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Linda Kissam discusses Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama!

Linda Kissam 'Food, Wine & Shopping Diva' is a professional travel, food, and wine writer based out of Southern California. Through her persona as The Wine Chix www.WineChixs.com  and her Web site www.AllInGoodTaste.info, she specializes in easy, breezy destination stories sharing her favorite things about the places she visits.

The Game Changer
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama

By Linda Kissam 'Food, Wine & Shopping Diva'

You know this Wine Diva loves her wine trips, but on occasion I step out of the purely wine tourist mode and expand my horizons to just going with the flow of a traditional vacation sans wineries. Shocking? Well maybe, but then again, variety is the spice of life, and I definitely buy into that philosophy. In fact, so much so that I am launching a new lifestyle section to my writing known as AlInGoodTaste.info. This title was “gifted” to me by Lisa and Nancy on a Big Blend Radio interview some time ago.  

I now have the vision and passion for its development.  Same funky, sassy, me, just a bit less wine-centric.  Grab my hand and let’s get this new venture started.

Thirty-two miles of sugar-white beaches stretching across a 30,000 acre island on the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico is surely enough inspiration for any writer.  Alabama’s Gulf Coast boasts a mild year-round climate ideal for enjoying great outdoor activities-swimming, golf, fishing, trails, bird-and-wildlife watching, shopping, historical attractions and remarkable dining.  This was a culinary and travel adventure for me that happily coincided with “The Year of Alabama Food.”

I had 5 wonderful days to visit some of Alabama’s best restaurants and signature dishes along the Coastal Cuisine Trail. Many of my dining experiences included dishes that are listed on the “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” list. Along the way I was also wowed with some unique attractions to visit.  

Here are my top 10 assorted recommendations for a getaway filled with the best coastal Alabama has to offer. Hope to see you there soon.  I’ll be the one with the Bushwacker cocktail sitting on the beach with a great big smile and no Smart Phone.  

My accommodations were provided by Kiva Dunes Resort,  an elite golfing resort located in Gulf Shores. Both Golf Digest and Golf Week magazines have declared  Kiva Dunes as one of the top beach and golf resorts in the country. I can see why.  I fell in love with its 3,000 feet of pristine white sand private beaches and 30-foot dunes unfolding outside the door of first-class, gulf-side condos and homes. The resort features an on-site fresh seafood restaurant with an extensive menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Diva recommended for sure.

1. Dinner at the Compleat Angler Seafood Grille & Bar -  A one-of-a-kind dining experience on The Wharf. Dress is casual.  Enjoy the creative menu, stunning water and vistas of the sunset, affordable prices, live music and a hands on owner (Former NFL great Bob Baumhower) that IS the story of this restaurant.  I especially love this place for its philosophy to “think globally and act locally,” passing along the benefits to customers, from the fresh, wholesome fruit used in all of their mixed drinks to their juicy, hand-cut steaks and local, gulf shrimp they serve every day.

2. Breakfast at Tacky Jack’s in Orange Beach - Tacky Jack’s has been a staple in Orange Beach on the Gulf Shore since 1980, providing locals and visitors alike with great food. The Farmer’s Omelet (on Alabama’s top 100 “foods” list) is the most popular breakfast item and one that I indulged in, chased by an unbelievably tasty Bloody Mary. Breakfast is served until 2:00 pm. Enjoy the waterfront view.  This is a must do for foodies.

3. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail – Hop in a golf cart to enjoy this 2 hour   wildlife trail tour  consisting  of 11 miles of nature trails winding through six distinct ecosystems in Orange Beach and the Gulf State Park. The Trail was established in 2002. The Trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2010 and is a part of the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail and the Coastal Connection National Scenic Byway.  Expect to see butterfly gardens, gorgeous marshes, “Lefty” the alligator and much much more. $15 a person (by reservation only) is the deal of the century.

4. Zen Restaurant - An upscale, Asian fusion restaurant that screams southern hospitality.  I took a sushi making class here.  Fabulous!  I enjoyed the energy of Zen’s open kitchen and watching  the master staff create the many different menu options offered at the restaurant. Brody Olive, a native of Birmingham, Ala., is the executive chef and general manager. Chef Olive has won the Southern Breeze Gulf Coast Cookoff and Zatarain’s Annual National Shrimp Festival Chef Challenge, finishing first in 2009 and second in 2010. There’s a reason this restaurant is a local’s favorite.  Don’t miss it.

5. Flora-Bama - When you’re ready to get out and experience the wild and crazy Orange Beach nightlife START HERE. Get yourself a Bushwhacker, duck the hanging bras, get ready for some kick-ass music and let the fun begin. The Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar isn’t just your average, run-of-the-mill bar or a roadhouse - it’s a true cultural icon. Located half on the Alabama side and half in Georgia, “The Bama,” as locals affectionately known, has won awards for having the Best Bushwhacker on the Gulf. This popular drink has been referred to as “a chocolate milk shake with a kick.”  

6. Bon Secour Fisheries – This was definitely one of my favorite stops.  You’ll have to ask the local CVB to arrange a tour for you.  It may or may not happen, but it’s worth the effort.  Talk about picturesque and educational!  It’s been a leading seafood processor and wholesale distributor for over 100 years. This family-owned and operated business operates its own fleet of shrimp trawlers that unloads at the company’s docks daily.  It’s the best way I know of to “connect the dots” when talking farm to table dining.  I promise you’ll be blown away.

7. Sweet Home Farm is a working family dairy established in Baldwin County, Alabama in 1985. Their herd of Guernsey cows has access to fresh pasture grasses nearly year-round, supplemented with regionally grown grain. The farm uses no herbicides, pesticides or growth hormones and they handcraft a wide variety of cheeses, all made from fresh cows' milk, enzymes and salt, and aged for a minimum of 60 days. The thing I like about farmstead cheese is that it reflects the particular soil, climate and herbage of each season – much like my beloved wine. Sweet Home Farm cheeses are listed on Alabama’s top 100 “foods” list.  You have to try the Elberta, a slightly tart and creamy house recipe, Gouda, and the limited edition cheeses.

8. San Rock Cay is an Orange Beach entertainment district featuring shopping, dining, a spa, dolphin cruises, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, diving, parasailing and jet skiing The shopping area – my favorite in the area -  showcases boutique and specialty shops.  I loved the Life’s A Canvas art studio (lessons for the non-artist). What could be better than learning to paint with rock music and a big glass of wine from their Tiki Bar!

9. Dolphin Cruise at Flipper’s Seafood and Oyster Bar. What I thought was going to be a pedestrian adventure, turned out to be a moment of a lifetime.  Guests riding on the Cold Mil Fleet Dolphin Cruises are guaranteed to see dolphins jump and swim up close and personal. The dolphin cruise company employs a “doublesurf” method where both of their boats cruise side-by-side to create a perfect current that dolphins enjoy surfing and jumping into. This experience will have you on your feet shouting and yelling and clapping for the playful dolphins.  This is something I will never forget.

10. Dinner & the services of local Chef Chris Sherrill at the exquisite Fort Morgan beach condo vacation rental.  Like something from a movie, the condo  features 6 bedrooms and 7 baths. It is a direct Gulf-front home located in the Dunes Subdivision, 19.5 miles west of Gulf Shores on Fort Morgan Parkway. The water is just inches from the porch.  Chef Chris served up a creative 3-course meal that blew 8 journalists away. Between the oohing and the ahhing, and the toasting and the socializing, this was a perfect end to the perfect non-wine adventure.

Enjoy this local and authentic Bushwacker recipe.

2 scoops vanilla ice cream

light rum

coconut rum

kahlua

Bacardi 151

Mix equal parts light rum, coconut rum and kahlua. For each drink, take 2 oz. of that mixture and blend it with the ice cream. Put into a glass and top with a generous splash of the Bacardi 151. Swirl the 151 into the drink very lightly, and top with a cherry (or a dusting of cocoa powder, or cinnamon or nutmeg).