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…
Leave a CommentMonth: June 2019
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…
Leave a CommentLocated 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…
Leave a CommentWalking 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…
Leave a CommentDriving 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…
Leave a CommentI 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…
Leave a CommentI 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…
Leave a CommentThere 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…
Leave a CommentI 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…
Leave a CommentI 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…
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