Archive for October, 2007
P.F. Changs Opens in Sandestin
October 21st, 2007 Categories: Restaurant Reviews, Sandestin Living
Christopher Renteria is Operating Partner and in the forefront of Flemings Steak House in Sandestin. Chris and his entire staff have a real positive, professional and upbeat attitude and that along with one of the coolest settings in our area make Flemings a favorite haunt of ours. Chris was kind enough to invite us to the pre-opening party last night at P.F. Changs in Sandestin, as Changs is a sister restaurant to Flemings.
The opening of Changs has been highly anticipated in our area and based on our dining experience last night the place will be packed for a long time to come. The main seating area pictured in the first paragraph above (click on all pictures to enlarge) is not a mind boggling beautiful setting, but you come here for the food. Even though we had a table reserved, we opted for the bar where we had outstanding service.
For starters I went with my favorite at Changs (having eaten at other Changs) the Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Along with spiced chicken there is green onions, water chestnuts, black mushrooms, rice sticks, sesame oil, garlic and minced chicken sauce. Its a great dish and although I dont go for the rice sticks when I make my wrap, I dont feel overly stuffed for the main course.
My guest ordered the Crab Wontons, but because the place was totally packed and there was action aplenty she was accidentally served the Harvest Spring Rolls. The perfectly crunchy exterior had stuffed inside bamboo shoot strips, black mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, celery, soy sauce, sesame oil, mushroom oyster sauce with a sweet and sour sauce. Others around us had the same appetizer, and everyone was pleased.
When one of the waitstaff inquired if the Won Tons were good, I pointed out that we got the Spring Rolls but were very happy with them. She insisted that we also get the Won Tons, and not wanting to disappoint her we tackled them next. Another crispy but thicker exterior was filled this time with crab meat, cream cheese, garlic, ginger, bell pepper, onions, white pepper and a spicy plum sauce. I liked the dish as the ginger aspect of it gave it a pleasant and different taste, but this was my least favorite dish of the night.
Not trying to be overly imaginative (or perhaps starting to zone out a little after spending all afternoon at the Rosemary Beach Wine Festival), I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken. Even in my haziness, it turned out to be a good move. The marinated chicken was surrounded by chili pepper pods (be forewarned on these I couldnt taste my wine for a few sips after consuming one), garlic, Kung Pao Sauce, peanuts, dried chili flakes, sesame oil and green onions.
The dish was a little dry, but that was fine as I had plenty of things around me to remody that. Along with a huge bowl of moist brown rice (white rice also available), a trio of sauces was delivered at the beginning of our meal. The red sauce delivered a little more kick than I wanted, the mustard horseradish sauce also had kick but a likeable kick and the third was also good with a soy sauce base and a small mixture of the other two.
My guest ordered the Shrimp with Candied Walnuts. I thought the dish sounded too sweet with honeydew melons and a creamy lemon sauce, but it was quite good.
I was struck by how fresh the shrimp tasted, and the dish strangely enough tasted less sweet when you combined some melon with the shrimp. All in all a good dish, but you have to be in the mood.
Changs has a decent wine list, and we gave it a small workout by trying different things by the glass. For the chicken wraps, we went with La Crema Pinot Noir a wine that is our go to pinot noir as many places in our area serve this by the glass, and its a good bargain. For the Spring Rolls, J Pinot Gris was the choice. We tried the Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc with crab won tons I like this one because its not overly loaded with grapefruit as many sauvignon blancs can be. For the shrimp dish, the Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay was our choice. My excuse being the wine festival, I cant remember what I had with the Kung Pao Chicken.
We had a great evening at Changs, and this has to be one of my favorite chain restaurants anywhere. The waitstaff was positive, attentive and professional. I really liked the music and the vibe in the bar area, and the wine and food totally lived up to our high expectations. I know that there is oftentime lines to get in to Cantina Laredo, but I see P.F. Changs being even more popular in our area. Go!
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Rosemary Beach – September
October 4th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Rosemary Beach Living
There were two homes sold in Rosemary Beach in September.
One is located on Rosemary Avenue, has five bedrooms and five and a half baths, 4345 square feet and sold for $2.3 million. This beautiful home is just a block away from the gulf and includes a 500 square foot carriage house as part of its stated square footage.
The other home sold is on Belize Lane, has six bedrooms and six and a half baths, 5199 square feet and sold for $2.625 million.
At the beginning of October there are 87 homes for sale in Rosemary Beach. The asking prices range from $809,000 for a two bedroom, one bath cottage home with 710 square feet that is under construction on the north side of CR-30A to $5.495 million for a six bedroom, seven bath home with 4356 square feet.
Homes for Sale in Rosemary Beach – October 1st
Total # of Listings 87
Lowest Price Listing $809,000
Highest Price Listing $5,495,000
Average Price $2,208,221
Avg. Price/SqFt $849
Avg. Days on Mkt 271
(Click on Graph to Enlarge).
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Alys Beach – September
October 3rd, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Rosemary Beach Living
There were no homes sold in Alys Beach in September. However, towards the end of the month a three bedroom, two and a half bath 2484 square foot home went under contract and is pending. The home was listed at $2.917 million and is scheduled to close at the end of November.
At the beginning of October there are nine homes for sale in Alys Beach. They range in price from $1.995 million for a three bedroom, four bath 2180 square foot home to $2.998 million for a five bedroom, six bath 3060 square foot home designed by Miami architects Martinez and Alvarez.
Homes for Sale in Alys Beach – October 1st
Total # of Listings 9
Lowest Price Listing $1,995,000
Highest Price Listing $2,998,000
Average Price $2,421,222
Avg. Price/SqFt $916
Avg. Days on Mkt 295
(Click Graph to Enlarge).
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Seaside – September
October 3rd, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Seaside Living
There were no homes sold in Seaside in the month of September. However, one home did go pending towards the end of the month. It’s a small (1830 square feet) Charleston Cottage near the Swim and Tennis Club that had a list price of $1.745 million.
At the first of October there are 32 homes for sale in Seaside. They range from an 1100 square foot, two bedroom/two bath cottage listed for $1.25 million to a three bedroom, three bath gulf front home for $5.195 million.
Homes for Sale in Seaside – October 1st
Total # of Listings 32
Lowest Price Listing $1,250,000
Highest Price Listing $5,195,000
Average Price $2,288,094
Avg. Price/SqFt $1,351
Avg. Days on Mkt 419
(Click Graph to Enlarge).
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Homes Sold & Homes For Sale in Watercolor – September
October 3rd, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Watercolor Living
Things were quiet in September for this St. Joe project, as only one home sold in Watercolor. The home is 2265 square feet with four bedrooms, four bathrooms and sold for $930,000. The home is located on Sandy Creek in Watercolor Phase III.
At the first of October there are 147 homes for sale in Watercolor. The price points vary from a four bedroom, four and a half bath 2190 square foot home listed at $739,000 to a four bedroom, four and a half bath 2538 square foot home that is gulf front listed at $4.995 million.
Homes for Sale in Watercolor – October 1st
Total # of Listings 147
Lowest Price Listing $739,000
Highest Price Listing $4,995,000
Average Price $1,827,936
Avg. Price/SqFt $665
Avg. Days on Mkt 221
(Click Graph to Enlarge).
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Sandestin – September
October 3rd, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Sandestin Living
There were six homes sold in Sandestin in September. They include a three bedroom, three bath home with 1664 square feet that sold for $450,000 and a 2660 square foot home with four bedrooms and three baths for $1.325 million.
Homes Sold in Sandestin – September
Total # of Listings 6
Lowest Price Listing $450,000
Highest Price Listing $2,725,000
Average Price $1,043,667
Avg. Price/SqFt $368
Avg. Days on Mkt 158
(Click on the Graph Below to Enlarge)
There are 173 homes for sale in Sandestin at the first of October. They range from a small two bedroom/two bath 1200 square foot home in Linkside for $344,000 to a home on Club Drive that has four bedrooms, seven baths, 4832 square feet and is listed for $4.475 million.
Homes for Sale in Sandestin – October 1st.
Total # of Listings 173
Lowest Price Listing $304,900
Highest Price Listing $4,475,000
Average Price $1,166,934
Avg. Price/SqFt $410
Avg. Days on Mkt 232
(Click on Graph Above to Enlarge).
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Destiny & Destiny by the Sea – September
October 3rd, 2007 Categories: Destin Living, Real Estate News
There was one home sold in Destiny and Destiny by the Sea in September. The home is in Destiny on Seastar Vista and is 2773 square feet with four bedrooms, two full baths and two half baths and sold for $750,000.
At the first of October there are 78 homes for sale in Destiny and Destiny by the Sea. The least expensive home is 1850 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths and is listed for $499,500 while a 9000 square foot gulf front home in Destiny by the Sea with 9000 square feet with six bedrooms and seven baths with an asking price of $13.5 million.
Homes for Sale in Destiny & Destiny by the Sea – October 1st
Total # of Listings 78
Lowest Price Listing $499,500
Highest Price Listing $13,500,000
Average Price $1,834,677
Avg. Price/SqFt $504
Avg. Days on Mkt 228
(Click Graph to Enlarge).
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Kelly Plantation – September
October 2nd, 2007 Categories: Destin Living, Real Estate News
It was a very quiet month in September as no homes sold in Kelly Plantation in Destin. As mentioned in a previous post, there are two homes currently pending in Kelly Plantation that are scheduled to close this month.
At the first of October there are 65 homes for sale in Kelly Plantation. The entry level home is a 2414 square foot home with four bedrooms and three baths for $575,000. And at the other end of the price spectrum (and a good ways away from the entry) is the 16,000 square foot bay front home with eight bedrooms and nine baths with an asking price of $11,250,000.
Homes for Sale in Kelly Plantation – October 1st
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Total # of Listings 65
(Click Graph to Enlarge). |
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Condos Sold & Condos For Sale in Grand Dunes – September
October 2nd, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, South Walton Living
There was one condo sold in Grand Dunes in September. The unit (740) is in the North Tower and was an assignment of contract. The unit sold for $1,045,000. This is one of the last units that will be sold as an assignment of contract, as the time frame to close on all units contracted for in pre-construction has pretty much passed.
There are currently 45 condos for sale in Grand Dunes at the beginning of October. They range in price from a third floor unit in the North Tower for $1,088,000 to a two story penthouse in the South Tower for $4.5 million. The penthouse has 4,956 square feet with five bedrooms and five baths.
Condos for Sale in Grand Dunes – October 1
Total # of Listings 45
Lowest Price Listing $1,088,000
Highest Price Listing $4,500,000
Average Price $1,801,904
Avg. Price/SqFt $631
Avg. Days on Mkt 226
(Click Graph to Enlarge).
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