T. Michele Walker
I have an admission to make: When it comes to fine dining, I am spoiled rotten.
In fact, anyone who lives in Central Florida is pretty darned spoiled with our growing number of Michelin Star and James Beard Award Winning restaurants and eateries to choose from. As a food and travel writer, it’s challenging to find another Florida town that can top the City Beautiful when it comes to dining.
Imagine my surprise when I was on a recent media excursion in one of my favorite beach burbs, New Smyrna Beach. I spent a delightful evening at City Market Bistro and was blown away by Chef Scott’s menu. If you missed the story, I said, “Chef Scott has created an elegant menu, featuring fresh seafood, meats and produce in season, with an emphasis on regional producers. This delightful little bistro rivals many of the best Michelin rated restaurants, making it a must-dine.”
And City Market Bistro isn’t the only restaurant that made my list. Third Wave Café, SugarWorks Distillery and the bakery, Mon Délice are now on my can’t-miss NSB list. It comes as no surprise to learn that the New Smyrna Beach Area has become an incredible destination for culinary connoisseurs, with a wide array of locally owned and operated dining establishments, innovative experiences and exciting culinary events.
For those who enjoy sneaking in some quality staycations, Florida residents can enjoy deep discounts in the New Smyrna Beach Area. The charming coastal community offers a staycation with price reductions at some of the area’s best hotels, vacation rentals, attractions and activities. But hurry, because this new promotion extends through the end of 2024.
This October marks a significant milestone as the New Smyrna Beach area celebrates new and innovative culinary events and returning favorites.
Coastal Catch Restaurant Month
The New Smyrna Beach Area is set to dazzle food enthusiasts during their inaugural NSB Coastal Catch Restaurant Month from October 1 through 31. More than 15 of the area’s finest restaurants will showcase the region’s coastal heritage with exclusive dishes, special menus and elevated dining experiences.
Highlights include succulent shrimp, savory scallops and surf-and-turf delights, all featuring the freshest local catches. Other options are prime rib, Cajun chicken pasta, filet mignon and chicken parmesan. Diners can indulge in three-course prix fixe menus priced at $39 and $59. Renowned chefs will create innovative dishes available for a limited time, all using locally sourced ingredients. Participating restaurants include Outriggers Tiki Bar & Grill, Norwood’s Treehouse, Third Wave Cafe, Café Verde, Clancy’s Cantina, La Terrazza, Spanish River Grill, General Public House and more.
Worth Tasting: New Smyrna Beach
Worth Tasting, a three-day, all-inclusive culinary adventure, will mark its New Smyrna Beach debut the weekend of October 25-28. The immersive culinary weekend will offer a limited number of participants an exclusive experience with culinary tours exploring the area’s top restaurants and beverage experiences.
Attendees will find a luxurious home base for the weekend at Joy by the Sea, a cove of vibrant villas just steps from the white sandy shores. An extensive itinerary for the weekend includes a luncheon with New Smyrna Beach resident, “Grilled Cheese Social” author and Food Network champion Chef MacKenzie Smith; an olive oil tasting at The Galley; a tour of the New Smyrna Beach Farmers’ Market; food board crafting; private dinners, brunches and more.
Worth Tasting is hosted by Stephen Fries, Professor Emeritus of Hospitality Management and a syndicated food columnist, and Chris Bartlett, CEO of GEM Advertising and Poetic Sunset Escapes. Known for their 17-year culinary walking tour in New Haven, Conn., the duo brings their expertise to Worth Tasting’s New Smyrna Beach debut.
An Art Affair
The New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau and Garden & Gun host An Art Affair, an immersive weekend of high-end culinary and art experiences on October 18 and 19. Now in its second year, the event begins with a welcome cocktail party at New Smyrna Beach’s oldest historic home, Victoria 1883, with creative cocktails from SugarWorks Distillery and works by Florida artists.
The itinerary also includes brunch and hors d’oeuvres at The Hub on Canal after a self-guided morning at the Plein Air Paint Out festival. Plein air painting is the practice of painting outdoors, allowing artists to capture the natural light, atmosphere and beauty of the landscape in real time, and the New Smyrna Beach Area’s picturesque coastal scenery makes it the perfect setting for this art form.
The weekend concludes with Plein Air Dinner at Atlantic Center for the Arts, a renowned interdisciplinary artists’ community, gallery and arts education facility, where guests will enjoy a multicourse meal prepared by Chef Dave Moscoso of Third Wave Cafe, wine pairings, live music and more.
Even though I’m an avowed Florida west coast beach lover, New Smyrna Beach has become my go-to for my quick beach fix. It’s an hour and two minutes door to door, and this quaint village offers an unparalleled culinary journey for culinary connoisseurs, blending diverse dining options with unique, immersive events. Whether indulging in fine dining or participating in coastal cuisine celebrations, visitors are sure to experience the vibrant flavors and hospitality that make this coastal community a top destination for food enthusiasts, like me.
For more information, please visit VisitNSBfl.com or call 386-428-1600.
- For more information on the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitor’s Bureau’s Staycation and a listing of participating businesses, visit visitnsbfl.com/staycation.
- For those interested in getting a first look at the Coastal Catch specialty menus starting September 16, check out visitnsbfl.com/coastal-catch.
- For tickets and more information to Worth Tasting, please visit joybythesea.org/worth-tasting/.
- For information about An Art Affair, please visit gardenandgun.com/event/an-art-affair-2024/ for tickets and additional information.
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