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
Enjoy!
T
