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Alan Baltazar of Destin Ice Market b y Tr a c e y M . H aw k i n s
T he Destin Ice Market is the 30-A’s neighborhood market for fresh Gulf seafood, prime meats, gourmet cheeses, deli and prepared foods, fine wines, craft beers, and more. It is the perfect, upscale grocery market catering to locals and tourists alike. Weekly specials are offered on a vast array of vintages in the Market’s impressive wine selections. Conveniently located at the Crossings at Inlet Beach, Destin Ice Market 30A is just minutes away from anywhere along 30-A. Join them each Friday from 4-6pm for a complimentary wine tasting, during which you can sample new vintages every week, paired with complimentary eats. It’s the perfect way to unwind after work and begin your weekend! Destin Ice Market 30A’s Chef Alan Baltazar told us about his personal experiences and his own connection to his love for the culinary profession. From where/whom did your interest in cooking first emerge? When I was seven or eight years old, I first got my interest in cooking from my dad. Both of my parents cooked a lot of family recipes passed down through the generations, and I was always wanting to learn them. For me, it’s always been about putting a smile on the people’s faces who are eating my food, and having them remember it years later. What is your academic background (i.e. did you study the culinary arts formally? And, if so, where/with whom did you study?) I am a self-taught Chef. I got my first line-cook job over 24 years ago and moved up the ladder very quickly. I’ve been a Chef now for 20 years. What inspired you to become a professional chef?
Are there any other chefs in particular who inspire you?
Chef Alan Baltazar
Some of the Chefs who have inspired me are Matin Yan, Wolfgang Puck, Julia Child, and Jacques Pepin. What do you like most about cooking for Destin Ice Market 30A ? What I love about the Market is dealing with all of the fresh, local seafood, the freedom to make all kinds of ready-to-eat meals for customers, and knowing that we are putting out the best of the best in food and wine and everything in between. It also doesn’t hurt that the Wellborns are the best owners! What is the greatest compliment you have ever received from a customer? The greatest compliment for me is from the customers I see outside of the restaurant who comment on their past meals or ask when I am going to make a certain signature dish again. What are your other interests/ hobbies, and how do they relate to your work as a Chef? My hobbies outside of the kitchen are working on vintage cars and collecting vintage car parts. For me, it’s the thrill of the hunt, just like in the kitchen searching for odd and hard to find ingredients and incorporating them in dishes. You can try Chef Baltazar’s celebrated cooking at the Destin Ice Market 30A daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. They are located at 13063 Hwy. 98 E, Inlet Beach, FL, 32461. You can also find them online at destinicemarket30a.com Phone: (850) 502-4100
local Gulf seafood, odd cuts of meat, and everything in between.
What is your favorite cuisine to eat? My favorite cuisine to eat is any Oriental food and real, Old World Butchered Meats and Sausages. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you in the kitchen? One of the funniest things happened years ago at a restaurant where we served live lobsters. After the new shipment of live lobsters came in, I told someone to put them all in the walk-in. When I got in the next day, I discovered they had not been stored properly, and the lobsters all got loose and were all over the cooler walking around!
What are your favorite dishes/meals to prepare?
My favorite meals to make are definitely the mix of Filipino and Polish family recipes from my Dad and Mom. When I am not cooking those, I love to cook the
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