{"id":25167,"date":"2016-03-08T10:07:15","date_gmt":"2016-03-08T18:07:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=25167"},"modified":"2019-09-10T08:18:14","modified_gmt":"2019-09-10T15:18:14","slug":"fresh-seafood-and-hemingway-in-key-west-flkeys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/fresh-seafood-and-hemingway-in-key-west-flkeys\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresh Seafood and Hemingway in Key West #FLKeys"},"content":{"rendered":"
This post is sponsored by the\u00a0Florida Keys and Key West<\/a>,\u00a0which I happily accepted believing that visualization is key to realization.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A romanticized vision of Key West, utterly inspired by Ernest Hemingway and the movie “Key Largo”, has placed it high on my list of 1000 places to see before I die. What did Hemingway love so much about Key West? From his biography: “life in remote Key West was like living in a foreign country while still perched on the southernmost tip of America. Hemingway loved it. “It’s the best place I’ve ever been anytime, anywhere, flowers, tamarind trees, guava trees, coconut palms…Got tight last night on absinthe and did knife tricks.” {Source: lost generation.com<\/a>}<\/span><\/p>\n Visions of Key Lime Pie, Conch Fritters and idyllic beachside dinners dance in my head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I also enjoy deep sea fishing, but only when I’m catching fish because that’s the only thing that keeps my mind off how wretchedly seasick I am! Years ago I went deep sea fishing off the coast of Ensenada in Baja Mexico and the fairly large bonito I caught was the only saving grace what was essentially a day on a boat when nearly everyone was sucking on limes (believed to be helpful in alleviating nausea). And, I was the only girl that caught a fish that day, so that was pretty awesome, too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Considered local to Key West waters are the Hogfish, Mangrove Snapper, and as of late the Lion Fish. Local chefs favorite? The Hogfish. This fish is caught by spear fishing, which is a fun challenge to try. Speared yourself or not, professional chef and community advocate, Paul Menta suggests serving the fish whole and affectionately calls it the Key West Turkey, stuffed with lobster, onions, and herbs. Yum!<\/p>\n 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 over-producing populations that threaten to take over the ecosystem<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’ve heard so much about, but never had the pleasure of tasting, Key West\u2019s famous conch fritters, which is fried conch meat that is actually native to the Caribbean. Paul prefers to make grouper fritters. Fisherman of Key West are able to catch the grouper right off the coast, making this a true local specialty.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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\u2019t need an overpowering of flavors. Once the batter is made, Paul fries the fish balls until golden and enjoys them inside of a sandwich or as an appetizer by the water. See the recipe below to make these deliciously crunchy, crowd-pleasing seafood bites.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is me visualizing myself in Key West \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n Besides Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Buffett,\u00a0<\/span>Key West <\/span><\/a>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 passersby with delicious scents of their specialties. Live music and hopping bars are the perfect pairings to watch the sunset into the Gulf of Mexico.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n