If there was one place I needed to visit when I was in Key West, it was Sloppy Joe’s.
This place is an institution on Duval Street since 1937. They say Ernest Hemingway use to frequent this establishment. The place was packed with people. It was hard to get a spot at their bar. They had some great bands entertaining the crowds.
Since I had been eating all day at other places I just ordered a cocktail. I went for the Hemingway Mojito. What makes this mojito special is that they use Papa’s Pilar Rum. Pilar rum is made right there in Key West. You can go on a tour and do a tasting of the rums. It is just a few blocks away from the restaurant.
This mojito was sweet and full of fresh mint. Plus, I got a
souvenir cup.
While I was enjoying the live music, I ordered another cocktail. This time I went for the Sloppy Rita. This was tequila, Gran Gala, sour mix, orange juice, and a splash of club soda. This was not as sweet as the last drink. It had a nice kick to it because of the tart taste.
This was a fun, lively place. I would want to come back on
an empty stomach so that I could try their actual sloppy joe.
Check them out at www.sloppyjoes.com They have live cameras at the bar so you can check out what is going on.
Key lime pie is synonymous with Key West. When I was walking the streets, I counted at least three key lime pie shops. Plus, every restaurant has the pie on their dessert menus. However, I was on a mission to find a specific shop, the Key Lime Pie Co. I had seen this shop on the television show, The Profit.
When I walked in I was greeted by a huge glass window that allowed me to watch them prepare the pies. It all started with them filling the pie pans with the graham cracker crust. They moved so fast. They clearly go through dozens of pies each day.
They offered two kinds of key lime pies – regular or extra tangy. The friendly woman behind the counter allowed me to taste a sample of each. I was planning on buying an entire pie to take home, so I wanted to make sure I got the perfect flavor. I really liked the extra tangy one. It had a great tart kick that made my lips pucker up. It was then calmed down with the fresh, smooth whipped cream that they put on top.
Since I was taking the pie home and was not going to eat it
right away, I was able to get a frozen pie. This way it could stay fresh till I
got home and could share it with my friends. The bad part is I forgot to take a
picture of the pie before we dove into it.
So you need to check them out for yourself. Visit their website at www.keylimepieco.com
Located on Duval Street is a small little place called The Conch Shack. A friend of mine recommended that I check them out because they have awesome conch fritters.
There was a long line when I got there. I waited my turn
patiently, smelling the fresh fritters being cooked. When I finally got to the
window I quickly ordered my conch fritters so that they could be made quickly
too. I was hungry!
It would take a few minutes to get my order because they
make them once you order; this allows them to be nice and hot. Luckily, I was
able to grab a seat at their little bar. There are not many seats. While I waited I was able to do some great
people watching on Duval Street.
When I got my fritters, they were piping hot. I could not touch them for a while. Once they cooled off I was able to open them up and see all the pieces of fresh conch. They were very generous with the amount. The seasoning they used in the batter was subtle and did not overpower the briny flavor of the conch.
They served a fresh made tarter sauce on the side. I tired a few bites with the sauce, but I preferred the fritters plain.
This was a fun little place. It’s perfect to get a quick bite to eat. Make sure you have cash because that is all they take. Check them out at www.myconchshack.com
Walking around Duval Street in Key West really worked up my appetite and made me thirsty. I passed a bar called Island Dog that looked popular, so I stopped in.
What better way to celebrate being in Key West than with a cocktail called a Key Lime Colada. They blended a Pina Colada mix with Don Q coconut rum and Keke’s key lime liqueur. They “salted” the rim of the glass with crushed cookies to be reminiscent of the graham cracker crust of a key lime pie. It was extremely clever. I could taste the coconut flavor from the Pina Colada with a hint of the key lime. It was almost like a dessert.
One of the things that the Key’s are known for in conch. Conch is a mollusk that live in those beautiful seashells you find at souvenir shops. I wanted to make sure that I tried a few conch items that were on the menu.
I started with their white conch “chowdah”. They had tons of conch in the creamy white broth that was loaded with potatoes, bacon, and fresh herbs. It reminded me of a clam chowder.
The conch was tender and cut into small pieces which made it easy to eat. They used a ton of fresh potatoes that were tender as well. The bacon added a little crunch and smoky flavor. It was a great creamy soup.
I also wanted to try the conch fritters. These are most certainly a Key West tradition. Tender pieces of conch were mixed with a batter that reminded me of hush puppies. They deep fried the fritters until they were extra crispy on the outside.
When I opened the fritter, steam just poured out. The seasoning they added to the batter was savory and sweet. It paired well with the conch that was slightly salty. The fritters were also really good when dipped in the fresh cocktail sauce. It added a little zip to each bite.
I did make a second visit to Island Dogs Bar during my trip
to Key West. When I went back I ordered the chargrilled oysters. I was excited
to see these on the menu which is why I went back.
These delicious oysters came out sizzling on the tray. I could not wait to dig in, but I needed to wait a few minutes to allow them to cool down. They were too hot to pick up.
The oyster meat was extremely tender. The garlic butter that they were cooked in was full of flavor. The parmesan cheese that was sprinkled on top added a great salty taste that accented the briny taste of the oyster.
I was so glad that I went to Island Dogs Bar twice. It
allowed me to really experience what they had to offer. I highly recommend
checking them out in Key West. Check out their website at www.islanddogsbar.com
Driving down to Key West you pass through a few different island towns. About an hour outside of Key West is Islamorada, Florida. It was the perfect area to stop and get something for lunch. What better place to stop then the World Famous Islamorada Fish Company.
There is inside seating but with the restaurant being on the water, the best seats are outside on the deck. The deck was huge, and the views were absolutely breathtaking. It really makes you feel like you are in paradise.
I started off with conch fritters for the table. These are a staple for the Keys so I could not wait to try them. The breading was nice and crispy on the outside and it helped keep the inside hot. The filling had a great taste, almost like a hush puppy.
There were big pieces of conch throughout each bite. I liked the flavor of the fritter by itself but dipping it in some tarter sauce helped add a zesty taste.
All their sandwiches came with a side salad. It was a simple salad that had a nice Italian dressing. It was a fresh starter and was great to enjoy it with the breeze coming off the water.
I got the crab cake sandwich for my lunch. It was a big crab cake. The sweet crab meat was mixed with seasoned breadcrumbs and deep fried. It was good on the soft bun but after a few bites the bread was filling me up too fast, so I took the crab cake off. It was nice and crispy on the outside and soft and moist inside.
I was also able to taste the grilled grouper sandwich. The fresh grouper was flakey and had a great grilled taste. They melted a generous amount of cheese on top of the fish. I had never had cheese on grilled fish before. It was actually really good; the creaminess of the cheese paired well with the flakey grouper.
Visiting Islamorada Fish Company was the best way to kick off my vacation to the Keys. The view was perfect, and the food was great. They have a couple of locations across the country. If you can’t make it to the southern most point of the United States, you can always visit somewhere else.
I was visiting Chicago on one of the coldest weekends of the year. I really did not want to venture out in that weather. Luckily for me there was a great restaurant inside the Marriott Marquis that I was able to get in to called Woven + Bound.
They had a lot of fresh farm to table dishes on the menu. I started with the bacon wrapped dates. These were a lot smaller on the plate than I expected. However, they still packed a flavor punch.
The dates were filled with creamy goat cheese. The bacon
was crispy on the outside. It was the perfect bland of sweetness from the
cheese and salty from the bacon. They drizzled a pear balsamic reduction on top
that added a little kick in taste.
I ordered a cheese and meat board for the table. There was an assortment of cheeses but I enjoyed the blue cheese the most. It was not tangy like other blue cheeses I have had. There was also an assortment of meats that went great with the cheeses. They included capicola, rillettes, and prosciutto.
For my dinner I was looking forward to trying their version of chicken and dumplings. They served a quarter chicken still on the bone. The chicken was juicy and had a smoky taste that was wonderful with the savory gravy that was poured on top. They also had carrots, kale, and baby turnips on the plate. Those vegetables were also drenched in the gravy which helped them taste amazing. There were only two small dumplings on my plate. They were good, however I really wished I had a few more to enjoy.
For dessert we ordered two options to share. The pretzel doughnut came out warm on the plate. The doughnut was covered in cinnamon and sugar. Inside was a creamy bourbon mascarpone cheese filling. It was so creamy and was great with the pretzel dough that was slightly sour.
The other dessert was the chocolate mousse cake. This warm chocolate cake had a layer of chocolate ganache on top. It came with a glass of milk on the side. I was not sure what to do with the milk at first. After I took my first bite of the cake I realized how heavy and thick it was. I ended up pouring the milk over the cake. After a few minutes the cake absorbed all the milk and made it much easier to cut in to. The milk also make the cake moist. It was an interesting dessert.
For a hotel restaurant, Woven + Bound was good. They offered some unique takes on classic dishes. Check them out at the hotel website www.marriott.com
I ventured out on an extremely cold evening in Chicago to visit Catch 35. I was told that this restaurant was really good, so I was not going to let a little weather hold me back.
I arrived a little early for my reservation so I enjoyed a
glass of Processco at the bar.
Looking over the menu there were so many seafood options to
choose from. I originally wanted to get the Yellowfin tuna but that was a
popular fish that night because they were sold out. I went for my second choice
of the Atlantic salmon.
I ordered the salmon grilled. It came out with a cucumber, shallot and lemon dill sauce poured on top. The salmon was cooked perfectly. It was flaky and moist. It tasted amazing with the dill sauce that offered a slight sour flavor. The cucumber pieces added a fresh element as well as a crunch. This sauce and cucumbers would be perfect over a salad.
The table got a side of Brussels sprouts to share. They were roasted so that they had nice crispy leaves. I dipped some bites into the dill sauce. I really liked that sauce!
I also ordered a cup of their shrimp and crab bisque. It was a nice creamy base with pieces fo fresh and chopped up shrimp and pieces of lump crab meat. I wish there was a little more of that in the bisque.
For dessert we shared the carrot cake bread pudding. This was an interesting blend of two desserts that I really like. The carrot cake was used as the bread in the dessert. It was sweet but very dense. There were fresh pieces of pineapple mixed throughout. The cream cheese icing was used as a glaze that was drizzled over the bread pudding. I enjoyed the spice flavor that was in the cake and the sweet icing complemented the cake.
My dinner was great at Catch 35. It was definitely worth going out in the Chicago cold. Check them out at www.catch35.com
There is a famous place in Chicago, near the United Center, that is known for their cheeseburgers called Billy Goat Tavern.
Billy Goat Tavern has a rich history that dates back to 1934, starting with the Greek immigrant who started the bar to the Billy Goat that fell off a truck and wandered inside. There is still a goat on display in the restaurant.
What I also learned is Billy Goat Tavern was also made
famous on Saturday Night Live. It was the “Cheezborgor, Cheezborgor” skit.
The place was packed. It seemed like everyone had the same idea. They have burgers and hot dogs on the menu. I went for a cheeseburger. They grilled them up to order so there was a slight wait, but I figured it was going to be worth it.
The fresh beef patty came out of a huge fresh bun. After seeing how big the bun was I wish I had ordered a double patty.
They have a topping bar that you can use to customize your
burger or hot dog to your liking. I kept mine simple with just adding some
relish. I did not want to take away from the flavor of the meat. The burger was
extremely juicy. It did not take me long to scarf it down.
I also got some French fries. They were hot and crispy. The perfect companion to a cheeseburger.
Now before I left Chicago I did visit another location of the Billy Goat Tavern. This time it was their location inside O’Hare airport. I figured it would be perfect to enjoy on the plane.
This visit I ordered a cheese dog paired with cheese fries. The hot dog was covered in liquid cheese. It made such a mess when I took a bite. There was so much cheese it oozed everywhere. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a cheese dog.
For the French fries, the cheese came on the side, so I had to dip the fries into the cheese. I would have preferred the cheese be poured over the fries.
I really enjoyed both of my visits to Billy Goat Tavern. It
will definitely be my new go-to restaurant for when I am at the airport.
I have read about the Italian eatery called Eataly for a few years now. I was excited when I went to Las Vegas and got to visit their 37th location. It is located in front of the new Park MGM hotel and casino (formerly the Monte Carlo).
It smelled so good as soon as I walked through the door. It was so overwhelming I did not know where to start. I decided the best way to start was to just walk around and get the lay of the land.
Gran Caffe Milano
I started off here so I could get a glass of wine. I tried the Lambrusco. It is a sparkling spumante that looked a little like grape juice. It was sweet but not overpowering.
Il Fritto
I strolled over to Il Fritto because they were serving up a variety of arancini. I have never seen so many different kinds of rice balls. I ordered two different varieties.
They also gave me some fresh made Italian bread. Cutting open the crispy crust revealed the soft center. They had an olive oil station where I was able to mix fresh extra virgin olive oil with cracked pepper and Parmesan cheese. This was the perfect blend to dip my bread in.
Arancini Di Funghi – This was a mushroom rice ball. It was full of earthy flavor that was also creamy from the cheese they included.
Arancini Ragu alla Bolognese – The rice was mixed with a Ragu sauce that had pieces of tender meat throughout.
Pizza Alla Pala
I could not leave Eataly without getting a pizza. I got eggplant, basil, and mozzarella cheese on my pizza. They hand tossed the dough in the air. It was fun watching them do that. Then they placed the pizza in one of their wood burning brick ovens.
The pizza came out looking perfect. The crust was puffy with a slight char from the oven. The taste of the dough was amazing; it was light and sweet. It was great with the fresh mozzarella. The fresh basil added intense flavor that was fresh and inviting.
Il Gelato
Even with all the wonderful things I had eaten, I needed to finish off my Eataly experience with some homemade gelato. They make fresh gelato and sorbetto every day. There were so many wonderful flavors to choose from.
I did a double scoop so that I could at least try two
different flavors:
Pistachio – this
had full size pieces of pistachios that were directly from Italy.
Mint Chocolate Chip –
this had big chunks of creamy dark chocolate pieces.
Both gelatos were super creamy. The natural flavor was really intense.
There was one last thing I had to do before I left Eataly. There is a mosaic tile bull on the floor near the exit to the casino. This lucky bull is a replica of one that is in Milano. Legend has it if you spin three times on top of it you will have good fortune. So, since I was in Vegas I figured I would give it a shot.
If you are visiting Vegas there is plenty to do. I
recommend you put Eataly on your list. Check them out at www.eataly.com
I was invited to a special dinner when I was out in Las Vegas. A big group was getting together at Searsucker inside Caesars Palace.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated. Their were reclaimed wood signs on the walls that had a variety of inspirational quotes on them.
Since we were a large group, we had a fixed menu that was created by Chef Stephen La Sala. It was a selection from the menu. Each course was set up family style so we just shared it around the table.
First out was the salad. This was fresh field greens that was tossed with candied walnuts and goat cheese. The salad was covered in a champagne vinegar dressing. The dressing was great; it was sweet and tangy at the same time. The walnuts added crunch and sweetness. The goat cheese crumbled throughout added a creamy texture.
The meats and sides came out at the same time. I made sure I tried a little of everything. The flatiron steak was the first item I tried. The steak was very tender and juicy from the beer marinade they used. The flavor from the grill enhanced the savoriness of the meat. They also had some crispy potatoes on the side of this platter.
The next thing I tried was the chicken. This roasted chicken was seasoned with lemon and garlic. The chicken was extremely moist. There was a savory flavor to the overall chicken. They served blistered tomatoes on the side along with arugula that added a peppery element.
The also brought out a fresh salmon. They grilled the salmon perfectly creating a great sear on the outside. They served cannelloni beans with smoked bacon on the side. The bacon added a salty taste to the sweet, creamy beans.
There were two separate sides that they brought out to the table. The mashed potatoes were amazing, some of the best I have every had. The potatoes were tremendously creamy. They drizzled a little sour cream on top so it added even more creaminess and a little tang too.
The Brussels sprouts were delicious as well. They roasted the sprouts till they got crispy around the edges. They also included walnuts, which was a nice crunch factor. They tossed the sprouts with a Serrano vinaigrette before cooking them. This vinaigrette added extra savory flavor to the dish.
I really enjoyed everything that was on this menu. I would want to go back to try their regular menu. You should check them out at www.searsucker.com
