Boiled Peanuts

Found in season during the summer months and early fall, boiled peanuts are green or raw peanuts that are boiled in seasoned water for hours. Peanuts came to America from Africa sometime in the 1700’s on slave ships. During the civil war, soldiers had access to green peanuts out of the ground. Boiling them was […]

Easy Keysey Key Lime Seasoned Sautéed Yellowtail Snapper

The yellowtail snapper is the most abundant species of snapper native to the Florida Keys. Because of its availability year round and its white flakey meat with a delicate flavor, it’s one of the most commonly found fish in local restaurants and fish markets. Florida yellowtail snapper stocks are well managed and for the most […]

Cow Key Channel Bridge Run

The Florida Keys are connected to the mainland by bridges, 42 all together. The longest bridge is located in the middle keys and measures 7 miles long, so naturally it’s called the 7 mile bridge. Every spring 1500 runners flock to Marathon, FL and line up at 7:00 am to participate in the Seven Mile Bridge Run. […]

Chicken & Waffles with Chef Norman Van Aken at the Green Parrot

Sharing the Love is Chef Norman Van Aken & Tony Lazarus, honoring Key West born jazz legend Theodore “Fats” Navarro Jr. at the Green Parrot (p.2013). Southernmost Blend was on hand for rimming Bloody Mary’s  while Chef Van Aken prepared his fried chicken and waffles featured in his book “My Key West Kitchen” for the […]

Recipe Seafood Lasagna

I love lasagna and I love seafood, so why not? Wanting something that is decadent, but not too heavy. Layers of goodness and not blobs of mess. Rich, but lite at the same time. So, for the seafood, its lobster season, so why not lobster, and then some scallops & shrimp. For the sauce, a […]

Cooking in Colors, Sharing the Love!

Cooking in colors, while Sharing the Love! Because every meal should be a celebration. Long before the new world was discovered. It was customary for people to don on special clothing and crate wonderful meals for sharing whenever gatherings would take place for ceremonies and special celebrations. Fortunately the excuses behind such gatherings have grown […]

Key West Seafood Festival

The 9th Annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival was held on Saturday & Sunday, January 18th & 19th at Bayview Park. The weather was beautiful and no one could of have asked for a better weekend for the annual event celebrating what we do best, enjoying great seafood. The annual festival is put on by the […]

Recipe 24 Hour Pork Shoulder

Cooking a pork shoulder for 24 hours allows for a tender, moist, flavorful, delicious significant amount of meat for without breaking anyone’s piggy bank. It’s easy and can all be done inside. 24 hours also means you need to plan ahead. This recipe calls for brining the pork shoulder, so if you want to enjoy […]

SOBE Wine & Food Festival

When a good friend calls and asks if you would like to sous for him for an event at the SOBE Wine & Food Festival, you say YES, and worry about figuring out exactly how later. That’s what happened when celebrity chef/friend Craig Adcock of Belly Up BBQ and Jude’s Rum Cakes called and invited […]

Key West Food & Wine Fest

The Restaurant Store hosts the Seafood Shakedown as one of the must attend events during the Key West Food & Wine Festival. The Seafood Shakedown is an annual event where contestants are provided 10 lbs. of Key West Pinks to prepare and compete for the title and to be crowned Seafood King. This year we […]