Food for THought at D & K’s

Bert — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 15:52:50 +0000

Aren’t I lucky? I get to live in Paradise, and also eat in Paradise.

THere is an older dining establishment that has been given a facelift big time! This restaurant is located in the historic beach town of Grayton and sits almost directly across the street from the gorgeous emerald waters of the GUlf of Mexico. Prior to it’s facelift, I used to enjoy eating a fried grouper sandwich and drinking my southern favorite….”sweet ice tea”…..well, you would not believe the transformation that has taken place. When you drive into Grayton (very slowly as the locals require), you come upon a truly enjoyable site sitting on the corner. The old beach bar of D&K’s has transformed into the butterfly of the new D&K’s. As you walk up the stairs, you are enticed into a warm cocoon of vibrant colors, white linen table cloths, and soft candles glowing. The surroundings remind you immediately of a tiny hideaway in New Orleans.

You will taste the dishes of the local fare, such as grouper, crab and oysters, presented in a more sohpisticated manner than the old D&K’s. Wine is a must, and they seem to have a nice selection. I and my party enjoyed a nice bottle of Riesling with our seafood dishes.

Take some time out from you daily grind, and spend a quiet evening at D&K’s. The warmth will be enjoyable, especially during these chilly January evenings.

Over and out from Bert.

Have yourself a Merry Little Champagne Christmas

Shawn — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 22:55:04 +0000

As thoughts turn back to remember those loved ones who are no longer with us
and as we look forward to 2007 we need to toast Life and our good fortune.

My personal Favorite: Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin a French BRUT with just enough Dryness and a great after taste.

By the Way,

There will be a Champagne tasting Cocktail affair at Ceruleans on December 22nd if you want to have fun and delve into several different Champagnes.

Chow

Salsa, Sinfonia Gulf Coast and Wine

Bert — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 23:09:06 +0000

What a wonderful evening! Thursday the 7th of December, a special evening at Zampari’s in Destin with Demetrius Fuller conducting a Latin flavored small orchestra. The event was held to help raise money for the Sinfonia Gulf Coast (symphony redefined). And boy did it raise money! The salsa dancing and the great wine selection at Zampari’s were also a calling card for us. Sinfonia had two dance instructors available for those who were not quite familiar with the dance. I must say, that after a few Chardonnays, Cabernets and a couple of Mohitas, the crowd gathered on the dance floor in full force and were rather enjoying the “infectious” music.
I could hear a few women commenting on how they were going to start taking dance lessons.
When the band took a small break, there was a live auction with several interesting and expensive donations going to the highest bidder.
AS the bidding got hot and heavy, the wine bar also starting experiencing a run. Maybe it was all those husbands gulping their drinks hoping that it would mask the pain of the credit card crunch their wives were delivering. Who says that 50 plus is over the hill? If you were there, you would have thought that you were in South Beach……actually, the 30A beach is better.

Good news for Frenchie’s

Shawn — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:28:44 +0000

Turns out their Red wine is best for your Heart.

See the Full Article by clicking here

It’s the Port and I don’t mean Destin harbor

Shawn — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 02:16:06 +0000

I just had a great glass of port over at Ceruleans in WaterColor.
It is called Quinta do Crasto and could only get better if combined with a good Cigar according to Chuck who always looks for new vintages so things don’t get to dull .

Mixing it up as they say.

Santa Rosa Beach Club

Bert — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:43:08 +0000

Last night, during the wicked storm that passed through our area, I was extremely surprised to see that the Santa Rosa Beach Club located in Dune Allen Florida, had a parking lot that was overflowing with cars and spilling onto Scenic Hwy 30A. Had I not been exhausted, I would have joined the crowd for a glass of wine and caught the performance of David Seering (the piano man). This unique establishment on the beach, was formed years ago by retired military families who had a vision and love of the area, however I will have more of that later, but now about last night.

*”David Seering is a local entertainer/performer who has also performed at the inauguration festivities for President George W. Bush and performed, by invitation, for former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. David is the only authorized singer to use Frank Sinatra’s songs and image.”

Last night, November 15th, was the beginning of a bi-weekly performance that will be given by David at the Santa Rosa Beach Club, and as we understand, this will continue for the months of November and December. The Santa Rosa Golf and Beach CLub is semi-private. You may become a member and enjoy discounted rates for your dinner and drinks and preferred reservations and unlimited golfing, however, it is also open to the public with reservations highly suggested.

The bar is fun and fully stocked with a special wine list. The new Restaurant Manager is Patrick Barrilleaux, and he has an extensive knowledge of wines. If you arrive early enough to catch the sunset, you will not believe how spectacular a view it is from the dining room, which overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. On a warm evening, you may sit on the outside deck, have a glass of wine, and totally allow the magic of the Gulf of Mexico to fill your senses.

*Taken from the November 2006 issue of the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club newsletter

Ceruleans Wine Tasting

Shawn — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:16:32 +0000

We were over at Ceruleans in Watercolor the other night to hear some live music and Chuck was putting out his wine selections for the evening and asked what I would like to which I replied “a medium bodied red”
I did not care for the first selection at all which will happen every so often as we all have different tastes. Chuck proceeded to open three more bottles on the spot until we found an excellent red. In this case the most expensive bottle impressed me the most. Hmmmm.
What is that saying ” I am easy to please, the best always satisfies me”.

Very good service.

Sip, Savor and Tell All!

Bert — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:55:13 +0000

A little wine, a tasty tappas and good friends. What more could you want I ask? When I traveled to Italy, I was in awe of the romantic lifestyle I experienced around every corner of Rome, Florence and the countryside. The cute little cafes, the coffee shops and the groups of people chatting around tables at outdoor cafes would always become me. We can now enjoy and experience that same atmosphere in our little community on 30A without having to board a big 707 jetliner. One of the most inviting and relaxing spots where you can sit and view the enchanting community and people watching is called Café Rendezvous. During the late afternoon, you will find folks sitting at the outside café sipping one of the bold and full bodied Cabernets that the owners have skillfully and deliberately selected for our drinking experience. This romantic and European style place offers an interesting choice of fine wines either by the bottle or glass. Come join me in a toast to another beautiful day on 30A