Word to your mother: Vanilla Ice visits Flagler Beach restaurant

Flagler Beach welcomed a very special guest last week after world-famous recording artist Vanilla Ice made an appearance at a popular local eatery.

Smiling ear to ear in photos posted to the Funky Pelican’s social media pages, staff members of the frequented beachfront restaurant struck a pose alongside rap icon, Robert Van Winkle, also known as Vanilla Ice, after he stopped in to enjoy dinner at the restaurant. The Instagram photo’s caption read, “Ice Ice Baby! Thank you @vanillaiceofficial for stopping by Funky Pelican and supporting a small business in Flagler Beach!”

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Known for its oceanfront views and beachy, casual atmosphere, Funky Pelican is a go-to Flagler Beach staple among locals and vacationers alike, serving a wide array of small and large plates that range from the bacon-wrapped shrimp, mahi tacos and double cheeseburger to the jambalaya, Twisted Seafood Mac and Island Chicken and Shrimp — not to mention the eatery's funky list of tropical cocktails, including the Orange Creamsicle, The Floor is Guava and the Florida Mule.

According to Funky Pelican manager Crystal Nobre, the celebrity's grand appearance was a day to remember among staff and customers alike, an experience that Nobre described to be both exciting and rather under the radar.

“He came in, did not make a big deal, and sat at one of our high tops. He did not present himself or say 'Hey I'm here,' you know, 'It's me.' He was just super nice," Nobre said, noting that she advised staff to hold off on any photos until the star had finished his dinner. “I wanted him to be able to enjoy his meal and didn’t want anybody to interrupt that, because if you’re out to dine, you’re out to dine for a reason — you at least want to eat.”

It wasn't until Vanilla Ice prepared to leave the restaurant that Nobre asked the star if eager staff could take a few photos.

"He was just like 'Oh my gosh bring them in, let's take pictures, let's have some fun' and then everyone kind of lined up and took some pictures," Nobre said. "Honestly he was great, but it also wasn’t a big deal, really, because he was very laid back and chill. He kept a very low profile.”

Vanilla Ice: Rap star, TV host and more

Born in South Dallas, Texas, the iconic multi-faceted artist began his musical career as a performer in a local Dallas nightclub where he was first discovered in the late '80s after quickly gaining popularity for his dance and rap talents, as noted in an article by the New York Post.

Vanilla Ice would go on to sign a record deal with SBK records and release his major-label debut album "To The Extreme" — a reformatted version of his initially-released album, originally titled "Hooked" — which featured the rapper's iconic song, "Ice Ice Baby." According to the artist's IMDB biography, the instant hit made it to Billboard's top 100, ultimately landing itself at number one — the first song of its kind to do so.

Alongside "Ice Ice Baby," the rapper went on to release various other chart-climbing successes, as well as making several big screen appearances, including working alongside Adam Sandler in the 2012 comedy, "That’s My Boy."

Vanilla Ice also hosted his own home-flipping reality series on the DIY Network titled “The Vanilla Ice Project,” which aired from 2010-2019 — a project that might be making a comeback, according to teaser videos posted to Vanilla Ice's YouTube channel.

The rap star recently bought two homes in St. Augustine, one of which he'll potentially be flipping and filming for the return of his reality TV hit series. He also was spotted across Jacksonville last week, and, according to Nobre, has been seen visiting various restaurants in the area over the last couple of weeks.

"I hope he comes back," Nobre said. "Not because he's a celebrity, but because he was so much fun — so kind to our staff and just so good to everyone."

Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Vanilla Ice visits Funky Pelican restaurant in Flagler Beach