Adrienne Grenier’s Tupelo Fort Lauderdale Pop Up Open for the Fall

While 3030 Ocean at the Marriott Harbor Beach is undergoing renovation, chef Adrienne Grenier has opened a pop up in the hotel’s Riva restaurant space. Tupelo Fort Lauderdale, named after the Tupelo honey tree, is open f0r dinner nightly at 6pm.

Grenier, a South Florida native and 2012 champion of the Food Network’s Chopped culinary competition, created Tupelo with fresh, local ingredients in mind. A menu with fun starters, filling entrees, and tasty desserts is available, including a generous cocktail menu – and living up to its namesake, honey is a popular ingredient. Pictured below is the delicious Bees Knees Martini, made with Hendrick’s gin, tupelo infused syrup, fresh lemon, and rosemary.

We began with samplers of all the appetizers. My favorites were the shishito peppers, grilled to perfection and served with a lime aioli for dipping. The honey butter served with the warm cheddar biscuits was also perfect (note the honey!). We also sampled two fresh salads.

Clockwise from top left: warm cheddar biscuits with honey butter; shishito peppers; tuna tartare.

Tupelo’s fresh sales: Baby greens; Roasted beets

Up next came our sharable entrees. The roasted chicken breast, with chorizo rice grits and black bean puree, was a unanimous favorite. I personally loved Jim’s Pork Chop, tender meat served with grilled brussels sprouts, potato salad, and a mustard sauce. The seared scallops, with a creamy polenta and charred corn succotash, hit the seafood spot – which, considering you can see the ocean from the dining area, was fitting.

Clockwise from left: Roasted chicken breast; Seared scallops; Jim’s pork chop; Sautéed snapper; Grilled beef tenderloin.

I was pleasantly surprised with myself that I didn’t completely overload on dinner, as we had been forewarned we’d definitely want to save room for dessert. Ms. Grenier completely made the evening with her spiked root beer float. This childhood favorite made with alcoholic root beer should become a staple at every meal. Including breakfast.

Clockwise from left: Root beer float; Warm chocolate brownie; Fresh berries & cream

Tupelo Fort Lauderdale is open through October 23. Catch Adrienne here if you can!

Tupelo at the Marriott Harbor Beach, 3030 Holiday Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

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