“If consuming is a pleasure of your day, you need it to be good,” stated chef Clark Huff, of Ocean Bay Eating.
Huff is founder and proprietor of Ocean Bay Eating who moved from Little Rock, Arkansas to the Florida Keys in 2015 to take a place as a regional supervisor for a meals service firm. After three years, they parted methods.
“I made a decision I don’t wish to be a highway warrior any extra. I needed to do my very own factor and provides the neighborhood an alternative choice for meals,” he stated.
Huff’s background and coaching are huge and spectacular, together with serving 4 previous presidents, two Arkansas governors and varied superb occasions. He’s additionally recognized for his award-winning smoked beef tenderloin.
Apart from supply, Huff works solely together with his right-hand cook dinner, Maggie McKeehan.
McKeehan, a retired paralegal turned cook dinner and botanical driftwood artist, is a delight. The dynamics between the 2 of them made this interview enjoyable — to not point out, McKeehan gave me an enormous piece of scrumptious pound cake to munch on.
“I needed to offer one thing fast, inexpensive and it’s delivered to your own home. The church, St. James the Fisherman Episcopal Church, was gracious sufficient to permit us to make the most of the kitchen. Along with the meal planning enterprise, we do quite a lot of catering, child’s birthday events, weddings and celebrations,” Huff stated.
“When we now have leftovers, we donate it, so I don’t eat it,” McKeehan jokes, including severely, “We do attempt to give again as a lot as doable.”
Every week, Ocean Bay Eating affords 18 to twenty meal choices. A few of the hottest are rooster salad, rooster marsala, crustless quiche, lasagna, meatloaf and McKeehan’s well-known picadillo. In addition they famous that individuals love the desserts, particularly the rum cake.
“We wish to hold it contemporary, enjoyable and fascinating.” Huff stated.
Many purchasers would additionally add of their favorites, simply multiplying this checklist.
“Prime rib can be extremely popular,” Huff stated. “Individuals love issues that you just usually go to a restaurant and order. A variety of my inspiration comes from a love of Asian and Italian meals together with an eclectic mixture of Southern meals. I wish to hold it versatile.”
Is there something that hasn’t been well-received? Huff needed to assume for a second, and you can inform McKeehan’s wheels had been turning too. His response: “Meals which were extra vegan-related.”
“I can plan a menu and attempt to make it excellent, however the factor I believe could also be the most effective vendor doesn’t find yourself that approach, i.e., there is no such thing as a predictability.” Huff buys from 4 suppliers — contemporary greens and best choice meats. Total, it’s a clear meal system and nearly each meal simply must be microwaved, taking about two to 3 minutes.
It’s enjoyable to obtain the menu which comes out on Sundays. You could have till Wednesday at 5 p.m. to ship in your order and pay. His texting course of is straightforward and handy.
“Utilizing the textual content messaging makes it particularly straightforward for snowbirds to begin once more when they’re again on the town. They simply key in ‘begin,’ and they’ll get again on the menu messages,” Huff stated.
Huff and McKeehan do the meal prep Thursdays and Fridays, after which the meals is delivered on Saturdays. DJ Dougie Hitchcock and Tony Taylor assist with this last vital step as they assist ship from Ocean Reef right down to Decrease Matecumbe.
Apart from all that, what else did we speak about? Chef Clark, and his spouse Martha, an inside designer with L. Lynn Interiors, have additionally created pet food, as an answer a number of years in the past after their canines received sick from spoiled store-bought meals. At present, there are two choices—a beef and candy potato possibility and a rooster and rice possibility.
Pets deserve some good meals too!
To be added to the Ocean Bay Eating textual content message, textual content “begin” to 888-403-4503. It’s also possible to observe on Fb @OceanBayDining, the place they put up the weekly menu, costs and cost choices.