USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia-S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 20, No. 2
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
January 8, 2020
1 Section, 10 Pages
LOVE IN PARADISE Couple opens up tropical themed restaurant
All bowls are free of Gluten, Dairy, MSG, GMO and HFCS By Gina Castro | Photos by Bara’ah Jaraiseh
W
hether it’s dividing the bills, tag teaming the chores or just supporting each other, many can agree that marriage is a team effort. However, few couples would agree to be coworkers let alone open a business together, but that’s not the case for Erin and Michael Perez the owners of Pineapple Express. “We are a husband and wife team. So they started a couple of side We have always worked togethbusinesses. They designed their er, and we work well together. I own T-shirts, created a version of couldn’t do this business without Uber Eats and worked in real esher, and she couldn’t do it without tate. But none of these businesses me,” Michael said. “That’s one felt right for them. After moving of the joys in working with her. I to Pensacola to be closer to Erin’s understand some people who are twin sister and father, the couple husband and wife find it difficult agreed to start their own restauto work with each other. I’m just rant. blessed that I can work well with “When I was doing real estate, my wife. I listen to her always, and my vision wasn’t to just sell housshe listens to me sometimes. es. It was for my own benefit It’s fun.” because I wanted to The couple began make connections working together for our business,” when they were Michael said. only dating “Erin was on at Michael’s board. That’s brothers’ Japathe best part. nese restauWhen we rant in Mobile, talked about Alabama, called doing it, she Kai. said ‘yeah let’s Also serving the “When we were do it.’ If she was famous Dole Whip! working there, Erin not for it, I knew I was helping us out with couldn’t do it without serving, hosting and adher.” vertising. It was good training From there the couple spent ground,” Michael said. three months curating a menu that “We just wanted to start someis both gluten free and dairy free, thing that felt more like ours” Erin without MSG, GMO or high frucadded. tose corn syrup while also having
Pineapple Express owners Erin and Michael Perez at their grand opening.
vegan friendly options. It is important to Erin and Michael that their food is both healthy and delicious because they have a lot friends who have gluten allergies and Michael is lactose intolerant. “A lot of people have gluten problems, and we have friends who value eating healthier,” Michael said. “One of the things that Erin and I always say is if we wont eat it, we won’t serve it. We’re not picky eaters, but we’re careful eaters.” The idea is for the restaurant to be a healthy grab-and-go spot. Customers choose white rice, brown rice or quinoa as the base; organic, oven-roasted chicken, grass-fed beef or tofu as the protein; and teriyaki, barbecue, flaming hot or “P.EX Original” as the flavor. Each sauce is made in house. Pineapple
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Express also sells Dole Whip, which is something like dairy free pineapple ice cream. “For our anniversary, we went to Hawaii. It was the first time we ever had the Dole Whip, and I have lactose intolerance, so I was nervous about eating it. When I tried it, it didn’t upset my digestive system, so I enjoyed it. It’s an ice cream I am able to eat.” Opening Pineapple Express is not the end of the road for Erin and Michael. They plan to open more locations in Florida, and first on their list is Navarre. They also own a food truck, so they plan to pop up around town during the lunch rush soon. Pineapple Express is located at 224 E. Garden St., Suite 6. You can stop by Mon.-Sat. 11 am – 3 pm.
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