This guest post is brought to you by The Florida Keys and Key West, in conjunction with Honest Cooking. All content & photos has been provided by the sponsor.
A favorite destination for Ernest Hemingway, Jimmy Buffett, and many more, Key West is known for its palm lined streets and fish that is fresh enough to draw any committed culinary traveler. With a distinct mixture of cultures, the island is not only home to a strong seafood scene, but a tantalizing fusion of cuisines. At night, the street a lit up with vibrant sidewalk cafes, that lure in people with delicious scents of their specialties. Live music and hopping bars are the perfect pairings to watch the sunset into the Gulf of Mexico.
Key West has seafood unlike anywhere in the world and the crucial ingredient is the water. The Gulf of Mexico mixes with the Atlantic Ocean making a perfect nursery for a plethora of fish, crab, and lobster. Not to mention, the fishermen of the region have come together to create a sustainable plan for the future of their industry, naturally controlling overproducing populations that threaten to take over the ecosystem.
Not only are visitors able to jump on the boat for
themselves and go fishing in some of the clearest waters, but they are able to
sit back and relax, knowing they can find the same fresh fish in local
restaurants.
If you are looking for a taste of the freshest seafood right
on the dock, visit The Stoned Crab restaurant. This restaurant serves up some
of the best of what Key West is known for, the stone crab, and they also do it
in a stunning setting with an unbeatable view of the water. The moment you set
foot in the restaurant you will feel as if you have traveled back in time to
the 1950s. Housed in a Ibis Bay Resort, built in 1956, the restaurant keeps alive the
tradition of the fishermen bringing their catches straight to their dock,
something that is no longer happening in other areas.
For the die-hard cooks, go for a ride on a private charter
to catch the freshest fish for yourself. Lucky Fleet, chartered by Captain Moe, will
take you on this adventure and help guide you in hooking the best seasonable
seafood. Moe has been fishing the waters around Key West for over 30 years and
knows his way around.
To learn how to prepare the seafood you just caught, take a
class at Isle Cook where chefs will teach you how to cook local recipes
and healthy meals with seafood.
When visiting Key West, be sure to try fish you wouldn’t
otherwise be able to. Considered local to Key West are the Hogfish, Mangrove
Snapper, and as of late the Lion Fish. Another true local specialty is the
grouper, which is used to make grouper fritters.
Similar to the conch fritter, the grouper is mixed with
onions carrots and a traditional Key West seafood seasoning by Key West Spice
Company that is made of celery seed, salt, paprika, and red pepper. It is
simple, but fresh grouper doesn’t need an overpowering of flavors. Once the
batter is made, fry's the fish balls until golden and enjoy them inside of a
sandwich or as an appetizer by the water.
Grouper Fritters
adapted from Chef Menta
1 pound Grouper
1⁄2 cup Onions
1⁄2 cup Carrots
11⁄2 Tablespoons Key West seafood seasoning (see above)
1 Egg yolk
2 Tablespoons Key lime juice
1⁄2 cup Flour
Coconut oil, for frying
Chop grouper. Fine dice, onions, carrots and mix with chopped grouper. Add key west seafood seasoning. Mix all together with 1 egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of key lime juice.
Add 1⁄2 cup of flour until mixture starts to form a batter. Use a spoon to make balls, fry in coconut oil till brown or bake in the oven.
Paul
Menta of Three Hands Fish gives us the lowdown on seafood in Key West. A
professional chef and community advocate, with long locks and a chill attitude
that makes him seem more like a pro kite surfer, which he also is, Paul is the
perfect person to talk to about the secret dining spots of Key West. The Philly
native began his culinary career in Spain and France and eventually came to Key
West to continue his love for competitive kite surfing. An athlete, distiller,
chef, and entrepreneur, Paul has made it his mission to tap into all Key West
has to offer.
Awesome, I love seafood very much and the Grouper Fritters looks so delicious. Thank you for your awesome post!
ReplyDeleteThe fritters look great! And I've never been to Key West but it is seriously the only place in Florida that I've ever wanted to visit. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's not easy finding good food in Key West, but you have. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited to read about this! We're thinking about going to Key West this summer!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the keys. This must change!
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to research the Key area for a family trip early this summer. I have heard such great things about it! And Grouper...It's my family's favorite fish! The kids are crazy for it! Yummm!
ReplyDeleteThose fritters and dip look very tasty!
ReplyDeleteThese grouper fritters look so good! It's hard to beat fresh, local seafood.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I could go for some grouper fritters right now! The Key West Seafood Seasoning sounds delicious, too.
ReplyDeleteI could eat seafood every day! Those Grouper Fritters look absolutely amazing!
ReplyDeleteI so wanna go to Florida. Will send this off to OH with a big hint.
ReplyDeleteFresh seafood is my weakness ! Now I want to go to Florida lol
ReplyDeleteThe Key West is on my bucket list, I'm saving this post! Thanks
ReplyDeleteThose fritters look amazing. And now as I look out the window at this cold dreary day, I have yet another reason to go to Florida!
ReplyDelete