Top 10 Eats and Drinks from the Alabama Beaches: 2023 Edition
Sunset from the 22nd floor of Turquoise Place in Orange Beach, AL. The waves glisten along the white sand beaches beneath the glow.
On a November trip to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama, I experienced a culinary tour that put beach life on the back burner. Sure, most people go to coastal Alabama for the white sand beaches and the relaxing vacation vibes, but when visiting in the “off season” (aka not summer or summer adjacent when it is hot outside), it is good to know that there’s more to the food and drink scene than the ubiquitous boozy bushwackers available at many local waterfront establishments… although I’m never opposed to a few of those.
During most of the fall, the weather is still perfectly pleasant for a little time in the sand, even if the water gets a little chilly. But take a look beyond the coast line and you’ll find an array of food festivals and culinary events worth planning trips around, let alone restaurants worthy of making the Alabama Beaches a foodie destination.
My recent trip revolved around the Experience the Oyster Festival at the Hangout in Gulf Shores, but I also immersed myself in several other eateries over the course of a long weekend. Below are my top 10 eats and drinks from the trip through the Alabama Beaches:
10) Ribeye Steak with Herbed Butter, Green Beans and Potatoes from Flora-Bama Yacht Club
The Flora-Bama Yacht Club is a legendary water-front restaurant in Orange Beach. Guests arrive bayside by land or by sea. With a spacious outdoor dining and beach area, as well as a relaxing and beach-vibes interior, there's no way to not have a good time at FBYC. And here’s the most surprising thing… this steak is great!
9) Cain Concept 2011 Large Format Napa Valley Red Blend - Voyagers
The food from current Great American Seafood Cook Off King, Chef Brody Olive, at Voyagers inside the Perdido Beach Resort, hit on all notes. However, the one thing that may have surpassed the spectacular steak and seafood fare was the hospitality and service from our server, Cristina… and this 2011 Cain Concept Napa Valley Red Blend. The wine, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with a splash of Petit Verdot and Merlot, is exactly what the table desired… and the Magnum-sized 1.5L bottle made it fun to share with six people around the table!
8) Duck's Diner Banana Stuffed French Toast
The highlight of the menu at Duck’s Diner in Orange Beach is the Banana Stuffed French Toast with Butter Pecan Sauce. I had to try it out for my own research purposes, and I’d say that I’d gladly share this sugary sweet concoction with someone again. The large, double portion of stuffed French bread would be easily shareable so you could both order something savory as well. The butter pecan sauce is delightfully sweet, so if you’re anything like Buddy from the movie Elf, you’re going to love it!
7) Beer from Big Beach Brewing!
Gulf Shores’ only microbrewery, Big Beach Brewing, delivers some tasty craft beers and a nice beach-vibes environment. Their menu has something for all beer lovers from light pilsners to hoppy IPAs and, during my visit, the above gose using fermented lime in collaboration with the Southern Chili Lab and a delightful oyster stout in collaboration with Admiral Shellfish Co., both of which we’ll hear from later.
6) Cocktails from Jesse’s on the Bay
Jesse’s on the Bay impressed in many ways, as we’ll see a little later on this list. But, before I get to any food items, I have to show a little love to the cocktails. Starting off a proper old fashioned and a perfectly dirty vodka martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives, as seen above, the drinks continued to roll and impress, including a sazerac a bit later in the evening. I love any place that makes a good sazerac outside of Louisiana!
5) Oysters from Navy Cove
Navy Cove Oysters farms their off-bottom mollusks along the northern shore of Fort Morgan, Alabama, near the body of water called Navy Cove, which was frequented by Indians, an anchorage for pirates, and then the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812 and WWII. The company began in 2011 as a project between marine science researchers Dr. John Supan and Dr. Charles Wilson. Eric Bradley, who tailgated near me at LSU and was raised on a crawfish farm in south Louisiana, joined the partnership in 2016. Eric showed us the farm and shucked some oysters for us right on the edge of the water. I slurped down a multitude of them on this beautiful day!
4) Red Snapper BLT from The Gulf
If you’re the kind of cool cat that likes a sandwich at the beach, go dig your toes in the sand and dig your teeth into the Red Snapper BLT from The Gulf in Orange Beach. This spot, assembled from shipping containers, boasts a beachfront oasis with a patio bar and food options to cure your midday or evening hunger. This sando, with the beautifully grilled red snapper filet added to crispy bacon, fresh tomato, peppery arugula, and a creamy slathering of mayo, really hits the spot.
3) Original Chili Crisp from the Southern Chili Lab
I’d feel a little weird putting what is a essentially a condiment so high on this list, but folks, you’ve got to try this Southern Chili Lab Chili Crisp. The SCL Original Chili Crisp is an infused peanut oil base with dehydrated fermented chili mash, crunchy shallots, garlic, & peanuts. It is insanely crunchy while boasting an amazing depth of flavor. It is the right amount of crunch, heat, and oil to be good on practically anything, or, honestly, by the spoonful. Thanks to Jonathan Kastner for showing me around and giving me a taste!
2) Mustard Parisienne Gnocchi from Jesse’s on the Bay
I told you we’d be back to Jesse’s on the Bay. The best composed dish that I tasted on this trip to the Alabama Beaches came from dinner at Jesse’s. The Mustard Parisienne Gnocchi features blue crab, cowboy butter, Brussels sprouts, cipollini onions, romesco sauce, and more. The pillowy cheese dumplings were paired with delicate crab, bold onions, and Brussels sprouts to create a winning combination of textures and flavors. I’d go back to this dish again and again.
1) Raw Oysters at Experience the Oyster Festival
The number one highlight of the whole trip, however, was of course the selection of raw oysters from the various oyster farmers themselves at the Experience the Oyster Festival at the Hangout. If you’re a fan of oysters on the half shell, you need to circle this event on your calendar every year. The amount of oysters available, and the nuanced variety in size, texture, and flavor, made tasting these oysters and chatting with the farmers a special experience. Some of my favorites included the Pelican Oyster Company out of Florida, Eagle Point Oyster Company from Ocean Springs, MS, Murder Point Oysters from Bayou Le Batre, AL, and Admiral Shellfish Co. from right there in Gulf Shores.
