MILLIE’S RESTAURANT & CATERING
New Local Restaurant with Flavors and Freshness that Excite
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he smell of the salt from the ocean across the street, the breeze and sound of crashing waves dance into your ears before you step foot in this fairly new yet already local favorite in Daytona Beach Shores. Amy and Chris Chibbaro, owners of Millie’s Restaurant & Catering, named the place after their dog, Millie, a brown standard poodle they said is the greatest dog in the world. Located at 3218 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores, Millie’s has been open since January 12th of 2018 and hasn’t stopped in their forward progression of amazing local fare. It’s a 49-seat restaurant with a beechwoodtree bar and smooth, stained antique wooden tables. A large window to the kitchen gives guests sipping on a local craft beer a live kitchen experience with glimpses of fire dancing from saucepans. The color of ocean blue is utilized throughout the restaurant, creating a beachy, comfortable ambience. Nick Murray’s (Instagram @nick_murray_) and Michele Wozniak’s (Instagram @ michelewozniak) photographs of waves and local life also decorate the restaurant, and a 150-yearold captain’s wheel is hung on the wall. “We pride ourselves on being a community restaurant, and having the freshest seafood around,” Chris Chibbaro said. He and Amy have a close relationship with local fisherman Mike Ditty of Captain Mike’s Seafood and Charters. Ditty sources through the local fleet that go out and catch the fish, and brings the catch straight from the docks to Millie’s. I’ve dined more than a few times now and always start with barbecue smoked alligator ribs, which is a featured “I like to keep everything local, appetizer you don’t see on even the rum I use in my barbecue many menus. Executive Chef Jeremy sauce is coming from Florida.” Wimmer smokes the ribs and then sous-vides them (cooks them slowly in a vacuum-sealed pouch or glass jar) to the perfect temperature. If you’ve never had gator, imagine a combination mild white fish and chicken combined. Then, Wimmer lathers them in sweet-rum barbecue sauce and serves them over Texas toast. It’s the taste of the South in your mouth! Millie’s menu is very versatile, with starters that range from fresh Florida ceviche to Pork Nachos – house made chips with pulled pork, carmelized onions, cheese and delicious sauces. Millie’s also offers hand-held dishes, including a pressed Cuban sandwich, a vegetable banh mi, and, my favorite, the Florida sweet-rum barbecue burger. Wimmer, a well versed chef, has cooked at numerous establishments in such varied locations as Maui, Seattle and Jacksonville. “I like to keep everything local, even the rum I use in my barbecue sauce is coming from Florida,” Wimmer said. Chef ’s Local Shrimp and Grits has been one of his favorite recipes for 10 years. It’s composed of Ponce Inlet white shrimp, andouille sausage, fresh 6 DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA/DELAND
OCTOBER 2018
ground pork sausage, house-smoked tomato vinaigrette, and Geechie Boy cheddar grits. My forever favorite, and many locals favorite is Fish Francaise, with the local fish of the day, angel hair pasta and a lemon caper beurre blanc. You can taste the freshness, and the pasta is cooked perfectly. When you drop your fork through the fresh fish, ranging from the daily selection of what they get from the docks, whether it be Snowy Grouper, Red Snapper, Sheepshead, or Hogfish it slides through like soft butter. Millie’s Restaurant offers brunch on Sundays, featuring creative dishes such as sweet-potato buttermilk biscuits and gravy, and a dish called the waffle porker — a sweet waffle with a choice of mojo pork or porkArticle and Pictures By: Ryan Rougeux belly confit, two fried eggs, salted Instagram: Gonzofoodjournalist caramel maple mousse, and a Facebook: Gonzo Food Journalist blackberry gastrique! Email: gonzofoodjournalist@gmail.com Millie’s is creative, fresh, local, flexible, and sure to be a long time standing restaurant in the area. “Our guests can come Millie’s Restaurant and Catering in with flip-flops and get a 3218 S Atlantic Avenue Grouper sandwich to go, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118 while you can dress nicely (386) 275-1492 and have wonderful family Monday - 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. dinner with upscale-style Tuesday - Closed entrees as a filet and shrimp Wednesday - Saturday - 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sunday - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. fondue,” the Chibbaros said.
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