We loved our time in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and look forward to heading back to the area again someday. I would call the cuisine Southern – Lowcountry. Think Lowcountry cuisine with lots of seafood and a strong influence of Cajun/Creole from New Orleans, but with a little more soul. Here’s a list of six foods to try when you’re in the area.
#1 Shrimp
You’ll find shrimp prepared in hundreds of ways in the area. We suggest that you try them in any and every way that sounds good to you, especially fried, blackened, or sauteed. These, of course, are wild-caught Gulf shrimp that come from warm waters along the shore as far north as Maryland and all along the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico. For a special treat, look for Royal Reds. These are the crown jewel of Gulf shrimp caught in cool, deep waters between 800 and 1500 feet. They can be recognized by the color of their shell which is red even before cooking. Their sweet flavor compares to lobster or scallops. These shrimp deserve to be prepared very simply to let the shrimp shine as they did in the seafood boil where I tried them at Flora-Bama’s Ole River Grill (top photo).
#2 Oysters
Oysters appear on as many menus as shrimp but with fewer methods of preparation. Mostly you’ll find them raw on the half shell, fried, or chargrilled with butter and parmesan. We tried this chargrilled version for the first time on our visit to the Original Oyster House. While I love Oysters Rockefeller, this is my new favorite way to enjoy cooked oysters. In my opinion, it offers a way to showcase the taste and texture of the oyster meat and not the toppings that are added to it.
#3 Fish
Mahi, Grouper, Snapper, and Flounder are among the varieties of fresh fish you’ll find available. Whether you order it grilled, fried, or blackened, fish will often be served with the ubiquitous French fries, coleslaw, and a side of southern hushpuppies. The best thing about each piece we had? It was FRESH and rarely overcooked! My favorite was the blackened Mahi I had at the Flora-Bama Yacht Club. I missed taking a picture of it, so you’ll have to go there to try it yourself.
#4 Conecuh Sausage
Located in Evergreen, Alabama, about 120 miles from Gulf Shores, might make this seem like a stretch for area foods but you’ll find it on enough menus and in all the grocery stores in town, including Walmart, so I included it here. An Alabama tradition since 1947, the Sessions Family produces several types of sausage today in addition to the original hickory smoked. You’ll find it highlighted in the ingredients of some restaurant dishes and frequently mentioned in reports about food from the area. We purchased some to enjoy down the road so stay tuned for that.
#5 Chicken and Waffles
A trip to the south wouldn’t be complete without some Southern fried chicken and waffles. Sunliner Diner’s version didn’t disappoint. The sweetness of the crisp waffle and the warm maple syrup with which it was served combined great with the salty fried chicken breast and a touch of hot sauce on the plate. You’ll find other elements of southern cooking on menus like this diner, including Alabama’s white BBQ sauce, cheesy grits, and more.
#6 Bushwacker
I admit that this is a drink and not food, but I can tell you from experience that this adult milkshake will fill you up! We were already quite familiar with Bushwackers because of the time we have spent traveling in the Caribbean. The Ship’s Store, Sapphire Pub at Sapphire Village in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands put this one on the map. Linda Murphy, the owner of Sandshaker Beach Bar in nearby Pensacola Beach, Florida, takes credit for bringing it stateside. We didn’t find a restaurant that wasn’t offering Bushwackers as an option. Like it extra boozy? Ask for a floater! We found our favorite Bushwacker at Flora-Bama’s where the suggested floater (usually it’s rum) was Skrewball’s Peanut Butter Whiskey.
It was no surprise to me when researching what to eat while visiting Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, that most fingers pointed to seafood of some sort. We were happy to oblige! We suggest that you try a little bit of all of it prepared in as many ways as you have time to try them. And we hope that you’ll enjoy the adventure!
