Florida Keys Food Adventures
It was our first time in the Florida Keys, and we were blessed with amazing weather, sparkling blue oceans, good food, and family.
Islamorada
Our first meal (after a rough red eye flight with the girls) was Cafe Moka, enjoying sandwiches, quiches, and almond croissants plus tons of coffee on the drive to the Florida Keys.
In Islamorada we enjoyed Mediterranean food at Meze Morada (one of our favorite meals – sadly we found out it closed several months later). The trio dip appetizer, esp the whipped feta was so good. The other great lunch spot was F-ing bagels for a quick lunch on the go – pastrami rueben and bacon/egg/cheese with the everything bagels.
Dinners: Islamorada Fish Company (you can dine over their water full of giant tarpon. We had the fresh local catch and a key lime pie in a cup) and Square Grouper (notable eats were flash fried conch and almond encrusted grouper).
Key West
At Key West, we made a beeline for Cuban Coffee Queen (which had a long line already plus lots of chickens).We had to get the Cuban Mix (Mojo Pork, swiss cheese, sliced pickles with mayo) and the Cuban Queen Mix (Mojo Pork, roasted turkey breast, American cheese and bacon) on toasted cuban bread. For drinks, the Cortadito (double Cuban espresso with cane sugar/ steamed milk) and iced Cafe Con Leche (Cuban coffee with steamed milk). I regret not buying some of their coffee bags.
Also at Key West: one of the most disappointing (and expensive coconuts at $6) in my life, right by the Southernmost point. At the famous Kermit’s Key Lime Shop, chocolate covered frozen key lime pie (tasty but the chocolate flavor was too strong for the key lime personally), coconut key lime (our favorite), and key lime coolers cookies.
On the drive back home, we had Burdines Waterfront for dinner – hushpuppies with the raspberry jalapeno and Hawaiian tuna poke; I was tempted to try the fried key lime pie but we were stuffed and my cholesterol couldn’t take it.
Key Largo
In Key Largo, we celebrated at Sol by the Sea – this was our fanciest meal (as you could tell by the elaborate “bread basket” served). The best dish was the enormous crispy whole thai snapper; we also tried the local blackened grouper, tuna poke, and their cocktails which was so good. Dessert was dark chocolate lava cake with espresso gelato and cuatro leches cake.
Sal Ballyhoo, which had the nicest staff, features seafood with a Southern twist: biscuits appetizer with jalapeño jelly, cast iron mahi mahi in creole cream, key lime seafood pasta, seafood special Hemmingway style (key lime butter and crab meat).
Keys Chocolates and Ice cream – perfect to cheer up Alanna after she bonked her head at dinner. Loved the key lime pie and gator tracks (peanut butter with peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, and fudge swirl).
Other notable eats: , Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen with its fun decor (gator tenders, coconut shrimp, conch salad, key lime milkshake), C&C wood fired pizza (prosciutto & truffle, short rib lasagna, carne calabrese)
West Palm Beach/Jupiter
Ok technically this isn’t the Florida Keys, but it’s where my brother-in-law lives and they have some great food worth highlighting.
Tulipan Cuban bakery – guava and cream cheese empanadas, meat empanadas, cuban sandwiches, ham croquettes, cuban coffee. I would have loved to try more of their bakery desserts but we were too full.
Sara’s Kitchen – popular brunch place with class breakfast. San Antonio Skillet and stuffed french toast were the best
Other eats: Leftovers Cafe (sweet potato crusted fish is amazing), Matty’s gelato factory (pints of “OMG” coffee Chocolate, mascarpone, pistachio, hazelnut – I so wish I could have eaten more but we had to fly out the next day). And I was super excited to try out Natalie’s Orange Juice (a local Florida brand) and took a selfie with it.
As you can see, we had a lot of seafood, fried food, and carbs on the trip! Many seafood restaurants had the option of “cooking your catch” if you bring your own fish, and in the future, I’d love to do a fishing trip in the Florida Keys when the girls are older.
