Chef Todd Misener Brings Rich Experience and Local-Grown Cuisine to DeFuniak Springs

After years of success in South Walton, Chef Todd Misener and his wife Kelli have been generating some fresh excitement just north of the Choctawhatchee Bay. Located in the heart of Historic Downtown DeFuniak Springs, their latest venture, Iron & Grape, is redefining small-town dining through a mix of old-school charm and modern culinary expertise. The new Italian restaurant, opened under their Big Love Restaurant Group, is quickly becoming a cornerstone of the growing Authentic Walton food scene.

For the Miseners, this move felt like a natural next step. Once their youngest graduated high school, they found a new rhythm in the slower pace of DeFuniak Springs — with space to try new hobbies, plant fruit trees and dream up their future farm. When the opportunity came for them to open a new restaurant north of the Bay, the couple jumped in wholeheartedly.

“I really wanted to do what I've always done — chef-driven dining experience and scratch-made cuisine — and bringing that freshness to DeFuniak was a great opportunity,” Misener said. “Walton County over the years ... the culinary tourism and the growth of the people that have moved here has really allowed the culinary world to expand.”

Misener’s footprint across the Southeast is well known, with successful restaurants in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida. The opening of Iron & Grape in March 2025 was highly anticipated by both locals and visitors because of Misener’s notable presence in South Walton. As former managing partner and chef with the Word of Mouth restaurant group, he helped shape 30A staples like Stinky’s Fish Camp, Red Fish Taco and Stinky’s Bait Shack — all now under new ownership as of January 2025.

Even before opening their newest restaurant, the Miseners immersed themselves in the Authentic Walton community. Kelli serves on the board of Main Street DeFuniak Springs and is a familiar face at the local farmer’s market. That involvement in the local farm-to-table restaurant movement influences Iron & Grape’s chef-inspired menu. It features locally sourced food from farms like Breathe Easy (for mushrooms and onions) and Dragonfly Field (for arugula and tomatoes). Misener said they hope to partner with more local farmers in the future.

“The sense of community is similar to what we're used to in South Walton,” Misener said. “It's a little bit slower and more casual ... so you have an opportunity to get to know the locals, and they come in more than once a week. It's been rewarding.”

Whether you’re looking for an Authentic Walton wine bar, a cozy date night spot for romantic dining or one of the best lunch spots in DeFuniak Springs, Iron & Grape provides historic downtown fine dining in an ideal setting. The name pays tribute to the town’s legacy and the couple’s shared vision. Located just steps from the railway on the corner of Sixth Street and Baldwin Avenue, “Iron” nods to DeFuniak Springs’ industrial past. “Grape” speaks to their thoughtfully curated wine program — a centerpiece of the guest experience.

“We think of it as the front of house and back of house,” Kelli Misener said. “Todd’s in the kitchen, cooking with iron. I’m up here, working with the grapes. It’s both of us, coming together.”

Misener brings more than skill to the kitchen — he brings curiosity. A student of Master Chef Jack Shoop for 17 years, he’s still driven by a belief in lifelong learning. When he’s not mentoring his staff, he teaches culinary classes in Walton County at a program nearby.

“We've gotten to educate our staff, which has always been important in my life: to be an educator and a student,” Misener said. “We're always pushing ourselves to learn, learn, learn different ethnic techniques and ingredients, and it's just amazing. You could never learn it all in a lifetime.”

From their roots in South Walton to their new chapter in Authentic Walton, the Miseners are blending experience with heart — and shaping a restaurant where elevated Italian cuisine, wine and community all live under one roof.

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