Café Thirty-A Celebrating 20 Welcomes Chef T

South Walton visitors love life, love the beach, and love food! Food just tastes better on vacation. But we also know SoWal has incredible restaurants with talented chefs. We locals benefit every day of the year from a fantastic cuisine scene.

Among our favorites day in and day out for 20 years is Café Thirty-A in Seagrove Beach. If you haven't been yet, plan a visit as soon as possible. Owner Harriet Crommelin has plans to make her 20th year the best one yet. She recently hired Executive Chef Teofilo Tundidor, known as Chef T. The native Floridian will allow the menu to evolve naturally by incorporating lighter, healthier options, while striving for a true farm-to-table experience.

Although Chef T was born in Miami, he spent most of his life right here on the Emerald Coast. The calling to cook came at a young age, and as a child, Chef T found himself in the kitchen preparing meals for his family. He has always gotten pleasure by cooking for others.

After graduating from high school in Ft. Walton Beach, Chef T returned to Miami to attend Johnson and Whales University College of Culinary Arts. Afterward he worked with some of the best chefs in the country, including Michael Bloise, at Wish, a Mobil 4-Star restaurant in South Beach in Miami, and Norman Van Akein at Normans in Coral Gables.

Always learning, Chef T has used his time to travel, train and work in other settings and expand his knowledge. Most recently, he was Chef de Partie at Trummers on Main, in Clifton, VA and Chef de Cuisine at Southern Tide in Sea Island, GA. Chef T has worked at Café Thirty-A on and off for 10 years, leaving only to train in other kitchens, and always returning. All of these experiences have combined to make Chef T a force in the kitchen. His devotion to Café Thirty-A is apparent as he assumes his new role in a place he has loved for the better part of a decade.

"The reputation of Café Thirty-A is so important to me and I will work to ensure that we continue to be the best restaurant on 30A," promises Chef T.

Chef T’s plans to change the menu will come slowly and will continue to reflect the general vibe of the current menu. The new offerings will include some lighter and healthier options, while keeping the many delectable items Café Thirty-A is known for, such as the classic Filet Mignon, Lobster and Banana Beignets.

Get yourself to Café Thirty-A and check out Chef T's excellent menu!