Media Contacts:
Elizabeth Ray, ERay@FRLA.org, 850.224.2250 x255
Christina Johnson, Christina@On3PR.com, 850.391.5040
Chef Emeril Lagasse Tours South Walton on Latest Episode of Emeril’s Florida
– The Cooking Channel will feature restaurants and events in the Florida Panhandle –
(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida airing Sunday, March 1, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. EST on the Cooking Channel. In Sunday’s episode, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse travels to South Walton in the Florida Panhandle to tour two of his favorite restaurants and a few can’t-miss events that happen in the area.
“From fresh seafood pulled from Florida’s Gulf Coast to fusion cuisine showcased beside charming shops, South Walton is full of gourmet flavors for all tastes and budgets,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “FRLA is thrilled this week’s Emeril’s Florida episode features some of our favorite must-attend events and delectable dining options that continue to influence visitors to come to the Sunshine State.”
Emeril’s first stop on the South Walton episode is The Bay, a new concept by local chef, Jim Shirley. The family-friendly restaurant features southern Gulf coast cuisine, sushi, a 12-draft beer system, excellent wine selections, and inventive bar-crafted cocktails. Table and bar seating is available inside as well as outside on the deck overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay. Emeril visits with Jim and samples some of his original creations including the Bomber Burger, Thai-Molly’s Homemade Corn Tamales, and Homemade Corn Tortillas filled with Spiced Fish or Korean Beef.
The next stop is Vin’tij Wine Boutique & Bistro, owned by Todd Reber and John Jacob. Their concept behind the restaurant is simple: serve the best food paired with the best wine. Emeril had the opportunity to try both. Partner Todd Reber and Emeril tour the restaurant’s wine offerings and sample some Todd’s favorites. Chef John Jacob, who is in charge of the cuisine at Vin’tij, sits down with Emeril to share some of his signature dishes including the Oyster BLT, Grilled Carolina Quail, and Grilled Ribeye.
Emeril then tours events that take place in South Walton throughout the year. He visits the South Walton Wine & Food Festival, one of the biggest events that takes place in the area. He gives viewers a glimpse into Fashion Week where guests can view the latest fashions while dining on local restaurant cuisine and champagne. He explores athletic events such as 10K runs, watches award-winning films under the stars at an outdoor film festival, and checks out the sights at the annual beer fest.
In the final segment in the episode, Emeril fishes for red snapper and then prepares a healthy salad and his catch of the day on a balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
The show reruns on Monday, March 2 at 9:30 a.m. EST and Thursday, March 5 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Please check local listings.
Emeril’s Florida Season Three is a 13-episode series highlighting the Sunshine State through the eyes of Emeril on-location with a focus on food, cooking, events and activities around the state. Throughout the third season, Emeril will be visiting Florida’s top restaurants and resorts. He will also prepare some of his favorite recipes which often will feature some of the best seafood Florida has to offer. The FRLA and VISIT FLORIDA sponsor the series. For additional information on the series, including links to previous episodes, please go to the Cooking Channel website here. For a preview of Sunday’s episode, click here.
Editor’s Note:
For photo and video requests of Emeril Lagasse with local chefs, photos of dishes prepared, and recipes of featured dishes, please contact Elizabeth Ray at ERay@FRLA.org or 850.224.2250 x255, or Christina Johnson at Christina@On3PR.com or 850.391.5040.
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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.