Julie Tew is now in ![\"IMG_0714\"](\"https://eat-beat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/img_0714.jpg?w=600\")
her 9th year of operation at Church Street’s Bay Breeze Cafe in Downtown Fairhope. This Fairhope native’s inspiration comes from her “needing to get a job” while she was in school. Throughout her college career, Julie was fortunate to have worked with some food service folks that were well trained and passionate about the profession. She took that opportunity to learn all she could. After obtaining her Masters Degree in Athletic Training, Julie worked for Troy University. She returned to Fairhope to be closer to family.
Julie and her mother, Liz, began working on a plan to figure out something that they could do together. Since then, it has become a family affair with Dad, Jerry, just as involved.
The menu is a combination of some of the foods that Julie has prepared in kitchens she has worked in, recipes from family and friends, and things she just enjoys herself. You will always find Julie in or near the kitchen during lunch hours. She is very systematic and wants to make sure everything is done to her satisfaction. Cold sandwiches are not something that appeals to Julie so just about every logical menu item is warmed on the panini press. The scampied shrimp is a favorite and can be found atop baby greens, as a pita pizza topping or contained in a wrap or panini. Their signature soup is the roasted corn and tomato bisque and never disappoints. Bay Breeze has just revamped their menu of salads, wraps, paninis, pita pizzas, and hot dogs and added more tasty options. They include a Mediterranean Eggplant Flatbread, a Bacon & Pimento Grilled Cheese Sandwich, a Havarti, Bacon and Tomato Sandwich on focaccia, a BBQ Bacon & Cheddar Dog, a Conecuh Dog, a Chicken Marinara Hoagie and a Shrimp and Conecuh Hoagie.
And it would be just wrong to leave without dessert! Julie’s mom Liz is the master of the desserts. She makes all of the sweet deliciousness that is served at the cafe with occasional help from Dad/Jerry. He is actually the creator of one of their best selling desserts – Southern Pecan Delight.
Cafe Hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 am until 2:30pm and if you aren’t in a hurry, Liz offers her Friday and Saturday morning breakfast menu from 8am until 10am. Indoor and outdoor seating is available and Bay Breeze Cafe also caters and offers free delivery to Downtown Fairhope Merchants. Bay Breeze Cafe, 50 S. Church Street, Fairhope (251) 990-0294 • Facebook “Bay Breeze Cafe
Church Street
It\’s a family affair at Bay Breeze Cafe
Julie Tew is now in her 9th year of operation at Church Street’s Bay Breeze Cafe in Downtown Fairhope. This Fairhope native’s inspiration comes from her “needing to get a job” while she was in school. Throughout her college career, Julie was fortunate to have worked with some food service folks that were well trained and passionate about the profession. She took that opportunity to learn all she could. After obtaining her Masters Degree in Athletic Training, Julie worked for Troy University. She returned to Fairhope to be closer to family.
Julie and her mother, Liz, began working on a plan to figure out something that they could do together. Since then, it has become a family affair with Dad, Jerry, just as involved.
The menu is a combination of some of the foods that Julie has prepared in kitchens she has worked in, recipes from family and friends, and things she just enjoys herself. You will always find Julie in or near the kitchen during lunch hours. She is very systematic and wants to make sure everything is done to her satisfaction. Cold sandwiches are not something that appeals to Julie so just about every logical menu item is warmed on the panini press. The scampied shrimp is a favorite and can be found atop baby greens, as a pita pizza topping or contained in a wrap or panini. Their signature soup is the roasted corn and tomato bisque and never disappoints. Bay Breeze has just revamped their menu of salads, wraps, paninis, pita pizzas, and hot dogs and added more tasty options. They include a Mediterranean Eggplant Flatbread, a Bacon & Pimento Grilled Cheese Sandwich, a Havarti, Bacon and Tomato Sandwich on focaccia, a BBQ Bacon & Cheddar Dog, a Conecuh Dog, a Chicken Marinara Hoagie and a Shrimp and Conecuh Hoagie.
And it would be just wrong to leave without dessert! Julie’s mom Liz is the master of the desserts. She makes all of the sweet deliciousness that is served at the cafe with occasional help from Dad/Jerry. He is actually the creator of one of their best selling desserts – Southern Pecan Delight.
Cafe Hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 am until 2:30pm and if you aren’t in a hurry, Liz offers her Friday and Saturday morning breakfast menu from 8am until 10am. Indoor and outdoor seating is available and Bay Breeze Cafe also caters and offers free delivery to Downtown Fairhope Merchants. Bay Breeze Cafe, 50 S. Church Street, Fairhope (251) 990-0294 • Facebook “Bay Breeze Cafe
The Kerrs are living the dream and celebrating success at the new location of Dragonfly Foodbar
![\"kerr\"](\"https://eat-beat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/kerr.jpg\")
Chef Doug Kerr has certainly made a name for himself with his eclectic combinations of fresh ingredients that both surprise and delight at the same time. This local Fairhope Foodie started challenging his patrons years ago when he owned and operated the Dragonfly Cafe in the Fairhope French Quarter while he was completing his coursework to graduate as part of the first graduating class of Faulkner State University’s Culinary Arts Program. He acquired corporate experience when he went to work for a restaurant group headquartered in Orange Beach, Alabama that specialized in fine dining. He seized the opportunity to travel, heading north to Chicago to work in private clubs and boutique style restaurants and then west to New Mexico and Dallas before his homecoming in 2007. Both Doug and Brie were working at in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area when the Deepwater Horizon occurred. When Doug was laid off he immediately began planning the menu for to revisit “dragonfly” with his taco concept for Dragonfly Foodbar. The first Dragonfly Foodbar location opened on Fairhope Avenue in 2010 and the Kerr’s daughter, Cirra, was born just 2 week later. For four years the couple and their staff worked out of a very small kitchen where at times, seating hungry patrons was a challenge. Their business grew exponentially and after much thought, they decided that they needed more room. This past December, Dragonfly Foodbar relocated to a larger location just around the corner on Church Street. The transition to their new location went seamlessly and the reception to their new home has been everything they could have hoped for. The menu at Dragonfly Foodbar offers “smalls” that include crispy calamari, blue crab corn fritters, crispy oyster blue cheese french toast and firecracker langostino nachos.
The tacos are available a la carte and the flavor combinations don’t disappoint. Choose from Braised Pork with apple, habanero, lime and avocado, a Blackened Ribeye with greens, blue cheese, garlic and tomato, a Firecracker shrimp with asian slaw, Five Spice Duck with figs, cranberry, radish and green chili, Crispy Oyster with pickled cabbage, Seared Tuna with edamame, wasabi and jalapeno and several other scrumptious options.
“Bowls” are also an option – Roast Pork with Udon Noodles, Spicy Red Curry Coconut Chicken, Pan Fried Udon Noodles, Kung Pao Chicken fried basmati rice, Firecracker Langostino Fried Rice, and Five Spice Duck Fried Rice.
“Sides” available are Tempura Turnip Fries, Edamame and Miso Coconut Braised Cabbage. Chef Kerr is currently working on some bold and spicy menu changes for the near future. Monday are host to Not-Yo average Monday with a different nacho special each week. Check out their $2 taco specials on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday accompanied by beer and wine specials on those evenings and stay tuned on Saturdays for “Slider” specials.
Dragonfly Foodbar, 7 South Church Street, Fairhope (251) 990-5722 • Facebook “Dragonfly Foodbar”