm of Daniel W. Uhlfelder, P.A., we are dedicated to delivering results to clients through hard work, honesty and dedication.

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EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

The Emerald Coast Magazine February + March 2015

F E AT U REs

68 Creative Couples

Meet three husbandand-wife duos who cash in on their calling.

contents Highlands House on 30A is a boutique bed and breakfast coastal oasis.

By Danielle Buenrostro

76

Come on Inn

We “check in” on four enchanting Emerald Coast bed and breakfasts serving up history, homemade breakfast and hearty servings of charm.

Matt Burke

By Zandra Wolfgram

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

5

PHOTO + FILM STUDIOS

WEDDINGS & PORTRAITS

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6 February–March 2015

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

FRESH SEAFOOD?

One of the first questions people ask when they visit our area is “How can we be sure we’re getting fresh seafood?”

That’s an excellent question. There is a good chance that the seafood you will be offered traveled farther than you did. In the state of Florida, even though we are surrounded by water, more than 90% of the seafood sold this year will be imported from other countries.

Throughout the United States, the huge majority of seafood is imported.

Most of it is mislabeled. Frozen seafood is sold as “fresh” and imported seafood is sold as “local.” According to Oceana, 93% of fish sold as red snapper is actually some other species. 57% of tuna sold at sushi bars throughout the country is not tuna. Most of the tilapia served in this country comes from Viet Nam and Thailand and much of it is farmed in waters with sewage run-off and the source of feed is pig feces.

Harbor Docks has been selling fish through its wholesale market since 1981. We sell to markets across the United States and Canada. We also sell to select restaurants along the Gulf Coast. Harbor Docks contracts with over 100 commercial boats to insure that we have an adequate supply of fresh fish.

We invite you to dine at our restaurants – Harbor Docks, in the heart of Destin, and Camille’s, overlooking the Gulf in Crystal Beach. But we’d also encourage you to try any of the wonderful, independent, local restaurants in our area that are committed to serving Florida seafood. We know who they are, because we sell them their fish.

check our website to find out which restaurants sell certified Gulf-to-Table fish from harbor Docks Seafood market.

DES TIN , FL | 850. 837. 2506 | h a r b o r D o c k S .co m S E A F O O D & C O C K TA I L S

Snapper and Tuna stats: http://oceana.org/en/news-media/publications/reports/oceana-study-reveals-seafood-fraud-nationwide Imported seafood stat: http://www.fishwatch.gov/farmed_seafood/outside_the_us.htm Tilapia/pig feces: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-11/asian-seafood-raised-on-pig-feces-approved-for-u-s-consumers.html

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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contents in the e.c.

19 Snapshot Amy Wendel cannot bottle her passion for perfume.

20 Made in the EC Chris Alvarado makes music … quite literally.

25 Giving Back Meet Destin’s “leading ladies.”

28 Well-Worded Author Lisa Morris tells all about writing.

31 Personality Michael Chou turns chance into a tasteful dream.

35 Scene The Emerald Coast is buzzing with news. Read it here.

20

happenings 43 Spotlight Lucky for us, “Seven Brides” is staged at two local playhouses.

44 Culture So you think you can dance? We tell you where you can kick up your heels.

57 Social Studies Look who we’ve “scene” out and about lately.

the good life 89 Eudaimonia Ambition lets young imaginations take flight.

90 Going Places At this luxury resort everything is included … even the pigs (yes, we said pigs).

94 Mind + Body We give you the drill on the best oil for your hair.

97 FYI Steady does it for seniors.

90

106 Gardening We have the dirt on the key ingredient to a gorgeous garden.

108 Habitat We invited a few celebrities over to the house. Meet Calvin, Versace, Donna … .

A WORD WITH YOU

112 Flavor Little desserts that are big on flavor give tasting parties personality plus.

12 From the Publisher 14 Editor’s Note 130 The Last Word

121 Dining Just a taste of what’s on menus along the Emerald Coast.

Special Section 37 Women’s Profiles 100 Deal Estate

122 On the Menu Barbecue nachos are an unexpected savory snack.

124 A Taste For … Savory tea.

97 8 February–March 2015

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Like us at facebook.com/emeraldcoast

Photos by Shelly Swanger (20), Jacqueline Ward Images, (97) and Courtesy Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Resort & Spa (90)

52 Calendar Spring is near, and that means all kinds of festive events are sprouting up along the Emerald Coast.

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THE MARKET SHOPS

Relive Your Memories!

Our major renovation is complete; your favorite shops have been revived!

Vol. 16, No. 1 February–March 2015 The Emerald Coast Magazine

President/Publisher

Brian E. Rowland EDITORIAL Director of Editorial Services Linda Kleindienst Editor Zandra Wolfgram Senior Staff Writer Jason Dehart Staff Writer Chay D. Baxley Contributing Writers Elvin C. Bell, Laura Bradley, Danielle Buenrostro, Patti B. Burcham, Roseanne Dunkelberger, Lauren Gillespie, Janie Harris, Lis King, Jack Macaleavy, Alexia McKay, Rebecca Padgett, Audrey Post, Rebekah Sanderlin, Liesel Schmidt Editorial Interns Janie Harris, Matthew Hooper, Mikaela McShane, Kate Mueller, Samantha Rhodes, Ana Stolica, Megan Williams Production Specialist Melinda Lanigan

CREATIVE Creative Director Lawrence Davidson Production Manager/ Network Administrator Daniel Vitter

MARKETING and Sales Director of Marketing and Sales McKenzie Burleigh Director of New Business Daniel Parisi Ad Services Coordinator Lisa Sostre Sales Executives Rhonda Lynn Murray, Darla Harrison, Tanya Heath, Tracy Mulligan, Paula Sconiers, Alice Watts, Drew Gregg Westling Marketing and Sales assistant Christie Green

OPERATIONS COrporate client relations specialist Caroline Miller Staff accountant Josh Faulds Accounting assistant Tabby Hamilton Administrative assistant Caryn Nelson Receptionist Lisa Snell

Digital Services

Senior Art Director Saige Roberts

Digital Services Manager Carlin Trammel

Art Director Jennifer Ekrut

Digital Services CoordinatorS Jennifer Ireland, Rebecca Padgett

Publication Designers Shruti Shah, Rebecca Sumerall

Digital Services Producer Chelsea Moore

Advertising Designers Jillian Fry, Amanda Hartsfield

Emerald Coast Magazine emeraldcoastmagazine.com facebook.com/emeraldcoast twitter.com/emeraldcoastmag instagram.com/emeraldcoastmag pinterest.com/emeraldcoastmag youtube.com/user/emeraldcoastmag

Staff Photographer Matt Burke Contributing Photographers Mari Darr~Welch, Scott Holstein, Kenneth King, Tristin Kroening, Whitney Ladwig/Proffitt PR, Modus Photography, Kay Phelan, Kansas Pitts Photography, Pure 7 Studios, Shelly Swanger, Jacqueline Ward Images, Allison Yii

Events Events AND SPECIAL PROJECTS Coordinator Leigha Inman

Rowland Publishing rowlandpublishing.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS One Year (6 issues) is $30 Call (850) 878-0554 or go online to emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

Single copies are $3.95 Purchase at Barnes and Noble in Destin and Books-A-Million in Destin and at Sun Plaza in Mary Esther.

BAYTOWNE JEWELERS | BIJOUX RESTAURANT & SPIRITS | DESTIN LUXURY REAL ESTATE & RENTAL | FAVORI GIFT BOUTIQUE | JEWEL TOFFIER | MARKET SHOPS NAILS & SPA | SIRENS LINGERIE & SWIM | SUNSET SHOES | VILLAGE BOUTIQUE | WYLAND GALLERIES

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For leasing inquiries, please contact JPB Commercial Real Estate 850-460-5050

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Editorial Office 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32308 Customer Service & Submissions EC Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. EC Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor.

Copyright February 2015 Emerald Coast Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

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from the publisher

VOL. 16 NO. 1

Over the past several years, I have heard plenty about the death of the print industry and how the world of media and advertising will shift totally to the digital world — basically saying to a publisher: “Fold your tent, throw in the towel and go home.” I’m sorry, but that memo never made it to the desks of the employees at Rowland Publishing.

Our team successfully navigated the Great Recession and the second tsunami of economic turmoil that hit our footprint — the perceived drizzle of BP oil on Gulf Coast beaches, which devastated the region’s tourism industry and made it even more challenging for our sales team to meet its goals and the business community to maintain stability. But our team of publishing professionals made the necessary adjustments to our company and their personal playbooks to stay focused, keeping their eye on the horizon and not complaining, just doing their absolute best every day. Taking on a negative attitude The Rowland Publishing Team gathered at Florida State University’s Challenge Course for a team building event as part was definitely not an option for this squad. of the company’s annual meeting in December.

The media world has drastically changed in the past 25 years.

At that time, the Internet had not been invented. The car phone industry was just developing, and words like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and blog had not been spoken.

Newspapers, radio and TV were still the primary source of breaking news, and there was no such thing as a “smart” phone. All we could do then with a phone was make telephone calls.

When the recession hit, “traditional” media, with its high operational costs, was hit hard when advertising dollars dried up. Digital news outlets grew, and predictions of the death of print were widespread. Yet at Rowland Publishing, we were deaf to that death knell.

Since the economy began to tank in 2008, we have launched five new titles, including 850, Northwest Florida Weddings and Honeymoon Destinations, Sandestin Living and the Tallahassee Medical Resource Directory. We now have a department that plans and runs six annual events, and we have committed ourselves to the digital era with a three-member digital media department. And all the while, we have grown the page counts of our magazines — Tallahassee Magazine by 38 percent and our other titles by between 8 and 10 percent. The company, meanwhile, has grown from 24 to 39 employees strong.

During the recession, we were often tempted to accept advertising revenue in exchange for a “puff” story about an advertiser. But we simply said, “No.” That is not our business model. Our editorial team maintained high journalistic standards, and I feel today that is one of the major contributing factors to our on the cover ongoing growth and excellent brand reputation in Northwest Florida. We have and will continue to stick Hannah and Shawn Brown, photographed by to our publishing mission to be “Current, Quotable and Well Read.”

Mari Darr~Welch, were We believe our local and regional titles are a critical communications link between people in the region. each other’s first kiss They keep people informed and help create a sense of community, keeping it strong and giving those who and first date. Shawn live here a sense of pride in the place where they work and live. loves to write music and Hannah enjoys English Of course we have dealt with the natural attrition and transitions that every company must face, but I horse riding and reading can proudly say that the RPI team that stepped out on the Northwest Florida publishing field on Jan. 5, books to unwind. The 2015, is without question the finest all-around team of media professionals that Rowland Publishing has playful couple are the ever assembled. We are deep in talent, combining youth and experience, and everyone has a fire in the creative team behind HBB belly and a winning attitude.

Photography based in Santa Rosa Beach.

I also would like to acknowledge and salute those who over the past decade-and-a-half who have made positive contributions and helped lay the foundation this company is building upon today.

I salute the team as together we forge through 2015 and beyond. I am so proud and honored to work with the 39 professionals we have here at Rowland Publishing.

Matt Burke

A Winning Team

All you need to know to bring an A-list celebrity home with you

Michael Chou reveals just how chance became a delicious dream

THE EMER ALD COAST MAGA ZINE

Just Dance!

These studios will put a kick in your step

CREATIVE COUPLES

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12 February–March 2015

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EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY-MARCH 2015

— Brian Rowland browland@rowlandpublishing.com

Creative Couples Three husband-and-wife duos share the secret to successfully balancing work, love and life

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

13

editor’s note Does my definition of a Modern Woman stand the test of time?

What is a modern woman exactly? To me, a modern woman is a person who is conducive to modern times — and who also happens to be a woman.

A modern woman is distinctly unique, because she is flexible to the changing ideas of today, and yet, she hasn’t lost her individuality.

She is one who is confronted with a problem and efficiently resolves it by defining the problem, approaching the problem, and by learning all of its limitations, conquering the problem.

A modern woman must possess such qualities as fortitude, endurance and the ability to communicate. She is one who has the courage and stamina to face situations unknown to her, and yet she is human and open-mindedly learns from her mistakes.

Someone who is able to find good in all situations is a modern woman.

In today’s fast-paced society, this quality is vital. The competition and challenges that are ever present in today’s modern world are certain to become more complex with time.

As part of the 1983 Modern Miss Competition, A modern woman isn’t afraid your editor gave a speech about what it of the odds, and she refuses to set means to be a “modern woman.” goals within her reach. Instead, she enjoys a challenge to aid her in her spiritual and intellectual growth. A modern woman can identify with the saying, “If you can conceive it, you can achieve it!” She is a go-getter and can candidly discard role model labels.

A modern woman isn’t just the woman working 9 to 5 in the big city with a briefcase and a luncheon at one o’clock. She is the gas station attendant, the sales clerk, the hairdresser. She is your mother, your daughter, your grandmother.

A modern woman is someone any woman would like to be, but more importantly, someone every woman can be.

If there weren’t photographs to prove otherwise, I am not sure I would have remembered or ’fessed up to giving this speech during the 1983 Modern Miss competition as a 17-year-old high school junior. But rereading the words handwritten on pink index cards, it struck me that, more than 30 years later, after graduating, marrying, becoming a mother, forging a career and establishing a small business, I think I needed to hear this from my younger, idealistic self. I needed to hear my younger self cheer, “If you can conceive it, you can achieve it.” And I needed to reconnect to that “go-getter” girl I aspired to be all those years ago.

As we settle into 2015 and celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8) and Women’s History Month, I invite women along the Emerald Coast to take a moment to reflect on what it means to them to be a Modern Woman. You don’t have to write a speech on pink index cards, but if you care to share, I would love to hear how you define your role as a woman … .

—Z andra Wolfgram eC-Editor@rowlandpublishing.com

14 February–March 2015

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

editor’s picks Hear, Hear to Margarita Day! I like to celebrate. I like margaritas. Imagine how happy I was to learn that Feb. 22 is National Margarita Day! And apparently I’m not alone: The margarita is the most popular tequila-based cocktail in the United States.

Fortunately, on the Emerald Coast, there are plenty of places serving up various renditions of this sweet-tart of a drink. Cantina Laredo at Grand Boulevard is a “Best of” winner; bartender Mo Moseley at Bud & Alley’s in Seaside pairs his with a sunset; Helen Back on Okaloosa Island adds a refreshing splash of soda; and the Texas version at La Paz has a nice Cointreau kick. Talk about holiday spirit. ¡Olé!

Fleur Flair How can you not have a crush on the confections that surround us during the season of love? This adorable white ceramic cookie jar is a perfectly cute place to store them. You can embellish it with various interchangeable magnetic accents (I like the Fleur de Lis), and you can label your jar with a handy dry erase pen. A great hostess gift or for anyone you are sweet on. $64.99 on placetiles.com.

Photos Courtesy Zandra Wolfgram (Modern Miss Competition) and Placetiles.com (Cookie Jar)

You Be the Judge

Best Dermatology Practice on the Emerald Coast 2012, 2013 & 2014

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Nov–Feb all massage & facial services are 20% off on Mondays & Tuesdays!

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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EmeraldCoastMagazine.com EXTRA CONTENT ONLINE ONLY

Sign Up for More Info For an email you’ll be happy to see in your inbox, sign up for the Emerald Coast Magazine e-newsletter. Each month we will update you with the latest stories, events and deals happening on the EC. emeraldcoastmagazine.com/ Newsletter-Mailing-List/

Don’t Miss the 2015 Emerald Coast Top Salon Event Tickets are now on sale for one of the most creative and inspiring events of the season, the 2015 Emerald Coast Top Salon competition. On April 10 at 7 p.m. the top nominated salons of the Emerald Coast will reveal their model makeovers in a dynamic, live runway show. Don’t miss out on this fierce event. Purchase tickets online at emeraldcoastmagazine.com/top-salon.

For more information, see p.64.

Flip Books View this issue in a digital book format, and search our Archive section for past articles dating back to 2006.

Up-to-the-minute calendar of events See what’s going on around the coast — or submit your own event. It’s free!

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latest real estate happenings and listings on the Emerald Coast. Learn about recently sold homes, or find the new home you’ve been searching for in the Just Listed section.

SPONSORED REPORT

Tax season is not the only time of the year to hire a certified public accountant (CPA).

Hire a licensed CPA,

Because Every Business Counts Beyond taxes, CPAs are licensed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to perform financial audits, reviews and compilations.

Only a licensed CPA is legally authorized to audit financial statements for bank review or compile financial records for the purpose of expressing opinions regarding the reliability or fairness of the information at hand.

Bookkeepers and accountants do not require licensure to perform basic bookkeeping or accounting functions, however only licensed CPAs are allowed to use the CPA designation and advertise or represent themselves as a CPA. CPAs licensed by DBPR must meet strict professional and technical requirements to provide advanced financial, business and tax services to their clients. Eligible candidates must graduate with an appropriate baccalaureate or master’s degree and meet certain work-experience requirements before they can sit for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Uniform CPA Exam to become licensed. After obtaining professional licensure, CPAs must also complete 80 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their license.

Unlicensed activity occurs when an individual offers to perform or performs services that require a state license and the individual does not hold the required license. Florida law sets specific rules and guidelines for obtaining professional licensure and holds the people who have met these requirements to high professional standards. Floridians are asked to report any suspected unlicensed activity to DBPR by emailing ULA@myfloridalicense.com or calling the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at 1-866-532-1440.

In addition to extensive education and testing, licensed CPAs are required by law to carry Errors and Admissions insurance, which adds an additional level of protection for their clients.

When selecting a CPA, consumers should always verify the professional license with DBPR prior to hiring. Licenses can be verified quickly and easily by visiting www.myfloridalicense.com, by calling 850-487-1395 or by downloading the free DBPR Mobile app from the iTunes or Google Play app store. When verifying a license, consumers should also make sure the license is current and check for any complaints or disciplinary actions against the licensee.

It is important for consumers to not only choose a licensed CPA to make decisions regarding their business’ finances, but to also select one that meets their specific needs. Florida CPAs have a wide variety of expertise, clients and past experiences.

Prior to hiring, consumers should find out what type of accounting work a CPA typically performs and compare it to the specific service needs of their business.

DBPR is reminding Floridians of the danger of hiring unlicensed CPAs to assist them with their business’ financial needs.

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

17

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18 February–March 2015

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in the e.c.

Peopl e + St y le + H y p e

The Scent of a Woman

Lillian Hovey-King, the daughter of a cavalry officer, spent much of her life traveling around the world and perfecting the craft of making perfume — a skill she learned from her Creole-French mother. When the market crashed in 1929, her hobby quickly became the family’s livelihood.

Hové Parfumeur blossomed on the bottom floor of a home on New Orleans’ Royal Street. Each generation ran the business from homes in the French Quarter on Toulouse and Royal Street and then to the Dejan House on Chartres Street, the current location.

In keeping with its heritage, the seductive scents of Hové Parfumeur in Destin’s HarborWalk Village immediately transport visitors back to the romantic days of its origin in New Orleans. The elegant shop is graced with mirrors and vintage finds where beautiful glass bottles rest. You can dress up your fragrance with Hové’s feminine designer-label fashions.

Today, great-niece Amy Wendel (pictured) helps women find their favorite Hové fragrances out of a line of 53. And after all these years, the shopkeeper is more passionate than ever.

“I love scents and everything about them,” she says. If you want to try one of the shop’s oldest and most popular, that would be Tea Olive. “It’s an incredible, indigenous Southern floral named for one of the oldest trees in New Orleans,” Wendel says. “And it’s just as lovely.” — Zandra Wolfgram

Photo by Matt Burke

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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made in the ec

The Color of Sound Chris Alvarado Makes Music that May Last for Generations By Rebekah Sanderlin

C

20 February–March 2015

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

Driftwood Guitars

hris Alvarado makes music — literally. He makes it out of wood and strings and shellac, and on recording equipment in his studio and at live music venues all around the Emerald Coast.

Long popular as a local live act and songwriter, Alvarado began designing and building acoustic guitars several years ago as a hobby, posting pictures of the instruments on his Facebook page for friends to see. It didn’t take long for people to start offering him money.

Now, from his Driftwood Guitars workshop in Freeport, Alvarado works closely with clients — some well-known professional musicians and some dedicated amateurs — to design and build the guitar of their dreams. His wife, Naomi, works with him, managing the business side of his ventures, and together they take turns watching and playing with their 2-year-old son, Hayden.

Alvarado, a Crestview native, joined the Air Force after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His father had retired from the Air Force and, after the attacks,

Photos by Shelly Swanger

Chris Alvarado (pictured) builds custom guitars out of a climate controlled two-car garage at his home in Freeport; Alvarado creates a custom inlay on all of his instruments like this paw prints design (opposite) made from Koa wood designed to represent client Kitty Whitney; (Left) Alvarado sharpens one of the carving tools he uses in the building process, which can range from four months to more than a year.

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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Alvarado uses a Gobar Deck to apply clamping pressure in key places in order to glue the top onto the sides of an “Antebellum” model guitar that he built for Duke Bardwell, a local musician that played bass guitar for Elvis Presley for several years.

22 February–March 2015

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

Shelly Swanger

made in the ec

Driftwood Guitars

(Left to Right) The design and mechanics of this Archtop are similar to that of a violin or cello and can take more than a year to complete; This Grand Auditorium features an Abalone Rosette hand cut from real shell and inlayed by hand; Alvarado says the neck is the most important part of a guitar when it comes to player comfort and playability. The margin between crafting a great playing guitar and one that is uncomfortable can come down to one millimeter.

(Above) Clients choose woods based on the particular sound they are looking for from their guitar; (Below) Each hand-made mold is for a different body style.

build each guitar, and he normally talks to clients twice each week during the process. It’s important to him, he says, that the client leaves with more than just a beautiful instrument. He says that many of his clients describe the building process as an emotional experience because they participate so closely.

His goal is to make six to eight guitars each year, and he also dabbles with making one-of-a-kind instruments, like an upright guitar that is played with a bow, like a cello. For Alvarado, it’s just one more way to leave a mark on the music world.

“I want to be known as an artist,” Alvarado said. I just want to make something that lives longer than I do. I’m going to die someday, and these guitars are going to live on, and that means I’ll get to keep making music long after I’m gone.” ec

Shelly Swanger

Chris Alvarado felt a need to serve his country, too. He stayed in for seven years and left the military when he got stationed back in the Emerald Coast. He decided then, one way or another, to make music his life.

“I tell everyone that I’m glad that I’m out,” Alvarado said, “but I’m also glad that I did it. If I hadn’t have done my time in the military, then I wouldn’t realize how fortunate I am to be able to wake up every morning and live my life on my terms.”

At first, he focused on singing and songwriting — and he still does quite a bit of both. Then he added producing to his repertoire and built a full recording studio in his home, where he helps other artists produce their songs.

Finally, he discovered instrument making, which he sees as a natural extension of the creative process.

Every detail of each guitar is carefully chosen by Alvarado and the client in order to yield the look and sound best suited to each musician.

“I familiarize myself with the style of music they play,” Alvarado said. “Then I ask them about their favorite guitar and what it is they like about it. Then I talk about sound — I ask them, ‘What color sound are you looking for?’”

That’s right. Color. Where most of us only hear sounds, Alvarado sees them — in tones ranging from shimmery metallics to deep chocolatey browns, with an array of shades in between.

“I’m not just hearing six notes,” Alvarado said.

“Some weave into others. The wood contributes notes to the strings, dark versus light sounds. It’s like tasting wine. There’s a lot more happening than just the notes being played.”

During the guitar-building process, he talks to clients about the shape of the instrument, their selection of wood and how the different bracing styles for construction will affect the sound. Together, they discuss the trim work, the wood and pearl inlays on the body, the fingerboards and the sides. On average, it takes him four months to

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24 February–March 2015

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giving back

The Destin Woman’s Club Making a Difference for Nearly Four Decades

I

n 1976, a small group of women realized that a number of needs were not being met in the Destin community. They decided there is strength in numbers, so the ladies formed an organization that became known as The Lakeshore Woman’s Club.

As membership grew and their good works expanded, the name of the club was changed to The Destin Woman’s Club Inc., affectionately known as the DWC. In the early years, members would gather with covered dishes and eat wherever they could find a spot, oftentimes in someone’s home. Today, the club meets monthly (every second Wednesday) in various local restaurants. After business is conducted, the luncheon features a special speaker or informative program. Though some things have changed, after 39 years, the DWC’s goals and mission remain the same: to bring together a diverse group

Photos by Kansas Pitts Photography

By Patti B. Burcham

Front Row (left to of women sharing a sense of commitright): Kate Callicotte, ment to help others. And the city of parliamentarian; Cindy Posey, corresponding Destin still has needs that the DWC secretary; Patti B. tries to address.

Burcham, president; Back Row (left to right): Cindy Posey has been a member Louisa Matthews, of the DWC since 1984, and her pasnewsletter editor; sion for the group has only grown Debbie Wilson, vicepresident; Maggi Grogan, over the years. advisor; Sherry Sheldon, “I recall attending a business lunways and means cheon with several of my sorority members,” Posey said. “I had been a part of a lot of clubs in my life, but I was truly impressed with what The Destin Woman’s Club did for our community.” She set her sights on becoming president, and after serving on various committees and a turn as vice president, she was elected president in 1991.

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giving back

Simply Sim ply thee Best Beestt Another notable member was Mary Kirkpatrick. She One of the first impactful civic groups to form in Destin, after 39 years the Destin’s Woman’s Club continues to make valuable contributions to the community.

served as president in 1987 and again in 1993. After she passed away, the club established the Mary Kirkpatrick Family Fund in her honor. This fund, through the club’s fundraising efforts, donates money to families in need and fills the gap between public assistance and self-sufficiency.

Since 1994, when the scholarship fund was first established, the DWC has provided a self-perpetuating $1,500 scholarship fund at Florida State College in Jacksonville. This enables single women to return to college, helping them provide a better future for themselves and their children. Last year, the Scholarship Fund was renamed The Carol & Bob Winsett Memorial Scholarship Fund, in honor of Carol Winsett, a member and past fund chair who died in 2013.

In honor of the special sacrifices of local service members who are wounded or ill, the DWC supports The Fisher House Foundation, which donates “comfort homes” for families facing medical crises. These homes are convenient to Eglin Air Force Base Hospital and the Veteran’s Clinic.

Since its inception, the Destin Woman’s Club has donated roughly $250,000 to dozens of local charities.

Treasurer Denise Dobelek joined the group in 2006.

“As a new transplant to the area, joining The Destin Woman’s club was a welcome opportunity for me to get to know and contribute to my new community, while working with women who have the flair for fun and the spirit of giving,” she said.

For more information on sponsoring or joining the DWC, visit destinwomansclub.org.

Patti Burcham is president of The Destin Woman’s Club. ec

photo By Kansas Pitts Photography

In honor of the special sacrifices of local service members who are wounded or ill, the DWC supports The Fisher House Foundation, which donates “comfort homes” for families facing medical crises. These homes are convenient to Eglin Air Force Base Hospital and the Veteran’s Clinic.

850.837.5565

Located across from Destin Commons & next to Publix

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well-worded

Author Lisa Morris pictured at her Destin home with Nala, her fiveyear-old labrador retriever rescue.

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Photos by Pure 7 Studios

Using Her Words

Lisa Morris is Reading, Writing and Teaching to Reach

By Liesel Schmidt

L

isa Morris is hardly a highbrow academic.

In fact, despite having published multiple books whose pages are packed with information on how to be more successful in the classroom and are, by design, tools for teaching teachers how to teach, Morris shows not the slightest bit of conceit. She teaches because she loves it, and she’s figured out an effective, communicable formula for offering insight to her fellow teachers as they face a classroom full of students. Morris’ words of wisdom impart a knowledge gathered during her 24 years of teaching — more than two decades of watching children broaden their horizons as they learn to read, to write and to find emotional connections with the world of words.

The outgoing, energetic teacher didn’t start out with the intent of becoming a published author. Nor did she ever fancy herself an authority on teaching methodology.

But she was experienced and passionate, and once Morris had the idea, she was off and running, filling every spare moment of her schedule between teaching her students and raising her children with writing notes and clipping articles, arranging and rearranging information that would ultimately make up the meat of her books, the first of which was published in 2011. Less than two years later, she wrote a second book.

For a while, she focused more attention on getting a position at Northwest Florida State College as an education

instructor; but soon enough, the balancing act between her schedules at the college and teaching elementary students was no longer satisfying her drive, and Morris realized that it was time to return to the writing desk. For the busy single mother of two, the motive was far from anything resembling self-edification.

She’s seen the way children change as they learn to read and write and reach greater levels of comprehension. She’s seen the doors of those young minds open, and she recognizes the need to nurture that potential.

“I want my books to help teachers,” explains the effervescent, 46-year-old Destin resident. “I’ve learned the importance of stressing perfection less and listening more,” she says, realizing that she sounds a bit free-spirited in this approach. But there’s a reason behind it. “That’s when the kids started to do their best writing, but there are so many great future writers who aren’t going to make it because they stress out too much and lose that joy. When you show them that they can write about things that they feel, it’s amazing,” she says with a bright smile.

Morris’ passion for words is seemingly matched only by her passion for Labrador retrievers; for two years, she singlehandedly ran a rescue kennel in her native state of Georgia.

“I lived on a 50-acre farm, and we had enough kennels for 25 to 30 dogs at a time,” she recalls. “I collected stories about the

Though Morris can nearly fill a shelf with her books, she says she's always learning something new about writing.

ones that I’ll never forget,” says the author, explaining the inspiration behind her book “One Life at a Time: A Rescuer’s Memoir.”

“I’d recognize one of my Labs even now, all these years later. You never forget them –– and they never forget you,” she says, her eyes dancing.

While she may be most proud of these tales, the titles to her credit are many, and her desire to write shows no sign of stopping. Having already released “Snippets: An Anthology of Small Moments, Scraps of Thoughts, and Bits of Advice”; “Awakening Brilliance in the Writer’s Workshop”; and “RTI Meets Writer’s Workshop,” the cover art for her next book is already being discussed.

As she works on the next series of books, the blue-eyed brunette hopes to leave a legacy for learning –– teaching future generations by teaching her own. ec

All Morris’ books are available at amazon.com, eyeoneducation.com, tatepublishing.com and corwin.com.

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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next you’ll be saying #IHEARTTALLY too.

March 6-8th Red Hills Horse Trials • March 28th Springtime Tallahassee April 11-12th Word of South Festival • April 11th FSU Spring Game • TBD FAMU Spring Game April 17-19th Southern Shakespeare Festival • April 18-19th LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival

VisitTallahassee.com 800.628.2866

30 February–March 2015

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personality Since 1998 Annie and Michael Chou have turned to Japanese-inspired cuisine learned from their homeland of Taiwan to change the restaurant landscape in Tallahassee, Destin and now Panama City.

Cutting Edge

The Chou Family Stake their Reputation on Making a Name in the Restaurant Business, and Win

By Lauren Gillespie

photo By Matt Burke

D

iners in Destin, Tallahassee and now Panama City know Osaka Japanese Steakhouse for its fresh sushi and tasty hibachi, but there is more to this restaurant than meets the eye. Owner Michael Chou has been bringing his high standards to Asian cuisine in Northwest Florida for more than two decades.

Though happy with the success of his restaurants, Chou had never thought he would work in food service for very long. He emigrated from Taiwan in order to get a university education in the U.S. — and that is when his career began … by chance.

“In San Francisco, I worked part time at a restaurant. Then when I graduated and couldn’t find a good

job, I decided to go into the restaurant business,” Chou said.

With a large Chinese population, San Francisco has a famous collection of Chinese restaurants that represent every region in China. Chou was working for talented chefs, making lifelong friends and learning the tricks of the trade. Before long, he was looking for a place to build his own restaurant.

“One of my friends told me that there were Chinese restaurants in Tallahassee, but no one was cooking Szechuan style,” Chou explained.

So he decided to bring variety to Florida, buying property on Maclay Boulevard and opening Chou’s Dynasty in 1990. But while the restaurant was a

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personality

success, after a few years he felt the need to change. The problem? Chou looked around and realized that all he saw were Chinese buffets.

After evaluating other businesses in Tallahassee he decided to try something new — a Japanese steakhouse he thought “would be better for the market.” Thus was Osaka born and still sits near the intersection of Capital Circle and I-10.

Turning to Japanese-inspired cuisine wasn’t a stretch for Chou, who grew up in Taiwan where his father landed after following a junket ship from China. Indeed, Taiwan’s unique history allowed him to dabble in both Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

“Japan occupied Taiwan for 50 years,” he explained. “Most of the older generation all speak Japanese, and there are many Japanese restaurants in Taiwan. That is why I am able to say this is good or this is not good.”

Over the years, Chou built Osaka into more than just a restaurant; he believes the name is a brand that represents fresh ingredients and quality service. His Japanese restaurant became so popular that soon he was ready to expand again — to the Emerald Coast.

“When I was in Tallahassee, I liked to go to Destin and to the seaside. I like the area and all of the restaurants,” Chou said. On one visit, he noticed something. “I looked around and there were no Asian restaurants.”

As an astute businessman, he immediately 32 February–March 2015

recognized the vacation mecca of Destin as the perfect location for his second steakhouse.

“Destin does good business,” Chou said, adding, “In the summer, there are a lot of tourists.”

In 2003, Osaka Destin opened its doors and has since seen success similar to that of its sister sushi spot in Tallahassee.

Chou firmly believes his three principles of business have propelled his ventures to financial success.

First, keep it clean. “That means inside and outside,” he said.

Next comes “actual service,” which requires a dedicated staff.

“I look for loyalty and hard work in employees,” Chou said. The goal is to ensure the best experience for customers.

Lastly, consistently deliver quality food.

He has worked with all his chefs for a long time, bringing some from Tallahassee to the Destin Osaka.

“When Osaka opened in 1998 it was very successful. But the market has changed,” Chou said. “Everyone is looking for the bargain, for the prices. I’m stubborn. Our food quality has never dropped. We serve fresh sushi, never frozen, so we can’t do Buy One Get One.” There is another aspect that makes Osaka unique. The restaurant is managed by Chou’s son, Gregory, which makes fine dining a family affair.

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

“We’re a team, a unit,” said Gregory Chou, manager of Tallahassee’s Osaka.

“When you care about your boss, basically everything you do goes back to the house. He’s very well organized, and people respect him for that. He cares about every aspect of the restaurant.”

Gregory Chou, who has been working at Osaka since its opening day, describes his father as very demanding and strict. Michael Chou agrees.

“People like him. He’s nicer than me,” Michael Chou said with a laugh. “I’m very straight and tight. He’s more relaxed.” Still he credits his son with helping the business evolve. “He said to me, ‘Dad, times change.

The younger generation will take over. We do business in a different style.’”

Michael Chou has moved to Destin with his wife to manage the restaurant there. Still, every week, he makes the journey from Destin to Tallahassee’s Osaka to make sure the restaurant is keeping to his high standards.

And with a new location in Pier Park slated for completion in spring 2015, he has added a third location to the Osaka family. This one measures 10,000 square feet, will seat 250 and add 40 new jobs to the Emerald Coast food and beverage market.

“Osaka has our style, no matter what,” Michael Chou said. “Not only for profit, not only for sales. This is for our reputation.” ec

photos By Matt Burke (atmosphere) and Scott Holstein (Chef)

Ricky Lasappe (left), who has honed his culinary skills at the Tallahassee Osaka location for nine years, makes the art of hibachi into a sensory feast; The Destin location features a gleaming full-service bar perfect for pre-dinner cocktails.

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34 February–March 2015

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scene Just some of the interesting buzz we’ve seen and heard around the Emerald Coast …

NEW NEWS …

▪ The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center has broken ground at 336 College Ave. in DeFuniak Springs as part of a $3 million capital campaign to construct a 15,000-square-foot center to serve Walton County children. The Pierce family donated $1 million toward the campaign.

photos courtesy of Angel Flight Soars (Whiskey Bravo), Emerald Coast Boys & Girls Club (Ford) And CVHN (Carlisle-­Northcutt)

▪ The Niceville location of Coastal Skin Surgery and Dermatology has undergone a complete renovation and expansion. The space is now much larger and contains new state-of-the-art medical equipment. Joining Dr. Elizabeth Clark and Dr. Brittain Kulow, who have previously worked part time at this location, will be Niceville native Dr. Layne M. Fielder.

▪ SunQuest Cruises has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Establishments awarded the Certificate of Excellence represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website.

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION …

▪ The 2014 30A Charity Golf Classic raised $27,706 for Alaqua Animal Refuge.

The second annual event was held at Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club and was presented by The Aesthetic Clinique.

The 30A Sticker Donation Box partnership between 30A.com, Dune Allen Realty Vacation Rentals and Alaqua Animal Refuge has raised $95,934 for the local charity since its inception, and $35,147 in the past 12 months alone. Although 30A. com gives away its famous round Gulfblue decals for free in local businesses, donation boxes have been set up in many locations to encourage contributions to Walton County’s premier “no-kill” shelter.

KUDOS …

▪ Skylar Ford, a sixth-grader from Pensacola who attends the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Ford was named a finalist in Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s nationwide reading contest, Make Good Reads Happen, for bringing “A Bad Case of Stripes” by David Shannon to life using her imagination and creativity.

▪ Tricia Carlisle-Northcutt, a Realtor from Santa Rosa Beach, has been named a finalist in the National Association of Realtors’ Good Neighbor Awards.

The awards recognize Realtors who

Carlisle-Northcutt and Children’s Volunteer Health Network

have made a positive impact on their community through volunteer work and community service. Carlisle-Northcutt founded the Children’s Volunteer Health Network in 2005, and the program quickly blossomed. It has grown from three volunteer providers to a health care referral program that now includes 90 volunteer providers, a mobile dental bus that visits 10 area schools for checkups and preventive care, and a three-chair dental clinic where full-time staff perform more invasive restorative treatments.

▪ South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival was awarded a Flagler Award in the special events category

by Visit Florida at the 2014 Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The award is the second won by the Northwest Florida festival this year. South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival previously won an Award of Distinction from the Florida Public Relations Association on April 16 at the annual Image Awards ceremony held in Pensacola.

Skip and Victoria Moore, owners of 723 Whiskey Bravo Bistro & Bar, celebrated national Be an Angel Day by presenting Angel Flight Soars Executive Director Jeanine Chambers with a check for $100,000. Angel Flight Soars’ mission is to arrange free air transportation for people who need to travel to receive lifesaving medical treatment but lack the means.

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scene

New Faces …

▪ The Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes Shantelle Dedicke as marketing manager. Dedicke was hired to manage the bureau’s advertising, marketing, social media, website and public relations initiatives.

N Cominew OffiCe g Spring 2015!

Moore

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Jason E. Baker, DDS

Miramar Beach Dental & Orthodontics provides a wide variety of dental services and procedures to address all of our patients’ dental health needs. By combining quality patient care with up-to-date technology, we are able to treat patients of all ages in a comfortable and relaxed setting.

We are building a new office to help us achieve our goals of creating a comfortable, convenient location in which we can serve all of our patients’ needs under one roof.

Stay tuned to our Facebook for updates and monthly specials!

miramarbeachdental.com | (850) 650-2070 | Accepting new patients!

36 February–March 2015

Dedicke

▪ The Okaloosa Arts Alliance announces its new board of directors for 2014–2015. The executive board of directors are: president – Keri Woods of Pyramid Inc.; vice president – Ken Hair of Children in Crisis; treasurer – Susan Kneller, chair of the Okaloosa Arts Alliance Grants Committee; and secretary – Becky Belcher of the Arts & Design Society.

The board of directors are Nellie Bogar of the Youth Village; Demetrius Fuller of Sinfonia Gulf Coast; Ursel Behnken of the German Club; Delores Merrill of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center and NWFL Symphony Guild; Chris Manson of The Beachcomber; Jean Starkey of Stage Crafters; Gayle Vann, events committee chair; Bill Head, volunteer committee chair; Ann Abell, The Painting Vine; James K. Baughman Sr., author; Pat Federinko, artist; and Bill Johnston of the Emerald Coast Pipes & Drums.

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

▪ Howard Group welcomes Leigh Moore to the company’s community affairs division. Moore works with local, state and federal governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations and private companies as an advocate for responsible growth and development.

▪ The Florida League of Cities has appointed Pensacola City Councilman Charles Bare to serve as vice chairman of its 2014– 2015 Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations Legislative Policy Committee.

▪ Cherryl Marcey has joined the management team of Vue on 30A to lead weddings and events.

▪ 30A announced that Lauren Sage Reinlie is replacing Mike Ragsdale as editor of 30A’s network of websites and mobile platforms. ec

Marcey

photos By Modus Photography (DCWAF) and courtesy of Emerald Coast CVB (Dedicke), Howard Group (Moore) and Sarah Brazwell/Vue on 30A (Marcey)

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) donated $2,035,000 to 12 Northwest Florida children’s charities at a private ceremony at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, marking the Foundation’s largest charitable distribution to date. This year’s revenues represent a 48 percent increase over the $1,375,000 donation in 2013. DCWAF currently ranks sixth in country among the Wine Spectator magazine’s Top Ten Charity Wine Auctions in the U.S.

sponsored report

WOMEN’S

PROFESSIONAL

PROFILES

Women at Work What better time than March’s Women’s History Month to shine the spotlight on some of the region’s most accomplished female professionals?

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that women comprise 47 percent of the national workforce — and more than 50 percent in the skilled professions. In this special section, we’re honoring the contributions of women in the workforce by sharing the career highlights of talented professionals from our area. Prepare to be impressed.

WOMEN’S

PROFESSIONAL

PROFILES

Junior League of the When the Junior League of the Emerald Coast began in 1964 it had five members. Now celebrating 50 successful years in the community the League is proud to have 250 members who are committed to enhancing the Emerald Coast community. These members are Northwest Florida women with diverse backgrounds, careers and interests.

These women unify for the purpose of: promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the positive action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Another vital part of the League’s mission is to help members gain the confidence and experience they need to go out into the community and take

on leadership positions. Training sessions and conferences aimed at building members’ leadership potentials are held throughout the year to aid in work life, home life and community endeavors.

Members work together to plan fundraisers, organize service projects and conduct community impact days. Every month the JLEC holds Community Impact Days where it partners with other nonprofit organizations to aid them in fulfilling a need, whether that be collecting supplies or helping with an event. They have worked with Shelter House, Children in Crisis, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Habitat for Humanity and many more.

Contact Junior League of the Emerald Coast | (850) 862-2665 | jlec.com

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sponsored report

Emerald Coast An event that the JLEC started in 1979 and continues today is the Child Clothing Project. In 2014 members helped provide clothing for 330 needy children in Okaloosa and Walton counties. Each child, who had been nominated by a school guidance counselor, was given $100 worth of clothing. This event occurs every October.

Other beneficial projects include: Rock the Road 5k/10k, Touch-A-Truck Day and Derby Party. To learn more on how you can contribute or join, visit jlec.org.

After 50 years the Junior League of the Emerald Coast is stronger than ever in its community presence and leadership achievements.

JLEC’s Child Clothing Project has provided clothing to local, underprivileged children since 1979.

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sponsored report

WOMEN’S

PROFESSIONAL

PROFILES

Pink N Blue Avenue Gulia Kirimova is the proud mother of a little girl who inspired her to open Pink N Blue Avenue, a boutique for girls and boys. Gulia sought to combine her love for her daughter and her community by creating a company that offered “hard-tofind and love-to-have” merchandise. As a result, her store is like no other, offering unique clothing, shoes, earth-friendly products, accessories and fun accessories.

After growing up in Russia, at the age of 19, Gulia made the decision to move to the United States. She barely knew English and was aware that she would face barriers, but she overcame the adversities she was faced with, became a U.S. citizen and opened her own business. The secret behind her success is to be humble, be respectful to others and treat them how you want to be treated.

Contact Gulia Kirimova | (850) 424-5707 | pinknblueavenue.net

40 February–March 2015

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“Success has never been my primary goal, I just try to do better than I did yesterday and be helpful to my clients and their little ones. I keep in mind that personal success always supports professional success,” Gulia said.

On any given day you can find Gulia and her two-year-old daughter GG rearranging the store and helping customers, smiles always on both of their faces. Gulia finds it important to focus on her family just as much as her business, which she thinks adds to the success and authenticity of her store.

She loves what she does and looks forward to making an impact in the Destin community every day. Her philosophy is simple: affordability, community and customer service to help nurture your child from crib to classroom.

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WOMEN’S

PROFESSIONAL

PROFILES

Ava’s Attic Consignment Boutique What is your educational Background?

Susan has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina, and Courtney has a Bachelor of Science in apparel merchandising from Auburn University.

Your business has grown a lot recently. Tell us about your success.

In six years of business we have expanded Ava’s Attic three times, reached 5,000 consignors, hired both a furniture painter and builder and launched our own line of chalk furniture paint.

What challenges have you faced growing your business?

Our greatest business hurdle was the summer and fall of the BP oil spill. Every business in our local community suffered greatly.

What do you wish your legacy to be?

We want Ava’s Attic to be remembered for our outstanding customer service — both to our consignors and our customers.

What do you like best about what you do?

We enjoy interacting with our customers and consignors.

We have built many personal relationships over the years.

Contact Susan Henry & Courtney Hood | (850) 307-5162 | facebook.com/AvasAtticConsignmentBoutique

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sponsored report

WOMEN’S

PROFESSIONAL

PROFILES

Destin Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry Dr. Julia Skinner Tell us about a woman you admire.

A woman I admire in my life today is my mom. I know this is the cliché answer, but she is a resourceful and generous woman who has endured and overcome incredible odds to give her children opportunities she never had. She has made many sacrifices in her life and always put education and family first. I endeavor to one day be the mom that she is today.

What do you like best about being a dentist?

I like being a dentist because I am given the opportunity to meet so many people in my profession and hear about their experiences and challenges over the years as they return for checkups and dental visits. We have so many patients with unique life stories, amazing careers or incredible traveling adventures, and it is always so interesting to hear the updates. My profession has given me a way to establish life-long friendships and connections with people not only in my community, but with those that travel and come to Destin seasonally.

Tammy Barber, Practice Administrator What do you consider your greatest triumph?

Having three great children.

What has been your greatest hurdle?

I am fortunate not to have had any hurdles. When I focus in on a goal, I always achieve it, because I have a fantastic support base.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The variety of tasks that I am faced with on any given day. You never know what is going to happen in a dental office.

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Dr. Julia Skinner, Tammy Barber, Dr. Stephanie Baya

Dr. Stephanie Baya What is your greatest personal triumph?

Becoming a dentist. It felt so good to achieve the longterm goals I set for myself back in high school.

What would you like to be remembered for?

I want my legacy to be the relationships I build throughout my life. After I’m gone, I want to be remembered as a dependable friend and great parent.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Your parents are not as bad and embarrassing as you think they are!

What do you enjoy most about your field?

I love getting to meet many different people from many different walks of life every day and, hopefully, make a difference in their life, even if it’s a small one.

Do you have a role model?

My father. He was also a general dentist in this area and was so talented and loved by his patients while in practice. He’s the reason I’m a dentist today.

Contact Destin Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry 4635 Gulfstarr Drive, Suite 200, Destin (850) 654-8665 | DestinDentist.com Panama City Beach Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry 309 Richard Jacksoon Boulevard, Panama City Beach (850) 235-2299 | PCBDentist.com

happenings Events + Culture + Causes

spotlight

‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’

Photo by Kenneth King

Set in the Oregon wilderness in 1850, the musical tells the story of a young bride, Millie, and her plan to civilize and marry off her six rowdy brothers-in-law to ensure the success of her own marriage — all with hilarious results! “Goin’ courtin’ ” has never been as much fun as in this rip-roaring stage version of the popular MGM movie. Bursting with the rambunctious energy of the original film, the show is all boisterous fun and romance. Call (850) 729-6000 for tickets ($45) to the March 10 performance at the Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center in Niceville or (850) 595-3880 for tickets to the March 29 show at the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola ($48). Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. for both shows. — Zandra Wolfgram

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culture

So You Think

You Can Dance? dance studios bring a different kind of fluid motion to the Emerald Coast

w

By Janie Harris // Photography by Mari Darr~Welch

hen the Emerald Coast comes to mind, most images involve the sway of waves crashing and sand squishing between the toes. But for the dancers of the area, a different sort of fluidity takes center stage.

Kimalee Piedad spent most of her life living in the Emerald Coast, but as a young girl, her daily activities bored her. The 9-year-old child pleaded with her mother to find her something to do, and within days, a dancer was born. Now a professional dancer and instructor at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Fort Walton Beach, Piedad swings her time away teaching lessons and improving on her own abilities.

“I always knew that I was going to be a dancer,” Piedad said.

The Fred Astaire studio has allowed Piedad to grow as a dancer and an instructor. More than 10 years ago, the owner of the studio called Piedad and had her audition with another instructor, and soon after, Piedad joined the Fred Astaire family. She is now able to continue her professional career with instruction from the manager of the studio as well as share her love of dance with others through instruction of her own.

At the studio, a number of classes are offered for any age and experience level, with the option of private instruction or group lessons.

Ballroom, jazz, ballet and workout classes are all offered.

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Before hitting the dance floor, instructor Guy Patrick breaks down each different dance combination for students step by step.

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45

But the studio does something for the public Niceville more than 20 years ago. Though variIf you are not sure how to put your best foot forward, that most studios don’t. Every Thursday at 7:45 ous dance trends have come and gone over the Guy Patrick says the p.m., it hosts a 45-minute guest party in which years, Toppell says those interested in dancing simplest dance to learn it allows the public to sample the instruction of well look to established studios for classes in for the complete beginner is very basic Salsa, which the dances the studio offers. order to learn good technique properly. is taking one step forward, You don’t have to be young to start dancing.

And with two new dance studios popping up one step sideways and one step to the back. When Guy Patrick, the owner and instructor of Step in Destin alone, interest in this art form seems first starting, it is far better

by Step Ballroom, started dancing in 2002 and to be growing. At press time dance and fitness to be able to do a dance was instructing by 2003. Known as the engineer instructor Lorraine Christen of Destin was in accurately and slowly than attempt a routine or step turned dancer, Patrick taught on Eglin Air Force the throes of realizing her dream to open a new at speed and risk injury or Base, but when he realized that a number a civilkids-focused dance studio called Rise Dance embarrassment. Take a tip from the pros and ians hustled over to take his class, he moved his Center. The studio located in Plantation Comslow down your moves and classes outside of the base. mons plaza will offer a range of year-round really dance them.

Now Patrick offers a variety of ballroom dance instruction for children from ballet to classes for any age or experience level, includhip-hop along with dance-based fitness classes ing waltz, foxtrot, tango, rumba, cha-cha, salsa, swing, hustle and and workshops for adults. nightclub two-step.

Classes offered specifically for adults have always been very Patrick said that dancing, for most people, is a learned skill, so important to Angela Nall, the owner and instructor for A Dance if you are new to dance, don’t expect to be able to learn a routine Studio in Niceville. in a week.

“It’s a great outlet for any age or ability,” Nall said.

Nall believes in lifelong dancing, and with 30 years of teach“There is so much work to it,” said Maria Middleton, a dancer ing experience, she is always striving to improve her own dancand former instructor at Dance Elite in Destin. Middleton exing ability. Dance is a passion to her, and that led her to open plains to new dancers in each of her classes that you have to A Dance Studio in 1981. Nall offers everything including ballhave fun and not think about it too much, and she has never room dances, ballet, tap and many more. But she doesn’t just had a student say he or she hated class and never wanted to teach adults. Nall has a class for every age and experience level come back. in her studio.

Dance instruction along the Emerald Coast isn’t new, particularly ballet. Noreen Toppell opened the Ballet Conservatory in Every dance studio is different. Each studio charges some46 February–March 2015

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photo By Mari DaRR~Welch

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culture thing different ranging from $50 to $150 per month. They all have instructors who beSo You Think lieve different things about You Want dance, but they all have certo Take Dance tain similar elements.

Lessons?

Each instructor believes that anyone can dance. It doesn’t Ballet matter if you are old, young, Conservatory Ballet, pointe, tap, tall, short, a natural or have jazz, modern, hip-hop, two left feet. You can dance. contemporary/lyrical “If you can walk, you can 4677 E. Highway 20 dance,” Piedad said.

Niceville/Bluewater Bay Each instructor believes (850) 897-2933 dance has hundreds of benefits. The Fred Astaire Dance Destin School Studio’s website lists numerous of Music & Dance Ballet, pointe, tap, benefits. Dance can improve jazz, modern, hip-hop, confidence and give dancers contemporary/lyrical the ability to enjoy themselves 4010 Commons Drive in social settings. It provides West, behind Walmart the opportunity to meet new and OfficeMax people. Dance also gives danc(850) 837-1133 ers the chance to express their Fred Astaire feelings in a safe and beautiful Dance Studio way. It can help with relaxPrivate and group dance ation and fun, and dance’s biglessons, wedding dancing gest benefit is health. Dance 11 Yacht Club Drive can improve the cardiovascular Fort Walton Beach system, tone muscles, burn (850) 244-4480 calories, improve flexibility Ask about their free and balance. To Piedad, dance dance lesson. is hundreds of benefits all put Step by Step into one art form.

Ballroom “You’re exercising without Private and group knowing it,” she said. lessons in waltz, foxtrot, When taking a class as a betango, rumba, cha-cha, salsa, swing, hustle and ginner, it’s good to go in with nightclub two-step an open mind. This is not a reality television show or a A Dance Studio 1047 E. John Sims dance competition. You will Parkway not learn a routine and have it Niceville ready to perform for an audi(850) 200-7348 ence in a week. The only way The Studio that can happen is if you work Ballet, jazz, hip-hop on it every day from sunup till dance classes sundown. Just have fun with 27 Quincy Circle, Seaside it. Middleton said that as long (850) 238-7378 as you are having fun, no instructor will think you are doing poorly.

“Don’t take yourself too seriously,” Nall added.

Each studio regards dance as a sacred art that should be nurtured in each individual who walks through their door.

The beauty of dance can only be interpreted by the individual, but these studios attempt to share their visions with the world to help those of us who don’t know much about it see the wondrous effort that goes into the art form.

“There are no words for it,” Middleton said. ec

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thecalendar +wine tasting

30A Wine Festival at Alys Beach

february + march

March 6-8 The fourth annual wine festival in beautiful Alys Beach is a showcase of premier wine producers and local culinary favorites. This newly expanded three-day event features a Friday night gathering, wine-tasting seminars, a walkabout and grand tasting, a band party at nightfall and Sunday’s exclusive wine tasting and croquet tournament (appropriate croquet attire encouraged). The event is produced by the Alys Foundation, and proceeds from the event will benefit the Children’s Volunteer Health Network.

The event kicks off Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. with Bourbon, Beer & Butts.

On Saturday wine seminars begin at 1:30 p.m. followed by the wine tasting walkabout beginning at 3:30 p.m. The event is capped with an after party that goes until 8 p.m. The festival continues on Sunday beginning at 11:30 a.m. with Fruits de Mer & Sancere and croquet tournament ($200). Friday tickets are $60 per person, Saturday is $200 or a weekend pass for all events is $300 per person. For more information, visit 30awinefestival.com.

+gala

Emerald Coast Cattle Barons’ Ball March 14 “The Lone Ranger” is the theme for this year’s highly anticipated Cattle Barons’ Ball, where generous guests donned in their best Western duds and cowboy boots come to the rescue. The high-energy event will feature live entertainment, live and silent auctions, gaming, complimentary drinks and fancy vittles from the area’s leading restaurants and caterers. This annual Emerald Coast event will benefit the American Cancer Society by raising funds for cancer research, advocacy, education and patient services. Saddle up Silver and giddy-up to the Linkside Center at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

Tickets are $175 per person. For sponsorship or ticket information, call Kay Phelan at (850) 376-1551. For more details, see facebook.com/EmeraldCoastCattleBaronsBall.

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compiled by Zandra Wolfgram For more events in the EC, visit emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

Wednesdays

Wednesday Night Concert Series Enjoy this outdoor music concert series featuring live performers, bands and musicians. FREE. Events Plaza, The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 7–9 p.m.

(850) 267-8117, baytownewharf.com

Third Friday

Downtown Art Walk Stroll Fort Walton Beach’s historic district and visit merchants from participating shops and restaurants while enjoying art demonstrations, live music, complimentary refreshments and special discounts. FREE. Downtown Fort Walton Beach. 5:30–8:30 p.m. For more information, email Jennifer Bundrick at downtownfwbartwalk@gmail.com.

Fridays

Live Music Fridays Enjoy live music at the Marina Bar and Grill.

FREE. Marina Bar and Grill, Baytowne Marina at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 6–9 p.m.

(850) 267-7778, Sandestin.com/events

Saturdays

Seaside Farmers Market Get your pick of fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products, native plants and other unique offerings during Seaside’s market on Saturday mornings. Held behind Raw & Juicy.

(850) 231-6107, seasidefl.com

Saturdays

Grand Boulevard Farmers’ Market This outdoor market features dozens of unique vendors offering locally sourced produce, eggs, milk, cream, butter, grass-fed beef, chicken, lamb, pork, local honey, pickled vegetables and gourmet jams, as well as flowers, herbs, soaps and lotions. FREE. Grand Park in Grand Boulevard, 600 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach. 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

(850) 837-3099, grandboulevard.com

Saturdays

Artist Bazaar View the wares of local artists, craftspeople and artisan vendors at the Artists at Gulf Place at the new weekly Artist Bazaar. FREE. Gulf Place on 30A and 393. 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. 30aArtistBazaar.com

Sundays

The Market at Gulf Place An outdoor farmer’s market on the green at Gulf Place. Find fresh fruit, vegetables, handmade crafts, organic items and more — all produced by local farmers and artisans. Enjoy the Artist Bazaar during the market, as well as live music on Sunday evenings. FREE. Gulf Place on 30A and Highway 393. 3–7 p.m., with live music 6–9 p.m. in the amphitheater. (850) 200-6805 or (850) 879-7296, facebook.com/ marketatgulfplace

Feb. 1

Super Bowl Sunday at Fat Tuesday Touchdown! Take in the action of Super Bowl at Fat Tuesday in The Village of Baytowne Wharf at

Photos by JacQueline Ward Images (Cattle Baron’s BAll) and Courtesy of Alys Beach (30A Wine Festival) and NWFL Ballet (Swan Lake)

+ballet

Northwest Florida Ballet Presents ‘Swan Lake’ Feb. 28-March 1 One hundred and twenty years after its revival by Petipa,

the same renowned Russian ballet master who brought “The Nutcracker” to life, Northwest Florida Ballet Mistress and former Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo dancer Dorothy Daniels Lister will stage the Northwest Florida Ballet’s (NFB) season finale performance. Like all the best tales of enchantment, “Swan Lake” weaves together a beautiful princess, a passionate prince and an obstacle that only true love can overcome. Music by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky creates a thrilling and magical soundtrack for one of the most iconic and enduring ballets of all time.

Performances will be Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 1, at 2:30 p.m. at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville. Tickets are $32 for adults and $15 for children.

For more information, call NFB at (850) 664-7787 or visit nfballet.org.

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thecalendar

Trey Griffith, model for Avantgarde, the winning salon of 2014

+save the date

2015 Emerald Coast Top Salon April 10 The 11 top nominated

salons from across the Emerald Coast will take the stage at the newly renovated Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa to unveil the head-to-toe transformation of their models. Attendees along with a panel of judges will crown the Emerald Coast’s Top Salon for 2015! Mix and mingle with representatives from The Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, our presenting sponsor, and the elite of the salon industry.

7 p.m. Tickets are $53. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the charity of the winning salon’s choice. Tickets are limited, purchase at emeraldcoastmagazine.com/top-salon.

Feb. 1

Super Bowl Party at Marina Bar and Grill Enjoy a Super Bowl “tailgate” party at the scenic Baytowne Marina. Enjoy drink specials and football fare from the Marina Bar and Grill and watch the game on one of eight screens, or head outside to cheer on your favorite team while watching on a large screen. FREE. Marina Bar and Grill, Baytowne Marina at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 6–9 p.m. (850) 267-7778, Sandestin.com/events

Feb. 1–28

Arts & Design Society Window Display Come view the works of Pat Roberts, whose diverse and colorful art will be on display in the studio windows of the Arts & Design Society Art Center, fronting First Street on Fort Walton Beach. Drive by and stop to see these works. FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. Southeast, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Feb. 6–8

56th Annual Beaux Arts Exhibition In partnership with the Arts & Design Society, The Meridian at Westwood hosts this annual exhibition, featuring the original artwork of the Emerald Coast’s finest artists. A silent auction of artwork is a highlight of the reception. FREE. 1001 Mar Walt Drive, Fort Walton Beach. Reception on Sun, 2–4 p.m.

(850) 582-1329, artsdesignsociety.org 54 February–March 2015

Feb. 10­–27

‘Hands On’ Art Exhibit The Arts & Design Society presents an art show that features interactive artwork of every variety. FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. Southeast, Fort Walton Beach. Opening reception, Friday, Feb. 20, 6–8 p.m. Gallery hours: Tues–Fri noon-4 p.m.; Sat 1–4 p.m.

(850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Feb 13 and 15

Wine Women & Shoes Put your best foot forward during a spectacular weekend of fine wines, delectable food, fabulous shopping, incredible auction lots and a swanky fashion show, all to benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s music education programs and Arts in Medicine collaboration with Sacred Heart Hospital along the Emerald Coast.

Friday night Vintner Dinners are held at stunning area homes, pairing great chefs with fabulous wines. $250 per person.

Sunday’s Signature Event is at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf & Spa Resort, 2–5 p.m. $65 per person. (850) 269-7229, winewomenandshoes.com/sinfonia

Feb. 13–14

26th Annual Sandestin Gumbo Festival Warm up this winter by sampling a variety of gumbos and cast a vote for the “People’s Choice” winner, while celebrity judges name the “Area’s Best.” Local Gulf coast restaurants will be featured, along with live music and activities for the entire family. $20. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. Noon–4 p.m.

(866) 912-3224, sandestin.com/gumbo

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

+concert

‘Metales M5’ March 6 Sinfonia Gulf Coast presents

Mexico’s leading brass quintet, Metales M5, which combines fine classical chamber music, non-stop audience interaction, inborn showmanship and an inimitable Latin American charm for a not-to-miss concert experience. The intimate setting of Rosemary Beach Town Hall on 30A is the perfect venue for this dynamic 7:30 p.m. performance, which will feature the works of Bernstein, Mozart, Piazzolla and more.

Tickets are $42.50. For more information, call (850) 269-7229 or visit sinfoniagulfcoast.org.

Photos by Tristin Kroening (Top Salon and Courtesy of Sinfonia (Metales M5)

Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 6–9 p.m. (850) 351-1809, Sandestin.com/events

Voted the Best & Finest Lawyers for 2013 Your Lawyers for Life Litigation Real Estate Law Foreclosures Criminal Law Creditor Representation in Bankruptcy Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning & Probate Business Law Divorce · Family Law Commercial & Judgment Collection

Left to right: Jeremy T. Cranford, Arthur “Richard” Troell, III, Karen Powell Ward, William L. Ketchersid, David L. Powell

online at SuperLawyers.com 850-837-5507 · flaattorney.com Clary Cobb Building · 1241 Airport Road, Suite H · Destin, FL 32541 Admitted to practice in all Florida courts and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Member of Attorneys Title Fund Services LLC. Authorized Agent Old Republic National Title Insurance Company.

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thecalendar Feb. 15

12th Annual Mardi Gras Dog Parade The streets will be filled with pooches promenading through the streets via convertibles, small floats (pulled by masters), golf carts, bicycles and decorated wagons as Mardi Gras music fills the air.

Collar your friends (furry and otherwise) and head to one of the premier canine events on the Emerald Coast. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 2 p.m. (850) 267-8117, baytownewharf.com

Feb. 17

13th Annual Fat Tuesday Baytowne Bash Parade Laissez les bon temps rouler (let the good times roll) with the 13th annual Fat Tuesday Baytowne Bash Parade rolling through Sandestin. Yell “Throw me something, mister!” as festive floats, golf carts and pickup trucks roll through the village streets and marchers dressed up in their Mardi Gras best shower parade-goers with a barrage of beads, moon pies and other trinkets.

The post-parade celebration continues into the night with street performers, “throws” tossed from balconies on Main Street and parties at various Baytowne establishments. FREE. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 5 p.m. (850) 267-8117, baytownewharf.com

Feb. 25

Arts & Design Society Speaker Luncheon The Arts & Design Society presents artist Ruth Grossman, who will speak on her career of designing and making costumes for Broadway shows. $12; reservations made after Feb. 24, $15. Art Center, 17 First St. Southeast, Fort Walton Beach.

11:30 a.m. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Feb. 28

Rock the Roads 5K Run/ Walk and 10K Run The Junior League of the 56 February–March 2015

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Emerald Coast’s 3rd Annual Rock the Road 5K Run/Walk and 10K Run is one of the organization’s newest fundraisers, with money raised going directly to support the projects and programs of the Junior League in the Emerald Coast area. 5K is $25 early registration, $30 day of; 10K is $35 advance, $40 day of.

Clement Taylor Park, Destin.

8:30 a.m. start. (850) 269-7234, jlec.org or active.com

Feb. 28

Party with a Purpose — White Party Join hosts Skip and Victoria Moore for this second annual soiree, which raises funds for Angel Flight Soars, an organization that arranges free air transportation for people who need to travel to receive lifesaving medical treatment but lack the means. Enjoy whiskey, wine, exciting auction lots and live entertainment while giving back to a worthy cause. $175.

723 Whiskey Bravo, Seagrove Beach, 6 p.m. (850) 213-0015, angelflightsoars.org/723WB

March 1–31

Arts & Design Society Window Display The works of the students in Marcy Eady’s weekly children’s classes will be on display in the studio windows of the Arts & Design Society Art Center, fronting First Street in Fort Walton Beach. Drive by and stop to see these works. FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. Southeast, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

March 10–27

‘Give Us Your Best Shot’ Exhibit This show will feature works that the artists deem the best they have done within the past two years. FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. Southeast, Fort Walton Beach. Opening reception, Friday, March 13, 6–8 p.m. Gallery hours: Tues-Fri noon–4 p.m.; Sat 1–4 p.m. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

March 25

Arts & Design Society Speaker Luncheon The Arts & Design Society presents co-owner Tony Dakers with his wife, Laura Destin of Valparaiso

socialstudies

Charles Beams

Kyung Park

Festival of the Arts Oct. 26, 2014 The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation welcomed more than 100 juried artists from 13 states to Destin for its annual Festival of the Arts. More than 6,000 art lovers attended the 19th year celebration of art, music, food and fun.

Photos by Chase Yakaboski

Frank Ledbetter

“I had

baby was growing just ne, even when I got sick and lost so much weight from the chemo. I loved the staff at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast and the Cancer Center. They Now my baby and I are healthy and happy!

In October 2013, Angie and David Barousse of Panama treated me like family with City received the happy news that Angie was pregnant. compassion and lots of care.”

In the same month, Angie also learned that she had In late June 2014, Angie gave Triple Negative Breast Cancer birth to a healthy baby girl.

“She is absolutely perfect.

Under the care of Sacred Heart Medical Oncologist Dr. Thomas R. Johnson, Angie endured a mastectomy She is truly our miracle baby. Now I am cancerand braved six rounds of chemotherapy during the free, and I am the rst half of her pregnancy, while Sacred Heart happiest I have Maternal/Fetal Medicine Specialist Dr. James Thorp ever been.” kept close watch on the baby.

Breast Cancer while I was Pregnant”

“The doctors were so supportive; they even prayed with us,” says Angie. “Dr. Thorp reassured me that the

www.sacredheartemerald.org 850-622-0873 EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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thecalendar

+running

Feb. 27-March 1 Get ready, set and race to help support the Seaside Neighborhood School and Seacoast Collegiate High School.

The fun begins Friday, Feb. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Seaside’s Lyceum Hall when participants can pick up packets, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, listen to live music and get a sneak peak at the silent auction. The festivities continue on Saturday, Feb. 28, from noon to 6 p.m. at Seaside’s Lyceum Hall and Seaside Amphitheater, where guests can pick up race registrations, browse a vendor expo and bid in a silent auction. The Half Marathon race begins at the Seaside Post Office on Sunday, March 1, at 7 a.m., and the 5K Run kicks off at 7:25 a.m. Silent auction bidding will remain open until 11:30 a.m.

Runner awards will be given at a post-race party in the Seaside Amphitheater beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Tickets for the Friday night event are $25; 5K entry $95 for adults and $50 for children (ages 6-13); $125 for the 10K. Purchase event tickets and register for the race at active.com. For more details, visit snsrun.com.

Ceramic Studio and Hobby Shop, who will speak of their work with adults and children, creating fun and practical works of art with poured clay and paint. $12; reservations made after March 23, $15. Art Center, 17 First St. Southeast, Fort Walton Beach.

11:30 a.m. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

March 27–28

Purses with a Purpose This fashionable event features a Friday night VIP party with first pick of items, food, drinks and door prizes and a discount sale on Saturday morning. New and lightly used designer handbags will be up for sale and auction. All proceeds benefit Shelter House.

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$5 for VIP party; Saturday is FREE. 600 Grand Blvd. at Sandestin, Miramar Beach. Fri 6–8 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (850) 243-1201, shelterhousenwfl.org

March 28

Bay Breeze Patio Anniversary Event Enjoy grilling demonstrations and tastings, outdoor fireplace and log demonstrations, outdoor living experts, door prizes, special sale prices and more. At 2 p.m., the Grill Masters will fire up their grills and compete in the Annual Burger Throwdown cooking competition. FREE. 32 Forest Shore Drive, Miramar Beach, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (850) 269-4666, baybreezepatio.com ec

Photo Courtesy of Walton County TDC (Marathon)

Seaside School Half Marathon and 5K Run

socialstudies

Valerie Bogar, Nellie Boga, Ronnie James, Amanda Layco-Mitchell, Khameela Layco-Mitchell, Gabby Layco Mitchell, Charisma Payne, Zena Payne, Lorenzo Mitchell

Laura Holloway and Darla Briganti (seated) with Gabby, Amanda, Khameela Layco-Mitchell and Charisma Payne (in back)

Zandra Wolfgram

The Ogle Family

Jared Sellich, Marisa Vaughn and Charis Sellich

‘A Dickens Christmas’

Nathanael Fisher, Zandra Wolfgram and Anna Fisher

Dec. 11, 2014 The Emerald Coast Theatre Company warmed the holiday season with a new tradition: an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale “A Dickens Christmas.” Guests were treated to English tea and cookies before seeing the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformational night with three ghosts. After the show, patrons donned Victorian garb and snapped keepsake photos with the cast.

Photos by Chase Yakaboski EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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socialstudies

Deanna Mathews and Marci Guertin Third Annual 30A 10K and Fun Run Racers

30A Thanksgiving 10K Nov. 27, 2014 Starting in the beautiful town of Rosemary Beach, the 30A 10K held bright and early on Thanksgiving Day gave runners an excuse to go for that second slice of pumpkin pie. Over the years, the race that winds along stunning Scenic Highway 30A on the gorgeous Gulf coast, has donated more than $60,000 to local charities.

Photos courtesy of 30A Thanksgiving 10k

The Turkey Tom trotters

Music of the ‘Mad Men’ Era Oct. 7, 2014 Sinfonia Gulf Coast and Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood teamed up to present a delicious musical treat to kick off the symphony’s 9th season. Guests enjoyed an exquisite four-course meal prepared by Chef Dan Vargo, while award-winning singer and actor Cheyenne Jackson charmed the intimate crowd with songs from the “Mad Men” era and the Great American Songbook.

Photos by Lori Eckert Cheyenne Jackson and Demetrius Fuller

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Stephen Phlaum and Sherry Londe

Steve and Kay Crawford

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WATCH THE WORLD’S BEST COMPETE...

FROM THE SIDELINES! MARCH 6•7•8 Elinor Klapp Phipps Park

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socialstudies

Kathy and Brian Haugen

Dr. David Hansen, Dr. Jolean Johnson, Elizabeth and Bill Campbell

Savor the Season Nov. 6, 2014 Guests gathered around the Caliza Pool in Alys Beach for the fifth year to listen to the sounds of Michael J. Thomas, sample wine and gourmet cuisine prepared by local chefs, and bid on tempting silent and live auction prizes and packages. The festive fall affair raises funds and awareness for the Taylor Haugen Foundation.

Hardie Jackson, Justin McCaulley and David Hudson

Photos by Chase Yakaboski

Bud & Alley’s Seeing Red Vintner Dinner Nov. 6, 2014 Winemaker Erik Miller paired his favorite Kokomo Winery selections to complement the four-course seafood dinner prepared by Bud & Alley’s Chef Dave Bishop. The soiree launched Seaside’s signature wine collection and kicked off the 24th annual Seeing Red Wine Festival. After the dinner guests kicked off their shoes and lifted their glasses during a moonlit stroll on the sugar-white sand beach.

Photos by Zandra Wolfgram

Dave Rauschkolb, Lori Leath Smith and Erik Miller

Elijah Shelley and Gelin Digennaro

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Your Favori t e Compe t i t ion is BaCk

Fourth AnnuAl

2015

PRESENTING SPONSOR: THE CENTER FOR COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY

April 10, 2015 At 7:00 pM

At Hilton SAndeStin BeAcH Golf ReSoRt & SpA The community voted and the eleven top nominated salons of the Emerald Coast have been chosen. Now the competition begins.

Each salon has chosen a deserving model and charity to support. The unveiling of each salon’s makeover masterpiece will be revealed as their model walks down the runway. A panel of judges and attendee votes will determine who wins the honorable title of Top Salon.

The following three pages feature the competing salons and list each corresponding model and charity. The winner will receive an advertising campaign developed by Rowland Publishing, along with a yearlong ad campaign in Emerald Coast Magazine.

Tickets are $53. This includes event entry, one drink coupon, heavy hors d’oeuvres and opportunities to win some great prizes and getaway packages! A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit the winner’s charity of choice.

Tickets and event information at emeraldcoastmagazine.com/top-salon

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NOMINEES

Avantgarde

C’est La Vie

Model: Dayna R. Iscano Charity: Gulf Restoration Network

Model: Felisha Floyd Charity: Taylor Haugen Foundation

Cutting Room Salon & Spa Model: Amber Moss Charity: Wounded Warrior Project

PRESENTING SPONSOR

PRESENTEd by

SPONSOREd by

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NOMINEES

Euphoria Salon

Model: Katie L. Theiss Charity: Rescued Rescuers: Dachsunds & Friends

Fusion Spa Salon Sandestin Model: Katelynn Stokes Charity: Shelter House

The Kat House Model: Audrey Coates Charity: Autism Speaks

La Renaissance

Model: Nikki Ballard Charity: Sacred Heart Cancer Center

April 10, 2015, 7:00 pM

At Hilton SAndeStin BeAcH Golf ReSoRt & SpA Tickets and event information at emeraldcoastmagazine.com/top-salon 66 February–March 2015

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

11 SAlonS, 11 deSeRvinG modelS, 1 fierce coMpetition

Pure & Couture

Model: Caroline “Carrie” Cassidy Charity: Fisher House Emerald Coast

Rolland’s Beauty Bar Model: Tristan Wren Kendall Charity: Impact 100 NW Florida

Serenity by the sea Sanabella Spa & Salon

Model: Rachel Rehm Charity: Bay Area Food Bank

Model: Amber Hunter Charity: E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center

PRESENTING SPONSOR

PRESENTEd by

SPONSOREd by

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Cashing in on

Hannah and Shawn Brown “horse around” under cypress pines near their photography studio in Santa Rosa Beach.

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Crea

ativity Three Local Couples Turn Their Passions for Food, Design and Photography into Successful Careers Working Side by Side Story By Danielle Buenrostro and Photography by Mari Darr~Welch

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O

nly a small percentage of us share a workplace with our spouses. In fact, the average person would probably say that working with his or her mate wouldn’t be good for the marriage. Yet three local couples have taken a less traditional approach to keeping business and pleasure separate. They’ve found a way to co-work and cohabitate in perfect harmony.

Love Through the Lens Shawn and Hannah Brown Shawn and Hannah Brown are the dynamic duo of HBB Photography, capturing the engagements, weddings, pregnancies and special moments of families on the Emerald Coast. Part Spanish shutterbug and part Canadian creative genius, the two are known for their photojournalistic style and out-of-the-box thematic shoots.

The Browns’ passion to see life through a camera lens started early in life. Hannah grew up in Madrid, inspired by her mother’s studio portraiture work and learning the fundamentals of 70 February–March 2015

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light, composition and film. Shawn was born in Toronto, where he inherited his dad’s film camera and developed a curiosity to learn more. The two made their way to the Emerald Coast and were each other’s first kiss and first date, which eventually led to wedding vows. After eight years of wedded bliss, Hannah testifies that they are truly each other’s best friend and says she couldn’t imagine work without Shawn by her side.

For the Browns, being together 24/7 doesn’t get old. Their success is a classic case of yin and yang that works. Hannah is technical and calculated while Shawn is uninhibited and eccentric.

“He also has no fear of making a fool out of himself in order to get a shot,” Hannah said. “He thinks way outside the box, and I try to grasp what he’s saying and make it into reality. That’s how we come up with all of our thematic portraits.”

Relying on each other’s strengths during a photo shoot allows the Browns to produce one-of-akind pieces of art that families cherish for years.

It has also helped them develop a reputation in the area as first-rate artists.

“One thing that keeps us passionate is getting to meet new people and experiencing the dynamics they have with their loved ones in their relationships,” Hannah said.

When a family actually has fun during a photo shoot, that moment is one of the biggest compliments a photographer can get, according to Hannah. Also, when clients looks at their website and immediately know they want the Browns to capture their special day, the moment is very humbling to the couple.

When they’re not behind the camera, Shawn loves to play and write music. Hannah enjoys riding horses and unwinds by reading at least three books a week.

“We work at the beach every day, but when we actually get to go just for fun, it kind of blows my mind that we live five minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world,” Hannah said.

The Browns met in youth group when Shawn was 11 and Hannah was 14.

Being playful inspires the couple's innovative approach to photography and is one of the secrets to their lasting marriage.

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Culinary Prowess Steve and Camille Withall If you’ve eaten at some of the best restaurants on the Emerald Coast or taken a cooking class, chances are the dishes of chefs Steve and Camille Withall have tantalized your taste buds.

Steve boils a mean batch of crawfish as head chef at Stinky’s Fish Camp in Santa Rosa Beach, while Camille is sous chef at George’s at Alys Beach and enjoys baking her cake and eating it, too.

The couple come from a long line of great cooks in their respective families, Steve growing up in New York and Camille in the Philippines. After working in the engineering field left him unfulfilled, Steve had a desire for something more, and he soon discovered the kitchen is where he belongs.

Steve and Camille’s paths crossed when they both ended up working in the same kitchen in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort after culinary school.

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Their love affair with food and each other soon led them to tie the knot.

“Working together really well was organic,” Steve said.

At George’s, Camille takes pride in making sure the food tastes as good as it looks with memorable and unexpected dishes such as popcorn, bacon and chocolate blended together. At Stinky’s, Steve satisfies appetites with a definitive taste of Gulf Coast cuisine, creatively integrating seasonal ingredients from local farmers and putting his own spin on things.

“Stinky’s daily feature menus are my main creative outlet,” he said.

“Wine dinners, catering events and the guest amuse-bouche program (which is a small, unique one-bite treat used to stimulate a guest’s appetite and to welcome them) all keep my creative juices flowing.”

A dual household of chefs is demanding, with unforgiving work hours and very little time off. But both chefs enjoy being in the pressure cooker because it brings out their creativity.

“It’s all about complexity of flavors for me, growing up with Filipino cuisine, which is a mix of Asian and

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

Camille, 33, and Steve Withall, 34, pictured in their gourmet chef's kitchen in Miramar Beach, are passionate about all things food and wine, each other and their cat named Roux.

Spanish food,” Camille said. “It’s the love of feeding others great food.”

On their days off, they’re at home in their Miramar Beach kitchen, entertaining for family and friends. For sweethearts Steve and Camille, the ingredients to a successful dish parallel the ingredients of a successful marriage.

“For any composed dish, quality of ingredients and maintaining their integrity with the correct amount of seasoning and attention to detail is key,” Steve said. “Like the care you put in food, respecting your spouse and vows and communication, while remembering to have fun along the way, makes for a great marriage.”

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Scott and Lisa Marie Brooks, who have been a married dynamic duo for 14 years, pour their love into designing and building custom fairytale dream homes like this one in Seaside.

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Building on Their Talents Scott and Lisa Marie Brooks An unlikely mix of talents and unfortunate circumstances led a couple from Malibu, California, to make their mark in the Emerald Coast as one of the leading husbandand-wife custom home builders and design firms in the area.

After purchasing property in WaterColor in 2002 and coming to the horrifying realization that they couldn’t afford to pay a contractor to build their dream home, Scott and Lisa Marie Brooks took matters into their own hands. Although neither had worked in the home building industry, they pooled their skills — Scott as a naval officer, entrepreneur and airline pilot and Lisa Marie as a model, designer and photographer — and made their dream a reality with the help of family.

It was during the downturn in the home market from 2005 to 2007 that Lisa Marie called her dad, Dave Borges, who was a custom homebuilder in Arizona, in tears, saying their dream home wasn’t going to happen based on what local builders were quoting them.

“The next thing I knew, he was on his way to Orlando to get his Florida contractor’s license,” Lisa Marie said.

Soon after building their dream home, others began to notice the craftsmanship,

were impressed by the unique quality and began to inquire. It was at that point Lisa Marie’s dad left the collapsing Arizona market for good and joined forces with the Brookses to officially launch Borges Brooks Builders in 2008.

Although they’ve been in business only six years, they’ve built 30 custom homes, five of which are for repeat customers building their second home with the firm, Lisa Marie said.

“We have built homes for three friends, and we are still friends with all of them,” she said.

The booming business is truly a family affair. Dave is semi-retired now yet still helps with various aspects of the company.

Used to operating with no margin for error as a pilot, Scott manages the finances and the building process while Lisa Marie handles the design aspects of building, taking a creative license to infuse her coastal contemporary style into home furnishings, elements and décor.

“I spent years in the fashion world, traveling and living in more than 14 countries, and immersed myself in different cultures, architecture, style and design, which all helps me to see projects from a different set of goggles than most,” she said.

Working side by side every day is no big deal to Scott and Lisa Marie. They make it work by knowing which battles are worth fighting and which are not.

“It’s not that difficult to work together,” Lisa Marie said. “We both want perfection, so we can usually agree. If we do disagree,

and if it’s design-related, I win out. If it’s a structural issue, Scott always wins.”

In addition to their impeccable attention to detail and exquisite workmanship, one of the Brookses’ biggest keys to professional success is operating with integrity.

“If you have that one quality, everything else falls into place, and all are happy in the end,” Lisa Marie said. “Build it with integrity, and it will last. Design it to be in harmony with, as well as a reflection of, the amazing natural beauty in this area and people will love it.”

Back home, Scott and Lisa Marie enjoy time outdoors with their son Logan, 13. Life on the water gives them a chance to recharge and reconnect away from the stresses of work.

“We love to hop on the boat or the Jet Ski or the Harley-Davidson,” Lisa Marie said.

Their chemistry as a couple, their business acumen blended with sophisticated style, and their team of talented professionals are all the components of a successful equation for the Brookses at home and at the office.

“In order to compete in this niche market, you must always be upping your game.

We are both creative; however, we cannot take all the credit,” Lisa Marie said. “We have some of the most talented subs, designers and trade people anywhere. We have both lived and traveled all over the world, and we both agree that the level of talent in our little corner of the world is second to none. We are incredibly blessed to have all of them on our team.” ec

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come on

inn Historic B&Bs Along the Emerald Coast Are Full of Old-World Southern Charm Story By Zandra Wolfgram // Photography by Matt Burke

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The Sailfish Room at Highlands House in Santa Rosa Beach is an elegant coastalinspired oasis.

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Historic B&Bs along the EC

t

he history of bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) in America dates back to the time of early settlers. As the pioneers traveled the trails and roads across this country, they sought a safe refuge in homes, inns and taverns. In fact, some of those historic accommodations now serve as B&Bs. During the Great Depression, many people opened their homes to travelers to bring in some additional money for the family. The term “boarding house” was used at this time. After the Depression, this type of lodging declined, and many people had the idea they were just for low-income travelers or drifters. In the early 1950s, the term “tourist home” was coined for homeowners renting out rooms along with a warm meal. Once motels began to dot U.S. highways, they were soon forgotten.

Today there are nearly 30,000 B&Bs throughout the states. The concept is now well accepted as a niche category within the hospitality industry. In fact, there are newsletters, travel publications and guidebooks dedicated to B&Bs. By serving breakfast to guests in a central gathering place, B&Bs by nature appeal to those seeking a social travel experience. It’s also a highly social lifestyle for the innkeepers, not to mention a steady revenue stream that can quickly pay off a home mortgage, making for a smart real estate investment.

We “checked in” on four family-owned and operated B&Bs along the Emerald Coast to bring you their stories.

Pensacola Victorian is a Lesson in Local History At an age when they could be enjoying a life of leisure, Barbee and Chuck Majors are spending their golden years hosting thousands of guests in their five-bedroom, turnof-the-century home. Still, they can’t wait for the next guest to arrive. For this innkeeper couple, meeting new people is the most exciting part of running a bed and breakfast.

“They come from all over the world. There aren’t too many countries represented who haven’t stayed with us,” Barbee Majors says.

And with so many stories to tell, the Majors’ guests come seeking history and charm and leave the Pensacola Victorian wanting to hear more.

As Barbee tells it, the home is a Queen Anne Victorian built in 1892. In its day, it was considered

one of the better homes in town.

In fact, William Hazard Northup, the sea captain who built it, served as mayor of Pensacola in 1897. The home reportedly served as a mortuary at one time, too.

For Barbee, living and working in a Pensacola Victorian is literally a dream come true. While on their annual vacation in Navarre 17 years ago, her best friend dreamed about a home that she said would be Barbee’s one day. While surveying the Pensacola market, the Majors happened upon a quaint bed and breakfast on West Gregory Street that matched her friend’s description.

To their surprise, not long after returning home to St. Louis, the Majors learned the dream home was up for sale. They put in a bid immediately, and in three months the Majors were in the B&B business.

The spacious guest rooms in the Victorian Pensacola are appointed with vintage pieces, feature sitting areas, queen size beds, cable TV and private baths; An oldfashioned claw foot tub is perfect for a relaxing soak.

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The History of the Northup Home As the story goes, William Hazard Northup ran away to sea at an early age and by the age of 21 was captain of a coastwise schooner. He was acquainted with E.E. Saunders, a captain and fishmonger from New England. When Saunders moved to Pensacola in 1868, Northup followed in the early 1870s. After settling in Pensacola, Northup established a livery and undertaking business under the name Northup and Wood.

Northup married his friend Saunders’ sister, Harriet. The couple had a son, Edwin Saunders Northup.

In 1897, Northup and others organized the Pensacola

Electric Terminal Railway Company and operated the Pensacola streetcar system.

Northup was elected mayor of Pensacola in 1897 and served through 1898.

In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Northup Collector of Customs at the Port of Pensacola. The next president, William Howard Taft, appointed him Postmaster.

The Northup home at 203 W. Gregory St. was restored and operates as the Pensacola Victorian Bed & Breakfast.

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(Clockwise) Victorian Pensacola captures memories in guest books; Guests gather for breakfast at the laceddraped table in the formal dining room; Ask about the upgrade to a candlelit breakfast if staying in the Suzanne Room; Tall ceilings, elegant chandeliers and period furnishings take guests back to Victorian days.

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Historic B&Bs along the EC

“My friend’s dream came true, and so did mine!” Barbee says.

The Majors seem to be naturals. Barbee grew up in the restaurant business, and during the summer she helped clean cabins and wait tables at various YMCA camps her father managed. And when she grew up, she ran a company in St. Louis that produced special events and promoted artists, photographers and musicians, so managing a household “wasn’t much of a leap.”

She now chalks it all up as a sign she was destined to be an innkeeper. The couple’s charm results in plenty of repeat business for their four guest suites: the Victoria, Elizabeth, Suzanna and the Captain, named in honor of the home’s original master.

By definition, every B&B stay includes breakfast. Here, the Cottage Café, which opened in 2004, serves a hearty, homemade breakfast and lunch (Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) out of what was the home’s carriage house.

“Everything is good, but the chicken curry salad seems to be a favorite. People come in asking for it,” she says.

Barbee loves that her guests come for some hospitality but leave rested and full of history.

“They tell us it’s comfy, Southern and happy, and that’s what we wanted,” she says.

Victorian Pensacola dates back to 1892; Hearty homemade chili with cornbread and curry chicken salad are popular items on the Cottage Café menu; Owners Chuck and Barbee Majors on the veranda of their dream home.

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Historic B&Bs along the EC

Highlands House is From an Era Gone By If you can wow a bride on her big day without a hitch, the rest is a cakewalk, so to speak. Over the past dozen-plus years, the Highlands House on 30A in Santa Rosa Beach has become a popular place for both local and out-of-town brides looking for a romantic place to have a beach wedding. But that’s not exactly how this beachfront B&B started …

New Yorker Marc Russack has been the owner and operator of Highlands House for the past three years. His father, Ira Russack, purchased the Antebellum-style home about 14 years ago. The home dates back to 1946, and for many years it was a haven for transient homesteaders coming through town. Today, guests travel from near and far to stay in the gracious, nautical-themed guest suites.

“We get guests from Atlanta and New Orleans and also international guests from Germany and Austria,” Russack says.

Many people fantasize about running a B&B, and though it’s “wonderful,” this business entrepreneur didn’t exactly expect to run one. Russack has a retail background and most recently owned a motorcycle rental business in Miami.

“It’s a lot of people’s dream, but they may not realize the responsibility and work to be open seven days a week,” he says.

The innkeeper’s vision is to re-envision Highlands House.

“I want to revamp and refresh the brand,” he says. According to Russack, the one-stop shop concept of offering accommodations, catering, florals, cakes and planning has made Highlands a “dominating force” in the weddings market. Russack would like to build 82 February–March 2015

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on that reputation and grow the catering side of the business. Taking the lead is CuThe common area at Highlands linary Institute of America-trained Chef House is made Kevin Purdy of Nashville, who has develcozy with warm, wood planked oped a following at the B&B’s on-site café floors, comfortable and bar, recently renamed 1946 at Highslipcovered seating lands House. A stay at Highlands includes and fragrant freshcut flowers. breakfast at the 1946, but it is also open to the public with seasonal hours for brunch, lunch and dinner.

Currently, there are seven guest suites available for rent, all with nautical names such as Driftwood and Seascape. All have private baths, and four of them offer Gulf views. A sunroom spans the entire length of the house and opens on to a sweeping veranda allowing everyone to enjoy the home’s “killer beachfront view.”

Russack has big plans for physical changes, too.

“I want to connect the front and back into one large bridal suite and perhaps move away from the coastal theme. Maybe something Parisian French,” he says. “I want it to be fun, with music and atmosphere. A timeless place where you don’t know what era you’re in.”

Russack says running a B&B and staging weddings requires a team.

“We are a big family here. We care. We’re here for everybody,” he says.

And if beach-loving B&B guests continue to venture to Highlands House, he dreams of expanding the concept to a second location.

The Tapas Wine Bar at Highlands House; The Seascape room (top right) and the Seashell room (bottom left) feature hand carved four-poster beds with fine linen and tons of natural light; A second floor balcony veranda (bottom right) is the perfect place for taking in the Gulf views.

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Hibiscus House is the Place to ‘Be’ Just a stroll from the sugar-sand beaches of Santa Rosa Beach, on a shady tree-lined street called DeFuniak, sits Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse. Covered in lush, leafy vines, it has 12 distinctly different accommodations nestled within a cluster of quaint spaces — the original main house, a cottage, a barn and converted mini-flats apartments — all furnished in an eclectic, casual homey feel.

Like many good things, Hibiscus — owned and operated by Stephanie Vantassell and her family — evolved over time.

The Old Florida-style house, which now houses the café, is the original building and home to four guest rooms — the Turner, Magnolia and Hibiscus rooms upstairs and the Art Deco room downstairs, which is pet friendly. Just across the courtyard is the Woodpecker Cottage.

It used to be a shed and was at one point a jewelry shop.

The oldest building is affectionately known as Bert’s Barn. As Vantassell tells it, it dates back to 1904 and was originally located down the street.

“Someone put an ad in the paper that said ‘Come and get it,’ and my uncle (Kurt Tape) did,” she says with a laugh.

Upstairs are the Tropical Bird and Romance Room — the most popular for brides and couples. Both suites have sofa sleepers, mini living areas and a shared kitchen. These two rooms, which feature “smart” TVs with access to the Internet and Netflix, are often rented together at a discount. And the most recent addition to the offerings here are called “the flats.” The front office is on the first floor and two one-bedroom apartments, or flats, are above.

Equally as laid-back and welcoming as Hibiscus House is its innkeeper, who relishes the opportunity to work in hospitality and for her family.

“This was not my aspiration, but I am unbelievably excited,” Vantassell says.

“It’s all about the people. You get to meet all walks of life in this job.”

Though it’s sometimes hard for her to carve out personal time running a B&B that is open daily, the meditative vibe of Hibiscus seems to be a ground wire for Vantassell. At the start of each day, as the coffee and herbal tea are brewing, she chalks a word on the sign that hangs out front that conveys the spirit of the B&B. 84 February–March 2015

Courtesy Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse

Historic B&Bs along the EC

What started as an inspirational thought for the day has become a tradition known as the “Be word” — as in “Be happy,” “Be thoughtful,” “Be grateful” and so on.

And now, guests anticipate it.

“Sometimes people call me from out of town and ask me what the word is, just because they want to know,” she says. “It’s become so popular, it’s spurred a life of its own, so we started putting it on our Facebook page, too.”

Vantassell is proud of promoting her B&B using new media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. Hibiscus House is marketed as an alternative to traditional vacation stays at resorts and hotels in the area.

“If folks are wanting to get away from the busy tourist scene in Destin and Panama City, this is like an escape to Grandma’s house,” Vantassell says. The off-the-beaten-path positioning is catching on with celebrity types looking to fly below the radar, too.

“We are getting a lot of musicians and songwriters with the 30A Songwriters Festival.

We are cool with them, so they can come here and be incognito,” she says.

Another draw for a niche market attracted to the beatnik 30A scene is the Hibiscus House Café, which is 100 percent organic, locally sourced and all vegetarian. It is open to the public for breakfast daily from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“We make everything homemade and fresh every day,” Vantassell says.

If you want to feel relaxed, this is definitely the place to “be.”

Bert’s Barn (top) is one of Hibiscus House’s storied buildings that dates back to the turn of the century; The Backyard of Love (above) has been transformed from a wood into a garden perfect for intimate weddings, special events and live entertainment.

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(Clockwise) The Old Florida room in Bert’s Barn is a throw back to South Florida circa 1930s; Flat No. 3 (top right and bottom) is a roomy, private, pet friendly one-bedroom apartment suite; The Art Deco room at Hibiscus House features a lovely screened in porch with a view of the garden.

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(Clockwise) Guests can warm by the fire in the library at Aunt Martha’s; A breakfast made from old family recipes is served daily in the formal dining room; Guest rooms have private baths, water views and loads of Southern charm; Large windows keep the sunroom filled with Florida sunshine.

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Historic B&Bs along the EC

B&Bs Along the Emerald Coast Aunt Martha’s is a Living Legacy Though built just 15 years ago, the romantic, Old Florida-style Aunt Martha’s B&B has the ambiance of a time from days gone by. Martha Jo Garvie (for whom Aunt Martha’s is named) would know: Her grandparents, Theo and Molly Staff, owned and operated Fort Walton Beach’s first hotel, the Gulf View (now the headquarters for the Emerald Coast Junior League).

They also built the first restaurant in town, Staff’s, which recently closed after celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Garvie grew up helping in the hotel and the family garden that surrounded it. Sometimes she helped her grandmother make cheese and butter — luxury byproducts from the family’s cow. Helping with the weekly wash wasn’t so bad, because her father was the proud owner of the first wooden washer in Fort Walton Beach.

“I was born in 1941. When I grew up here, there were only about 90 people in town, so you had to be resourceful.

We all helped. Everyone had a part,” she says.

When her husband, Bill Garvie, retired from the FBI, the family property owned waterfront property, but it was zoned for commercial use. They had five kids and 16 grandchildren, so a big, roomy house that they could operate as a B&B was the plan.

“If things didn’t work out, we figured we had plenty of family to fill it,” Martha says.

But things did work out, and 2015 marks the 16th year the couple has been in the B&B business.

“We took a chance, and we love it.

It’s a little bit of heaven. It’s real peaceful and quiet,” she says.

Aunt Martha’s welcomes guests into a library warmed by a cozy fireplace.

Adjoining the library is a living room and sunroom with generous floor-to-

ceiling windows that invite in the Florida sunshine. French doors open onto a sweeping veranda that overlooks Santa Rosa Sound.

Pocket doors in the dining room enclose it, creating an intimate dinner space. A winding staircase takes you to the second floor to five unique rooms, each beautifully decorated with a touch of Aunt Martha’s Southern charm.

Aunt Martha’s rooms have Southerninspired names such as Ivy, Rose and Blue Bonnet. Bill wanted to name them after Civil War battles, but Martha talked him out of it.

“I didn’t think that was a very good idea,” she says.

If you come to Aunt Martha’s, come hungry. She sets a formal table and serves a full breakfast that usually includes traditional Southern egg, ham and cheese grits; stuffed French toast with bananas and walnuts; and some fresh fruit cobbler.

The Garvies have never advertised, but once their guests find them, they often return for frequent visits. Two families travel together each year in June to enjoy the Billy Bowlegs festivities.

“They probably have been coming for 10 years or so now. They have parties and cookouts. Their kids have grown up here,” Garvie says.

Over the years, Garvie has seen Fort Walton Beach come a long way from the days of delivering the mail by boat.

For the most part, she is pleased with the development downtown.

“I think it’s great. My family has always been for progress. If it’s done correctly, it can’t do anything but help,” she says.

But history has a place, too, and Aunt Martha’s has helped keep the legacy of her family alive. She says most people love to hear about the “old days” in Fort Walton Beach. And she’s glad to remember them by recording their names in her guest book. ec

Aunt Martha’s 315 Shell Ave. SE Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-6702 auntmarthasbedandbreakfast.com 4 guest rooms Private bath, telephone, cable TV Water views Walk to historic downtown $105–$115 Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse 85 DeFuniak St. Santa Rosa Beach (850) 231-2733 hibiscusflorida.com 12 guest rooms Wi-Fi, Netflix, full kitchen, pet friendly (amenities vary per room) Walk to the beach $115–$285 Highlands House 4193 W. County Highway 30A Santa Rosa Beach (850) 267-0110 highlandshouse.com 7 guest rooms with private baths, four with Gulf view Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV Common balcony Private beach access $200–$250 Pensacola Victorian Bed & Breakfast 203 W. Gregory St. Pensacola (850) 434-2818 pensacolavictorian.com 4 guest rooms with private baths Wi-Fi, cable TV Walk to historic district, farmer’s market, shops, dining $95–$150

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As Hilton Sandestin Beach celebrates 30 amazing years and the debut of our transformation, we invite you to celebrate personal renewal at our award-winning Serenity by the sea Spa.

APPOINTMENTS

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O u r D e D i c at i O n t O D e ta i l S e t S u S a p a r t

Builder/ContraCtor 2011–2014

12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Suite 108 Miramar Beach, FL • 850.650.7539 • DKMCustomHomes.com 88 February–March 2015

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the good life Food + Travel + Hea lth + Home

eudaimonia*

Photo Courtesy of National Flight Academy

Flying Ambition

Participants enter the National Flight Academy across the brow and into our immersive Quarterdeck.

Authentic lights, sounds and even smells welcome the students onto the NFA’s landlocked aircraft carrier, the AMBITION (CVT-11).

Since it opened in May 2012, seventh- to 12th-graders who venture into NAS Pensacola’s Flight Academy program have gotten to live aboard the virtual aircraft carrier Ambition, where they experience aviationbased adventure that is revolutionizing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.

For six exhilarating days, curious-minded students get the rare chance to experience an immersive, aviation-based story — or mission — that weaves STEM objectives developed with the University of West Florida with important 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork and communication. One session is $1,250 per student, and scholarships are awarded each year to qualifying students. What a way to lift off a young person’s imagination. For more information visit nationalfl ightacademy.com. — Zandra Wolfgram

*happiness is ...

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going places

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Destination: Great Exuma About a 40-minute flight from George Town, Bahamas

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Sandals EXUMA’S EMERALD BAY ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT OFFERS LUXURY, ADVENTURE — AND SWIMMING PIGS!

Photos Courtesy Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Resort & Spa

i

By Jack Macaleavy

magine streaking across the crystal-clear Caribbean water in a 35-foot cigarette-style boat with three, 300-horsepower engines. You are just off the coast of Great Exuma and rounding one of the Out Islands into a secluded cove. All of a sudden, six 200-pound pigs come running out of the underbrush straight into the water, swimming out to the boat 30 yards offshore. Jump in the water, and you’ll quickly be surrounded by these snorting friends looking to be fed the hot dogs and buns given to you by the boat captain of the Thunderball 007, named after the James Bond film shot in the area in the mid ’60s.

After 30 minutes of interaction, you’ll jet off to the next Out Island’s secluded beach. This time, dozens of one- to two-footlong prehistoric-looking iguanas come to the beach waiting for you to walk ashore and feed them grapes. Get close up and capture these unique images — and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

After a full day of ocean adventure, it’s back to the dock to return to the luxury of the Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Resort & Spa, Great Exuma, Bahamas.

Sandals Resorts have been the benchmark that all other allinclusive resort destinations have emulated since its first property opened in Montego Bay in 1981. Gordon “Butch” Steward, now chairman of Sandals Resorts International, had an idea

Enjoy one of three luxurious swimming pools at Sandals Emerald Bay, or take an excursion to interact with swimming pigs (left) or visit an island teeming with friendly iguanas.

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to create a destination where one would arrive and never have to deal with money or tips — while having a plethora of dining and entertainment options to choose from. This simple concept has allowed Sandals Resorts to grow to 15 properties.

The latest, Sandals LaSource Grenada, opened in December 2013.

One of the more recent new properties opened in 2010 after Sandals acquired the Four Seasons in Exuma, Bahamas. This 245-room property was quickly transitioned over to Sandals’ style and is the premiere destination on the very simple and undeveloped island in the Grand Bahama chain.

From the moment you arrive, their 600-person staff is focused on one objective — to make your experience personal and luxurious. There are 21 room categories — all with a view of the crystalclear waters of Emerald Bay. Many of the room categories come with an English-style butler service. An individual is assigned to unpack and pack your bags, attend to your wardrobe, serve you meals on your private terrace and provide 24-hour room service. Each room comes with a

fully stocked bar and refrigerator filled with beverages, mixers and water, and it’s restocked daily.

The linens are of the highest thread count, furniture is mahogany and the bathrooms are granite.

The resort offers seven dining options, highlighted by reservation-only French and Italian restaurants. From elegant to casual beachside dining under the stars, one will never lack for options and culinary experiences.

There are three pools, one with a swim-up bar, six tennis courts with complimentary lessons each day and an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed course that runs along the oceanfront and is comparable to California’s Pebble Beach. Guests can enjoy a complimentary round of golf each day.

Exuma is a very easy journey, but a world away from North Florida. Fly American Airlines to Miami then 55 minutes to Exuma — all for around $500 round trip. Now is your chance to experience this very remote island the Sandals way before big development arrives. For more information about the resort and reservations, visit sandals.com or call (888) SANDALS. ec

(Above) Relax in the crystal-clear Caribbean waters off the appropriately named Palm Island. Coastal views are part of the resort’s Greg Norman-designed golf course (facing page top). As one of Sandals’ all-inclusive resorts (bottom right), the Exuma property offers guests golf (middle right) and a wide variety of dining options (bottom far right), as part of their package of amenities and activities.

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Photos Courtesy Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Resort & Spa

going places

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mind + body

Moroccan Gold

Expensive, Yes. But Smooth, Shiny, Strong Tresses Make Argan Oil Worth the Price

very so often, a product comes along that revolutionizes how we care for our hair, making it faster, easier — or even possible — to maintain a salon style at home. The blow dryer. Hot rollers. The flat iron.

And now … argan oil.

This light-as-a-feather oil is hailed by many as a miracle — taming flyaways and cutting drying time — while also giving all hair types additional strength, smoothness and shine.

“If (someone) has fine hair a lot of times fine hair doesn’t have enough body,” explained Rhonda Davis, spa director at Serenity by the sea Spa. “A particular argan oil product can give fine hair lift and volume. People who have thick, coarse or wavy and curly hair, would also have benefits from argan oil because it can repair frizzy hair, damage and split ends. It gives hair hydration.”

While it may be new-to-you, argan oil has actually been around for centuries, used for hair and skin care as well as cooking in Morocco, the center of the world’s argan oil production.

The oil comes from the olive-like fruit of the argan tree, which grows in the arid land of southern Morocco and has a most interesting backstory.

A quick search on YouTube shows amazing videos of goats climbing the trees to eat the fruit. Historically, the nuts would be harvested from the goat’s dung, but it is now collected by women who take off the outer husk, open the almond-like shells by cracking them on a rock and then grind the inner 94 February–March 2015

kernels with a primitive stone wheel to release the oil.

Because of the recent boom in argan oil’s popularity, Moroccan women have joined together to create cooperatives, which can purchase equipment to extract the oil in a much less labor-intensive manner. It has also preserved argan trees from being cut down for development, since the oil is a valuable commodity.

Pure Morrocan oil is expensive (poppyaustin.com sells a two-ounce bottle online for $25), but only a few drops are needed to treat a full head of hair. Many products on the market now mix the oil with extenders or in other hair care products such as shampoo and conditioner.

Davis said that at Serenity, they decided to incorporate argan oil into their repertoire with the Moroccanoil brand — an extremely popular professional line. A personal advocate as well as a professional one, Davis is a huge fan of this seemingly one-sizefits-all product.

“Moroccanoil gives me volume,” enthused Davis. “It gives my hair hydration. (My hair) is really shiny and blow-dry’s exactly how I want it to blow-dry. It makes my hair very manageable as well as healthy looking and feeling.”

As with any oil-based product, though, a little can go a long, long way. “Too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing,” reminded Gretchen Leslie, master stylist and cosmetologist with Shores Salon in Destin. ec

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

Matt Burke

e

By Rosanne Dunkelberger and Chay D. Baxley

Just a drop of argan oil will add luster to your locks.

The Tradition Continues.

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Barbara Long rolls with it on 30A.

Balance for Life Avoiding Falls is Key to Staying Healthy for Seniors By Laura Bradley

Jacqueline Ward Images

i

’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

While the famous line and the cheesy production values of this infamous television commercial might be funny to some, the issue it addresses is very serious — and, at times, fatal.

Falls are no laughing matter for senior citizens; they are the sixth leading cause of death among older people, taking more lives than diabetes. For many, the fall itself isn’t what proves to be life threatening, but the aftermath. Balance problems tend to arise after the age of 75, and falling can lead to months of being bedridden after an injury.

“A hip fracture is particularly dangerous because it’s a major fracture and will always require surgery to repair it,” explains Dr. Kenneth Brummel-Smith, Charlotte Edwards Maguire professor and chair of Florida State University’s Department of Geriatrics.

Hip surgery itself has many risks, and the prolonged bed rest afterward poses another serious threat: pneumonia. The long period of inactivity also weakens muscles, increasing the risk of a future fall. Other dangers include kidney damage from broken down muscle tissue and pressure sores.

Even those who fall and suffer no injuries tend to see a lasting effect — a heightened fear of falling in the future. This fear can be paralyzing, often causing seniors with previously active, healthy lifestyles to greatly reduce their activity levels to prevent another fall. Brummel-Smith points out that this is a counterproductive action

that weakens muscles, actually increasing the risk of falling.

Active living communities are one option for seniors who feel daunted by living alone, where a fall can mean days of being unable to move to get help.

David Kerns, who lives at the Westminster Oaks community, suffered a fall in September 2011. Ninety-four years old at the time, he was walking home from working in the garage. Carrying two heavy bags, one per hand, he stopped to get the mail.

But after bending over to put down the bags, he lost his balance and fell forward onto his left arm, hitting it so hard that he bent the top of his humerus.

He quickly called an emergency nurse who works in an adjacent building who brought him up for evaluation and sent

him to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. In the following days, Kerns was checked into Westminster Oaks’s Health Center, where he stayed for about a month as he recovered with the help of physical and occupational therapy sessions.

Since his fall, Kerns still goes for walks and works in the garage like he used to, but now he makes sure to plan ahead so that people know where he is going. The support he feels from the community formed between residents and staff at Westminster Oaks has been invaluable in recovering from his fall. “There’s just all kinds of people that will help you along,” he says.

“You’re thankful … that somebody’s going to take good care of you.”

Over the years, increased awareness about the dangers of falling has led many to

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look into how to build and maintain good balance to secure their safety and independence. Don Rapp, a local balance expert and author of “Become Your Own Balance Coach,” a kinetic arts balance manual, urges that it is never too early to start thinking about balance: “You can start any time; even a little bit is better than nothing.”

Rapp’s approach to balance is to start simple and work up. His exercises might seem very simple; it might not immediately seem important to be able to balance a ruler across one finger, but Rapp stresses that the systems behind that simple trick are also the systems that allow us to stand and walk properly.

Balance is a combination of primarily three tools: our vision, our vestibular system and our somatosensory system.

Vision allows us to see and position ourselves relative to our surroundings; the vestibular system (generally based in the inner ear) tells us at what angles our body is positioned; and our somatosensory system tells us where our body parts are positioned in space and in what formations they are.

As vision deteriorates with age, the other two systems are forced to compensate. Rapp’s approach is to control and exercise the systems we are able to train. “The thing to do before you lose your eyes,” he explains, “is to get the somatosensory system and the inner ear up to top functioning before you lose that so there can be an integration.”

In addition to balance exercises, Rapp stresses the importance of an active lifestyle and the avoidance of being sedentary for long periods of time. Even if your physical fitness is not great or you are afraid of putting stress on your body, there are plenty of lower-impact exercises that improve balance.

“One (exercise) that’s been studied a lot is tai chi, where you’re moving really slow and you have to force yourself to balance. Those maintain those complicated neurologic interconnections so they decrease the falls,” Brummel-Smith suggests. Lifestyle changes don’t have to be major — even minor adjustments such as sitting on an exercise ball or even standing for some periods of time instead of sitting in a desk chair can make a difference.

There are several ways to see if your balance is not where it needs to be. Brummel-Smith explains that one of the best ways is to use the “Get Up and Go” test. Start seated in a regular chair and time yourself. Stand up without using your hands, then walk at a normal pace for about 30 feet. Turn around and come back, sitting down without using your hands. This should take about 15 seconds. “If a person can’t get out of the chair without using their hands, and if they can’t make it that fast they’re at a high risk for falls,” says Brummel-Smith.

Another simpler test that Rapp suggests to determine how much you rely on your vision for balance, is to stand up straight and tall and close your eyes. If you start to wobble or feel unstable, your balance is too dependent on your eyesight.

Seniors who feel unsure about their balance might also benefit from a cane, which can provide another base of support if used correctly. Canes purchased at drugstores or retail stores are often adjustable, so it is important to remember to test and adjust the length so that the cane works properly. Brummel-Smith instructs that it is also important to remember to carry the cane on the side of the good leg, not the bad leg.

Although it might seem trivial, footwear is also very im-

BALANCE TIPS

DIY Balance Exercises For sharpening your system » Balance a ruler on four fingers, then three, then two, then one. » Roll a newspaper into a cone and balance it on your fingers. » Roll a newspaper into a baton and pass it around your body with your eyes closed. » Make an alligator mouth with your arms, with your top hand holding a tennis ball. Bring your top hand down and your bottom hand up, handing off the ball as they switch places. Then start tossing the ball from hand to hand as the arms cross, giving the ball air time.

scott holstein

portant. Seniors should choose good shoes that have good traction. Running shoes and shoes with knobby soles are best avoided in favor of smoother soles. Good shoes not only provide grip for stability but also support improved posture.

Another way to reduce the likelihood of falling is to make small changes in living spaces. Good lighting, a floor free of wires, rugs and loose items, securely nailed down thresholds and an elimination of clutter can make a huge difference. Another thing to consider is that pets tend to get underfoot and can pose a risk.

Regardless of strength and preparation, accidents still happen. After a fall it is crucial to listen to the body. If anything peculiar happens during or after the fall, including loss of sensation in the feet or inability to determine their position, unconsciousness or tremors, Brummel-Smith says it is important to see a doctor even if there was no injury. He also suggests reviewing current medications, because many medications such as anti-depressants, tranquilizers and sleeping pills affect the brain and can harm balance. ec

For strengthening your system » Stand at attention, spine straight, shoulders back and relaxed, neck extended toward the ceiling and look straight ahead. » Stand up from a chair and sit back down. Repeat. » Put a can of food or soup in a plastic bag, hook it over your foot and extend your leg while sitting down.

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DEAL Estate

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Go to emeraldcoastmagazine.com for REAL ESTATE listings

WaterSound Origins

Nature-Based Recreation is the Just the Beginning of the Resort-Inspired Amenities in this 30A Community By Zandra Wolfgram

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Photos Courtesy The St. Joe Company

T

he St. Joe Company is Northwest Florida’s largest real estate developer known for “placemaking” — creating premier commercial properties and thoughtful residential communities.

One of the company’s biggest successes is likely The WaterColor Inn & Resort, designed by the Rockwell Group, which landed the 30A boutique jewel box on Travel + Leisure magazine’s “Top 100 Resorts in the World.”

With WaterSound Origins, St. Joe Company has seamlessly melded the amenities of an upscale boutique hotel experience with a family-friendly neighborhood oozing a distinct sense of place. The result? One of the most sought-after residential communities on the north side of 30A, nestled on the pristine shores of Lake Powell.

Like many communities along the WaterSound Origins owners are able to homeownership here play unlimited golf is about a lifestyle at Origins Golf Club centered around and (right top); Yoga class (right bottom) within the area’s abunjust one of many dant nature. And with fitness activities offered by St. Joe amenities and services Club & Resorts. provided by St. Joe Club & Resorts, such as a resort-style pool, gracious green lawns, nature trails, golf dining and water sports galore, WaterSound offers a taste of the good life … and then some.

Homebuyers in WaterSound Origins can choose from nine home layouts offering three to four bedrooms, ranging from 1,750 to 3,134 square feet and priced from the high $300,000s on up. Whether you like a single or two-story, you can customize your home with any number of upgrades from something as basic as flooring up to a private pool and outdoor fireplace.

With proven local builders like Huff and Romair listed as the preferred builders,

Outdoor Living at its Finest Deep Water Kelly Plantation

John Cook

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850.582.0874

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Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

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Destin, FL 32541

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Now you can have the custom pool you’ve always wanted and the lifestyle you’ve earned.

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DEAL Estate

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We have all of your real estate needs covered:

Photos Courtesy The St. Joe Company

Real Estate Sales & Marketing Voted “Finest” Agent on the Emerald Coast 2014 Innovative Marketing Strategies Effective Negotiation Skills Luxury & Waterfront Specialist

buyers are assured of a quality home built to last. In fact, one of the Huff The Village Commons is homes has already garnered industry located in the heart attention as both a “Best in Class” as of Origins and provides a central part of the Building Industry Awards gathering place full of Okaloosa and Walton counties of amenities for and as a recipient of a 2014 Parade owners; Origins’ spacious homes are of Homes Realtors’ Choice Award ideally suited for from the Emerald Coast Association entertaining family of Realtors (ECAR). The home, and friends. starting at $418,000, boasts 1,925 square feet of living space including three bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet. Located in the heart of the WaterSound Origins community, the home is convenient to a number of outdoor activities, from kayaks on Lake Powell and picnics with the family in neighborhood parks to scenic bike and nature trails throughout the community.

“We are delighted one of our homes has received this ECAR award,” said Huff Homes founder Chandler Huff.

“This is one of the fastest-growing communities in South Walton, attracting families and couples looking for high-quality homes nestled in natural surroundings. Our WaterSound Origins homes offer plenty of porch space at the front and back and generous living rooms for family gatherings.”

Near to championship golf courses, designer shopping and some of the best dining on the coast, as its name suggests, WaterSound Origins is well positioned to give owners who set down roots a great start on a well-planned life. ec

Jodi Ketchersid, J.D., Realtor/Owner 4014 Commons Drive, Suite 100, Destin, FL 32541 850.424.3094 · RealJoyProperties.com William L. Ketchersid, Esq., LL.M., Tax 1241 Airport Road, Suite H, Destin, FL 32541 850.837.5507 · flaattorney.com 2013

WARD & KETCHERSID P.A. W

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DEAL Estate

just sold

Interior Transformation, Great Location Make the Sale at WaterSound

By Rosanne Dunkelberger

HIRE A LICENSED REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL

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Beachy Beach Real Estate

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hile it boasts an expansive 3,536 square feet of interior living space, this WaterSound Beach beauty makes spectacular use of the outdoor environment.

The design of this corner residence creates the feel of a sanctuary with the main living areas and bedrooms all opening to and surrounded by porches and decks. A design 9 South Watch Tower Lane highlight is the home’s open-air watchtower, which offers a commanding view of the Gulf of Mexico.

Quick Look The buyers were attracted to List price: $2,249,000 the home’s location within one Sold price: $2,050,000 of 30A’s premier communities Square feet: 3,536 and its proximity to the Gulf of Bedrooms: 5 Mexico, said listing agent HilContact: Hilary Farnum, ary Farnum. The property had Broker/Owner, Beachy been on the market a while and, Beach Real Estate hilary@beachybeach.com at Farnum’s urging, the sellers (850) 231-3060 remodeled and updated, which added to the home’s allure and led to the sale.

The total interior transformation for the home, built in 2007, included new furnishings, all-new paint throughout including cabinets, lighting, bedding and more in a clean, coastal palette of calming beach hues. Upgrades that added to the home’s character, style and functionality include hardwood flooring, tabby shell fireplace, outdoor grilling area, high-end appliances, beautiful granites, two new AC units, an elevator shaft and more.

Each of the home’s five bedrooms has a private bath. The master retreat enjoys its own private porch with two sets of double French doors and a luxurious master bath. A nautically themed, kid-friendly guest bedroom features fun, custom, rope-hung bunk beds. For guests, there’s a one-bedroom carriage house with living room, kitchenette and private bath and balcony.

Plus, the new owners will enjoy all the resort amenities and upscale enticements of WaterSound Beach, a private, gated, Gulf-front community on 30A. ec

Real Joy Properties

DEAL Estate

just listed

15200 Emerald Coast Parkway, Unit 805, Destin

A Jewel on the Emerald Coast

By Rebecca Padgett

W

hen you envision your perfect home it is likely a dwelling that represents relaxation, comfort and beauty. A view of emerald waters and sugar-white sand beaches doesn’t hurt either. On the eighth floor of St. Maarten at Silver Shells, a condominium that embodies all of your dream home’s assets awaits you.

This 2,008-square-foot unit offers an open floor plan with sweeping views of the Gulf from all angles. The entire space has been recently renovated and fully decorated in a very tasteful design. The center of the home provides a fully functioning kitchen with custom-made cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.

There is plenty of room for you and your guests with three bedrooms and three full bathrooms.

The living room, dining room, kitchen and private master bedroom Quick Look all have sliding doors and balcony List Price: $1,000,000 access that provide a nice seaside Square Feet: 2,008 breeze at any time of the day.

Bedrooms: 3 The 279-square-foot balcony is Bathrooms: 3 definitely a major selling point. “It Contact: Jodi Ketchersid offers additional dining space and is jlketchersid@gmail.com the perfect place to enjoy a cup of and Richard Eckert coffee in the morning or a cocktail richard@eckert.com at sunset,” said realtor Jodi KetcherRealtors, (850) 582-0874 sid of Real Joy Properties.

Other amenities include a utility room, a foyer and private elevator access. By living at Silver Shells you will also gain access to a full-service spa, indoor/outdoor pools, tennis and basketball courts and gated security.

If you were to ever pull yourself away from the magnificent views at your balcony, attractions such as the beautiful Henderson State Park is located directly east of Silver Shells. A Ruth’s Chris Steak House is also located directly on site. If you decide to leave your condominium, your reserved parking space will be right there waiting for you on your return.“This property is perfect for use as a rental investment, second home or full-time residence,” said Ketchersid.

With enchanting views, cozy furnishings and a plethora of amenities, this condominium is the epitome of coastal living. ec EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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ms. grow-it-all

What’s Your Composting Style?

With Scientific Precision or a Free-Form Approach, We All Can Make Our Own Dirt

By Audrey Post

Q: I like the idea of composting — using kitchen and yard scraps to improve the soil while reducing the waste stream from my home — but I really have no idea how to get started.

I read some articles online that made me wonder whether I have the time and space, much less the scientific knowledge, to devote to composting. Is composting as complicated as it sounds, or is there an easier way?

A: While composting can be complicated, it doesn’t have to be.

You can be precise about the size of your compost pile and make it 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, creating 3- to 4-inch layers of nitrogenheavy organic material alternating with carbon-heavy materials, giving it just the right amount of water to keep it moist but not soggy and turning it at prescribed intervals to keep it “cooking.”

Or you can toss your kitchen and yard waste into a pile and pretty much ignore it. Both piles will decompose eventually and create compost. The only difference is how long it will take.

When I first attempted composting many years ago, a wellmeaning but persnickety neighbor told me I was doing it all wrong — that my pile wasn’t big enough to generate the required heat for composting and my green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon) layers were of unequal sizes, further thwarting the process. He made composting sound as complex as rocket science, and I decided that I had taken on more than I could handle and abandoned my composting project.

Literally.

I walked away and didn’t check it again for several months, which was when I discovered that my old “substandard” pile of eggs shells, vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, grass clippings and leaves was in the process of rotting quite nicely. I have to admit I felt vindicated, but the bigger lesson I learned was that while chemistry-class composting might be the ideal, less formulaic efforts should also be encouraged. Every little bit helps, as long as you follow one basic rule: Plant material only — no meat and no fats, or you’ll create a rancid odor and attract all sorts of unwanted visitors to your compost pile.

Your pile will create compost faster if you have a good mix of “green” material, nitrogen-rich materials such as grass clippings and vegetable trimmings, and “brown” material, such as fallen leaves, sawdust and soil. They can be mixed together or separated into layers, but the key is to have both. If you have only one or the other, the pile will still rot, but it will take a lot longer. If you’re not in a hurry, it doesn’t matter.

You can also use manure as a “brown” material, but make sure it’s from livestock such as cows, horses, goats, sheep, pigs or chickens, which eat grains and vegetables. Avoid dog and cat feces. Because

they eat meat, their waste is not suitable for use as fertilizer or compost material.

Composting can be as simple or as You can confine your compost in any complicated as number of structures — including a bin made you want it to be.

Just do it, advises of wooden pallets, a circle of hardware cloth Ms. Grow-It-All. or chicken wire, a commercial compost bin or tumbler, or a 5-gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage — but it will decompose faster if it’s enclosed. It also decomposes faster if the material is in smaller pieces, no larger than 2 or 3 inches, and the pile is kept moist. The bacterial and fungal activity within the pile creates heat, and stirring the pile every couple of days keeps the bacteria and fungi fed and the pile hot, so the material breaks down faster. It’s ready to use when it has a loose, crumbly texture like soil and an earthy smell. ec

© 2014–2015 Postscript Publishing, all rights reserved. Audrey Post is a certified Advanced Master Gardener volunteer with the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Leon County. Email her at Questions@MsGrowItAll.com or visit her website at msgrowitall.com. Ms. Grow-It-All® is a registered trademark of Postscript Publishing.

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GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT HIRE A STATE-LICENSED PROFESSIONAL

Verify state licenses at www.MyFloridaLicense.com Air-Conditioning Contractors | Asbestos Contractors and Consultants | Athlete Agents | Auctioneers | Barbers Building Code Administrators and Inspectors | Building Contractors | CertiďŹ ed Public Accountants Community Association Managers | Cosmetologists | Electrical and Alarm Contractors Employee Leasing Companies | General Contractors | Geologists | Harbor Pilots Home Inspectors | Landscape Architects | Mechanical Contractors | Mold-Related Services Plumbers | Pool Contractors | Real Estate Appraisers | Real Estate Brokers | Real Estate Sales Associates Residential Contractors | Roofers | Sheet Metal Contractors | Talent Agencies Veterinarians | Yacht and Ship Brokers and Salespersons

Unlicensed activity is against the law.

Report unlicensed individuals to DBPR by calling the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at 1.866.532.1440, online or on the DBPR Mobile app.

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habitat

From the Runway to Your Hallway Many of fashion’s biggest stars are turning their sense of style to furniture, textiles, bedding and accessories for the home

f

ashionistas must be elated. Now they can tap their stiletto-heeled Jimmy Choos across an Isaac Mizrahi rug, curl up on a Calvin Klein sofa, fluff a Trina Turk pillow, toss a Ralph Lauren throw, and then sip a Bellini from a Giorgio Armani glass.

Rigid classicists may wrinkle their noses in disapproval as the blizzard of fashion brand names invades every corner of the house, but Emerald Coast interior designers are more broadminded. They point out that fashion designers’ great sense of style translates well into home furnishings, and that consumers drawn to fashion imagery may well end up with more sophisticated rooms.

“For a very long time, color and style trends have come from high-fashion runways, then transitioning to local designer racks and finally to home interiors,” says Lindsay Miller, a designer with Lovelace Interiors in Destin. “The difference is that so many high-profile designers now have their own home furnishings brands, and why shouldn’t they?

They set the trends, so I think that it’s only appropriate that they should design for the home as well.”

Jessica Faircloth of Lemongrass Interiors in Santa Rosa Beach agrees, with one minor point to ponder.

“Yes, there’s a direct link between fashion and interior design, and it can expand consumers’ visual vocabulary,” she says. “And good design is good design, no matter who does it. But let’s face it: How many of the fashion designers really design that chair or that bed? Most are actually tastemakers who approve or disapprove designs put in front of them. Look, is there anybody who believes that über-model and actress Sofia Vergara really designs clothing or coffee tables? Her name adds star power to products. It’s as simple as that. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s good business.”

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Florida Best-Sellers Fashion icon names that make it into many Florida homes include Diane von Furstenberg, Tommy Bahama, Trina Turk, Lilly Pulitzer, Betsey Johnson, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Oscar de la Renta.

“A lot our clients love Lilly Pulitzer’s designs for Lee Jofa Textiles,” Miller says. “They are so Florida, and people love the story of her ascent, from a juice stand in front of her husband’s citrus grove. She made a simple sleeveless, printed smock that would camouflage juice stains. It shot to stardom when her old schoolmate Jacqueline Kennedy was photographed in one while vacationing in Florida. Now Lilly was in the dress business, and it was inevitable that the dresses would eventually give birth to textiles. Recently I decorated a third-floor guest suite exclusively with her fabrics, and the result was so cheery and bright.”

California designer Trina Turk’s affection for vibrant color and print has made her home furnishings Florida favorites as well.

“Trina’s designs have a California vibe that’s beachy, but not too literal,” Faircloth says. “They suit Florida homes.

I have used tons of her textiles. Recently, I used one for window treatments in a client’s home. It so happened that the client had a Trina Turk dress in her closet. I liked that.”

To Russia with Love According to designers at the Tamarind Group in Miramar Beach, the everyday client isn’t typically familiar with brand names in home furnishings. In their experience only “avid fashionistas” know the top names. Those in the know might say, ‘I want that Donna Karan bed or that Oscar de la Renta sideboard.’ One Tamarind Group client ordered two of his homes furnished exclusively with Ralph Lauren designs,

Courtesy of Tuskers Home Store

By Lis King

Tommy Bahama’s Ivory Key line was inspired by the pastel homes, crisp whitewashed roofs and lush landscape of Bermuda.

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(Right, above) Every aspect of Tuskers signature outdoor collection was carefully designed using beautiful yet durable materials to hold up to Florida’s warm weather climate; (Right, below) Natural materials such as woven rattan, crushed bamboo, travertine and etched sea glass add character and authenticity to Tommy Bahama’s Ocean Club collection.

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Courtesy of Tuskers Home Store

from elegant desks to exquisite chandeliers. They happily obliged thinking ‘Who wouldn’t be happy to put the Ralph Lauren aesthetic to work in a St. Petersburg (Russia) mansion and a country dacha?’ They designed his rooms here in Florida and shipped it all to Russia.

Tommy Bahama, known for its beach-themed clothing and accessories, is a great Florida favorite, and that goes for the brand’s furniture collection for Lexington as well.

Tuskers Home Store in Miramar Beach sells a lot of the Tommy Bahama line, from dining rooms and case goods to sofas and coffee tables. It’s all enormously popular, according to store personnel, and Jessica Faircloth says that it’s the collection’s island vibe that appeals to Floridians. “Here we have a departure from the usual white and light-colored furniture we see so much around here,” she explains. “It has sort of a colonial Britain-in-the-tropics look.”

Teenage girls can get into the mode in their rooms, too. Betsey Johnson, known for her over-the-top clothing, recently introduced a bedding line featuring an exuberance of ruffles and skulls.

“Betsey Johnson’s admirers call it rad,” says Jill Pigg of Bed, Bath & Beyond in Destin. The store also carries bedding by fashion designers Kenneth Cole and Jill Sanders.

Courtesy of Tuskers Home Store

Courtesy of Tuskers Home Store

Courtesy of Tuskers Home Store

habitat

Courtesy of CALVIN KLEIN, INC.

(Top left) Twilight Bay makes a fresh design statement in this bedroom with French Laundry styling using washed linen, slipcovered tailoring and decorative nailhead trim; (Top right) Blending traditional elements like leather-wrapped bamboo and raffia accents; Tommy Bahama’s Ivory Key collection offers a spirited take on refined island living; (Below right) Washed linen, woven cotton, cashmere, alpaca and shearling add understated luxury to the Calvin Klein’s Chalet linen collection.

Viva Italia The Italians were the first players in the fashion-to-furniture trend. Firms such as Armani, Versace, Fendi, Gucci and Prada are represented at design centers, designer showrooms and online, so if you’re hungry for bit of la dolce vita, you might consider an Armani table or a Capellini chair. They can add welcome style to any room.

It’s not possible to talk about Italian fashion without mentioning Pucci. His prints are as adored today as they were in the 1960s, when they were a must for the ultra-fashion-conscious woman. Signor Pucci died in 1992, but today Capellini covers chairs in an Emilio Pucci collection in prints that are teaching the whole world to speak Italian.

Versace’s home collection is usually over the top in its extravagance and calls for palazzo surroundings, but the company’s dinnerware for Rosenthal could be a compromise for more modest digs. Featuring the Versace logo’s head of Medusa and gold, it can make any woman feel like an heiress.

Giorgio Armani’s furnishings are super-sleek and luxurious, but if the $20,000-plus price tag on one of his sofas floors you, there’s also a line of accessories, such as Murano vases, silk pillows, candles, pottery, flatware and linens.

So what’s next in fashion-furniture crossover strategies? Lemongrass Interiors’ Faircloth just might have the right idea.

“How about interior designers creating runway fashion?” she asks. “I, for one, am extremely interested in seeing what people like Kelly Wearstler, Barbara Barry and Jonathan Adler can do with fashion.

Kelly is already designing items like jewelry and scarves. I think that soon we’ll see a furniture-to-fashion trend, and nobody will find it the slightest bit strange.

I repeat: Good design is good design, no matter who does it.” ec

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Downsized Desserts Tastes trend toward smaller sweet treats that are still big on flavor By Alexia McKay and Rebekah Sanderlin

the desserts or the people eating them. But they’re great to look at, and almost anything can be turned into a miniature dessert.”

Becker is not alone in realizing that diners have started setting their sights small. Ordering whole cakes and pies for a birthday party or special event is becoming a thing of the past. Today, sweets lovers are asking chefs to make little versions of their favorite desserts.

Matt Burke

s

ometimes all we want is a bite — of everything.

Pastry chefs have noticed this, and lately they’ve tried to accommodate us by making tiny temptations out of practically any confection.

“Small desserts are definitely a trend,” says Chef Yasha Becker of the Hilton Sandestin Golf Beach Resort and Spa. “I’m not sure who is making the trend, the people making

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Matt Burke

flavor

Jacqueline Ward Images

“Unless it’s a sit-down dinner party, I’m trying to do smaller Holbrook says his clients love mini crème brûlées, which desserts,” says Christopher Holbrook, owner of Signature Cahe makes in about 80 different flavors and serves in 2-ounce tering of 30A. “And I could see this trend shot glasses. Crème brûlée flavors, such sticking around for a lifetime.” as key lime pie cheesecake, Death by Though diminutive desserts may seem Chocolate, triple chocolate brownie, lyto have come on the scene only in recent chee and ginger, raspberry white chocoyears, people have long savored teensy late Grand Marnier, Irish coffee, tiratreats. France, with its historically admisu and Bananas Foster are huge hits venturous culinary tradition, popularwith the people he serves. ized petit fours more than 200 years ago.

Becker also does several types of desA petit four — the name means “small serts in shot glasses because, he says, oven” because the bite-sized morsels people love seeing what’s in the dish. were originally baked in a smaller oven “I think it’s fun to take the classic next to the big one — is a small, often items and turn them into a bite-sized beautifully decorated, pastry. dessert,” Becker says. “A ‘s’mores gateau’ Vanessa Pock, owner of A Cupcakery or a tiramisu can be stretched in many by the Sea in Fort Walton Beach, says different directions, and you can’t get petit fours — as well as many other away from cupcakes or cake pops. Who types of scaled-down desserts — have can pass up food on a stick?”

Pastry Chef Yascha Becker of the Hilton been making a comeback.

The rising popularity of small desSandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa is the king of sweet treats. A few of his “Also, our French macarons are really serts is partly due to how much easier mini masterpiece creations pictured are popular, they’re bite sized,” Pock says. they are to eat. At events such as wedHazelnut Tiramisu with Salted Caramel, assorted Holiday truffles, macaroons, “I think people want to have that induldings and cocktail parties, where guests key lime chiffon cake, espresso pot au gence, have crème brûlée, a cupcake or are likely to be mingling and eating at crème and mini pumpkin pie. Miniature something, that satisfies sweet cravings. the same time, a small dessert is much Keylime pie, coffee ice cream and red velvet cake “shooters” (above) But they don’t want to have to buy a large more manageable than a large one. concocted by Christopher Holbrook with cake and have to eat it for four days just “With two-bite desserts, you look Signature Catering of 30A are bite size because they don’t want to throw it out.” good while you’re eating,” Holbrook indulgences with big impact.

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says. “You aren’t walking around with a big bowl of ice cream looking like a hog. It’s a more elegant dining experience.”

Brides and event planners now favor dessert bars at their events, featuring an assortment of small desserts such as mini cupcakes, larger cupcakes, French macarons, Linzer torte cookies and cake pops, Pock says.

“They’ll make a whole dessert table for a wedding reception,” Pock says. “It makes a pretty display and gives guests a big variety. They can have a cupcake, or a cookie or a French macaron. It’s just a variation.”

French macarons, which are not to be confused with your grandma’s macaroons, are a sweet, meringue-type sandwich cookie that only recently became popular here, Pock says, though they’ve long been popular in Europe. She says they can be stacked into a wedding cake shape as well, and they have the added benefit of being gluten-free.

Pock adds that brides are also moving away from large wedding cakes and embracing pull-apart cupcakes and mini cupcakes, iced to look like a large cake, and they’re doing it for reasons of convenience, cleanliness and cost.

“With cupcakes, they don’t need additional help for cake cutting or serving pieces, and they can have several varieties and layers,” she says. “They’re easy, convenient and easier to eat, and they’re a better value. You can have a hand-decorated cupcake for a lot less than a chunk of wedding cake.

A basic wedding cake is about $3.50 per slice, but it goes up

“I do not know of any golf resort or courses that compare to Burnt Pine.

Plus, when you live at Sandestin, the lifestyle choices are endless.”

-Gary Brown, Burnt Pine Advisory Board Chairman

Celebrating its 20th year, Burnt Pine Golf Club is the preeminent country club experience in all of Northwest Florida. Located on the grounds of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Burnt Pine is a classic Rees Jones design and has been deemed the “Crown Jewel of Florida Golf” by Golf Magazine.

Burnt Pine is visually-appealing as the 7,000-yard layout traverses pine forests, native wetlands and breathtaking views of Choctawhatchee Bay. In 2014, all 18 greens complexes were completely rebuilt, so now is the time to experience the finest conditioned golf course on the Emerald Coast.

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With six levels of membership, experiencing Burnt Pine has never been more affordable.

Contact Membership Sales at 850.267.8208 Email: info@theclubsofsandestin.com www.BurntPineGolfClub.com

to $8.50 or $9 a slice depending on the decoration. Our cupcakes are $3.95 — and they’re hand-decorated.”

Whether small-like cupcakes or mini-like cake pops, folks can stroll into their favorite bakery or eatery and find petite versions of their favorite desserts on the menu or displayed behind the glass cases.

“We have a large variety of mini desserts which are sold by the pound,” says Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens.

According to Stevens, downsized treats make up just over one-third of the dessert sales at Publix. Chocolate-dipped strawberries are one of the most popular, along with petit fours, mini éclairs, cream puffs, cannoli and bite-sized brownies.

Heather Johnson, marketing director for a 15-unit franchise of Applebee’s Bar and Grill, says the restaurant, like several other restaurant chains, acknowledged that guests “were craving just a little something sweet to top off their meal.” Now, for $2.29 each, diners can choose from three tasty shooters — strawberry cheesecake, chocolate mousse and hot fudge sundae.

“Delicious options like dessert shooters and brownie bites with ice cream for $1 are a huge hit with guests, because smaller portions with a lower price point make it The average diner easy to say yes,” Johnthese days is getting son says. away from more Coffee lovers can sugar and sweets. indulge in Starbucks’ There’s an overall food Petites, a line of mini revolution in America treats that includes cake pops, peanut right now. There is butter mini cupa food knowledge cakes and red velvet out there; people are whoopie cakes to go talking about what with their skinny vathey’re eating. Portion nilla latte.

Starbucks Petites sizes are getting build on the hot cusmaller. I think linary mini trend and people just want to be have been widely emhealthier in general.” braced by customers — Christopher Holbrook, owner as a delicious afterof Signature Catering of 30A noon treat.

It’s a trend that has even nutrition experts taking note. Though it’s rare to find a dietician who recommends frequently eating dessert, even the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s online Weight Management guide notes, “Some restaurants are serving small portions of desserts, which can help decrease calorie intake.”

A rising national awareness of nutrition and the popularity of calorie-counting smartphone apps likely also contribute to the public’s embrace of these dainty delights.

“The average diner these days is getting away from more sugar and sweets,” says Holbrook. There’s an overall food revolution in America right now. There is a food knowledge out there; people are talking about what they’re eating. Portion sizes are getting smaller. I think people just want to be healthier in general.”

But, wiser choices aside, the primary reason for eating little desserts will always be the same: People love sweets.

“They’re eye candy,” Becker says. “Everybody eats with their eyes first. Garnished on a plate or in a glass, they look so inviting, you just want to try them.” ec

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Past President Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

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Try This at Home

Key Lime Cheesecake Crème Brûlée

Recipe by Christopher Holbrook, Signature Catering of 30A “A perfect blend of all of our favorites. Rich and creamy crème brûlée, with a large chunk of New York cheesecake and Floridian key lime pie flavor.”

Ingredients: 24 extra large eggs 2 quarts heavy cream 2 14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk 3 oz. Licor 43 1.5 cups sugar 1.5 oz. vanilla bean paste 4 limes, zested and juiced 6 oz. Nellie & Joe’s Key West lime juice 6 pieces of cheesecake Directions: Prepare egg yolks by separating, making sure not to incorporate the whites. Heat the heavy cream in a pot until boiling. Add the lime juice and zest, vanilla bean paste, sugar and sweetened condensed milk to the yolks and then temper in the heavy cream — SLOWLY. Divide cheesecake among crème brûlée dishes. Add six ounces of brûlée mix to cheesecake. Bake in a water bath at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, rotate, and then bake another 10 to 15 minutes until set. Refrigerate immediately. Once cooled, wrap individually.

Top with a mixture of equal parts brown and white sugar, and finish by brûléeing the top with a culinary torch.

DestinDentist.com

850.654.8665 4635 Gulfstarr Drive, Destin, Florida 32541

PCBDentist.com 850.235.2299 309 Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach, Florida 32407

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we roll with the freshest Local Produce, Fresh Gulf Fish, Highest Quality Beef

18 Hibachi Tables | Sushi Bar Private Dining | Large Parties Welcome Happy Hour 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Open Daily for Lunch and Dinner Coming Soon to Pier Park in Panama City Beach!

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34745 Emerald Coast Parkway Destin, Florida 32541 | (850) 650-4688

dining Alys Beach

George’s at Alys Beach American. Seafood, burgers and sandwiches at the perfect beachy-casual spot. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. 30 Castle Harbour Dr., 850-641-0017. $$ L d

Blue Mountain Beach

Grecian Gardens Restaurant Mediterranean. Traditional Greek cuisine served in an open-air atmosphere perfect for special occasions or parties. Open daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

3375 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-3011. $$ L d

The Key The restaurants that appear in this guide are included as a service to readers and not as recommendations of the EC Magazine editorial department, except where noted. ★ B L d

Best of the Emerald Coast 2014 Winner Breakfast Lunch Dinner Outdoor Dining Live Music

$ $$

Inexpensive Moderately Expensive $$$ Expensive

2008 - Best Italian 2009 - Best Pizza 2010 - Best Pizza & Best Chef 2011 - Best Pizza, Best Italian & Best Chef 2012 - Best Italian 2013 - Best Pizza & Best Walton Restaurant 2014 - Best Pizza, Best Walton Restaurant & Best Chef

The original, award-winning wood-fired pizza and classical Italian cuisine

Marie's Bistro & Bar Mediterranean. Enjoy made-to-order seafood, steak, pasta as well as sushi in a casual atmosphere. Dine in, carry out, drive through and catering. Full bar. Serving lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Tues–Fri and dinner at 5 p.m. Tues–Sun. 2260 W. County Highway 30A, 850-278-6856. $$ L d Blue Mountain Beach Creamery Ice Cream. Homemade ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt treats. Open daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Cash only. 2129 S. County Highway 83, 850-278-6849. $$

Destin

AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar ★ Seafood. Choose from fresh local seafood, sandwiches, pasta, chicken or specialty dishes like the oysters Eugene or Rockefeller. Open daily 11 a.m.

116 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-1913. $$ L d

fatclemenzas.com 850.650.5980 Lunch M–F 11–2 · Dinner M–Sat 5–9 12273 US Hwy 98, Miramar Beach

Another Broken Egg café ★ Breakfast. Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open daily 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Mondays.

(Open Memorial and Labor days.) 979 E. Hwy. 98, Suite F, 850-650-0499. $ B Boathouse Oyster Bar Seafood. Discover Destin’s best-kept secret. Come here for ice cold beer, raw oysters, award-winning gumbo and a great view of the Destin Harbor, and leave with a signature T-shirt from the gift shop. Open daily 11 a.m.–2 a.m. 288 B Harbor Blvd., 850-837-3645. L d Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House ★ Seafood. Located on the beautiful Destin Harbor, this seafood spot will spoil you with spectacular sunsets, sensational Gulf-to-table Southern cuisine (including award-winning oysters!) and family-friendly service all in a fun, relaxed, casual atmosphere. Open daily at 11 a.m. 414 Harbor Blvd., Destin, 850-424-7406. $$ L d Callahan’s Restaurant & Deli ★ American. Voted Best Locally Owned Restaurant 2008–2014, Callahan’s serves up great sandwiches, seafood specials and prime rib. Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–10 p.m. 791 Harbor Blvd., 850-837-6328. $ L d CRAB ISLAND CANTINA Mexican. Latin-inspired Mexican cuisine in a casual waterfront dining atmosphere offering the best views of Destin Harbor. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.– 10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 2 Harbor Blvd., 850-424-7417. $$ L d Destin Ice Seafood Market & Deli ★ Gourmet Takeout. Everything you need for a fresh and delicious meal.

Choose from fresh fish and seafood items, pastas, salads and side dishes, Buckhead meats, decadent deserts and an assortment of wines, cheeses, spices and more. Open daily 8 a.m.–7 p.m. 663 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-837-8333. $$ L d Dewey Destin’s HarborSide ★ Seafood. One of Destin’s most popular restaurants serves up charm and award-winning seafood in a quaint house overlooking the scenic Destin Harbor. Open daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 202 Harbor Blvd., 850-837-7525. $$$ L d Dewey Destin Seafood Restaurant & Market ★ Seafood. True local charm in an outdoor setting and some of the freshest seafood around. Open 11 a.m.– 8 p.m. 9 Calhoun Ave., 850-837-7575. $$ B L d

Magnolia Grill Fort Walton Beach Tom & Peggy Rice, Proprietors 157 Brooks Street SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 850.302.0266 • www.magnoliagrillfwb.com Bridal Luncheons • Rehearsal Dinners • Unique Receptions

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TASTE THE MODERN SIDE OF MEXICAN CUISINE

on the menu

Sip the finest margarita Savor fresh seafood, enchiladas and more with sauces made from scratch Join us for drinks, dinner, lunch or Sunday brunch

Café Cabana’s BarbeCue Nachos

It’s winter. Time to fill your belly with warm goodness. Here are just a few fabulous, filling bites we have enjoyed on local menus around the Emerald Coast.

Snack Café Cabana, Destin

Tantalize those taste buds with a unique spin on an old favorite. Café Cabana’s BarbeCue Nachos come towering with barbecue sauce-infused pulled pork and dripping with the restaurant’s homemade cheese sauce — all poured over a batch of light, airy corn chips. They’re a unique concoction sure to satisfy all those who order them. $10.99

Lunch Sitting in the sun sipping champagne and nibbling a buttery croissant as boats bob up and down in the bay, you can almost imagine you are in a Parisian café along the Seine.

Everything is good here, but the Basqué Omelette with tomato, onion, pepper and cheese is très magnifique and may just have you sighing, “We’ll always have the Bay Cafe!” $10

new Pollo Mango Mole

GRAND BOULEVARD

Sandestin 850.654.5649 cantinalaredo.com

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Dinner George’s, Alys Beach

When invited to either “behave” or “misbehave” in a restaurant, either way you go, you know you are in for a tasty adventure at George’s in Alys Beach. We thought being naughty tasted quite nice when we tucked into Senõra Anna’s Fish Tacos. We chose grilled and they came topped with lime cabbage slaw, poblano lime tarter sauce and a side of cilantro rice and black beans. $21

Photo courtesy Whitney Ladwig/ProffiTT PR

Bay Café, Fort Walton Beach

dining

Graffiti Italian. Traditional Italian favorites and house specialties like seafood pizza.

Mon–Thu 5–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 5–10 p.m. 707 E. Hwy. 98, 850-654-2764. $$ d Harbor Docks ★ American. A local’s favorite, this family-owned and operated surf-andturf restaurant overlooking the Destin Harbor offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and the best sushi on the Emerald Coast. Open daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m.

538 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-2506. $$ B L d HARRY T’S ★ Seafood. Lounge on the beautiful patio and watch the passing boats as you enjoy an endless variety of delicious dishes. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–10 p.m. 46 Harbor Blvd., 850-654-4800. $$ B L d Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi Seafood. Fresh seafood, sushi, salad, sandwiches and more served in a casual atmosphere overlooking the Destin harbor. Enjoy live music and Sunday brunch. Open daily from 11 a.m. Sunday brunch at 10 a.m. 56 Harbor Blvd, HarborWalk Village. 850-424-3507. $$ L d Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q ★ Barbecue. Southern smokehouse barbecue. Beer and wine. Open daily 11 a.m. 14073 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-351-1991. $ L d Johnny O’Quigley’s American. Award-winning steak, seafood and barbecue in one of Destin’s favorite sports bars. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–midnight, Fri–Sun 11 a.m.–1 a.m, Double Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3–6 p.m. and 10 p.m.–close. 34940 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-837-1015. $ L d Margaritaville American. Escape to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville for island-inspired food, fun and the “it’s five o’clock somewhere” mentality. Open daily from 11 a.m.

76 Harbor Blvd., HarborWalk Village. 850-460-7700. $$ L d

Marina Café American. Gourmet pizzas, Creole and American cuisine. Open daily 5–10 p.m. 404 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-7960. $$ d Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano Italian. Mimmo’s is the new hot spot in Destin for authentic Italian dishes bursting with flavor and color. Enjoy happy hour at the full bar serving authentic Italian cocktails. Catering available. Open Mon–Fri 11 a.m–10 p.m., Sat–Sun 5–10 p.m. 979 Highway 98, Suite 5, 850-460-7353. $$ L d Osaka ★ Japanese. Known for its sushi but serves a variety of dishes, including chicken, steak and seafood. Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Dinner 5–10:30 p.m.

34845 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-4688 or 850-650-4689. $$ L d Pepito’s ★ Mexican. Voted Best Mexican on the Emerald Coast, locals love Pepito’s for its authentic Mexican cuisine and mouthwatering margaritas. Happy Hour specials all day Mondays, including small rocks margaritas and all beer and well drinks for $1.99. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 757 E. Hwy. 98, 850-650-7734. $$ L d Ruth’s Chris Steak House ★ Steak and Seafood. New Orleans-inspired appetizers, desserts and award-winning wines. Mon–Sat 5:30–10 p.m., Sun 5:30–9 p.m. Silver Shells Resort. 1500 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-337-5108. $$$ d Sarah k’s gourmet Gourmet Takeout. Chef-crafted, ready-to-heat cuisine. Jumbo lump crab cakes and fresh chicken salad are the house specialties. Open at 11 a.m.

34940 Hwy. 98, 850-269-0044. $ L d Tuscany Italian Bistro Italian. Northern Italian cuisine featuring choice meats, fresh seafood and garden vegetables. Tues–Sun 4 p.m.–close. 36178 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-2451. $$ d

Fort Walton Beach

Aegean Restaurant ★ Greek. Savor the flavors of the Mediterranean at this authentic Greek restaurant. Mon–Sat 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. 1259 Eglin Pkwy., Shalimar, 850-613-6120. $$ L d EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

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a taste for ... in a recipe for kale chips. Rahim suggested using the teas when cooking rice or noodles to provide some extra Ingredients flavor. He even went on 10 ounces cut kale to say that you could rip leaves (stems and open the tea bag and use stalks removed) it as seasoning on meat 2 tablespoons olive oil or fish.

6 tea bags Numi “What’s great about Organics Carrot Curry them is that they have Savory Tea a complex depth of 1 teaspoon salt flavor from unique spice 1 teaspoon pepper combinations and tea, but they aren’t salty

or oily like traditional Wash kale leaves and air dry (for best broth or stock. This results leaves need to makes it easy to add be completely dry). flavor to your dishes Combine kale, olive while still retaining oil, salt, pepper and control over the sodium contents of tea bags in and oil content of your a large bowl; mix well. cooking,” Rahim says.

Evenly spread kale on a baking sheet. Bake at But developing 325° for 10 min (or until flavors like beet chips are toasted). cabbage, broccoli cilantro, carrot curry, spinach chive and tomato mint was not an easy task. Rahim had never worked with the ingredients he used for these teas, so there was a lot of experimenting. However he had the help of his mother to provide complexity and depth to the new flavors.

She helped Rahim create a unique line of teas inspired by dishes from around the world. Still he faced another difficulty.

Because Numi teas prides itself on only having real, organic, dried ingredients Organic Tea Company has a New Line of Savory Sips in the Bag from partners who met Numi’s labor and social responsibility standards, Rahim had to search for a supplier that met hen thinking of tea, thoughts of delightful concoctions of berries or herbs that Numi’s requirements. you add sugar or milk to come to mind, but all of those thoughts are about to The savory line of Numi Organic Teas is change now that Numi Organic Tea has introduced a new way to sip with its line sold only at select stores on the Emerald of savory teas.

Coast such as Publix and Fresh Market.

Continuing with Numi’s tradition of introducing teas uncommon to the United States, But never fear. Numi’s teas can easily be co-founder, CEO and chief alchemist Ahmed Rahim and his sister, Reem, decided to shipped to you if you order them online. introduce a line of teas to their California-based company that taste better with salt Typically, one 12-count box sells for $7.99 rather than sugar. on Numi’s website, with shipping that Rahim had the idea more than 10 years ago, but he knew that this product would need can cost anywhere between $4.95 and the right kind of market. When juicing and veganism became a popular part of American $28.95, depending on how fast you want culture, he knew it was time to release his savory sips. it delivered.

“It’s an exciting new tea ritual that can be used for many occasions — a snack They offer a garden sampler that allows alternative, a satiation experience, an ingredient in recipes or an addition to a cleanse. you to taste each flavor and decide The possibilities seem endless, and I love hearing new ideas from our customers about which one you like best. Fennel spice has how they’re using it,” says Rahim. become Rahim’s favorite flavor. What’s Once Numi Organic Tea’s line of savory teas was released, a number of recipes using the yours? — Janie Harris teas as ingredients to make other dishes surfaced. Carrot curry tea even made an appearance

Numi Organic Tea

Carrot Curry Kale Chips

A New Take on Tea

W

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dining Benjarong Thai Cuisine & BBQ Thai and Barbecue. Barbecue, chicken, ribs, steak and spicy Thai food. Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 251 Mary Esther Blvd., 850-362-0290. $$ L d The Black Pearl Steak and Seafood. Dig into some coconut shrimp and a juicy steak while enjoying a lovely view of the Gulf. Located in The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Open daily 4 p.m. 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy., 850-833-3016. $$ d

& Classic Italian & Wood-Fired Pizza Lunch & Dinner Monday through Saturday

European Breakfast Saturdays & Sundays

Bon Appetit French Bakery & Café ★ French. Delicious made from scratch French pastries, croissants and crusty breads. Soup, salads and sandwiches served 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Mon–Fri, Sat 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Sun. 420 Mary Esther Cutoff.

850-244-2848.

Buffalo’s Reef Famous Wings ★ American. This restaurant is famous for hot wings and cold beer.

Ask about the daily specials. Tue–Sat open at 10:30 a.m., Sun open at noon. 116 Eglin Pkwy., 850-243-9463. $ L d Clemenza’s Uptown ★ Italian. Award-winning classic Italian cuisine and wood-fired pizza.

Parties, special events and private dining. Full-service bar and espresso bar. Open Mon-Fri for lunch, Mon-Sat for dinner. 75 Eglin Pkwy. 850-243-0707. $$ B L d

Magnolia Grill Steak, Seafood and Italian. Steak, seafood, pasta, soups, salads and desserts. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Dinner Mon–Sat, open at 5 p.m.

Closed Sun. 157 SE Brooks St., 850-302-0266. $$ L d Mama Clemenza’s European Breakfast ★ European. This award-winning breakfast is culinary perfection. Enjoy a diverse menu of authentic Old World family recipes. Sat 8 a.m.–noon, Sun 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Clemenza’s Uptown, 75 Eglin Pkwy. 850-243-0707. $$ B Pandora’s Steak and Seafood. Early evening specials weekdays 5–6 p.m. Happy Hour weekdays 5–7 p.m. Weekdays 5–10 p.m. Weekends 5–11 p.m., 1226 Santa Rosa Blvd., 850-244-8669. $$$ d Pranzo Italian Ristorante Italian. The Montalto family has been serving classic and contemporary Italian cuisine in Fort Walton Beach for nearly 30 years.

Dinner Mon–Sat, 5 p.m. 1222 Santa Rosa Blvd., 850-244-9955. $ d

&

The Tradition Continues (850) 243-0707 • 75 Eglin Parkway, Fort Walton Beach

Clemenza’s

Helen Back Pizza. The world’s finest hand-tossed pizza and cold beer in a sports bar atmosphere. Locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview and Valparaiso. Open daily 11 a.m.–4 a.m. 114 Amberjack Dr., 850-796-1451. $Ld

Mama Clemenza’s European Breakfast

Lunch: Monday to Friday 11am to 2pm Dinner: Monday to Friday 5pm to 9pm, Saturday 5pm to 9:30pm

Breakfast Saturday 8-12pm Sunday 8-1pm

850•243•0707 99 Eglin Pkwy Ste 126 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Uptown Station

Sealand Steak and Seafood. Serving American cuisine as well as Thai offerings in a homey atmosphere. Lunch Sun 11 a.m. until. Dinner Tues–Sat from 4:30 p.m. 47 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy., 850-244-0044. $$$ B d

Grayton Beach

Another Broken Egg café ★ Breakfast. Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Mondays. (Open Memorial and Labor days.) 51 Grayton Uptown Cir., 850-231-7835. $ B Pandora’s Steak and Seafood. Warm, traditional steakhouse with early evening specials. Weekdays 5–10 p.m. Weekends 5–11 p.m. 63 DeFuniak St., 850-231-4102. $$ d Picolo’s restaurant Seafood. Dine on delicious fresh seafood while listening to live music. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. 70 Hotz Ave., 850-231-1008. $$ L d Red Bar ★ American. A favorite among locals, visitors and celebrities and a mustvisit when in Grayton Beach. Kick back on the funky furniture and listen to live music while enjoying great food and cocktails — especially the award-winning Bloody Mary. Breakfast 7–10:30 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner 5–10 p.m. Bar open 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight. Cash or check only, no credit cards. 70 Hotz Ave., 850-231-1008. $$ B L d

Best Wings 2010–2014

Ft. Walton Beach’s Favorite Wings Since 1990!

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dining Trattoria Borago Italian. Enjoy a balsamic-laced pork tenderloin or pan-seared grouper from the open kitchen. Open 6 p.m. daily. 80 E. Hwy. 30A, Grayton Beach, 850-231-9167. $$ d

Miramar Beach

Aegean Restaurant ★ Greek. Sip an ouzo at the beautiful stone bar before savoring the flavors of the Mediterranean at this authentic Greek restaurant.

Breakfast 8–11 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Dinner 4–9 p.m. 11225 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-460-2728. $$ B L d

rbor

...on the ha

ing uneiqnuues Featurh nig tly m

Another Broken Egg Café ★ Breakfast. Award-winning breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open daily from 7 a.m.– 3 p.m. Two Sandestin locations: On the Bay (next to the LeCiel at Sandestin) and in The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, (in the Village) 850-622-2050. $ B Bijoux Restaurant & Spirits ★ Steak and Seafood. Fine dining coastal cuisine with a New Orleans flair, offering the freshest Gulf seafood, prime steaks and an extensive award-winning wine list. Indoor, outdoor and private dining available.

Open daily, 4–10 p.m. The Market Shops, 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy West, Suite 22, Miramar Beach. 850-622-0760. $$$ d Cantina Laredo ★ Mexican. Boasting a contemporary décor and fiery flavor, the new addition to Grand Boulevard offers gourmet twists on Mexican favorites. Save room for dessert, and check out the Sunday brunch. Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 585 Grand Blvd., 850-654-5649. $$ B L d

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 2010-2014 BEST GUMBO 2014 BEST GROUPER SANDWICH 2013

Outdoor Seating Full Bar Lunch menu available 11AM-3PM Open at 11AM • Closing hours vary by season 202 Harbor Blvd., Destin • 837-7525

Elephant Walk ★ American. Enjoy attentive service, excellent continental cuisine, a dynamic wine list and panoramic views of the Gulf. Serving lunch seasonally and dinner daily 5–10 p.m. Beachside at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., 850-267-4800. $$$ L d Fat Clemenza’s ★ Italian. Feel like part of the family as you enjoy homemade classical Italian cuisine. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Dinner Mon–Wed 5–9:30 p.m., Thu–Sat 5–10 p.m. Holiday Plaza/Hwy. 98, 850-650-5980. $$ L d Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar ★ Steak. This award-winning restaurant offers prime steaks, chops, chicken, seafood, fresh salads and a variety of unique sides and desserts served in a comfortable but elegant atmosphere. Featuring 100 wines by the glass. Open Mon–Thu 5–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 5–11 p.m., Sun 4–9 p.m. 600 Grand Blvd., 850-269-0830. $$ d

bo • Gum

Sandwiches • Steame d Seafood • Fried Seafood Baskets

...overlooking Crab Island

John Wehner’s Village Door Bayfront Restaurant & Nightclub ★ American. Rock your evening with dinner and dancing on the best dance floor on the Emerald Coast. Village Door Smokehouse with seating on deck overlooking the bay serving barbecue and seafood daily 5–9 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 126 Fisherman’s Cove.

850-502-4590. $ d Marina Bar and Grill American. Seafood, po-boys, burgers, salads overlooking the Baytowne Marina and Choctawhatchee Bay. You catch ’em we cook ’em service. Open daily 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Breakfast Sat–Sun 8–11 a.m. Kitchen closed Mon–Tue. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., 850-267-7778. $ B L d Marlin Grill ★ Steak and Seafood. Fresh seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers served inside or outside. Open nightly at 5 p.m. Village of Baytowne Wharf, 850-351-1990. $$$ L d

Open 7 days a week • 11AM -‘Til 9 Calhoun Ave., Destin • 837-7575 BOATERS WELCOME! 126 February–March 2015

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P.F. Chang’s China Bistro ★ Asian. Sample crunchy lettuce wraps or Chinese favorites like Kung Pao Chicken in a chic atmosphere. Open Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 10640 Grand Blvd., 850-269-1806. $$ L d Pepito’s ★ Mexican. Voted Best Mexican on the Emerald Coast. Authentic Mexican cuisine, delicious margaritas and weekly specials. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 11225 Hwy 98, 850-269-7788. $$ L d

EC MagazinE

works for us “Through EC Magazine, we can reach people who care about the food they eat as well as restaurant owners and chefs that care about the food they feed people.”

Eddie Morgan, Owner, Harbor Docks/ Harbor Docks Seafood Market, EC Magazine advertiser since 2011

Harbor Docks Seafood Market is locally owned and famous for its fresh Gulf seafood. Through its advertising in EC Magazine it has gained a loyal local following, as well as a steady business from tourists. While the advertisements inform potential customers about the quality seafood available at Harbor Docks, they also promote the businesses that serve their seafood. During three years of advertising, Harbor Docks has remained foremost in the minds of readers because

EMERALDCOASTMAgAzinE.COM (850) 878-0554

of EC Magazine’s emphasis on promoting local business.

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dining Poppy’s Seafood Factory Seafood. Enjoy fresh seafood, steak and poultry dishes with a view of the bay. Open 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Village of Baytowne Wharf, 850-351-1996. $$$ L d Royal Orchid ★ Thai. Escape to Thailand at this authentic Thai restaurant. Sink into a traditional sunken table surrounded by pillows or dine American style at a table or booth. Thu–Tue 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Closed Wed. 11275 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-2555. $$ L d Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood ★ Steak and Seafood. Premium steak, fresh seafood and caviar. Open 6 p.m. daily. Hilton Sandestin. 4000 S. Sandestin Blvd., 850-622-1500. $$$ d Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant & Bar Caribbean. Get a taste of the islands with jerk spices, fresh fish and the best desserts on the coast as voted by readers of Emerald Coast Magazine. Open Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight.

525 Grand Blvd., 850-654-1743. $$ L d Vin’Tij Wine Boutique & Bistro American. Traditional favorites and unique house dishes. Open daily 11 a.m.–midnight. 10859 W. Emerald Coast Pkwy., Suite 103, 850-650-9820. $ L d

to freshly-made premium ice cream AND

Niceville/Valparaiso

Compass Rose Restaurant and Bar Caribbean. Waterfront dining overlooking Tom’s Bayou. The cuisine is coastal with a Caribbean-West Indies flair. Enjoy Happy Hour, daily specials and Sunday brunch. Tue–Thur 11 a.m.–9 p.m.,Fri 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat 4–10 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 303 Glen Ave., 850-389-2125. $$ L d Be

ea st F rozen Tr

4655 Gulfstarr Drive, Destin | 850-269-2920 | brusters.com

t

One 20 A Modern Bistro American. Modern American cuisine specializing in seafood, steaks and local fresh produce. Lunch Tue–Fri 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner Tue–Sat 5–9 p.m., Brunch Sun 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Closed Monday. 120 Partin Drive N., Niceville, 850-729-2120. $$ B L d Pepito’s ★ Mexican. Locals love the authentic Mexican cuisine, margaritas and all-day Monday Happy Hour special. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

4585 E. Hwy 20, Suite 100, Niceville, 850-279-4949. $$ L d TradeWinds Italian. A cozy favorite among locals serving heaping portions from old family recipes. Enjoy a number of pasta variations as well as seafood, chicken, veal, steak and thin crust pizza. Expansive wine and beer list.

Reservations required. Open Tue–Sat 5 p.m. 205 Government St., 850-678-8299. $$ d

Santa Rosa Beach

Basmati’s Asian Cuisine & Sushi Asian. Asian dishes and full sushi bar. Open 4 p.m. daily. 3295 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-3028. $$ d Café Bolo ★ American. Gourmet coffee, sandwiches, soups, pastries and cakes on beautiful Scenic 30A. Open daily from 7 a.m. 4368 County Road 30A, 850-267-2060 $ B L

Ken Harrison

REALTOR®, Licensed Real Estate Agent (850) 714-3037 ken.harrison@kw.com bestbeaches.kwrealty.com 36008 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin, FL

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Café Tango American. Seafood, poultry and pasta served with specialty sauces.

Homemade desserts. Open Tue–Sun 5–10 p.m. 14 Vicki St., 850-267-0054. $$$ d Fish Out of Water Restaurant Continental. Southern coastal cuisine with an Asian flair: tuna, crab cakes, shrimp and scallops. 5:30–10 p.m. daily. Located in the WaterColor Inn, 850-534-5050. $$$ d Louis Louis American. The only thing that isn’t over the top at Louis Louis is the menu pricing. The Moulin Rouge-inspired interior décor is outrageously wonderful. Dine outside or in. The menu has six tasty items, including crab cakes, panned chicken, blackened fish and a few pastas. Mon– Sun 5–10 p.m. 35 Mussett Bayou Rd., 850-267-1500. $ d

The Marigny ★ Creole. Enjoy authentic New Orleans-style cooking inside at linen covered tables or poolside on the covered patio lounge. Serving lunch and dinner daily 11 a.m.– 9 p.m. Enjoy the bar until midnight. 306 Bald Eagle Drive, 850-622-9101. $ L d VKI Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar Asian. Using the freshest ingredients this Japanese gem serves up tasty Hibachi-style stir-fry meals of steak, seafood and chicken prepared at your table as well as artfully prepared sashimi and sushi rolls. Open daily. Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner 4:30–9:30 p.m.

4552 Highway 98, Santa Rosa Beach, 850-267-2555. $$ L d Vue on 30a American. Seafood, beef, poultry, lamb, veal, pastas, soups and bisques. Open Tues–Fri 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Wed–Sat 5–9 p.m.

4801 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-2305. $$ L d

Seaside & Seagrove Beach

Angelina’s Pizza & Pasta Italian. Authentic homemade pizza pie and Italian dishes in a casual atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily: 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. 4005 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-2500. $ L d Bud & Alley’s Restaurant Seafood. A pioneer of farm- and sea-to-table dining serving fresh seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. Famous bell ringing tradition with Happy Hour specials daily at sunset overlooking the Gulf. Open 11:30 a.m. Mon–Fri. Roof bar open 11:30 p.m.–2 a.m. in summer.

2236 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-5900. $$$ L d Café Thirty-A Seafood. Seafood, lamb, duck, filet mignon and pizza. Open daily 5 p.m. 3899 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-2166. $$ d Crush American. Crush features an extensive wine menu, sushi and small plates. Open daily for lunch and dinner, noon–10 p.m. 25 Central Sq., 850-468-0703. $$ L d Great SOuthern Café Southern. Jim Shirley serves up Southern comfort food with a twist.

Open daily for breakfast 8–11 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m., dinner 4–11:30 p.m. 83 Central Sq., 850-231-7327. $$ B L d La Botana Tapas. Small plates of Latin-inspired cuisine served in a casual but elegant atmosphere. Wine bar. Lunch and dinner Mon–Fri 4–11 p.m., Sat–Sun 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 4281 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-0716. $$ L d La Cocina Mexican Grill & Bar Mexican. Traditional Tex-Mex with a coastal twist. Open daily 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. Bar open until 10 p.m. 10343 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-4021. $$ L d Old Florida Fish House and Bar Seafood. Rustic seafood restaurant featuring a new take on old seafood favorites. Full bar. Dinner daily 5 p.m. 5235 Hwy. 30A, 850-534-3045. $$ d V Seagrove Restaurant Seafood. Chef David Cunningham serves up fresh seafood and produce that is locally sourced in a resort casual atmosphere. Open Tue–Sat at 6 p.m. Closed Sundays. 2743 E. County Highway 30A, Seagrove, 850-468-0973. $$$ d Seagrove Village Market Café Steak and Seafood. Enjoy surf-and-turf and a glass of wine, then shop for gifts and souvenirs in the adjacent gift shop. Open 10:30 a.m.– 8:30 p.m. daily. 3004 S. County Rd. 395, 850-231-5736. $$ L d The Pizza Bar at Bud & Alley’s Italian. Savor artisan cheese, fresh salads, antipasto dishes, homemade soups, seasonal vegetables, hearty pastas and homemade wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. Experience these authentic flavors family-style in the courtyard, fire-side at the bar, and on the veranda overlooking the Gulf.

Open daily from 11 a.m. 2236 E. County Road 30A, Seaside. 850-231-3113. $$ L d The Taco Bar at Bud & Alley’s Mexican. Shake the sand off your feet, choose a colorful table and get ready to experience South-of-the-Border favorites —Florida style. Baja fish tacos, home-made guacamole, burritos, top shelf margaritas, and ice-cold cerveza. Open daily from 11 a.m.(in season) 2236 E. Country Road 30A, ec Seaside. 850-231-4781. $$ L d EmeraldCoastMagazine.com February–March 2015

129

the last word

Good Weight

h

undreds came to the produce vendors along U.S. Highway 98 during the vegetable and fruit harvest season. There, in the open air under a pleasant Destin fall sun, they chose their string beans one at a time.

Mom was no exception. I enjoyed carrying her purchases while she went through her shopping ritual.

For Mom, the height of the harvest season in Florida was the first Saturday in October, and we never missed that special day. The crowds around produce stands were always larger than normal because merchants celebrated the plethora of produce by lowering their prices.

Along 98 throughout Okaloosa and Walton counties, farm goods were sold off trucks, racks, tables and pickups that arrived in the dark of the morning. All produce was on display and ready for the first customers by 6:30.

Mom was born and reared in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and her entire early life was spent growing and selling produce from her family’s farm. She knew more about produce than any other person I ever met.

Mom always walked around and examined the displays first before making her purchases.

130 February–March 2015

She had patience — the patience of Biblical Job. If she had any problems on her mind on our way to the market, they faded away as soon as she mingled around produce stands.

Her face was a mobile display of happiness. She loved the decision-making process that produce gave her.

People were constantly walking around the displays. It was common to see a truck bed of goods with a crowd eight or 10 deep admiring the peppers, sorting the corn and gratefully filling the merchant’s money apron with fresh green city lettuce.

Mom and I moved around the cornucopia arena looking at the plums, red onions, yellow crookneck squash, cantaloupes and cucumbers.

“These are burpless cucumbers, lady,” a merchant said.

Mom nodded.

We walked along.

“How much are the potatoes?” someone asked.

“Five pounds for 60 cents.”

“Peaches?”

“Three pounds for 90.”

“Are they freestones?”

The merchant smiled with a nod. “No charge for the pits.”

“How much are the tomatoes?”

“Three pounds for 75 cents.

The price is right there on the sign.”

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

Mom finally stopped, took a bag from the stack near the scales, shook it open, handed it to me and reached toward the peaches.

A woman’s voice came from the other side of the scales.

“Venver the eggs laid?”

“Yesterday.”

“Koh you eat dum raw?”

Mom and I looked across the peaches and craned our necks around the scales to see who would eat raw eggs.

She was a big-framed woman, although short, with silver hair and quick eyes.

“You sure can eat them raw if you want to, ma’am,” the merchant said.

I squinted my eyes and wrinkled my nose at the thought.

Mom looked at me, hunched her shoulders, looked back at the peaches and started examining them.

I was mesmerized by the selling; the coins and bills, the all-day touching of hands.

“How much these weigh?” a man asked. “I need 3 pounds.”

“That’s maybe 2¼ pounds you’ve got there.”

“Weigh them, please,” the man asked.

“There it is. Two and a quarter pounds.”

“Take the quarter out,” the man said. “I’ll just take 2 pounds, then.”

The merchant finishes the

transaction and turns to another customer.

“Those melons are on special, ma’am. Three for a dollar.”

A bill changed hands.

The merchant counted out four ones, then a five, “and ten makes twenty.”

“I gave you a ten-dollar bill, not a twenty,” the customer said.

The merchant bowed slightly and looked with gentle sensitivity at the white-haired lady.

“Thanks very much. You’re very nice,” he said.

“What do you mean I’m very nice? I gave you a ten-dollar bill.

Why does that make me nice?”

“I just meant to say that I’m glad you corrected me. I would have been short,” he said. “I guarantee the melons.”

The elderly lady took her sack and looked compassionately at the merchant.

“We all work hard for our money. There’s no need to cheat anyone. Is there?”

She walked away.

By late morning, years of tradition were followed when the merchants took their breaks to stretch their legs. They walked around and sampled each other’s produce.

Mom truly liked people, especially those at roadside produce displays where a lot of hands touch, and you went away knowing you got good weight. ec

Illustration by Rebecca Sumerall

By Elvin C. Bell

Gulf Place 169 Emerald Ridge

$1,295,000 4 Bedrooms | 4.5 Baths | 3741 Sq. Ft. Golf Course | Gulf Views

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904-314-5210

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