Story
Another Broken Egg Café in Grayton Beach Transforms to Crackings
March 27, 2018 by Manny Chavez
On a recent visit to Crackings in Grayton Beach, owner Clayton Green couldn’t wait to offer up his most recent specialty dishes.
He was particularly proud of the Crawfish Eggs Etouffee - a dish concocted by his younger brother Preston (Preston manages their Destin location and was happy to share the wealth of this delicious Louisiana-inspired creation. Containing golden fried tomatoes with baked bacon, two poached eggs sautéed with homemade creole hollandaise and topped with a large helping of crawfish, this dish will take you back to the original Louisiana roots of the family.
The family started Another Broken Egg Cafe' umpteen years ago and it expanded to dozens of franchises. They recently sold the business but kept two locations - one in Destin and one in Grayton Beach, and have re-christened the family business as Crackings.
Clayton next presented specialty item Lobster and Gouda Grits, a savory sautéed lobster feast featuring onions, tomatoes and peppers in a rich lobster cream sauce served over smoked gouda cheese grits all topped with tomatoes and green onions served with garlic French bread.
Their Simply Salmon dish seemed to be the morning favorite –a Southwestern-seasoned salmon with onions, peppers, garlic cloves, mushrooms and asparagus over sautéed spinach, topped with chipotle jicama slaw, served with bruleed lemon.
The Cinnamon Roll French Toast will top off your breakfast/lunch cravings with a flourish…it is a thick-sliced cinnamon roll grilled with their French toast batter, layered with cream cheese icing, banana foster sauce, fresh berries and whip cream. This is a kids favorite, but don’t count the adults out!
As awesome as the Specialty offerings are, traditional breakfast/lunch meals will send you home both satisfied and wanting to come back again! Breakfast fares include “Egg-Straordinary” Omelets and Scramblers (The Floridian is a house favorite; a cream cheese-filled omelet topped with garlic sautéed crabmeat, Monterey jack and green onions); Signature Benedicts (including crab cakes, smoked salmon, and black bean); Pancakes and Waffles from the Griddle; Specialty Brunches (including Southern Crab stack, Shrimp and Grits, Huevos Rancheros, and Potato Sensations among others). On the Healthy Side, Steel Cut Oats, Granola, Fruit & Quinoa Gluten-Free Pancakes, Seasoned Fruit Bowl, etc. are all available. The menu is extensive, and picking your favorite is an enjoyable task.
Lunch offerings include a variety of burgers & sandwiches including a Fried Green Tomato B.L.T., the King Edward Club, the Veggie Burger, and the Bella-Wrap among others.
Beverages include a variety of coffees, juices, and for the “Belly Up” crowd, Spicy Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas, Champagne, French Bellini, and Domestic Beers.
Another Broken Egg Café is a family-built business started by Clayton’s Uncle Ron Green in Mandeville, Louisiana back in 1996. Clayton’s father Tommy Green saddled up with his first ABEC opening in Destin in 1998. The restaurant flourished and Clayton, at the tender age of 22, opened the Grayton Beach location in 2005. He’s been rubbing elbows with his employees ever since… He cooks, washes dishes, waits on table, makes drinks, greets folks at the door … he does whatever it takes to keep the business going. His wife of 10 years, Kristy, is the office manager and “people’s manager” and his daughter Karter, age six, loves to meet and greet folks on Sundays after church. She busses tables as well as she socializes with the clientele. Young son Walker, age four, is taking an interest and Clayton has no doubt the family business will remain in good hands as time moves on.
“Out here on 30A the culinary scene is very strong,” says Clayton. “We’re thankful for our community and their support throughout the years. We are glad to be a part of it and know that our standards meet their expectations.”
Unlike some area restaurants, Clayton stays open year-round.
“I know what the service industry is all about and I prefer to stay open for my employees. I’d rather take the hit and keep them happy than they take a hit…I’d rather stay open. We are like an extended family here.”
Clayton’s energy is contagious and his attention to detail combined with his worth ethic will surely “keep the doors open” at Another Broken Egg Café in Grayton Beach!
For more information please call 850-231-7835. Location: 51 Grayton Uptown Circle (Uptown Grayton, on the eastern edge of Grayton Beach south of Scenic 30A). Hours: Open daily from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., closed on Mondays from November-February.