Special issue - Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce

Dining Outby Marta Rose
Firefl y...the lighting of a new era in fi ne dining.
Nestled in the Shoppes at Edgewater,
Firefly is Panama City Beach’s newest
fine dining experience. From the
moment I walked through the door I knew this
was no ordinary beach eatery serving the usual
beach fare. A beautiful waterfall adorning the
wall behind the bar creates a “Wow Factor”
upon entering the front lounge. An adjoining
lounge with sofas and live music on Thursdays
and Saturdays adds a tranquil and sumptuous
feel to Firefly’s stylish environment. And keep
walking…the biggest Wow Factor is yet to
come: A huge oak tree – adorned with fireflies
throughout – stands smack dab in the middle of
the dining room. A description in words doesn’t
do this vision justice…you just have to go there
and see for yourself.
Many of the crew came from Canopies, and the
service is friendly, professional and competent.
Chef Shelley Cooper, formerly of 30-Degree
Blue, has created a menu that tops the charts
in cutting edge. “I wanted to create food that
is approachable and delicious,” she says of the
beautiful ensemble of fine fare.
Everything I sampled at Firefly
was a notch above “really good.”
Which is to say, simply, they got
it right.
We began the journey with
an aperitif of martinis. The
Espresso Martini was thick
and rich, cold, and not too
sweet (over-sweetness seems
to be a common mistake with
martinis). The Pineapple
Marini was refreshingly fruity
and mellow. Our Tempura
18 The Circuit July/August 2007
Fried Apalachicola Oysters were light and
tender, served with a tangy cocktail sauce and an
assembly of pickled parsnips, shallots, carrots,
snap peas and red endive. The Tuna Nicoise,
a scoop of sushi-grade rare tuna, was drizzled
with basil oil and had a slightly savory, nutty
finish. We sampled a bowl of smooth-as-silk
Carrot Ginger Gazpacho swirled with a biting
red pepper coulis, and garnished with a steak
kabob. The vegetables and herbs that went into
this cool concoction were so fresh the flavor
spanked my taste buds, and the oversized white
porcelain bowl added a cartoon-like whimsical
flair to the presentation. Next came the
Hydroponic Salad…butter lettuce underneath
a confetti of strawberries and goat cheese,
trickled with a warm brown butter
pecan dressing.
Our lavish meal continued with
two exuberant entrees, both served
on giant white porcelain platters
that matched the fun soup bowls.
Grouper “In The Sac” was
served with toasted almond rice pilaf primavera,
steeped with butter-poached lobster sauce, and
baked in a parchment sac. The
Bacon Wrapped Gorgonzola
Stuffed Pork Chop with
charred peppers, caramelized
onions and sweet tomatoes was
infused with a subtle orange
essence, and served alongside
red skin potato hash. We shared
the succulent Twice Baked
Lobster Mashed Potatoes; a
description of this dish cannot
represent the eye-rolling rapture it creates. With
such delicious decadence one cannot possibly
say no to dessert…and we didn’t. We sampled
the Key Lime Icebox Pie with gingersnap and
macadamia crust, mile high meringue and warm
coconut cream, which was divine. And check
out the Hot Chocolate Souffle Cake if you are a
chocolate lover, served with chocolate ganache
and a trio of homemade ice creams.
Firefly is located in the Shoppes at Edgewater
at 535 Beckrich Road in Panama City Beach
and is open nightly from 5:00 pm. Reservations
are recommended and appropriate attire is
appreciated. Check out “Tini Tuesday” with $5
Stoli martinis. Call (850) 249-FFLY (3359) or
visit www.fireflypcb.com.
v v v
Ready to have to have your your
restaurant reviewed?
Call Call Marta Marta Rose Rose at at the the
Chamber, 235-1159.