Fall Is Back at Johnny D's

There's something about fall flavors that I absolutely love.

Pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, maple, warm spices. There are certain flavors that immediately make you think of cooler weather and the start of a new season. And while we may not always get those crisp fall temperatures quite as quickly here in Myrtle Beach, that doesn't mean we can't start eating like it's fall.

Our fall menu officially returns on September 21st at all Johnny D's locations, bringing back a few favorites our guests have come to look forward to, along with some new cocktails, guests are sure to love.

The Pumpkin Waffle Is Back

Our Pumpkin Waffle has become one of those dishes that just feels like fall at Johnny D's.

We start with our housemade waffle batter and blend it with my Making It Delicious Pumpkin Seasoning, made with pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and a few other spices. But one of my favorite parts is what we put inside: pecans.

As the waffle cooks, those pecans become part of every bite, adding a little crunch against the fluffy waffle. Once it comes out of the iron, we finish it with our housemade cream cheese icing, caramel, powdered sugar and whipped butter, with syrup served alongside.

It's sweet, warm, a little spiced, and pretty much everything you want a pumpkin waffle to be.

But this year, I don't want the Pumpkin Waffle getting all the attention. Because there's another fall dish on this menu that I have been waiting to bring back.

A Fall Omelet That Doesn't Taste Like Anything You've Had Before

When I created the Autumn Harvest Omelet, I wanted something different. I wanted to bring you that feeling of fall, but in a way you probably hadn't experienced before.

I've used pumpkin and traditional baking spices in savory dishes before, both for events and at home, and I've always loved what happens when flavors we normally associate with something sweet are used in an unexpected way.

That idea is really where this omelet started. We begin with our root vegetable blend, including sweet potatoes, and season it with my Honey Habanero Seasoning. That brings sweetness, a little heat and an earthiness that works beautifully with the vegetables.

The vegetables are scrambled together with the eggs before the mixture is spread onto the grill, and then we season the entire omelet with my Pumpkin Seasoning. Gouda cheese adds a rich creaminess before we finish it with our housemade Maple Mustard and a dusting of paprika.

The first time I tasted this omelet, I was honestly shocked by how good it was. Obviously, I was optimistic when I created it. You don't put something on a plate expecting it to taste terrible. But every once in a while, you create something that ends up being even better than what you imagined in your head. This was one of those moments.

It tasted like nothing I'd ever had before. The flavor didn't just hit you once. It kept developing from the beginning of the bite all the way through the end.

Sweetness. Savory flavors. A little heat. Warm spice. Creaminess. And then that maple mustard comes through and rounds everything out. Each bite really is an experience.

For me, that's exactly what I wanted this omelet to be. Something that feels undeniably like fall without being something you've already eaten a hundred times before.

Fall in a Glass

Of course, we weren't going to stop with the food. This year's fall drink menu has four seasonal cocktails, including two returning favorites and two new additions.

Spiked Pumpkin Latte

Our Spiked Pumpkin Latte is back with housemade Pumpkin Spice, RumChata, espresso and almond milk, topped with whipped cream, a cinnamon stick and a dusting of cinnamon.

It's our boozy version of the fall coffee everyone waits all year for, and it pairs pretty perfectly with a Pumpkin Waffle.

Apple Cider Mimosa

The Apple Cider Mimosa is also returning this year. We combine apple cider and champagne and serve it with a caramel churro sugar rim, cinnamon stick and apple slice.

It's simple, crisp and refreshing while still giving you those familiar apple and cinnamon flavors of the season.

And then there are our two newcomers.

Spiked Apple Cider

I really love how this one turned out.

Our Spiked Apple Cider combines spiced rum and apple cider with maple syrup, lemon and cinnamon, finished with a caramel churro sugar rim.

You get a little sweetness from the rim, the warmth of the spiced rum, maple and cinnamon, and then the lemon brings just enough acidity to brighten everything up.

It's refreshing while still being nostalgic of the season. It tastes like fall without feeling heavy.

Cinnamon Toast White Russian

This one is just fun.

The Cinnamon Toast White Russian is creamy, full-flavored and has a kick. You can taste the vodka, but it doesn't overpower the rest of the drink.

RumChata and oat milk create that creamy cinnamon base, while Kahlúa brings in the coffee flavor. We add vanilla and finish the glass with caramel and our churro sugar rim, which gives you just enough sweetness at the end of each sip to round everything out.

If you're someone who likes creamy coffee cocktails, I have a feeling this one is going to become a favorite.

Bringing Fall to the Table

One of my favorite parts about creating seasonal menus is getting to play with flavors in ways we don't necessarily get to do all year.

Sometimes that means bringing back something familiar, like our Pumpkin Waffle. Other times, it means taking flavors people recognize and putting them somewhere they don't expect, like pumpkin spice and maple mustard on a savory omelet.

That's the fun of creating for me.

I don't want to put something on a menu simply because pumpkin, apple or cinnamon happens to be popular this time of year. I want the ingredients to work together. I want there to be a reason they're there. And hopefully, I want you to take that first bite or sip and have one of those moments where you think, Okay...that's really good.

Our fall menu arrives on September 21st and will be available for a limited time at all three Johnny D's locations, and I can't wait for you to try it.

Whether you're coming in for the Pumpkin Waffle you've been waiting to return, trying the Autumn Harvest Omelet for the first time, or starting your morning with one of our new fall cocktails, I hope you'll find a new favorite this season.

---

From my kitchen to your table, I can't wait to welcome you.

— Chef Jamie