Best Roadside Attraction, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Best Roadside Attraction, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Eat Local, Y’all!

For a foodie-in-training like me, there is nothing like a local farmer, with his truck pulled over on the side of the road proudly displaying his precious homegrown vegetables and fruits to get my heart racing and my taste buds dancing. Farming is a way of life here on the Gulf Coast and these artisans have been farming for generations… some have even gone “big time” and graduated from the truckbed to having their own stand. These farmers plant, nurture, baby and LIVE this stuff all year and when just the right the time comes, we deliciously reap the benefits.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach fall into Baldwin County…a county rich with fertile farm lands and abundant fresh Gulf seafood. How lucky are we!? Depending on the time of the year, you can find bountiful supplies of amazingly delicious silver queen corn (absolutely to die for!), red ripe tomatoes (that taste like tomatoes!), potatoes, greens, squash, the sweetest, most crisp watermelons you’ve ever tasted and the list goes on and on. Many times at these “homegrown” markets, you’ll find home baked goods to go along with your fresh vegetables…even better!

Hand select your prizes, load up your car and continue down the road and you’ll surely run into a shrimper who’s just landed a big haul and he’ll fix you right up with all the delicate and delicious shrimp you can boil, fry, sauté or grill! I usually keep a small cooler in the car for such shopping trips…and a good shrimper always has plenty of ice on hand! Not sure you know how to cook all this good stuff?...NO worries!…a pot of boiling water, some spices and a whole bunch of butter and you are GOOD TO GO!

So the next time you think about a vacation with good eats…think “home-grown” and eat local! It doesn’t get any easier or healthier than in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL. Let’s Eat, Y’all!

Photo Courtesy of: Michelle Stancil