Michael Blois (rhymes with choice) would be the first to admit that British cuisine is not known for its bold flavors. The new owner of The British Eatery – formerly known as Temperley’s – at its original location on South Arnold Road in Panama City Beach, explains that, as with British humour, it’s the subtlety that counts.
“British food is technically bland,” he says in his north London accent, “but you actually taste the ingredients.”
Blois took ownership of the restaurant earlier this year from Jeff and Stacey Temperley, who decided to remain in England after being literally trapped there for months due to pandemic-related visa restrictions. The menu, for now at least, will continue to cater to those clientele, like me, who have become addicted to it: traditional pub grub like fish & chips, battered sausage, pasties and shepherd’s pie, and big juicy burgers with names like the Winston Churchill, the Drunken Leprechaun, and Jack the Ripper.
Authenticity is paramount to Michael Blois. While doing inventory he was appalled to find German bratwurst being substituted for standard British-style sausages in the bangers and mash served at Temperley’s. So there will be tweaking of the menu in short order. He may even introduce in the near future some robust Indian curries, the antidote to hearty but understated English fare.
While the pandemic is indirectly responsible for bringing the new restauranteur to PCB, it was an earlier global calamity, the Great Recession of 2008, that brought him to the States. Blois spent his childhood in Pinner, an area of north London that is also the hometown of Sir Elton John. Prior to the recession he had grown a successful business installing sound and public address systems in commercial establishments such as Starbucks franchises. The sudden economic downturn left him with no business and no home. With his two young boys and wife Julia, who was born a Yank in Virginia, he moved in with Julia’s father at a place called Gulf Breeze, Florida.
For about ten years he made a living doing what he knew best, installing and repairing anything electronic, televisions and the like. He was making a decent living and his family was thriving on the Emerald Coast. But something was missing. There was no place to get the proper ingredients any self-respecting Englishman needs in order to produce certain necessities of life – like a full English breakfast, for example.
In 2018 Blois purchased his first Florida business establishment, the British Pedlar, in Navarre. The little shop had been around for about three decades, but the new owner revitalized its image and restocked it with authentic English, Irish and Scottish products. Out with the old and in with the tea and crumpets, the Christmas puddings, the scone mixes and Cadbury chocolates.
Blois first met Jeff Temperley when the latter stopped by the shop on his way home to PCB from Pensacola. When Temperley dropped over $500 at one go on British goods Blois knew he had met his match. Just before Thanksgiving in 2019 the British Pedlar held a grand opening extravaganza, complete with fish & chips served from Temperley’s roving food truck. It created quite a stir in Navarre and both Blois and Temperley had the best sales day ever.
Before the year 2020 changed everyone’s plans, Blois and Temperley had flirted with the idea of joining forces and possibly placing products from the British Pedlar in the PCB eatery. That all changed of course when Temperley got stranded in England, unable to obtain a business visa owing to all the embassies being under lock down. Now both businesses belong to Blois.
What’s next? The grand opening of The British Eatery took place on Thursday, the 5th of November. If this is the first you’ve heard of it, well, you just missed it. But no worries. Get down there and try the authentic fish & chips at your first opportunity. Check out the menu at www.britisheatery.com. When in Navarre, stop by www.britishpedlar.com. Cheers!
If you would like to nominate someone for Faces of PCB, please contact Tracy Steely, tracysteely@gmail.com, www.steelygroup.com or call 850 803 9822.
