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A humble chef exudes talent and leadership in his ever-evolving culinary career

Written by Paige Aigret

Chef Preetam Pardeshi has been a staple for The St. Joe Company for nearly 10 years, ever since he moved to the area for a position at WaterColor Inn’s Fish Out of Water restaurant in 2013.

Pardeshi has achieved several promotions within The St. Joe Company, quickly moving up in his role at Fish Out of Water to become the chef of cuisine and then the executive sous chef. He later made the move from WaterColor Inn to the Watersound Club team, becoming the executive chef at Beach Club and, more recently, working on the development of the Club’s future Camp Creek Inn restaurants and the adjacent Club amenities where he’ll serve as executive chef upon their openings.

But Pardeshi’s experience reaches further back than his time with St. Joe. He has always felt connected to food and the art of cuisine, even from a young age, growing up around his grandparents who were farmers. Originally from Pune, India, an area known as the “Oxford of the East,” Pardeshi was lucky in the fact that educational opportunities were plentiful, and he was able to take advantage.

Flounder Almondine

Pardeshi was classically trained in styles including Italian, French and Indian cuisine. But he learned the nuances of Southern-style cuisine at the Grand Hotel Resort in Fairhope, Alabama.

As an internationally trained chef, Pardeshi could have landed anywhere, but the Gulf of Mexico called to him, and it’s still his favorite part of living along the Emerald Coast. Now he calls the area home, having purchased a house in 2018 and settled into his role with the Watersound Club team.

Pardeshi’s day-to-day role is eclectic as he moves between Club amenities, depending on where he is most needed on any given day. But his role will soon evolve again with the opening of the Club’s three new dining venues in the new year: 1936, ANR and Bark N’ Brine. The addition of these dining venues to the Watersound Club portfolio will equally be an addition to Pardeshi’s plate, as he is set to oversee all three. Having already accomplished so much, Pardeshi is ready and excited for what lies ahead.

“I don’t see hurdles, I see challenges,” he said. “From my perspective, unless you have those challenges, you cannot become better. There is no excitement if there is no challenge.”

1936, named after the founding year of The St. Joe Company, will be an all-day casual dining option serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Perfect for a quick bite before tee time, to take a break from the sun or to bring the family for dinner, 1936 will be located at Camp Creek Inn

Signature Burger, 1936

ANR, named for the historical Apalachicola Northern Railroad of the Forgotten Coast, will offer Members an upscale dining experience with a Southern flair. Pardeshi is looking forward to this elevated dining addition, saying that “ANR will offer an atmosphere of personalized service to our Members. It will be a complete experience.”

Bark N’ Brine will be a familyfriendly poolside dining venue with indoor and outdoor seating, offering smokehouse favorites along with health-conscious options. Nestled between the new Wellness Center and the resort-style pool area, Bark N’ Brine will be perfect for Members stopping by in between dips in the water or a class at the Wellness Center for a fast, yet quality meal.

Pardeshi’s goal, aligning with that of the Watersound Club experience as a whole, is to offer Members a spectrum of dining experiences so that everything they could possibly want is available to them without having to venture off Club property. He doesn’t want Members to go to just any 30A restaurant.

“I want them to come to mine,” Pardeshi said. “Our membership is growing, and my primary focus is to have a variety of options for the Members to enjoy different varieties within the Club.”

For now, Pardeshi spends most of his time at the Watersound Beach Club dining venues, where even on a slow day they serve around 500 people. On a busy day? Upward of 1,500 people. Hardly a one-man show, Pardeshi is grateful for the support of his team members and staff, especially on busy days.

“Without those teams, I’m nobody,” said Pardeshi. “I give all credit for my success to the teams I’ve worked with. They deserve more appreciation and credit for their hard work and efforts. Without them, I cannot do what I do.”

Pardeshi takes pride in supporting employees and helping them advance in their roles, just as he was able to do himself.

As the holiday season approaches and temperatures begin to drop, Watersound Club indoor dining venues will keep you warm and well fed. While Northwest Florida winters are generally mild, dining poolside, especially in the evenings, is not always ideal. Here are three ways to dine indoors as a Watersound Club Member.

Shark’s Tooth Clubhouse

More than just a place to refuel after a round of golf, the Clubhouse at Shark’s Tooth Golf Course features two unique dining venues as well as a lounge. Breakfast and lunch are served six days a week in the Clubhouse’s grill room. A cozy spot overlooking the course’s 18th green, the grill room’s focal point is the oversized stone fireplace making it a perfect spot for a cold weather meal.

The neighboring dining room is home to the Club’s weekly dinner features. Each week, Members and their guests are treated to a new, unique menu from the Club’s culinary team. Always delicious and inventive, but never stuffy or pretentious, these intimate dinners have become a weekly Member tradition.

30⁰86⁰ at Watersound Beach Club

While it’s easy to think of poolside dining or the scenic view from the sunset bar when we think of 30⁰86⁰, the coastal-inspired menu is also available at Watersound Beach Club’s dining room seven days a week. Catching an early winter sunset with your toes in the sand and then heading into the airy indoor space at 30⁰86⁰ is a great way for Members to keep their Beach Club dining routine going even as the days get shorter. Fresh seafood, salads and dinner entrees are delivered from the open kitchen straight to your table.

Gather Kitchen & Bar at WaterColor Inn

The newest Watersound Club dining venue, Gather Kitchen & Bar is located just off the lobby in the iconic WaterColor Inn and is available to Lifestyle Members and up to 4 of their guests daily for lunch and dinner. The menu of locally-sourced cuisine with a global flare is served in an elevated intimate space were Members are treated to local beers, handcrafted cocktails and a selection of deliciously curated charcuterie boards. In addition, the dining venue’s eclectic menu includes dinner entrées after 5 p.m.

More to Come

Club Member’s options for dining venues will double once current expansion projects are complete in 2023. Three new dining venues are planned to open at the future Camp Creek Inn and Club amenity expansion next to Camp Creek Golf Course. Each will feature a unique menu and setting while staying consistent with the Club’s approachable feel and high-quality offerings.

Learn more about dining venues currently under construction.

The highly anticipated Camp Creek Inn and Watersound Club amenities under construction adjacent to Camp Creek Golf Course are taking shape and nearing completion. Anchored on one end by Camp Creek Inn and on the other by a total of 16 new tennis and pickleball courts the project will feature new venues to dine, swim, exercise, play and stay. The planned opening of these amenities (early 2023) and Inn (Summer 2023) will mark a major milestone for Watersound Club giving Member more options and new benefits that few private clubs in the country can match.

Camp Creek Inn (foreground) will be more than a hotel. In addition to the 75 guest rooms on the second and third floors, the ground floor will feature Member-focused amenities including two new dining venues available to Club Members and Inn guests only. The dining venues will open to a patio with an oversized fire pit that is sure to become a popular gathering spot. Golfers and non-golfers will enjoy the outfitter shop. More than a pro shop, this retail destination will be stocked with Club merchandise and golf necessities as well as beach essentials and coastal lifestyle merchandise.

Representing Watersound Club’s first fitness-focused amenity, the Health & Wellness Center (right) brings an all-new offering to Club Membership. Airy spaces spread over two floors will soon be home to group fitness classes, state-of-the-art equipment, free weights and personal training areas. Outside, a dedicated adult-only pool will be ideal for getting in early morning laps or relaxing on warm Florida afternoons.

The sprawling pool complex (center) features two meandering pools and includes a water slide and lazy river. Visible in the photo are private cabanas under construction that will offer some shade and seclusion around the well-appointed pool deck. The building nearest the waterslide features restrooms and a dedicated teen space for indoor recreation.

Bark ‘n Brine, the future poolside restaurant and bar will offer smokehouse favorites and cold drinks served both indoors and out overlooking the pool deck.

Check back frequently for updates and information on the eight tennis courts, eight pickleball courts and pro shop that will more than double the Club’s racquet sports offerings!

No two are alike, and there something special about watching a sunset with your feet in the soft white sand of Northwest Florida’s pristine beaches. Fortunately, for Members of Watersound Club, there is no shortage of Instagram-worthy spots to watch the sun go down.

When it comes time to decide where to catch a stunning sunset, Watersound Beach Club is the obvious choice, and for good reason. In the fall and winter, the sun appears to dip right into the Gulf of Mexico. On some evenings, it paints the sky a mix of pink, orange and purple hues that are reflected in the water as day turns to night.

Sunset comes a little earlier at this time of year, making it possible to enjoy your favorite meal from 30*86* while taking in the views from the appropriately named Sunset Bar. Whether enjoying a cocktail with friends or dinner with family, the Sunset Bar serves up views of the towering dunes, the white-sand beach and the setting sun.

Not to be outdone by the Beach Club, Watersound Club’s golf courses are equally breathtaking at the golden hour. Seeking one last birdie before twilight fades is an ideal way to end the day for any golfer.

Coming off of the 18th green at Shark’s Tooth Golf Course and heading to the clubhouse’s patio is the perfect way to cap a great day on the links, or atone for a bogie-heavy round.

Like everything at Watersound Club, sunsets are best enjoyed in the company of friends and family. So gather up those closest to you and find your favorite spot for making memories at the end of a great day…and don’t forget your camera!