Taste Of The Town: Taste Sensations At "Tupelo"

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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - It's been said the that when one door closes, another one opens.

Welcome to "Tupelo," a temporary pop-up restaurant taking place at Fort Lauderdale's Harbor Beach Marriott while the hotels signature restaurant "3030 Ocean" undergoes a under renovation.

Chef Adrienne Grenier, who is no relation to the actor of the same name, is executive chef at both. For Tupelo the concept is casual cool and all about sharing.

"This is a pop up restaurant out of the Riva dining room we are using for the next two months so, you have to get it while it lasts," said Grenier who is quite comfortable shaking it up in the kitchen.

A few seasons ago she was the winner of Food Network's hit cooking competition show "Chopped."

"It was good. It was tough, but worth it because I get to do things like this," said Grenier.

The concept for Tupelo all began with the name.

"When we were deciding on a name I wanted to take inspiration from Florida wildlife, so I was searching and came across a Tupelo tree and I thought it was cool name and it also gave us a theme with Tupelo Honey which is rare and good," said Grenier.

CBS4's Lisa Petrillo found the restaurant's namesake extended to their beverages.

"The Bees Knees is a gin drink designed using Tupelo Honey and lime juice," said Petrillo as she tasted one. "That's really refreshing."

Tupelo Honey, which is only harvested in the tree twice a year, is also used in the butter on the restaurant's sumptuous cheddar biscuits.

"Seriously I would eat that all day long. The honey from the butter and then there's that pop of cheddar in the biscuits. It's melt in your mouth," said Petrillo.

Another crowd pleaser - the s Shiseido peppers with a lime aioli dipping sauce.

"They are delicious, super light, super tasty Shiseido peppers, say that five times fast," Petrillo said.

Then there's the roasted beets and Humble Fog Goat Cheese Salad with candied walnuts on top.

"Totally sweet and savory. The beet has got the sweet and savory is from the cheese. Humble Fog never heard of it but it's humbly delicious," said .

Also on the menu, Grenier's Roasted Bell and Evans Chicken with black bean puree and Carolina rice grits with chorizo.

"The chicken is super moist and so much flavor," said Petrillo. "Chef said she makes it with love you can taste it in the bite."

Tupelo the pop-up is popping with flavor and style.

Tupelo will be at the Fort Lauderdale Harbor Beach Marriott through October 23rd.

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