Senator John McCain and The History Channel’s hit show ‘American Pickers’ visit The Fish House and Jim Shirley was invited to cook in the Big City!

Jim Shirley asked to cook at James Beard House.

Chef Jim Shirley

The Fish House part-owner/Chef Jim Shirley, one of the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs, was selected to cook at the James Beard House. The acclaimed James Beard House has selected the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs to showcase Gulf Coast cuisine this summer in New York City.

On June 28, chefs Dan Dunn of H2O at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steakhouse, Jim Shirley of the Fish House, Gus Silivos of Skopelos/Nancy’s Haute Affairs and Frank Taylor of Global Grill will prepare a regional tasting menu for an intimate foodie audience at the James Beard House.

The James Beard Foundation was established in 1986 in honor of James Beard, a cookbook author, teacher and father of American gastronomy. Beard’s Greenwich Village townhouse is now the stage for America’s finest chefs. The foundation’s events and programs are designed to educate, inspire, entertain and foster a deeper understanding of American cuisine. To read the full article, click here.

Guess who’s coming to lunch.

The Merrill Brothers (Burney, Collier & Will) discussing an unidentified object with Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz of The American Pickers television show.

The Merrill brothers received a couple of famous visitors for lunch the other day that they will not soon forget! American Pickers’ stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz dropped by The Pensacola Fish House for a bite and a look-see. Most folks in Pensacola know that the Merrills have quite an impressive collection of historical antiques and decorative pieces.

The pickers were treated to a tour of the restaurant. While some onlookers swear that they saw items from the Fish House loaded into the recognizable American Pickers’ transport van — Will, Burney and Collier Merrill declined to discuss what might have happened during the visit. They will only say that folks have to watch the show to find out! The show is rumored to air this spring. We will let you know as soon as we hear anything! To learn more about the Merrills and how they came to own a restaurant, click here.

Pensacola wings of gold.

Jean Pierre NDione and Senator John McCain

Many Pensacolians know that on Friday nights at the Deck Bar there is likely to be a winging party. Friday, January 28, was no exception. The only difference was that this winging was for the squadron of John McCain IV. If you recognize the name, it’s because his father is John McCain III, more commonly referred to as United States Senator from Arizona and former presidential candidate.

On January 28, 2010, Senator McCain traveled to Pensacola, Fla., to attend the graduation of his son, Ensign John S. McCain IV, and watch him receive the Navy’s “Wings of Gold.”

The winging ceremony is a rite of passage for Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps aviators. During the ceremony, graduates’ families join them on stage and pin gold wings on the graduates’ uniforms. Senator McCain spoke at the graduation ceremony that day.

Later, the McCain family got together at The Pensacola Fish House restaurant for the winging party. Senator McCain took time to visit, shake hands and pose for pictures with diners of the Fish House.

Senator McCain is seen here with Fish House General Manager Jean Pierre NDione. “He was a very nice man. He took time to talk to and listen to the many guests here at the Fish House that came up to him to meet him,” said NDione.