Pensacola may have already secured its reputation as a food town by locals, but it has now caught the attention of independent national food and travel writer Matt Kerouac.
Works by Kerouac have appeared in well-known publications such as Travel + Leisure; Stirring all this, not that! Zagat. Culture Trip TripSavvy Magazine and Plate. One of his current projects will focus on exploring and dining on his way through Pensacola.
For every town Kerouac visits, he spends several days researching the history and culinary experiences that make up the town’s formation. It then compiles information from documents to create original and fun visitor’s guides filled with must-sees and must-taste restaurants.
“For me, that’s probably the main thing,” Kerouac said of tasting new restaurants when traveling. “I’m willing to invest (in eating out) more than other things.”
This week, Kirouac will be putting together a comprehensive travel guide to Pensacola for Thrillist, picking up some of the best restaurants, bars, parks, and theaters based on his experiences in the city. The article is scheduled to be published within the next month.
Kerouac said he was pleasantly surprised to see the quality of the restaurants he visited for a city the size of Pensacola, as well as their affordability.
“The restaurants were great and of a really high standard for a city this size. For restaurants and food you would expect in Chicago or New York or something…but just in an accessible and affordable location,” Kerouac said. “Pensacola felt warm, welcoming, easy to access and had quality food in such abundance as well…I was really impressed by what I experienced.”
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While living in Pensacola, Kerouac hooked up with Lindsey Steck from Visit Pensacola to show him around. Steck suggested the two take the downtown Pensacola food scene on foot with his Pensacola food tour service, Seville Savories Food Tour.
From a visitor’s point of view, Steke said, the tour is a great way to learn about the city’s culture.
“Pensacola is a destination with a diverse history and a huge amount of culinary options,” Steck said. “When hosting media from outside the area, the Food Tour allows us to share a comprehensive view of the area’s flavors, history, and downtown scene.”
The “Seville Stroll” dinner tour, led by Pensacola foodie and historian Duel Christian, led Kerouac to five different restaurants throughout old Seville.
When traveling to a new city, Kerouac said he was always looking for an experience unlike anything he could find at home, which he said was ultimately a success in Pensacola.
On the tour’s first stop, 86 Forks Bar + Table, Kirouac sampled an egg roll made from a pot roast with wine, as an ode to the working roots of the former Pot Roast and Pinot restaurant. In addition to the flavors of the food itself, Kerouac was impressed by the restaurant’s vibrant ambiance and contemporary design.
“Everything seems unique and interesting and interesting,” Kerouac said of 86 Forex. “It feels so natural to write about it when I’m really excited about it.”
The decor of the tour’s second stop, The District: Seville Steak and Seafood, helped give Kerouac more appreciation for Pensacola’s past.
Kerouac described how history lined the walls through old photos, noting how “preserved” the upscale steakhouse was in telling the story of Pensacola.
Chowing down on a steak skewer, Kerouac noted how tender and “tasty” the meat was, as well as restaurants’ ability to use good sauce and pickle.
As Christian guided Kerouac through the Pensacola Historic District, he stopped to point out local landmarks that date back centuries, and made his way to the Southern Market.
“I feel like I’m in Salem, Massachusetts,” Kerouac said, enjoying the high ceilings and cabin-like interior. “Unique architecture – feels like New England… It’s a very compelling feeling to spend more time here.”
After enjoying a meal based on a family recipe of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, Kerouac headed to Calavera Tacos, an aerial vendor inside The Garden food court.
Not only was Kerouac able to sample a first-class taco along with chips and sauce, but he also took in the outdoor food court built in downtown Pensacola.
“I love diversity,” Kerouac said. “Every place was so different.”
The last stop at the new Bubba Sweet Spot was the cherry on top of the evening, where Kirouac sampled a bag of homemade chocolate and fudge.
Christian said the tour is a way to help cover ground in an area densely populated by restaurants — with 45 restaurants all within a one-mile stretch between Polanza Bistro and Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille.
“Look at all the foods you ate in a six-square radius,” Christian said.
For those who want to explore some of Pensacola’s most unique restaurants in a new way, food tours can be scheduled on the Seville Savories Food Tour website. Tours are offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays and cost $65. To view Kirouac’s latest articles, you can visit his Instagram page.
