A Quest for Culinary Greatness

Where Flavor Meets Vision

By Jordan Staggs | Photography by Hunter Burgtorf

Opening two remarkable restaurants within two years is a challenge that few restaurateurs or chefs would choose to undertake. However, when Jeremy and Angela Walton spotted the opportunity to launch a new casual fine-dining concept in the heart of the burgeoning town center of Alys Beach, Florida, they recognized it could be the beginning of something truly special. Four years later, they’re thriving in Alys Beach and expanding their presence in the local dining scene.

Their journey began during the height of the COVID pandemic—a harrowing era for those in the restaurant industry. However, Florida provided opportunities that other places didn’t at the time. After serving as the vice president of resort operations for Alys Beach for five years, Jeremy was eager to pursue his own vision while remaining close to the community he had come to know and love. In January 2021, The Citizen—a coastal tavern with a focus on fresh seafood, oysters, and creative cocktails—marked the Waltons’ first dream come true through their newly established company, Quest Hospitality Concepts.

“The vision for The Citizen was to create a design-forward restaurant where the experience revolves around three key elements: a large, stunning bar, an immersive raw bar, and a wood-burning hearth in an open kitchen,” Jeremy explains. International influences and ingredients reflect the restaurant’s ethos, positioning its patrons as “citizens” of the world, not just the Gulf Coast. Considering that many great food cities are located near coastlines, we aimed to draw inspiration for our menus from all those coastal cuisines.

The Citizen, located at the corner of Scenic Highway 30-A and Mark Twain Lane, quickly became a popular spot for both locals and visitors. However, this was just the beginning, as the Waltons launched the fully reimagined Fonville Press Market + Café about a year later, in the spring of 2022.

“It has truly been wonderful to welcome back so many people who remember and loved the original Fonville Press that closed in 2018,” says Jeremy. “We see those familiar faces returning and embracing our reimagined version. More than anything else, we hoped to recreate that same connection with the community, and we have certainly introduced it to a whole new audience. It has been such a great feeling to see so many people, whether or not they are familiar with the original, embrace Fonville Press.

He continues, “I believe we’ve only scratched the surface of what Fonville Press can become and are pursuing various high-level initiatives, including the market, coffee shop, café, bakery, and bar, as well as upcoming dinner services. It’s a lot, and we are committed to getting it right. Fonville Press is such a diverse and unique concept, so we are consistently striving to enhance what we currently offer while exploring numerous ideas for additional offerings and experiences.”

Angela adds, “With the revamped Fonville Press, we can cater to a variety of demographics and needs.”

Whether it’s bachelorette groups or homeowners who come over after the Rosé & Croquet event during the 30A Wine Festival, Fonville Press serves as a place to connect, gather, or simply enjoy a cocktail and chat with one of our talented bartenders.

Quest recently welcomed a new executive chef and director of culinary to the team. In addition to planning new events in collaboration with Alys Beach and the larger 30-A community, they are expanding Fonville Press’s grab-and-go selection and dinner services on the revamped patio, and extending brunch at The Citizen from Wednesday to Sunday.

Chef Tory McPhail hails from Ferndale, Washington, and developed his culinary career under the guidance of Chef Jamie Shannon at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. His numerous achievements include receiving the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: South in 2013 and serving as a culinary ambassador for the U.S. Department of State, traveling worldwide. He has arrived at Alys Beach after working at notable dining establishments such as the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, L’Escargot and The Picasso Room in London, The Mongoose on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Commander’s Palace in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and Crazy Mountain Ranch in Livingston, Montana. Chef Tory notes that transitioning from snowy mountains to white-sand beaches has been an adjustment, but he’s excited to join the Quest team and grateful for the warm welcome he has received from staff, guests, and the 30-A community at large.

As old friends and colleagues of Chef Tory, the Waltons are thrilled to welcome him to the Quest Hospitality Concepts team. This team also includes beverage manager Tyler Faust, who has been with the company since day one and continues to introduce exciting new cocktails at both The Citizen and Fonville Press. “Tyler has played a key role in building an incredible team of talented individuals behind the bar and is consistently recognized for creating cocktails that are not only delicious and well-balanced but also intriguing,” says Jeremy. “Hannah, our oyster shucker at The Citizen, has such passion and depth of knowledge. Since joining us, she’s truly brought that experience to life. She is highly engaged and loves to share her expertise and enthusiasm for the oysters and the farmers who support us. We hope everyone finds time to come meet Hannah and enjoy our Oyster Happy Hour every day from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.”

For spring and summer at The Citizen, Angela expresses, “We’re particularly excited about the Mint Ti’ Punch on our cocktail menu. Crafted with Flor De Caña Seco, Rhum Agricole, Wray & Nephew Overproof, mint cordial, and lime, it’s a truly refreshing libation.”

With Fonville Press and The Citizen well established, and Chef Tory on-site, Quest Hospitality Concepts is introducing a brand-new concept at the nearby Watersound Town Center: a high-end sports tavern called Scout.

“Scout will be a sophisticated yet casual sports tavern offering prime steaks, local seafood, and creatively reimagined cuisine,” Chef Tory reveals. “It will make you feel right at home while watching the big game. We’re excited to share more details soon and look forward to opening our doors to the community in the near future.”

Set to open this summer, Scout “embodies the playful spirit and excitement of the sporting world coupled with an established club feel that evokes both timelessness and familiarity,” says the Quest team. “The menu will showcase the finest classic American tavern fare, featuring an expertly crafted selection of appetizers, salads, elevated burgers, prime steaks, and local seafood. The beverage program includes creative twists on classic cocktails, domestic and imported beers, bourbons, whiskeys, and an eclectic wine list. Guests can expect an inviting atmosphere rich in character and intentional design, highlighted by vintage sports memorabilia throughout. Scout is divided into four distinct, lively spaces for guests to enjoy the complete sports tavern experience, including the bar and lounge, the dining room, the game room, and the courtyard and outdoor lounge, each with its own personality and charm, encouraging guests to sit back and stay a while.”

No matter which Quest establishment guests choose—and we encourage visiting all three—Angela, Jeremy, Chef Tory, and their team aim to provide memorable food, drinks, and hospitality during every visit. Angela says, “We strive to make each experience unique, catering to individual needs—whether it’s enjoying a drink at the bar, dining in the restaurant, celebrating a special occasion, or having a casual weekday meal while visiting Alys Beach.”

Jeremy adds, “Our focus and commitment are centered on creating inviting, design-forward spaces where people can gather around the table and enjoy community through food and drink—environments where meaningful relationships can be built through memorable experiences. While we seek to expand and enhance our offerings at The Citizen and Fonville Press, we are also excited to be growing with the addition of Scout this summer.”

In addition to collaborating with Chef Tory on developing new items for their menus, the Waltons are working to implement some ideas they’ve had since their opening. Jeremy describes these as “a blend of small design details and enjoyable experiences we can offer inside the restaurants.” At The Citizen, they also aspire to host more custom special events and are working on a dinner series featuring visiting artisans and chefs to create unique, intimate experiences. “We have so many incredible friends and colleagues that we want to host and do some fun events with, ideally starting in the fall,” says Jeremy.

With spring and summer menus and experiences launching, Scout sports tavern set to open this summer, and fall events in the planning stages, Quest Hospitality Concepts is thrilled to help its guests create new memories with each visit. Bon appétit!

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Visit CitizenAlys.com and FonvillePress.com to see menus and hours of operation, and follow @thecitizenalys, @fonville.press, and @torymcphail to keep up with the latest news!