Menu Selections for the Waterfront Restaurant of Walton County, Seaside, Florida

Cuisine

Bringing Extensive Culinary Experience to Seaside

Chef Ed Reese started his career at the age of 15 working in the fine dining restaurants of nearby Destin, Florida. He left the Gulf Coast to pursue his degree at the acclaimed Culinary School at Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina.

Upon graduating from Johnson and Wales, Reese returned to Destin and took over as chef of Elephant Walk Restaurant in Sandestin Beach Resort.

In 1991 Ed seized the opportunity to move to Birmingham, Alabama and work under James Beard Award winning Chef Frank Stitt. Reese initially worked at Stitt’s Italian restaurant, Bottega and later worked up to the Chef De Cuisine position at the renowned Highlands Bar & Grill.

In 2002 Ed left Highlands Bar & Grill to teach at the culinary school, Culinard, in Birmingham, Alabama. After so many years away, Ed missed the Gulf breezes and coastal flavors he had grown up with and decided to move to Santa Rosa Beach.

Now as the Executive Chef of Bud and Alleys, Chef Reese brings his extensive culinary experience to Seaside combining the bounty of the Gulf of Mexico with the flavors of the coastal lowlands.