Chef Jordan Economy believes that great food has the power to connect.
“Through a new dish, people can be transported and introduced to a new culture,” he says. It’s why he decided early on in his career to maintain an open mind, broadening his mastery of an eclectic variety of culinary traditions from around the world. From French, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods to Korean, Middle Eastern and Latin American preparations, diversity keeps Chef Jordan inspired.
After spending more than two decades opening and leading a wide variety of restaurant concepts around the country, Chef Jordan, a New Orleans native, now calls South Walton home. It is here, at The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach, that he is helping redefine dining on 30A.
As Executive Chef for Havana Beach Bar & Grill, The Pearl’s award-winning restaurant, Chef Jordan’s first order of business was to foster a collaborative kitchen environment with a focus on creativity and community. The result, he says, has been a reimagined approach to Havana Beach’s culinary experience, both on and off the plate.
Cooking should be creative and fun, because when people enjoy what they do, it shows up on every plate. A happy kitchen makes happy food.
Havana Beach’s new food offerings are a thoughtful and creative evolution of the approach for which Havana Beach has long been known. Drawing inspiration from Ernest Hemingway’s favorite old-town Havana haunt, El Floridita, the AAA three-diamond restaurant offers guests three distinct dining experiences: in the main dining room, at the bar and on the rooftop, boasting one of the best views on 30A.
Staying true to the restaurant’s focus on celebrating the joy of good food, Chef Jordan has perfected the basics: flavors that are comforting, elevated and reflective of the distinctive bounty of Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast–with a touch of global inspiration.
Spending time doing a little 30A shopping myself sparked a lot of the inspiration. Some incredible local ingredients and products provided the foundation for many of the new dishes.
Since joining the team, Chef Jordan has introduced a new menu at the Havana Beach Rooftop and curated rotating Chef’s Table specials in the restaurant’s main dining room, offering guests inspired dishes that push culinary boundaries and highlight seasonal elements and internationally inspired flavors. Guests can also expect additions including charred octopus with tahini mousse and preserved lemon, curated oyster selections, seafood towers and butcher boards.
Cooking is about storytelling. While it is important to honor the dishes and flavors that our guests have come to know and love, I’m equally passionate about introducing new ideas, techniques and dining experiences. My goal is to create food that satisfies and inspires–capturing the spirit, beauty and sense of place that make 30A so special.
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Havana Beach Bar & Grill is located at The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach®. The restaurant is open daily for Brunch, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and for dinner, from 4 to 9 p.m. The bar and rooftop (weather permitting) are open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with happy hour offered Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seasonal hours apply. Learn more at havanabeachbar.com.
Details included in this story were accurate at time of publication but are subject to change based on seasonal schedules, amenity and/or operational updates. For the most current information, please visit the respective property’s website.
