Culinary Outfitters
by Stephany Showalter
Out on South Dixie Highway is a hidden gem of a restaurant that is worth taking the time to find. The Bistro at Culinary Outfitters serves lunch daily and it is not your standard fare. Once you go, it will surely become a mainstay in your weekly lunch rotation.
Opening the restaurant was a natural extension to their very busy and much sought after catering business. The catering division of the business has been here since 2001. The Bistro opened in February 2008. “We started the restaurant serving at night time and that didn’t work. There’s no traffic on South Dixie Highway in the evening. By day this road is very busy because the locals don’t want to do the US 1 thing,” said Owner Mary Pritchard. Everybody going back and forth makes for a busy lunch business.
Diners can choose to eat-in, take-out or take in some fresh air at a shady lake side picnic table. Having a place to get true gourmet take-out is indeed a luxury. Everything is homemade and seasoned with the freshest of herbs Mary grows right outside the Bistro. She strives to use locally grown vegetables and the freshest of local seafood whenever possible.
Mary is surrounded by a loyal staff, including her manager Connor, who helps keep the restaurant running smoothly and the guests happy and satisfied. It is clear that the chefs truly love to cook and it shows in all they create. All dressed up with a beautiful presentation, diners can select from the regular menu items including Signature Smoke Salmon and Dixie Chicken. Many of the recipes incorporate Datil Pepper to add a local touch. Wednesdays are known as Rib Day. Bub, Mary’s husband, is the head “smoker”. He lovingly rubs down ribs on Tuesday and smokes them to perfection and ready for lunch on Wednesday.
Weekly specials are available which include a unique salad, soup and sandwich. An email is sent out to give lunch-time goers a preview. Locals can sign up on their website to be included in the email blast. If they don’t have time to come in, they can call and place an order. Free delivery is available, and they also do corporate lunches.
In addition to menu items, patrons can order Peerce’s crab cakes through Culinary Outfitters. These well-known fan favorites are made on site and are always available for dine-in or take-out. Mary also makes seasonal jellies that combine datil pepper with a wonderful fruit which is served in the restaurant as well as available for purchase. Cranberry Datil Pepper which will be made in the fall would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s Thanksgiving and Christmas fare.
Chances are that if you lived here for any length of time, you have tasted Mary’s cooking. From weddings to intimate dinners for two, Culinary Outfitters is known as “The quintessential St. Johns County catering company.” Their claim to fame is the ever popular shrimp and grits, served in a martini glass with all the extra sides such as bacon and chives to keep each guest coming back for multiple helpings.
Culinary Outfitters is part of the Saint Augustine Independent Restaurant Association, made up of more than ten local restaurants. Joining SAiRA was an easy choice for the owner. “I want to help with all the different charities that SAiRA is benefiting. I like that, to give back,” says Mary. “And also, just being a part of that community. I never got to see them—I’m always working. They’re all good friends and we get to get together once a month.”
Culinary Outfitters, 9E South Dixie Hwy, 904.829.2727, culinaryoutfitters.org.
