This city has a serious love affair with the datil pepper. And if you’ve ever had one before, it isn’t hard to see why. It’s amazingly tasty and can be used in anything from drinks to desserts. You can find the pepper just about anywhere in St. Augustine, but we’ve rounded up just a few of our favorite datil pepper dishes.
SHRIMP & GRITS
The Reef
This award-winning shrimp and grits dish is cooked in a datil pepper lime sauce. The heat of the sauce cuts through the creamy grits and fresh shrimp perfectly for a serious kick of flavor. It’s a beautiful fusion of a classic Southern staple and an area favorite.
www.thereefstaugustine.com
DATIL CHIP BURGER
Old City Market
The spicy, crunchy datil chips can be added to any burger, so it’s time to go a little crazy with a little heat. Along with that delicious crunch of the datil chips, we suggest the inclusion of the signature sauce – spicy signature sauce if you’re feeling daring.
www.oldcitymkt.com
DATIL CHICKEN
Black Molly
This delectable, juicy chicken is grilled and topped with goat cheese and an unbeatable sweet & spicy datil jelly. It’s no wonder the datil jelly is the restaurant’s signature – it’s just the right amount of sweet and the right amount of heat.
www.theblackmollygrill.com
SAINT AUGUSTINE
Osprey Tacos
The Saint Augustine starts with the local seafood favorite – fried shrimp. The shrimp is then topped with cabbage and pickled onion and drizzled with a housemade datil & pink sauce. All ingredients work in seamless harmony for a delicious crunch and an unbelievable burst of flavor.
www.ospreytacos.com
DATIL PEACH
The Hyppo
Popsicles are an unusual way to enjoy peppers, sure. But the datil pepper heat combined with the sweetness of fresh peaches is a winning combination. And it’s the ideal way to cool off in the St. Augustine heat of summer.
www.thehyppo.com