30A friends (including Sean and Kristy of The Long Long Honeymoon) recently enjoyed a private Chef’s Dinner at Roux 30A in Grayton Beach.

The creative vision of Chef Nikhil Abuvala, Roux 30A is part Cooking School, part Catering Business and part private Chef’s Table Venue. Hidden away in an office complex just north of 30A (off of County Road 283), Roux 30A is a fully functional gourmet kitchen where Nikhil can usually be found prepping for his many catering jobs. But his gorgeous open kitchen can also transform into a stunning candlelit dining room, which can comfortably accommodate up to 20 guests.

“We also teach cooking classes here for groups of ten or more people,” said Nikhil. “Class topics range from pasta-making to how to roll your own sushi.”

Although Roux 30A’s catering business specializes in “Seaside Inspired Modern Cuisine,” Chef Nikhil clearly loves to explore many different culinary realms, as was demonstrated during our special evening, entitled An Indian Adventure.

Our menu featured authentic dishes from both northern and southern India, including tamarind stew, katchumber, tandoori chicken, and mango lassi, among other creations. Nikhil clearly relished in the evening’s theme, because although his mother is American and Nikhil is a longtime South Walton local, his father is Indian.

Nikhil said that while many of the traditional dishes would be served very spicy in India, he decided to take it somewhat easy on our diverse group of 18 guests.

“I prefer my food so spicy that If you drop any on the floor, it’ll eat right through it,” joked Nikhil, who first learned to cook from his grandmother.

Between every course, Nikhil took ample time to introduce each item to guests, describing in detail not only what was in the dish, but also what regional Indian influences could be found in each recipe.

“Nikhil has created something truly special and unique at Roux 30A,” said guest Mike Ragsdale. “Our group is already busy planning many more culinary adventures.”

To learn more about Roux 30A, email Chef Nikhil, visit their Facebook page or call 850-225-1615.