Onano in Rosemary Beach in PBS special

[SoWalSally]

Onano Neighborhood Café, an Italian restaurant located at the end of Main Street in Rosemary Beach, will be featured in an upcoming PBS television special hosted by garden designer P. Allen Smith in April.
The series titled, “Garden Lifestyles,” which profiles Rosemary Beach and the cuisine of Onano Chef de Cuisine Phillip McDonald, is slated to air April 10, with another segment, “Beach Living,” to air April 13. The entire PBS special on Rosemary Beach will air in a series of segments through July.
Chef McDonald prepared garden fresh recipes for the crew that were easy to create and a delicious way to enjoy a relaxing time dining al fresco in the heart of Rosemary Beach.
McDonald is Chef de Cuisine of Onano and is in his first year there.
On Oct. 16, 2005, McDonald was featured in The New York Times in addition to three other chefs along 30A in an article titled, “Goodbye Stuffed Flounder, Hello Foie Gras.”
In November, BeachTV’s restaurant critic Margit Bisztray selected Onano among her Top Five “Most Romantic” Restaurants.
A Destin native, McDonald’s culinary expertise was honed at area restaurants including Bogwalk, Fish Out of Water, Criolla’s and Cuvee Beach. With an appreciation for Italian cuisine and handmade dishes, McDonald believes that food is at its best when kept simple, using only top quality ingredients and seasonal produce.

About P. Allen Smith
P. Allen Smith is a garden designer and lifestyle expert. He is the host of two nationally syndicated television shows, P. Allen Smith Gardens and P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home. Gardens airs on network affiliates broadcasting to more than 80 percent of the country and Garden Home is seen on Public Broadcasting channels, including the new Create TV, a 120 station digital network. Allen is the gardening expert for The Weather Channel and makes regular guest appearances on NBC’s Today Show. www.pallensmith.com, Allen’s Website, receives 1.3 million unique visitors per year. Additionally, he contributes monthly columns to Woman’s Day and Cottage Living magazines and has written a best selling series of books including P. Allen Smith’s Colors for the Garden: Creating Compelling Color Themes, which was released in February.

About Onano Neighborhood Cafe
Founded by Penny and Mark Dragonette, Onano opened in December 2003 and boasts an intimate ambiance, like that of a romantic trattoria. The restaurant, named after Mark’s grandmother’s hometown in Italy, occupies the ground floor of The Pensione, an eight-bedroom European-style bed & breakfast that has been featured in Southern Living and The New York Post. Completed by the Dragonettes in 2001, with architects Luis and Jorge Trelles, the four-story oldworld stucco building was the first commercial building in Rosemary Beach.
Hours are Monday - Thursday 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., and Friday - Saturday 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Seating is limited and reservations strongly suggested. Call (850) 231-2436.

[30A Skunkape]

I bet P. Allen is going to wear a blue shirt and khakis

[Snerd]

The Chef is leaving or has already left to go work for Chans Wine world in Destin and Onano and the Inn which is owned by the same couple is for sale.

[southof30A]

The Chef is leaving or has already left to go work for Chans Wine world in Destin and Onano and the Inn which is owned by the same couple is for sale.

Sounds like that place was a raging success...

[potatovixen]

I bet P. Allen is going to wear a blue shirt and khakis

That's fantastic!
I work at Onano, and that's exactly what he wore when he came in for dinner.

Also, we're still open, and still doing well.
As for the Chef leaving, yeah, that happened. But we'll survive.

[Miss Kitty]

That's fantastic!
I work at Onano, and that's exactly what he wore when he came in for dinner.

Also, we're still open, and still doing well.
As for the Chef leaving, yeah, that happened. But we'll survive.

potatovixen! I am enamored with your name. How do you like your potatoes?

Tell me about Onano...I have never been!

[potatovixen]

potatovixen! I am enamored with your name. How do you like your potatoes?

Tell me about Onano...I have never been!

Haha, well, I have a very strong Irish background, and a friend of mine used ot call me the Potato Vixen. The name just kind of stuck.

As for Onano, of course I'm going to say it's good. I want everyone to come in and eat. The entire kitchen staff (current chef included) is comprised of culinary students from GCCC. (That wasn't really intentional, it just kind of happened that way.) I guess the best way to put it is that we're all a little crazy (you have to be) and obsessed with food, so we put a lot of care into what we do.

Just today I went to three different grocery stores looking for basil, because nobody had anything that looked good enough, and our purveyors flaked out on us. If that gives you any idea of how twistedly devoted we are. ^_^

[Miss Kitty]

Cool potatovixen! My son is in Ireland right now and says he eats potatoes at almost every meal! Onano sounds like one of my fav shows....Top Chef! I will make plans to dine with y'all in October!

[DD]

Cool potatovixen! My son is in Ireland right now and says he eats potatoes at almost every meal! Onano sounds like one of my fav shows....Top Chef! I will make plans to dine with y'all in October!

Miss K, I LOVED Top Chef.....so glad Tiffany didn't win!! Harold was cool......

[Miss Kitty]

Miss K, I LOVED Top Chef.....so glad Tiffany didn't win!! Harold was cool......

...you and me and everyone else! She was a sneaky snake!

[onanochef]

Sounds like that place was a raging success...

The place is no longer for sale it is doing very well.

[Druish Princess]

What is the schedule like this time of year?

[Allifunn]

The place is no longer for sale it is doing very well.

OC!!!!!! I must come visit next time in town.....I have heard the food is pretty good....

[tistheseason]

The place is no longer for sale it is doing very well.

It's really one of our favorite places. Hope the food is as good as it has been in the past. We'll be there the first week of November -- if Rapunzel sticks to her babysitting offer. And we're planning on bringing friends there the second week in January - Will you be open?

[potatovixen]

It's really one of our favorite places. Hope the food is as good as it has been in the past. We'll be there the first week of November -- if Rapunzel sticks to her babysitting offer. And we're planning on bringing friends there the second week in January - Will you be open?

I believe we'll be closed through January, but I'll get back with you on that one. We'll definitely be open in November, though, so if you do come in, I'd love to meet you!

[potatovixen]

What is the schedule like this time of year?

We're open Monday-Saturday. Dinner starts at 5:30, and we stay open at least until 8. Sunday from 10am-2pm we serve brunch.

[potatovixen]

The place is no longer for sale it is doing very well.

Well, I do believe I know you from somewhere. hmmmm. Welcome to the board, Alan!

[scrltbegonya]

The place is no longer for sale it is doing very well.

Your food is most excellent! I'll be in soon!

[Miss Kitty]

Should the Kitties dine here on Saturday night?

[kurt]

[ame="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=5404"]Onano Neighborhood Cafe - review - SoWal Beaches Forum[/ame]

[potatovixen]

Should the Kitties dine here on Saturday night?

Yes! you should! I'll be working that night, so you should definitely come and let me cook you something.

[Miss Kitty]

Yes! you should! I'll be working that night, so you should definitely come and let me cook you something.

Done. Make me a reservation for 4 at 7:30 pm!

[potatovixen]

Done. Make me a reservation for 4 at 7:30 pm!

I'll try to remember to mention it, but you may want to call them up yourself. I can barely remember what I had for dinner last night, much less to make a dinner reservation for someone else.

[Miss Kitty]

I'll try to remember to mention it, but you may want to call them up yourself. I can barely remember what I had for dinner last night, much less to make a dinner reservation for someone else.

...how lazy are you? I'll call!!!!

[Teresa]

Onano is my very favorite place to eat in sowal, besides Borago (I love them both dearly). What makes Onano unique is the tiny romantic Italian trattoria look and feel, and the food is exceptional (the best). Can't wait to go again...

[Miss Kitty]

Onano is my very favorite place to eat in sowal, besides Borago (I love them both dearly). What makes Onano unique is the tiny romantic Italian trattoria look and feel, and the food is exceptional (the best). Can't wait to go again...

Okay, that did it. We are definitely going to Onano. I'd go anywhere my little Toots recommends.

[onanochef]

Okay, that did it. We are definitely going to Onano. I'd go anywhere my little Toots recommends.

You will not be disapointed, I have a really nice stuffed chop on the menu as well as some very good chicken marsala. Lots of goodies on my fall/winter menu. I look forward to all to come on in eat and get the whole
dinning experience.

[onanochef]

Well, I do believe I know you from somewhere. hmmmm. Welcome to the board, Alan!

Hey Molly and thanks.

[Teresa]

You will not be disapointed, I have a really nice stuffed chop on the menu as well as some very good chicken marsala. Lots of goodies on my fall/winter menu. I look forward to all to come on in eat and get the whole
dinning experience.

OMG...

[Miss Kitty]

Tomorrow night...8:15 pm!!!!

[potatovixen]

Tomorrow night...8:15 pm!!!!

Can't wait to see you! (again!)
Great to see you and Mr. Kitty tonight. ^_^ "I'm a good stamper!"

[Bluznbeach]

This is the New York Times story mentioned in the original post:
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/10/1...5c51a7&ei=5070 With all due respect to the restaurants mentioned here, I still like stuffed flounder!

P.S: Anybody know what "cineplex" they're talking about?

[onanochef]

This is the New York Times story mentioned in the original post:
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/travel/16tables.html?ex=1161576000. &en=3e8d5c9c8d5c51a7&ei=5070 With all due respect to the restaurants mentioned here, I still like stuffed flounder!

P.S: Anybody know what "cineplex" they're talking about?

I do not know of a cineplex in tthe area there and I agree about the stuffed flounder.

[Miss Kitty]

I sure am getting hungry for dinner! See you around 8pm!!!!

[Teresa]

I sure am getting hungry for dinner! See you around 8pm!!!!

I want a full report in the am. with pix.

[Miss Kitty]

How is it we have never dined here before???? One word....YUMMY!!! The service was just spectacular, like dining in someone's home. Some people had wine...not me. I had a chopped romaine salad and SCALLOPS on orzo...cooked to perfection. Never saw Potatovixen.

[potatovixen]

How is it we have never dined here before???? One word....YUMMY!!! The service was just spectacular, like dining in someone's home. Some people had wine...not me. I had a chopped romaine salad and SCALLOPS on orzo...cooked to perfection. Never saw Potatovixen.

So glad you liked everything! We were some busy little worker back in the kitchen, so I didn't get a chance to come out and say hi. I did intend to, though! By the time I made it out to the dining room, there were only two large tables left.

And Miss Kitty, how could you not mention how fabulous your salads were? I put lots of extra love into those.

[Allifunn]

So glad you liked everything! We were some busy little worker back in the kitchen, so I didn't get a chance to come out and say hi. I did intend to, though! By the time I made it out to the dining room, there were only two large tables left.

And Miss Kitty, how could you not mention how fabulous your salads were? I put lots of extra love into those.

Being a chef, I would have "found' my way into the kitchen for a look-see......

[Beach Runner]

Loved the scallops (perfectly cooked) and orzo, also the arugula salad. The service was excellent. Loved the wine - flipped when we saw Avignonesi on the wine list since we really like their wines (and it brings back fond memories of our visit to that winery). Actually the two of us might have had a bit too much wine (we "pre-gamed" before dinner). Sunday AM we were a little slow getting started.

[Miss Kitty]

Being a chef, I would have "found' my way into the kitchen for a look-see......

Kitchens and Kitties do not mix!

[Allifunn]

Kitchens and Kitties do not mix!