And You Thought You Knew Brunch!
Here in LA (Lower Alabama), aka the Florida Panhandle, brunch is serious business. Don't miss it!
Welcome to the South (with a capital S)! And to brunch country! Nearly every restaurant offers it. But if you aren't from the South, you may not really understand what we mean. With the home of the original Chik-fil-A restaurant and the best chicken biscuits EVER less about 5 hours north, you would expect the South, and especially LA to get brunch right. And we do!
When you think of brunch up north (no capital letter), you think of eggs benedict, avocado toast, omelets, Belgian waffles and french toast served along side favorite lunch and dinner items like salads and soups. Some think of the protein punch of Steak and Eggs! It is generally a meal begun after normal people each breakfast - or breakfast for lunch. Hense br'unch! But in the South, brunch is just a bit more!
You can find that eggs benedict, probably with a cajun twist, if you really want it. And waffles are not unheard of either, especially served with chicken! But it isn't an excuse to eat breakfast later than normal. It is actually more of an excuse to each breakfast THROUGH lunch. To really do Southern Brunch right, you have to start early and finish late. It is so much more that just brunch.
You will find, here on the Gulf Coast, things you just won't see on a menu in Chicago. You will see fish and shellfish on your breakfast plate. You will see hot cereals that you DO NOT eat with sugar and butter. Butter, yes! Sugar, NEVER! You will see plenty of alcohol, because you can't drink all day if you don't start at breakfast! And you will notice, it is a party!
Shrimp and Grits and More
If you have never had Shrimp and Grits, you haven't lived. Both are plural, by the way and you can eat just one of either. Gulf coast shrimp is big, sweet, and ruby red! They are perfect for serving on top of a huge pile of creamy, cheesy, spicy, pile of hot grits. Grits are kind of like corn meal mush, for all the mid-westerners, but not really. Or like cream of wheat, but made from corn, for other Yankees. But grits are different. They are used more like mashed potatoes, served with delicious gravy, garlic, or shrimp piled on top. Some of the best Shrimp and Grits can be found in the Florida Panhandle. Everyone has a favorite and almost every restaurant serves it all day long.
Fish House is know for their take on Shrimp and Grits called World-Famous Grits à Ya Ya! Once you try them you will see why they are world famous.
And then there is this. Fish and grits? At Ruby Slipper it is called "Grilled Fish St. Peter." It is a fish fillet over a "grit cake" with spinach, tomatoes, shrimp, and hollandaise sauce. It almost sounds like an eggs benedict hybrid! But it still has the basics of shrimp and grits.
Most places also offer some kind of Gulf twist on eggs benedict. Topped with shrimp, crab, or crawfish takes it to a whole other level. For some of the best you don't have to go far. Native cafe has made themselves a favorite of the locals. Their Eggs Benedict Arnold are perfect for those you can't decide between their "Bennies" and Biscuits and Gravy. Two biscuits topped with your choice of bacon, ham, or sausage and eggs, smothered in traditional sausage gravy. YUM!
Biscuits and Gravy
Real southern biscuits and gravy aren't hard to find. And most are pretty great! often served with sausage, and sometimes eggs, bacon, and hash browns on the side for a real treat! But if you want a real Gulf style biscuit and gravy, you want to think tasso. Tasso is a smoked ham and the gravy is specific to the region, especially NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana). Ham, coffee, and hot sauce give it a special flavor. To find the best Tasso gravy, look for a real Cajun kitchen, like Cosse's on the Beach.
Oysters and More
When the weather is warm, think chilled! Shrimp cocktail, or fresh oysters on the half shell! Morning delivery means that your oysters or shrimp at brunch are really the freshest they can be. For a grand brunch, try Grand Marlin. All your Southern favorites, and always a great place to get oysters.
And don't forget the Mimosas and Bloody Marys. A Southern brunch isn't complete without them. Unless of course, you go for a Sweet Tea!
Sweet Tea? That's a whole n'other subject!
Tiki House is located on Pensacola Beach. A vacation rental home, close to some of the best brunch places in The South, LA - Lower Alabama, on the Florida Panhandle!
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