Posted by Jill Gaupin
I have been eating out for breakfast quite a bit lately. I'm not typically a breakfast person but, part wanting to support local eateries and part research for SoWal Scene (I love my job!), breakfast is the one meal I can usually grab on the go during my busy week and it is relatively inexpensive so I don't break the bank while trying to keep the community updated on the whole food scene in South Walton.
And what has been my experience so far? Southerners sure know how to do breakfast for God sake! It's been blissful!
Here is a run down of a few spots I've happily eaten my breakfast at of late (you can read about my Bone brunch at JamBone here). I know - I know, there are many others to still try. Have no fear - I will continue to chronicle my food escapades on a new sister site I am launching called "The SoWal Spoon" in the next month so stay-tuned! And feel free to leave a comment about your favorite breakfast spot so I can add it to my list of must-try places.
The Caf - Southern Home Cooking located next to the Chevron Station at the intersection of Hwy 98 and 393 in Santa Rosa Beach
Want to know where construction workers and day laborers grab breakfast? One glance at the parking lot of this hole-in-the-wall tells you this is it in South Walton. I actually happened upon this joint by accident one recent morning when I had to fill up because my regular station, the Tom Thumb on Hwy 331, is undergoing renovations.
Right out of a seedy 1970s trucker movie, you mustn't let the shocking lack of maintenance of the building and space deter you from grabbing one of their best-deals-in-town breakfast biscuit sandwiches. I ordered the sausage, egg and cheese biscuit and it was as good of breakfast sandwich as I've ever had and at $2.63, it's the least expensive breakfast I've had in as long as I can remember. A substantial just-outta-the-oven fluffy biscuit with a pan fried egg, sausage patty and slice of cheese was served in a paper wrapper and was gone within minutes as I mumbled lots of "mmms" and "yums" under my breath. It wasn't greasy which is so often the case so I didn't feel like I needed to run to wash my hands and face.
The Caf serves breakfast 7 days a week starting at 630am on Monday - Friday, and 730am Saturday and Sunday. You can get your sandwich on a croissant as well and you can choose how you want yours constructed. Lunch is served from 11am-2:30pm and they offer up a few daily specials for just $5.00. I strangely wasn't able to find a phone number for either the Chevron or The Caf so you will just have to show up if you have a question - it's on the northeastern corner of the intersection of Hwy 98 and County Road 393.
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The Great Southern Cafe' | 83 Central Square in Seaside | 850-231-7327 | www.thegreatsoutherncafe.com
Olivier and I hit The Great Southern for brunch a few Sunday's ago. It was one of those perfect fall mornings meant to be enjoyed outside and we did just that by scoring a seat on the covered patio. The place was quickly filling - a good sign as neither Olivier nor I had ever been in for breakfast. We were pleasantly surprised to find the prices weren't through the roof like you might expect, either, it being Seaside and all.
I'll be honest - I had heard mixed things about Great Southern. I had eaten lunch there a while back and had a great meal. And I'm happy to report our breakfast this time around was outstanding - one of the best brunches, actually, we've eaten in South Walton yet.
We had a difficult time choosing from the extensive breakfast and lunch menu. Eggs Sardou? Fried Green Tomatoes Benedict? Frittata? Biscuits and Gravy? Olivier couldn't resist the Beignets ($9) which are the French answer to donuts - fried pieces of sweet dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. They were piping hot, not at all greasy, and absolutely delish.
For our entree, we both couldn't resist the Hash. I settled on Corned Beef Hash ($10), Olivier went for the Grilled Chicken Hash ($9). Both are house-made and served benedict-style over an english muffin with a (organic) poached egg and Hollandaise; and served with a side of their famous smoked Gouda cheese Grits. The portions were H.U.G.E. and both dishes were prepared spot on. The hash was not too salty, the Hollandaise was light and buttery, the muffin toasted perfectly. Just marvelous tastes and I've craved them both since. We were so full from the Beignets and Hash that we only could muster a few bites of the grits but wow, they were good, too.
The Great Southern Cafe' is open for breakfast (8am-11am), lunch (11-5pm) and dinner (5pm till ?) seven days a week.
Hibiscus Vegetarian Breakfast Cafe | 85 Defuniak Steet, Grayton Beach | (850) 231-2733 | www.hibiscusflorida.com
Hibiscus is definitely a South Walton gem, a local's best kept secret, and a SoWal Scene Readers Favorite (Hibiscus was voted Best Breakfast in South Walton). It's a slice of Old Florida, a reminder of how life was in days long gone, a place you can escape to for a hug from owner Cheri Pebbles, a smile and a "mornin'" from your neighbor, a few minutes of solitude and quiet before the hustle and bustle of your day takes over. I ♥ Hibiscus.
I usually am at Hibiscus for tea but have heard so much about their Old Fashioned Oatmeal ($7.00 and served with Love) that I had to give it a try. A vegetarian cafe, don't think for a minute you can't be truly satisfied without a side of bacon or sausage. My oatmeal became both breakfast and lunch for me that day - the portion was gargantuan. Topped with melon, apples, blueberries, bananas, grapes, pecans, brown sugar, and whole milk, I don't think I've ever had a bowl of oatmeal as fresh and tasty as this was. Served with a side of three seed toast, I was more than full after just half the bowl. If you like oatmeal, you must try Cheri's version.
Other items on their menu include smoothies and yogurt shakes, pancakes, waffles, french toast, quiche and frittata and much more.
Hibiscus is open for breakfast only daily, from 7:30-11:30am.
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About Jill: Jill, publisher of SoWal Scene, is a '95 graduate of L'Academie de Cuisine, a nationally acclaimed culinary school located outside of Washington D.C., and was at one time an aspiring pastry chef in the D.C. area. No longer cooking in a professional setting, Jill considers herself a 'professional foodie' and started the South Walton Foodie Group in 2004. Jill and her husband, Olivier (a 24-year veteran of the kitchen himself), spend an extraordinary amount of time cooking, eating, dining out and drinking wine with friends and family.
