In the centuries since Spanish explorer Don Tristan De Luna sailed into Pensacola Bay in 1559, the city has come under the rule of five different flags. Today, Pensacola’s diverse history is creatively interpreted by celebrated local chefs who serve up inspired dishes that pay homage to the city’s long, multicultural history.
There’s an advantage to being located on Gulf of Mexico, with its abundance of fresh seafood year-round.
And there are few better places to find fresh seafood in Pensacola than
Joe Patti’s Seafood Market.
The market—a Gulf Coast landmark for decades—is situated on the fringe of Downtown Pensacola’s waterfront, heralded by a full-sized replica of a Viking war boat and a giant lighted shrimp sign. Founded in the early ‘30’s by Giuseppe “Joe” Patti, a Sicilian immigrant fisherman, the market is now run by his son, Frank, who can usually be found behind the counter, taking orders from customers or measuring out shrimp by the pound.
Joe Patti’s is not the only place to find fresh, local flavors. Palafox Market, along Downtown Pensacola’s main thoroughfare, draws thousands of visitors each Saturday to shop for seasonal produce, freshly baked bread, artisanal coffee, locally produced honey and other delicacies, while the sound of live street music fills the air.
Just down the street in downtown Pensacola’s SoGo district, epicurean market Bodacious Olive features a tantalizing variety of artisanal oils and vinegars, as well as freshly baked bread, homemade pastas, wines and cheeses. Upstairs, SoGourmet holds weekly cooking classes and a full kitchenry store. There’s also So Chopped, a fresh salad bar and bistro, and Bodacious Brew, a full-service espresso bar serving gourmet coffee, tea, lattes, cappuccinos, iced coffee and more.
Each fall, Pensacola Bay Area festivals celebrate art, wine, seafood and music, and this fall, Visit Pensacola is introducing a new culinary event, Pensacola Bay Area Restaurant Week, in partnership with Southern Living magazine, Sept. 18-27. Throughout the week, a number of Pensacola Bay Area restaurants will incorporate a Southern Living signature dessert or cocktail into their menus. A listing of restaurants is online at www.visitpensacola.com/flavors.
Pensacola Restaurant Month is a four-week celebration of food that kicks off Sept. 18 with Taste of the Beach and ends Oct. 18 with Pensacola Beach Wine and Art Festival. In between, there’s an endless list of weekly events in Downtown Pensacola, Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach, along with the annual Pensacola Seafood Festival from Sept. 25-27 and Pensacola Greek Festival Oct. 9-11.
To learn more about Pensacola’s culinary scene or to start planning your fall culinary vacation today, visit www.visitpensacola.com.