Sometimes you want to go somewhere that has a little bit of everything: wine, produce, fresh fish. It’s especially true if you’re vacationing in 30A and want a true South Walton culinary experience. There are many places where you can sample the wide variety of gastronomy in the area, but one spot you can’t miss is the Destin Ice Market. While this may sound like an event, or a place to find ice cold desserts, it’s actually a shop in Inlet Beach, and whether you’re looking for fine wine, a cold beer, or samplings for a meat and cheese plate, you can find it here.
The History
Destin Ice Market is actually a fairly recent addition to Inlet Beach. It was opened in 2016 by Pamela Wellborn, entrepreneur and herself a certified sommelier. A resident of South Walton and the “luckiest fishing village in the world,” as it’s sometimes called, Wellborn saw the need for a corner grocery store, and thus Destin Ice Market was born, in partnership with Destin Ice Seafood Market & Deli. What it grew into, however, was something of a foodie heaven, and it’s become a favorite spot throughout the area.
Fresh Produce and More
The sign on the door for Destin Ice Market reads “Prime Meat. Seafood. Cheeses. Fine Wine.” And they pride themselves on all these things. Every fish sold in the store is wild-caught, often right out of the Gulf itself: shrimp, grouper, gumbo, and caviar name just a few. The wine is carefully selected to offer an exciting variety, from convenient $10 wine to rare, expensive wines. Chef Alan Baltazar is known for slicing meat so thinly it’s translucent as well as offering cuts of sumptuous prime meat. And of course, the cheese selection has about everything you could ask for. But that’s not all that Destin Ice Market offers.
As the name might suggest, you can find plenty of ways to cool off within Destin Ice Market. They offer local craft beers and bottled water as well as fine wines. You can also check out the desserts and bakery for delicious ice cream or key lime pie. Looking for cakes for a celebration? You can find them here at Destin Ice Market. They even sell dog treats for those animal lovers that come through their doors.
Events
The showroom for Destin Ice Market is vast and has plenty to choose from, but it’s not just the general fare that you can find here. Visit on Friday between 4 and 6pm for a complimentary wine tasting, where you can sample vintage wines and food designed to pair with them. The chef also offers cooking demos where you can learn how to handle seafood and prime meats like a pro.
It’s a mouthwatering spot in 30A that will likely leave you coming back for more. If you’re only in Inlet Beach for a limited time, make sure Destin Ice Market is one of your first stops. And check back to our blog for more information about travel tips and attractions throughout 30A.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.