On The Menu

Scott Holstein

The Marigny’s Roast Beef Poor Boy

It’s summertime, so eat your heart out while you are out and about on the EC! After a refreshing day in the Florida sunshine, satisfy your hunger by filling your plate with perfectly slow roasted poor boys, hearty burgers charged with flavor and cheeky cheesecake confections. 

Lunch

The Marigny, Santa Rosa Beach

We have all seen dishes from famous food cities crash and burn on local menus. Until now. A “band of brothers” from New Orleans (namely Chris Rose, Chris Mongogna and Jason Jaume) has relocated to Santa Rosa Beach and brought their Crescent City cooking chops with them. The Marigny serves up pure creole cuisine for lunch and dinner. This neighborhood-style restaurant/bar is quickly becoming known for one particular dish popular in New Orleans: the Roast Beef Poor Boy (above). This version features succulent slow cooked bottom round roast beef drizzled with debris thickened jus and served “dressed” with Blue Plate mayo, lettuce, tomato and pickles on French bread from the Leidenheimer Baking Company in Baton Rouge. Chris Rose says right on the menu: “We talk too much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we’re suspicious of others who don’t.” Well, these boys certainly put a mouth-watering winner where their mouth is on this one. Who Dat! $11.95 (for medium)

Dinner

Elephant Walk at Sandestin, Miramar Beach

Elephant Walk is back better than before. We did not forget about its specialty, Grouper Elizabeth, but we have found a new fan favorite certain to have patrons charging the kitchen — the Elephant Walk Burger. This burger keeps things simple. The focus is on fresh ingredients and big flavor. The burger features a generous portion of grilled ground certified Angus beef steak topped with tangy Tillamook cheddar cheese, “E-walk sauce,” lettuce and tomato served up on a sourdough bun and served with fresh cut fries. It’s a bodacious bite we are certain not to forget any time soon! $15 

Dessert

Pepito’s Mexican Restaurant, Destin 

We are not typically a fan of fried foods, and certainly not desserts, but this creamy little creation changed all that. The Chimi Cheesecake at Pepito’s is made with a thin tortilla filled with light, fluffy cheesecake, lightly fried and then rolled in a coating of sugar and cinnamon. It’s served with a scoop of butter pecan ice cream, drizzled with caramel and topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and a cherry. This delicious little ditty will have you chirping Chim Chim Chimi! $4.59