This week Elizabeth and I head to Palafox Street to meet an entrepreneur who combines her well-traveled life and adventurous family history to create delicious dishes!
Do you ever get a nostalgic feeling for something you have never experienced? It happened to me while I was listening to MariCarmen Josephs paint the picture of the childhood that led to her present-day life as a successful Pensacola restaurateur.
Everyone at the Table
I could see young MariCarmen in the kitchen, spending summers helping with her mother Julie DeMarko’s catering business. Her mom loves entertaining so much that she designed a 13-seat round table for the dining room — the problem was it couldn’t fit through the door of their 120-year-old home, so it had to be constructed in the room! Once in place, adults and children were both welcome at the table.
Travels in Spain
From her father’s, Allen Josephs, yearly travels to Spain I could also visualize MariCarmen soaking up tales of exotic food and wine. These experiences led MariCarmen to open Carmen’s Lunch Bar where she could share her passion for fresh produce, unique spice combinations and family recipes with Pensacola.
Off to College
MariCarmen knew that she wanted to work in the restaurant business, but her mom discouraged her because of the long hours and hard work. So she thought a career in food writing and food photography would be a perfect fit. She attended UNC at Chapel Hill and graduated with degrees in journalism and Spanish. MariCarmen spent three months in Dijon France, traveling with a group of students and a UNC professor doing what a true foodie would do… drinking wine, eating gourmet meals, shopping in fresh markets.
Impressive Resume
But alas, MariCarmen did go in the restaurant business with her mom in 2002. Together they opened Juliet’s World Cafe in the old Apple Market Antique Gallery. After a successful four-year run, they closed when the owner sold the building. Next up came stints working in a wine shop, as a chef at 600 South, and as the general manager of The Wine Bar.
Taking a Chance
MariCarmen was on a trip to France and Italy in 2012 when she heard about an opportunity that would finally put her in charge of everything. It was the Pensacola Business Challenge, the brainchild of Quint and Rishy Studer. The Studers were looking to the community for business ideas to reinvigorate Downtown Pensacola.
MariCamen submitted a business plan for her idea, a restaurant where she could quickly serve gourmet dishes to people who lived and worked downtown. After countless interviews, presentations, (and samples of her delicious food) she wowed the judges and won the challenge. She received $25,000 to launch her business, mentoring, plus free rent for a year and reduced rent for two years.
Creating the Space
Winning the challenge presented a new challenge: how to maximize 730 square feet into a functioning kitchen and welcoming dining space. She drew upon her well-rounded restaurant experience to design an optimized workflow for her small-spaced kitchen. She also designed the prominent bar at the heart of the restaurant. The end result is a cozy, comfy spot to enjoy a meal with friends or dine solo. She aimed for a European patio feel so you’ll find tables on the sidewalk. A great spot to see and be seen on Palafox!
Let’s Eat
But we came here for the food, right? The Tapas menu includes the popular Carmen’s Soda Bread, fresh rosemary, dried cranberries, sweet butter and also a savory goat cheese cheesecake with seasonal fruit pepper jelly. Carmen’s Kale Salad will change with the season because they use fresh seasonal berries and fruit, but will always include the Honey White Balsamic dressing and crunchy candied walnuts The dressing is so good you can buy it by the pint to take home.
For my entree I ordered what is my hands-down favorite sandwich in Pensacola, the Spanish Crab Melt (seriously, I’d probably cry real tears if it were off the menu), crispy ciabatta bread, local jumbo lump crab, chorizo sausage, Manchego cheese, lemon, saffron and arugula. Every delicious bite is packed with tasty crab and creamy cheese! MariCarmen tells me the crab melt is the most popular item on the menu… so it seems others share my love for it. I always choose the side salad with the house’s White Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Elizabeth ordered the Cuban Pork Plantain ‘Pie,’ slow-roasted pork, spicy red sauce, chopped sweet plantains with sour cream & black bean salsa. The pork was tender and the ingredients melded into a one-of-a-kind taste.
Other choices include a Chicken Tikka Masala plate and Julie’s N.C. Pork BBQ plate, named for MariCarmen’s mom.
We both had the refreshing Cranberry-Orange Bubbly “Soda” featuring Prosecco, cranberry and fresh orange. MariCarmen calls it an ‘Adult Shirley Temple’.
The Soup Whisperer
MariCarmen has a reputation for conjuring up tasty soup creations, so much so that she is known as “The Soup Whisperer.” The menu always includes a permanent soup— the Thai Yellow Curry Crab Chowder (local jumbo lump crab, coconut milk, ginger, sweet peppers, potatoes, carrots, sugar snaps and fresh herbs) and a soup of the day. The sweetness of the crab meat, carrots and peppers are balanced by the curry, ginger and herbs.
On the day we visited, the soup of the day was a Summer Market Chowder with fresh corn, zipper creamer peas, baby red potatoes, roasted poblanos, carrots, bacon and hints of ginger, lime and smoked paprika. It was a hot summer day, but believe me when I say that the chowder was refreshing and you could taste the layers of flavor!
Some days the soup of the day may be a Creamy Mushroom & Cauliflower Soup with roasted baby Bella mushrooms in a rich cauliflower-cream base, garnished with applewood smoked bacon, dried cranberries and chives. All of the soups are gluten free and the chicken stock is made from scratch in-house. My advice is to always order the soup!
Great Great Grandmother’s Recipe
All desserts are baked in-house and include gluten free choices. MariCarmen created the base for all of her cakes from her great great grandmother’s apple cake recipe.
Elizabeth’s Take
“You can tell MariCarmen grew up spending summers in Spain. The menu at Carmen’s Lunch Bar not only offers many gluten free options, but unique dishes, soups and salads you won’t find anywhere else. The large U-shaped bar is the perfect spot to grab a quick, gourmet lunch while downtown.”
Ali’s Take
“You hear a lot of restaurants say they serve one-of-a-kind dishes, but Carmen’s Lunch Bar really does.You won’t find her Spanish Crab Melt on another menu in town. I also love how accommodating Carmen’s is to solo diners. You can opt to grab a seat at the bar and feel welcome.”
What Makes Carmen’s Lunch Bar Special
Owner MariCarmen Josephs says, “It’s our unique recipes, friendly warm service and atmosphere. All three go hand-in-hand. I like to say our dishes are eclectic international cuisine with a southern flair… literally all over the map. Also the team at Carmen’s has been in place a long time. The consistency has remained the same.”
Good to Know
Carmen’s Lunch Bar
407 South Palafox Street, Suite B
Pensacola, Florida 32502
850-542-4334
- Carmen’s serves beer and wine. The wine selection includes local, regional and International wines.
- MariCarmen jokes that she’s not Spanish but just pretends to be.
- She beat out over 100 competitors the year she won the Pensacola Business Challenge.
- The kitchen uses fresh local seasonal fruits and produce.
- Carmen’s Lunch Bar will celebrate its ten-year anniversary in October 2022.
- Carmen’s Lunch Bar is 100 percent female owned.
- Dogs are always welcome outside.
- Be sure to order MariCarmen’s spin on iced tea, Cranberry Orange Iced Tea. I could drink it by the gallon!
What’s your favorite dish at Carmen’s Lunch Bar? Leave us a comment and let us know. Also, if you have a restaurant that The Emerald Toast should try, let us know!
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