Q & A with Chef Mark Eichin of Restaurant Paradis

Restaurant Paradis is an excellent, intimate, romantic, delicious, casual-yet- fine-dining restaurant in a prime spot along the cobblestone sidewalks of Rosemary Beach.

If for some crazy reason you actually need a good excuse to visit the wildly popular restaurant, we’ve got one. Chef Mark Eichin just won Best Chef on the Emerald Coast. It’s easy to see why. Paradis’ menu features a fresh take on fine dining classics as well as seasonal dishes to keep you hungry for more.

It’d be a fun night to start off with cocktails in the lounge followed by a four-course fete. Start with Diver Scallops seared with a wild mushroom & sweet pea risotto, and a carrot beurre blanc, followed by Chef’s roasted garlic and potato soup. (He uses white truffle oil to set the flavor apart.) Entrees at Paradis are special – you can’t go wrong with a cast iron filet. And you can’t leave without trying house made gelato whose flavors are as seasonal as the menu itself.

Hungry yet? We recently caught up with Chef Eichin (right before his big win) to get the scoop on his approach to food. He answered a few questions about his craft and gave us an inside look at Restaurant Paradis. Read on to discover Chef’s unique approach to menus, how he sets himself apart, and what he’s grateful for.

What is your inspiration for the menu?
My inspiration comes in part from my staff and teaching, as well as places I've been, what's in season at the time, and what isn't being done in the area.

Where do you source your ingredients?
I source my ingredients as local as possible. I work with a couple of local farmers, but they are limited on what they can grow in the area. To supplement, I work with ten other food companies - and a couple of local fish companies to make sure I get the freshest local fish.

Do you have a wine program?
We have a very extensive wine program. We mainly deal with American wines - small batch, boutique wines. We are very aggressive on pricing as well.  We want our customers to be able to enjoy incredible wines at affordable prices.

What three words would you use to describe the atmosphere at Restaurant Paradis?
Welcoming. Family. Relaxing.

Do you collaborate with other chefs in your restaurant group?
I really only collaborate with other Chefs and restaurants when doing charity events. But we are a big family and if they need to borrow, or for us to help in any way, I try to be as accommodating as possible.

What is the vibe like among the staff at Paradis?
We are a big family in every sense of the word.

What are your top priorities when it comes to delivering an amazing dish?
Quality, consistency, and bang for your buck.

Is there anything more that you would like to share?
I wouldn't be able to achieve what we have done here without the amazing job, incredibly long hours, and hard work from all of my staff. I’m truly blessed.

Restaurant Paradis is located on South Barrett Square in Rosemary Beach. The restaurant is open for dinner daily. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 850-534-0400. Visit www.restaurantparadis.com for menus and more. Follow Restaurant Paradis on Facebook for menu updates, specials and wine dinners.

The owners of Restaurant Paradis also have a barbecue concept – Back Beach Barbecue in Panama City Beach. Follow them on Facebook for all things BBQ!