The searing popularity of bacon in the past few years has been heating up to what can only be described as a full-on crackle. In fact the consumption craze of bacon in the U.S. (also known on farm stock reports as the pork belly commodity) has surged to such a great extent that it is now formally referred to as "Bacon Mania." Sales are at an all time high, accounting for about $4,000,000,000 in sales in our country alone. According to a recent survey conducted by Smithfield, 65% of Americans would vote for bacon to be acclaimed as our "National Food"! This love affair with bacon in America was recognized way back in the early 1700s when an English author complained that practically everything cooked in the colonies was seasoned with this savory pork "delicacy". It is considered to be very American and a current 2017 food study reported that demand is swamping supply even though there are almost 18 million pounds available in the stores at any given moment.

So what's all the fuss about? A crispy morsel of bacon makes breakfast complete, creates a great sandwich and provides a wonderful addition to things like burgers, steaks or even oysters. We have compiled a list of the very best places around Destin where our visitors and locals alike can indulge in their passionate pursuit of bacon. By the way many of these fine purveyors of bacon also provide a great meal to accompany, so it wouldn't hurt to take notes.

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Another Broken Egg Café, located in Destin off Harbor Boulevard (Highway 98) east of Target along with two locations at the Sandestin Resort on Grand Boulevard and Baytowne Wharf. Besides bacon they obviously have exceptional eggs that can be had in an Omelet or Benedict-Style. Topping their favorite brunch specials is the Eggs Blackstone Benedict, topped with baked bacon along with their signature tasty Hollandaise sauce.

Travelers visiting Sandestin should stop by the Sunset Bay Café next to the Bayside Pool where the sunsets are simply spectacular. This locally owned and operated restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here you'll enjoy bacon as part of their Farm Omelet or on their monster-sized Big Boys Club Sandwich.

Bacon is featured prominently adjacent to plenty of pancakes at the aptly named Pancakery located in the Shoreline Village Mall near the entrance to Holiday Isle, off Harbor Boulevard in Destin across from the Winn Dixie. (The Destin locale of "Another Broken Egg Café" is across the street.) Their Bacon Lover pancakes are heavily infused with bacon.  Bacon is available for lunch on their classic BLT, Smoked Turkey BLT, half-pound Hotsy Burgers and Loaded Potatoes.

If you love bacon AND donuts (If you didn't, well you wouldn't be reading this would you?) you have got to try the locally owned, long popular Donut Hole Bakery Café located on the north side of Harbor Boulevard between Beach and Benning Drives. This highly rated eatery serves breakfast with bacon all day along with warm fresh baked donuts, hearty comfort foods and their famous Key Lime Pie.

First Watch is known for breakfast since their motto is "Good morning!" but they are also open for lunch. They are located at the Paradise Key Shopping Center next to Publix across from Destin Commons. When you arrive for breakfast they welcome you with a full pot of coffee, a complimentary newspaper and access to WI-FI. They've received national acclaim for excellence and one award actually includes a reader's choice for "Best Bacon Dish." Four slices of thick signature hardwood smoked bacon comes with their Traditional Breakfast, Monterey Club Sandwich and BLTE (which includes an egg). One of their specialties is called "Millionaire's Bacon" which is four thick slices of bacon baked with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne, and drizzled with maple syrup – sweet n' salty goodness. Fun fact, each roll up is finished with a wrap with the words "I love you more than bacon". While that may be debatable, maple syrup on bacon is not!

Bacon is a star player at Panini Pete's Café & Market, which recently opened in Destin on Highway 98 just west of Airport Road. Pete's Original Breakfast Panini is stuffed with crispy bacon along with scrambled eggs, vine ripened tomatoes and Swiss cheese. Pete's French Quarter Burger includes these delicious ingredients and crispy Conecuh bacon and a proprietary beer cheese spread is used on his Beer Cheese Bacon Burger.

Next door is the nation-wide all-American favorite breakfast spot known as the Waffle House. Their "All-Star-Breakfast" comes with three slices of bacon on the side along with two eggs, toast, grits or hash browns and of course waffles!

Just down the road from Waffle House's Miramar Beach location you'll find the local fine food & wine mecca, Vintij, across Emerald Coast Parkway from Silver Sands Premium Outlets. This favorite hip hotspot has been the Winner of Florida Trend's Golden Spoon Award since 2009! Vintij has also been featured on the Travel Channel's Best of Destin Restaurants. Owned and operated by Chef John Jacob and "Wine Guru" Todd Reber, it serves unique coastal gourmet cuisine along with very fine limited boutique wines. Their one-of-a-kind bacon dish is the Pan-Fried Oyster BLT, possibly the best on the coast. It includes Applewood Smoked Bacon, Tomato, Brie, Tossed Greens and a Chilled Pasta Salad.

Seagars is another award winning fine restaurant that uses bacon as part of their signature steak spread and is located nearby on the gulf side of the Sandestin Resort. They have received multiple awards of excellence for their elegant New York-styled steakhouse and wine list that includes over 600 labels. They serve USDA Certified Prime Beef from ten ounces Steak Diane to twenty-four ounce giant Porterhouse. Amazing additions may be added to each for a custom entrée and two of them include… drum roll… bacon! One is simply named Pork Belly – Seagar's secret code for bacon. The other is a delicious Maytag spread that includes bountiful blue cheese and the crispest bacon this side of the Gulf of Mexico.

Your mouth is now, no doubt watering for you-know-what – be a part of the Bacon Mania in Destin and around the world! Bon bacon appétit!