Posted on 3/6/2020
If you've ever been to Destin's Miramar Beach, you know it's a little slice of heaven with a unique character all its own. As the gateway between Destin and Scenic Highway 30A, Miramar Beach is a hub of activity. Picturesque shores, surf shops and outdoorsy boutiques, designer outlets, popular restaurants and lively bars, beach resorts, and so much more make up this distinctive enclave. And, now, locals and visitors can enjoy another fun experience in Miramar Beach – funky and fancy-ish pop dinners!
Thanks to local dining establishment 2 Birds Coffee + Café, beachgoers can enjoy once-a-month pop-up dinners with a set menu. But wait, what exactly is a pop-up dinner?
Pop-up dinners can trace their roots back to the mid-20th century. In a New York Times article that explores the origins and cultural impacts of pop-up dinners, it indicates that pop-up restaurants began with "supper clubs, the food trucks where laborers bought lunch and the home restaurants that fed leaders of the civil rights movement. When the Great Recession led to restaurant closings, many chefs turned to pop-up restaurants to stay current, visible, and solvent."
While these pop-up restaurants and dinners were historically created out of necessity, the new pop-up trend is for restaurants and chefs to share creative meals in a one-night dinner event. Current pop-up dinners allow chefs to tell stories through food and share cultural and community ideals. They are a fun way for the community to come together, connect, and simply have a good time by trying new foods in a unique atmosphere.
And this is exactly what 2 Birds Coffee + Café is doing with their pop-up dinners!
Located in Miramar Beach (with a second location in WaterSound), 2 Birds Coffee + Café is a casual coffee stop for beach goers, coffee aficionados, and anyone looking to try something new. The owners traveled to the Emerald Coast looking for a more laidback way of life, and on their journey discovered a passion for good, simple food. They share their passion with the Destin and 30A areas by providing the community with tasty, but uncomplicated, treats. From coffee and classic espresso drinks to homemade pastries and breakfast toasts, the restaurant proves that good food doesn't have to be fancy.
While their daily breakfast and lunch menus ensure a steady stream of regular visitors, the owners wanted to have a little more fun – both with the food they offer and their beloved community. Enter the pop-up dinners!
For quite some time now, 2 Birds Coffee + Café has offered monthly pop dinners. They are a one-night event with a set menu. The menus boast "funky fancy-ish" dinners for its guests, featuring a limited selection of creative dishes.
In January, the pop-up dinner at the Miramar Beach location was a chef collaboration with Sushimoto, which offered Snapper, Chilled Beef, Scallops, Dashi, and Vietnamese Coffee Cake. YUM! The most recent event on February 20, 2020, in WaterSound featured a menu to "celebrate women of wine." For this dinner, the restaurant partnered with J. Brix Wines and Old Westminster Winery to offer seven small plates paired and eight wines. It was a blast for everyone who attended. We're all looking forward to what is planned in the future!
Besides the monthly pop-up dinners, the Miramar Beach location recently started opening its doors for regular pop-up dinners two nights each week. Every Thursday and Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm, you can stop by to enjoy a funky fancy-ish dinner. Currently on the menu is Shrimp Crudo, Trumpet Mushrooms, Ginger Lemongrass Scallops, Crispy Skin Duck, Tempura Fried Chicken, Chilled Beef Salad, Grilled Sesame Shrimp, and a few other items. That doesn't mean it won't change, though, so be sure to stop by while these dishes are available!
2 Birds Coffee + Café keeps vacationers and the local community updated with upcoming events via their Instagram page @2_birds_cafe, so that you won't miss these fun opportunities! They are a great way for restaurants in the area to collaborate, the chefs to try out new and exciting recipes, and for the Emerald Coast community to bond over yummy food. Participating in one of these pop-up dinners is also sure to be a fun vacation memory that you won't forget!
Have you had the opportunity to attend one of these awesome pop-up dinners yet? If not, it should definitely go on your to-do list when you visit Miramar Beach! As soon as you book your vacation at one of our vacation rentals in Miramar Beach, be sure to check out the upcoming pop-up dinners for 2 Birds Coffee + Café so you don't miss out.
Bon Appetit, and enjoy your funky fancy-ish dinner (& dessert)!
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