Everyone is ok here, Annie and James are fine.  Amber continues to work hard as ever and is in a plane way too often, but that’s life for now.

Being a Destin Photographer gives me the ability to shoot photography I wouldn’t normally get to shoot if I didn’t live on or near the water.  I love the sunsets, the brown pelicans, all the different kinds of boats and I just love Destin Harbor.  Anyhow, that’s what I’ve been doing.

Now, as a Destin Photographer I am always talking with my clients about where they’re staying, how long they are going to be in the area, have they been here before, what kind of food do they prefer, etc…I always like to let people know where the good spots are in my opinion.  I am typically not a franchise kind of guy and I have actually blogged about this spot before, but it’s been awhile and it’s totally worth bringing up again, so drum roll please…  McGuire’s Irish Pub makes Capture Destin for the second time.  I’ll tell you why shortly.   McGuire’s has some amazing burgers and a great appetizer called “boxties.” They are mashed potatoes with bits of cheese in them rolled in panko bread crumbs in small balls and then deep fried.  They are typically served with three dipping sauces salsa, guacamole, and horseradish.  It’s yummy!!  They also have an amazingly good hickory smoked prime rib that’s out of this world.  Want more?  They have a house drink called an Irish Wake, must have Irish Wake, also yummy!  Don’t drink and drive you might hit a bump and spill your drink.  No, seriously it’s strong and you need to make sure you’re the passenger if you partake.  Oh, I almost forgot one more of the great things about McGuire’s.  They have an upstairs seating area that is perfect for sunset and great views of the east pass and Crab Island.  Now for the why I am writing about McGuire’s again.  They have added a pizza place outside with the same bar drinks and great microbrewery beers as the main restaurant.  I have actually not tried it yet, but everyone that I have talked to about it has nothing but great things to say.  How bad could a pizza be with prime rib on it, right?

So, there you have it.  When you plan your trip, don’t forget to book your photography with TheDestinPhotographer.com or call me at 850-499-2213 to book your session.

McGuire's Irish Pub in Destin, Florida

My father (Joe’s father-in-law) is truly a pain to take out to eat.  Peter considers himself a gourmet chef and is highly critical of anyone else’s cooking.  Even in a five star restaurant Peter will say after a perfectly delicious meal – “ahh, well – it wasa alrighta”.  Yes – I just typed in English-Italian accent … justa lika my fathera speaksa.  

Low and behold we took my father to McGuire’s one evening during his annual coastal retreat to spoil the grandkids and we figured that no matter what he said or did – McGuire’s is an original and regardless of Peter’s opinion – it would always be at the top of our favorites list.  Starting out with an order of Irish Boxty’s (these delectable little balls of fried potato and cheese that you can dip into salsa, sour cream or guacamole) and the most scrumptious bread ever delivered to a table (It’s like pumpernickel only lighter and fluffier and fresh made and then drenched in a honey sauce over the top).  My dad’s smile broadened.  No sign of complaints on the horizon…. 

Salads were delivered on time with fresh fixins including our favorite dried cranberries to add just a bit of zing to the normal rabbit food mix.  Balsamic vinegrette for half the table and a gallon of ranch for the other half – no one was talking.  (At a table full of Italians – no one speaking while eating is a very good thing!)

The entrees were of course, the house special – Prime Rib.  Let me just say, McGuire’s offers one of the best cuts of meat without having to wear a tie and full length gown to get in the door.  Completely casual, McGuire’s is the “pub atmosphere” with a perfect affinity for us cow eating connesiuers.  As a side – huge potato with fixings or very yummy garlic mashed potatoes for the carb consuming crowd, while we lowly diabetics enjoy crunching on some grilled asparagus and long for the smooth taste of buttery, cheesy potatoes … mmmmmmm.

McGuire's Bar in Destin, Florida

Then a miracle happened.  My father (Peter) clapped his hands together with big smile on his face and said “This is some of the best food I have ever eaten.”  Jackpot – OMG – I’ve never heard him say that ANYWHERE in the almost thirty years that I have been conscious upon this earth.  I was speechless and just looked at Joe – (he had a big smile on his face, like see – I know your dad, I know how to do it… )

My father making that statement is truly the biggest endorsement that McGuire’s could have ever gotten and they have no clue.  So here’s to you McGuire’s – my heartfelt thanks for providing another culinary masterpiece and the first evening out with my father where I wasn’t embarrassed when he wanted the chef to come out so he could give him a few pointers!

Joe & Amber at BluePoint

Fay, Gustav, Hanna, Ike …. tis the season for Hurricane Parties!  We rarely make it out to the local watering hole these days but a few members of the family were visiting this weekend and tensions were high in the area with all of the looming storms so we decided to head to Blue Point for a few toddies. 

Destin is famous for it’s upper class nightlife choices, but Blue Point at Destin Commons is the most convenient and comfortable spot for us – considering it’s cental location and proximity to the Mid Bay Bridge.  Joe had the camera with him of course and made sure to grab some pretty hilarious snapshots of the “eyes fully open” crowd morphing into the drunk eye incoherent laughter ensuing non-presumptuous, yet extremely judgemental group that we are….  =)

Since Michael and Adam moved to Orlando about eight months ago, we’ve had laughter withdrawl and it was such a repreive to have us all together again.  The only complaint from the evening was Adam’s incensent need to pet his new Iphone – it’s sick people, he even sleeps with it.  Mark my words, the show INTERVENTION is going to be taking submissions for IPHONEAPHOBIA.  Who really likes to be that accessible and is high speed internet really necessary in public restrooms?  Okay, so I’m done ranting for now until my addicted friends end up with thumb arthritis from texting nonsense to other Iphone users who just want to hear the bing, blip or ping or something occurring on their overpriced, handheld lifekeepers.

Ahem.  So back to the important items – family.  Our second afternoon of labor day weekend was spent enjoying the pre-storm weather at McGuires Irish Pub.  Yumm-O as Rachel Ray would say – perfect atmophere, tasty house brewed beers and not to mention some of Destin’s finest culinary treats.  Irish Boxty’s (These very tasty potato and cheese fried appetizers) are our favorite.  Order the nachos and share – it could feed a small nation of bean, meat, and spicy cheese craving carnivores.  Since we dined for lunch we didn’t treat ourselves to steak, but the prime rib is indescribable and a must-have for visitors. 

Our last evening we spent at home with everyone filling the kitchen for homemade snacks and quesadillas.  Joe usually does a ghetto version by baking them in our conventional oven on a pizza stone but we got fancy this time and borrowed Rory’s quesadilla-maker in order to expedite the process.  We managed to munch down five pounds of chicken breasts, 6 pounds of shredded cheese, 3 packages of tortillas, two jars of salsa and 4 bottles of vodka without incident.  We ended the evening with a blast from the past movie favorite of ours – Friday.  Yes people, Destin’s finest were drunk at home, stuffed full of chicken and cheese and sprawled out on the floor laughing hysterically at old school crunk comedy.  Priceless.

Please note that we would prefer not to be judged based on the frank comments and life experiences that we share on this blog.  We are actually very nice, loving individuals who somehow influence each other to act heinously when spending too much time in small spaces together.  The excessive Vodka consumption is directly linked to the martini recipe guide that we were given by an unknown (or forgotten individual).  We are simply on a mission to make every martini in the book and then write a few recipes of our own for future publication and the funding of our retirement since social security will probably become an extension of welfare by the time we qualify and only those who have never paid a dime in taxes will be subsidized in old age by the government.