6 minute read
Firefly
Firefly’s New Chef Brings the Best to the Gulf Coast
STORY COURTESY OF RESORT COLLECTION PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FIREFLY
Patrons would be hard-pressed to find another restaurant in Panama City Beach with the same ambiance and dining experience of Firefly. Its motto is “casual fine dining,” but Firefly really is more than that. With the addition of the sushi bar and multiple private dining rooms, the restaurant brings something for everyone to the table. An evening in the main dining room underneath a beautiful, sprawling tree — complete with glistening lights and twinkling “fire-flies” in its branches — will make you fall in love with more than the delicious cuisine.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect romantic date destination, a fun night out with friends or family, or a private space to hold your next meeting or event, Firefly has something for everyone. It’s no wonder that Firefly is an eighttime Florida Trend Golden Spoon Award winner, has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 12 years running, and has been included in OpenTable.com’s “100 Most Romantic Restaurants” and Urbanspoon.com’s “Top 250 High-End Restaurants in the World.”
In November of 2019, Firefly welcomed executive chef Rob Burgess to its kitchen. Having studied and graduated from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school, his credentials and background speak for themselves. Being at a neighboring restaurant in Panama City Beach for seven years, joining the team at Firefly was a seamless transition. “I’ve always had tremendous respect for Dave and Firefly,” Burgess stated. “So when the stars finally aligned, I couldn’t pass up the chance to jump on board.”
When asked about the decision to hire Chef Rob, Firefly owner Dave Trepanier said he was the obvious choice. “I’ve been wanting to work with Rob for a long time,” he shared. “I’ve known what a great chef he is, and he has the best work ethic — always the first guy in in the morning and the last to leave at night. Rob is an outstanding chef, plus he’s a neat freak and particularly into cleanliness. He’s just one of those guys that if you get an opportunity to work with, you’ve just got to do it.”
From South Carolina, Burgess grew up on a small farm with his parents. “We raised horses, chickens, ducks — you name it we had it,” he shared. “Growing up, my mom was always in the kitchen. We always had a home-cooked meal every night. After high school when I wasn’t sure what I wanted
Rob Burgess, Executive Chef and Dave Trepanier, Owner
to do and left a nearby university after three years, it was natural to start cooking and go from there.”
Trepanier, attributes the success of his restaurant since it opened in 2007 to many things. “It’s easy to say the food makes Firefly special, but it really is so much more than that,” he says. “It’s the whole experience — the service, the atmosphere and the attention to detail.”
When asked about new dishes that can be expected to see on the menu, he credits the customers to the mix of food items. “Coming over to Firefly, there is a little different clientele,” Burgess said. “They are definitely much more adventurous eaters, which is very exciting for me. We will be implementing a few new sushi rolls to keep that fresh and lively, and some exciting items to the main menu. I like variety — which the Firefly menu is already full of. You can find seafood, pasta, sushi and steaks without it being cumbersome. I absolutely love cooking Italian food, but I do like variety. Keeping it fresh and not keeping it mundane is key.”
Like many other local businesses in Panama City Beach, Firefly was unfortunately damaged when Hurricane Michael made landfall in October of 2018. It was a devastating time for the famed restaurant, but Trepanier says it was the unknown that was the hardest part. “Not knowing when you can get a roofer to start, how is insurance going to work, and most importantly, how is my staff?” he explained. “There was zero communication for so long that I didn’t know who was safe, who lost their homes or who left the area. It was a very scary couple of weeks.”
The unfathomable wake of Hurricane Michael didn’t cause any hindrance on the excellent service, staff or cuisine you’d find at Firefly. “I have a great chef and great management,” Trepanier proclaimed. “We do our best to train them right and bring our team up to our standards to ensure our quality. At the end of the day, we just try to put good people on the floor and give our customers the best experience when they enter our doors.”
The 535 Library Lounge remains to be the perfect spot to cozy up with good friends and enjoy a drink while waiting for your table, or just catch up on the events of the week. The Firefly Bar has HD screens for watching the big game, and it’s a great place for grabbing an appetizer or enjoying a full meal in a more casual setting. The sushi bar serves creative, delicious handmade rolls that are sure to impress. Combine all these elements with a diverse menu and over 200 wines, and it’s easy to see why Firefly has become a favorite dining destination for both Panama City Beach locals and visitors.
Patrons can visit FireflyPCB.com to find Firefly’s Sunset Special menu, happy hour specials such as Tini Tuesdays, and weekly chef’s specials. Visitors to the site can explore all that Firefly has to offer, browse the restaurant’s menus and make reservations online — as the dining room is often full.
Any occasion is the perfect one for a visit to Firefly in Panama City Beach. From the moment you pass through the wooden front doors, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a cozy hideaway that has an air of je ne sais quoi — it’s difficult to pinpoint why, but you just know you’ve found someplace special. Chef Rob certainly feels like he has. “It is an honor to be the chef at Firefly,” he said. “We have a great team here, and we all work very well together. It is a pretty close-nit family. It’s nice to be able to come and enjoy being around the people you work with.”
Reservations are not required but strongly encouraged. Dress is casual. Visit FireflyPCB. com to learn more, view the menu or make a reservation.
All billfishing in Guatemala is catch and release
■ Lodging per double occupancy 5 days/4 nights
■ Greeting at airport and all transfers; return to airport
■ 3 full days of fishing with captain and mate
■ 4 anglers per boat with all equipment
■ A Guy Harvey gift package to include shirt and other items from their store
■ A Pacific Fins gift package upon arrival to room
■ Subscription to Guy Harvey Magazine
April 19–23, 2022 Total Cost: $5,300
■ Open bar private dinners (full a-la-carte menu) each night by Pacific Fins chef with Dr. Guy Harvey
■ Breakfast, hot lunch and snacks prepared fresh on board by Pacific Fins crew with soft drink/water beverages
■ During stay, Dr. Guy Harvey will paint an original piece of art to be auctioned off on the last night
■ Personalized signed print of Guy Harvey art
■ Sightseeing afternoon upon arrival and lunch at La Casa Del Ron
(Service tips not included)
For available expedition dates, contact browland@GuyHarvey.com
