Get to know us!
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Are you Amanda? My mother, Myra, gets asked that a lot. She’s the one who
is generally out front, serving our wonderful guests. She replies the same way
every time, “No, I’m Amanda’s mother, Amanda is the chef.” Then, when I
come out to see how everyone is doing, I get the same questions, “How did
you learn to do this” or “How long have y’all been open”. Well, we’ve been
open since May 4th 2004 and I went to culinary school are the short answers,
keep reading for the longer versions!
Meet Amanda:
I am a French trained chef. I attended a local Culinary School after bouncing
around the state working in restaurants. I’ve worked almost every type of food
service job imaginable, from managing a bagel store in Boca Raton, to
bartending at the Miami Dolphins stadium, to frying up your favorites at a
popular chain restaurant. I’ve worked every job in a restaurant from the front
door (hostess) to the back door (dishwasher, not my favorite by the way), and
learned a lot in between.
When I decided to go back to school, I knew it had to be something to do with
restaurants. It was the one industry that I’ve always wanted to be in. When I
was 7, I turned my grandparents’ kitchen into the Lake Side Café. And when I
was 18, it was the first job I got! I looked around at culinary schools and
business schools, and was shocked to learn our local community college had
a wonderful 2 year program. Not only that, but at the time, had a Master Chef
as an instructor. Imagine that, having the guy who taught you the “proper” way
to cut an onion, being one of the top in his field! It was a no brainer, I packed
up my car and moved to St Joe Beach.
My last semester of culinary school is when the idea of the Bistro hatched. It
took us over six months to get it opened, but we did it! So, on May 4th, 2004,
five months after completing school, Amanda’s Bistro opened to the public.
Since we opened I have been a contestant in the Gumbo Cook-off placing
second and then moving on to be one of the judges this past year. I have also
been a finalist in a national recipe contest for culinary professionals
sponsored by the Peanut Advisory Board.
I was born in Albany, Georgia, spending my weekends in Panama City
Beach. Then, before high school, Mama and I traded all the red clay and pine
trees for the white sand and palm trees of Bay County permanently. So when
asked if I’m a local, my answer is: Close enough!
I love living in this area. I like to call it Mayberry on the Gulf. Compared to
other places I’ve lived, like South Florida or Tallahassee, this beach is the
friendliest and prettiest. I enjoy living here and hope you enjoy visiting!
Meet Myra (aka Amanda’s Mom)
Mama is originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and has lived in St Joe Beach
for 13 years. She spent her childhood vacationing in Panama City Beach,
and has said that our area is the closest she can find to that now. She has
lived all around, worked in many fields, insurance, banking, public relations,
but never a restaurant. She seems to have picked up on it pretty quick though!
Myra was working at Bay Medical Center in the Public Relations department
as the Community Development Coordinator when I came home to attend
culinary school. Upon the Bistro opening, she helped out on weekends and
evenings, still maintaining her “real job” and creating her art in the down time.
After retiring, she became our full time server and main contributor to our gift
shop.
Her art work in it’s many different mediums are what decorate our walls. She
works in glass, ceramics, fabric, and pretty much anything she can get her
hands on. Sometimes I think we have a restaurant so she has somewhere to
put her art!
Meet Happy Dude:
A common question in the Bistro is: “what’s up with the little guy”. That little
guy, also known as our logo, is Happy Dude. He is an original creation of
Myra’s. The first version of Happy Dude is very similar to the one you see
now. His one and only job is to make you smile!
The small statuettes in the gift shop are created by hand by Myra and are for
sale. We also have t shirts with Happy Dude embroidered on them. The
large statue out front was created by Amanda and is made from Fiberglass.
is generally out front, serving our wonderful guests. She replies the same way
every time, “No, I’m Amanda’s mother, Amanda is the chef.” Then, when I
come out to see how everyone is doing, I get the same questions, “How did
you learn to do this” or “How long have y’all been open”. Well, we’ve been
open since May 4th 2004 and I went to culinary school are the short answers,
keep reading for the longer versions!
Meet Amanda:
I am a French trained chef. I attended a local Culinary School after bouncing
around the state working in restaurants. I’ve worked almost every type of food
service job imaginable, from managing a bagel store in Boca Raton, to
bartending at the Miami Dolphins stadium, to frying up your favorites at a
popular chain restaurant. I’ve worked every job in a restaurant from the front
door (hostess) to the back door (dishwasher, not my favorite by the way), and
learned a lot in between.
When I decided to go back to school, I knew it had to be something to do with
restaurants. It was the one industry that I’ve always wanted to be in. When I
was 7, I turned my grandparents’ kitchen into the Lake Side Café. And when I
was 18, it was the first job I got! I looked around at culinary schools and
business schools, and was shocked to learn our local community college had
a wonderful 2 year program. Not only that, but at the time, had a Master Chef
as an instructor. Imagine that, having the guy who taught you the “proper” way
to cut an onion, being one of the top in his field! It was a no brainer, I packed
up my car and moved to St Joe Beach.
My last semester of culinary school is when the idea of the Bistro hatched. It
took us over six months to get it opened, but we did it! So, on May 4th, 2004,
five months after completing school, Amanda’s Bistro opened to the public.
Since we opened I have been a contestant in the Gumbo Cook-off placing
second and then moving on to be one of the judges this past year. I have also
been a finalist in a national recipe contest for culinary professionals
sponsored by the Peanut Advisory Board.
I was born in Albany, Georgia, spending my weekends in Panama City
Beach. Then, before high school, Mama and I traded all the red clay and pine
trees for the white sand and palm trees of Bay County permanently. So when
asked if I’m a local, my answer is: Close enough!
I love living in this area. I like to call it Mayberry on the Gulf. Compared to
other places I’ve lived, like South Florida or Tallahassee, this beach is the
friendliest and prettiest. I enjoy living here and hope you enjoy visiting!
Meet Myra (aka Amanda’s Mom)
Mama is originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and has lived in St Joe Beach
for 13 years. She spent her childhood vacationing in Panama City Beach,
and has said that our area is the closest she can find to that now. She has
lived all around, worked in many fields, insurance, banking, public relations,
but never a restaurant. She seems to have picked up on it pretty quick though!
Myra was working at Bay Medical Center in the Public Relations department
as the Community Development Coordinator when I came home to attend
culinary school. Upon the Bistro opening, she helped out on weekends and
evenings, still maintaining her “real job” and creating her art in the down time.
After retiring, she became our full time server and main contributor to our gift
shop.
Her art work in it’s many different mediums are what decorate our walls. She
works in glass, ceramics, fabric, and pretty much anything she can get her
hands on. Sometimes I think we have a restaurant so she has somewhere to
put her art!
Meet Happy Dude:
A common question in the Bistro is: “what’s up with the little guy”. That little
guy, also known as our logo, is Happy Dude. He is an original creation of
Myra’s. The first version of Happy Dude is very similar to the one you see
now. His one and only job is to make you smile!
The small statuettes in the gift shop are created by hand by Myra and are for
sale. We also have t shirts with Happy Dude embroidered on them. The
large statue out front was created by Amanda and is made from Fiberglass.