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blue crabmeat, and Hemingway, With longboards adorning the balance of sweet and tart. The A Taste of the Tropics where breaded fish is topped with walls and colorful tables and pies are served in the traditional a basil, wine, and garlic cream Adirondack chairs on white sand chilled method (versus just being Escape the cold and warm up at these restaurants sauce. Purists don’t fret, you can that stretches to the bright blue like a lime-flavored lemon showcasing the best in Florida Keys cuisine. By Julia Sayers also get your fresh catch simply water, you’ll feel like you just meringue pie), preserving the grilled, broiled, fried, or black- stepped into a tropical paradise silky texture. On a typical day, ened. 102401 Overseas Hwy, Key reminiscent of a Hawaiian surf Mrs. Mac’s will sell about 200 Largo, FL 33037 shack. The menu is a blend of slices, but with season in full Caribbean, Mediterranean, and swing, those numbers will conch: You’ll know American cuisines and offers a increase to 480 slices on any you’ve found Lorelei variety of dishes, including fresh given weekend day. Next time Restaurant & Cabana seafood, tapas, grilled steaks and you’re in Key Largo, stop in for a Bar when you see a larger-than- pork chops, and Cuban sand- slice or take a whole pie home life mermaid structure greeting wiches. with you. 99336 Overseas Hwy, you in the parking lot. This To get a true taste of Floribbean Key Largo, FL 33037 waterfront restaurant has become cuisine, order the Grilled Florida known for their seven-days-a- Lobster with a side of Coconut week live music, happy-hour Rice. The Florida lobster is a For more information on Photo by Emilce Gomez specials, and sunset views. But spiny lobster, but prepared just visiting the Florida Keys, the live jams aren’t the only thing right, it has a sweet taste similar as well as a calendar of events and activities, visit happening at this open-air eatery. to those from Maine. For lunch, fla-keys.com You can get a taste of a traditional you have the option to order the Keys dish in all its glorious forms: Lobster Grilled Cheese, which conch. features Florida lobster tail, New to conch? Order the Key’s Parmesan, mozzarella, and provo- Conch Chowder or Conch Fritters, lone on a toasted ciabatta roll. If ground conch meat in a seasoned you happen to be at The Beach batter, lightly fried, and served Café on the night of a full moon, Photo by Bob Krist/Florida Keys News Bureau Photo courtesy of Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar with Lorelei’s special sauce. Think stick around for Morada Bay’s hush puppies but with a Keys famous monthly full moon party ff the tip of Florida Keys all offer a wide range of fishermen and filleted on the twist. If you already love conch, with fireworks, fire dancers, live you’ll find a tropical seaside dining, sunset views, and premises, maintaining the highest you can get the Cracked Conch music, and glowing drinks. 81600 Oparadise that feels like a taste of the tropics. Here, we quality and freshness. The day’s Appetizer (fresh conch pounded Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL you’ve been transported to the feature our favorite places in each catch varies among mahi mahi, to tenderize it) or make it your 33036 Caribbean without ever hav- area to find four foods typical of grouper, and yellowtail snapper, main meal with a Cracked Conch ing to leave the country. The the Keys: conch, fresh seafood, and you can choose from five Sandwich. And wash it all down key lime pie: If you Florida Keys, a chain of islands lobster, and Key lime pie. different prepar-ations. The most with Lorelei’s signature drink: ask locals their favorite that begins 15 miles south of popular and the original house a Key Lime Colada. It’s creamy, place to get Key lime Miami, are a haven for boating, Upper Keys specialty is the Matecumbe dreamy, and the best refresher on pie, there’s a good chance they’ll fishing, diving, eco-tourism, and preparation: fish topped with a hot Florida day. 96 Madeira Rd say Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen. This fresh seafood. A melting pot of fresh tomatoes, shallots, basil, (Mile Marker 82), Islamorada, restaurant has been serving cultures, the influence of the fresh seafood: capers, olive oil, and lemon juice, FL 33036 homemade Key lime pies, using Caribbean and Cuba, and the For some of the freshest then baked. Other preparations the same recipe from the origina- benefit of being surrounded by seafood in the Upper include Pan Sautéed with lemon, lobster: The Beach tor’s mother, Mrs. Mac, since the ocean can all be seen in Keys Keys, visit The Fish House in butter, and sherry, Black & Bleu Café at Morada Bay in 1976. What really makes the pie

cuisine. Divided into three areas, Key Largo. All their seafood is with blue cheese and blackening Islamorada is exactly special is the homemade graham Photos by Emilce Gomez the Upper, Middle, and Lower purchased whole from local seasoning, Baked Stuffed with what it sounds like it would be. cracker crust and the perfect

73 Cooking with Paula Deen * November 2014 November 2014 * Cooking with Paula Deen 74 Middle Keys give an answer to the question of dusted with cinnamon sugar. the day, such as your favorite song 1200 Oceanview Ave, Marathon, Traditional or the name of a tropical bird. FL 33050 Cuban Cuisine fresh seafood: Chances are you ordered the When you’re visiting the Keys, Brutus Seafood famous Lobster Rueben, and it Lower Keys you can’t pass up the chance Market & Eatery is a stands up to its claim. The gen- to get some authentic Cuban cuisine. With Key West located newer addition to the Marathon erously portioned sandwich is only 90 miles from Cuba food scene, but the family behind packed with sweet, meaty Florida fresh seafood: On (closer than Miami), you’ll the restaurant has been in the lobster and topped with sauer- Stock Island, the last see a strong Cuban influence fishing industry for five genera- kraut, Thousand Island dressing, little island you’ll drive on the island. Sandy’s Café in Key West has been serv- tions. Husband-and-wife Bruce and melted Swiss cheese. The through before getting to Key ing up their Original Cuban and Letty run the restaurant with bread is toasted and buttery, and West, make a stop at Hogfish Bar Sandwich for 20 years. With their two daughters, Jessica and the sandwich is overall a satisfying & Grill, which has been selling its pork, ham, salami, and Swiss cheese layered between two Chelsey, while their son Ryan has way to enjoy lobster. And eating original hogfish sandwich for slices of Cuban bread, this taken over the commercial fishing it while watching a renowned more than 13 years. Hogfish is a mixed sandwich is the best boat that supplies the restaurant’s Keys sunset makes it even better! Keys delicacy, and the sweet, representation of true Cuban stone crabs and lobster. 3502 Louisa St, Marathon, FL white fish has been compared to food. Pair it with a Café con Leche (espresso with milk) or All the seafood served at the res- Lazy Days is known 33050 the taste of scallops and lobster. a Buchi (espresso shot). And taurant is the freshest you can get, for their “Lazy Style” Hogfish Grill’s world-famous the best part about this little so make sure you check out the preparation of dishes. key lime pie: Right “Killer” Hogfish Sandwich consists joint? They’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so catch of the day and the 10 daily This involves encrusting on the ocean in of hogfish smothered with Swiss you can satisfy your cravings specials. Some of the most popu- the conch in panko bread Marathon, you’ll find cheese, mushrooms, and onions any time. 1026 White St, Key lar entrées at Brutus are the Herb crumbs, sautéeing it, Burdines Waterfront, a marina sandwiched between fresh Cuban West, FL 33040 Mahi, sautéed in an herb but- and topping it with diced with a tiki bar and grill. With plas- bread. The restaurant serves only

ter sauce and topped with fresh fresh tomatoes, green Waterfront Photos courtesy of Burdines tic deck chairs and memorabilia fresh-caught, authentic hogfish, so asparagus, tomato, spinach, and onions, freshly grated on the walls, Burdines isn’t a fancy you’ll never find lesser fish substi- can also get Fried Hogfish Tacos, artichoke hearts; the Blackened Parmesan cheese, and place, but it doesn’t need to be tuted for the hogfish dishes. You Fried Hogfish Benedict, or Grilled Seafood platter featuring black- homemade Key lime but- since the food speaks for itself. Hogfish Fillet with Blackened ened shrimp, mahi mahi, and ter. You can get this Lazy Opened 16 years ago, Burdines Scallops. The grill offers numer- scallops; and The Brutus sand- Style conch as an appetizer, started out with an electric griddle ous other seafood dishes, as well wich with fried mahi on a toasted main meal, or on a sand- and a one-basket fryer but has as the opportunity to bring your sub roll with roasted jalapeño wich. You also have the now become a true staple for own catch to be cooked. The food cilantro sauce. On your way out, option of conch sautéed locals in the area. With just a at Hogfish Grill is just about as pick up some fresh seafood from with just Key lime butter simple menu, Burdines is famous fresh as it gets. 6810 Front Street, the in-house market for your next or garlic butter. And if you for their burgers, fresh hand-cut Stock Island, FL 33040 dinner. 6950 Overseas Hwy (Mile go for happy hour (4 p.m. fries, and fried Key lime pie. Marker 51), Marathon, FL 33050 to 6 p.m.), you can get This delightful confection came conch: Located at the $2 off an order of conch about one night when the staff Historic Seaport at Key conch: For one of the fritters. 725 11th Street was trying to come up with a West Bight, the Conch largest selections of Ocean, Marathon, FL way to use up the day’s Key lime Republic Seafood Company has conch dishes in the 33050 pie. They decided to wrap it in a an interesting background that Keys, visit Lazy Days South in ming by, Keys Fisheries is the tortilla, brush it with butter, and still influences the restaurant Marathon. With seven different lobster: With epitome of a laid-back Keys fry it. Today, the restaurant has today. In 1949, vast beds of shrimp preparations of the mollusk, you’ll endless water views of hangout. Even ordering at Keys become known for the fried Key were found in the Gulf, just near find everything from fried cracked the Florida Bay, fresh Fisheries is a fun experience. You lime pie, and it is served fresh the Dry Tortugas (about 68 miles conch and conch ceviche to conch seafood, and maybe even the won’t be asked a name for your from the fryer, topped with a sour west of Key West). Hundreds of fritters and conch chowder. chance to spot a manatee swim- order; instead, you’ll be asked to cream-based Key lime sauce, and Photo by Christopher Rogers Photography, Inc. shrimp boats began operating out

75 Cooking with Paula Deen * November 2014 November 2014 * Cooking with Paula Deen 76 of the bight, and the property the One of the restaurant’s most restaurant now stands on was the popular dishes is the Stuffed Singleton Fish House and Ice Lobster Tail, which consists of a Plant. Once the largest in the local spiny lobster tail stuffed with world, the ice plant allowed for a mixture of scallops, shrimp, and more efficient unloading and lobster and finished with Key lime processing of the day’s shrimp juice, roasted tomatoes, basil, catch. In the 1990s, the large thyme, and butter. You can also warehouse was transformed into get lobster in the Lobster Mac the Conch Republic Seafood and Cheese with spiny lobster tail, Company, and today you can get a Colby cheese, and white truffle oil, taste of some of the freshest topped with panko bread crumbs shrimp (order the Stuffed and baked. No matter which lob- Shrimp) and seafood around. ster dish you choose, you won’t be But it wouldn’t be the Conch disappointed. 409 Caroline Street, Republic without conch, and the Key West, FL 33040 restaurant’s Conch Chowder is award winning. This Bahamian- key lime pie: As you style red chowder features stewed approach Kermit’s Key conch, herbs, and potatoes in a West Key Lime spicy tomato broth. You can also Shoppe, you might see a man out order Cracked Conch (pounded front wearing a chef’s coat and fresh conch cut into strips, hat, arm outstretched, offering tempura-battered, and fried) you a Key lime pie. That man is or Conch Fritters with Key lime Kermit, owner and founder of the mustard. After you’re finished, Key Lime Shoppe. Kermit opened walk around the historic seaport, his shop 25 years ago as an and don’t miss the saltwater tanks outpost for all things Key lime. In filled with marine life right inside celebrating the island’s favorite the restaurant itself. 631 Greene fruit, the shop sells 120 different Street, Key West, FL 33040 Key lime items, from jellies to barbecue sauces to cookies. lobster: Just a block But the real star of the show is, off Duval Street, you’ll of course, Kermit’s Key lime pie. find a little haven to He uses his grandmother’s tradi- escape the heat and enjoy a cold tional recipe featuring sweetened drink on a shaded patio under a condensed milk, Key lime juice, canopy of tropical trees. Grunts and egg yolks and hasn’t changed Island Grill was opened by Chef a thing since. You’re really in for Josh Furman in 2012 and is now a treat, though, with Kermit’s

known for its delectable Florida chocolate-dipped Key lime pie on Christie McQueen Photos by lobster dishes and fresh seafood. a stick. A slice of Kermit’s pie is Furman, who began his career at dipped in dark Belgian chocolate love with this new combination. the first restaurant in the United and frozen, making it a refresh- Ready for a second slice? Try the Kingdom to receive three ing dessert. The richness of the strawberry Key lime pie dipped Michelin stars, has put together a chocolate complements the in white chocolate. 200 Elizabeth menu of refined Keys cuisine. pucker of the pie, and you’ll fall in Street, Key West, FL 33040

77 Cooking with Paula Deen * November 2014