Key West - MANGIA MANGIA

I think maybe sometimes waitresses spit in my food.

Mangia Mangia is a cafe recommended to us by Ray the desk clerk at our motel/hotel.

I noticed as soon as we walked in the overpowering odor of garlic in the air. It was even worse than Olive Garden where they put the strong smelling root in everything they serve. (Try their garlic ice cream sometime!) I asked the waitress if they put garlic in their Alfredo sauce. She gave me that “poor senile old fellow” look and said, “We are an Italian restaurant.” I gave her my “Italian food isn't suppose to be all nothing but garlic” lecture. Alfredo was intended to be an escape from strong herbs. (After all I am an expert. I've been to Italy you know) The young lady didn't smile as she took our orders and walked away.

Well the food was really good, spit and all. Nancy had rigatoni with shrimp and marinara sauce.

I daringly had lobster linguini in pink sauce (four different kinds of cheese. I'll eat most anything if you put enough cheese on it). I couldn't even taste much garlic, cheese covers up all evil tastes.

I really can't eat the stuff because it battles in my stomach like other spicy things. The bill was a whopping $60 with tip. I guess extra cheese and spit adds to the cost. I felt kinda guilty. I may have tipped a bit too much. Will I ever learn?

Bon Ton Roulett  Y'All  
Gene and Nancy

“Half baked cookies in the oven
Half baked people on the bus
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us” – JB

Key West - Harpoon Harry's

We ate at several restaurants more than others. Across the street from BO's on Caroline  street was a local hangout called Harpoon Harry's. Inside looked like any other small town cafe except  the strange and wonderful art and collectables all over the place. It was often full of people with many obviously regulars and tourist as well.

Sunday night was the spaghetti and meatball dinner with Cuban bread instead of garlic bread. It tasted like the stuff mom used to make. Well, not my mom, but probably someone's Italian mom. It was $32 with tip. One day at lunch Nancy got the Cuban mix sandwich she had been longing for. She likes those  spicy things loaded with strange herbs flavor. Even if I liked it, my digestive system would declare war if I shoved that stuff down. I had another breakfast. The cost was $35 with tip.

It is a fun friendly place to eat. We missed getting pictures of some of our food because the waitresses were so friendly and talkative  and even seemed to start recognizing us after about the third time in. The decor was weird though. The hanging Barbies (They had a bit a Barbie fetish we were afraid to ask about) were the first thing you saw as you walked in the door.

Bon  Ton  Roulett  Y'All  
Gene and Nancy

“Can't you feel 'em circlin' honey?
Can't you feel 'em swimmin' around?” --- JB

Key West - Breakfast

We stayed in Key West in the Old Town area. That meant you could walk just a few blocks to finds lots of food. Two blocks away was Caroline street where BO's and a half dozen other restaurants can be found in a block or two area.

We did take advantage of the free breakfasts at the Albury Court cottages where we were staying. Nancy liked the cereals and I ate bagels. It was just your usual continental  breakfast served at most motels these days. But, I think it tasted better by the pool surrounded by tropical vegetation. It also taste good because it was free.

A half block away was the Old Town Bakery. With fresh Cuban bread a simple egg and cheese sandwich can be a real treat. And, at $9 for two (with tip) the price is as good or better than fast food. Pictured are cheese danishes that we had another day with a split ham and cheese croissant.

All that and a couple of drinks cost $12. It is a good thing we don't live that close to a good bakery back home. Sooner or later we would have trouble fitting out the door.

Almost hidden between the trolley stop and the sea shell and sponge gift shop on Margaret street near the harbor is the Cuban Coffee Queen cafe. It is another place that you can easily miss because it is so small and kinda hidden.

There is a city police dispatcher who has a blog that I read. It is called Key West Diary. He has mentioned that police officers often grab breakfast at this cafe. As you can see in the photo, they even do motor bike deliveries.

Again the Cuban bread really makes this breakfast sandwich something special. It is really cool the way they smash the bread flat to make it easier to eat. Two of these with drinks and tip cost $12, another goooood deal.

And oh man, seafood for breakfast!!!!! Hey Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore. Harpoon Harry's is another place locals hang out, but I don't know how they can afford it. Breakfast for two cost us $43 with tip.  Nancy had a lobster Po Boy with sausage gravy and I had a seafood omelet stuffed with lobster and crab meat and covered with hollandaise sauce. And, nice brown home fries with both.

Then we went and took a nap.

Bon  Ton  Roulett Y'All  
Gene and Nancy

“Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, nothing remains quite the same” --- JB

Key West - BO'S FISH WAGON

We used to depend on Air Tran airline to get us out of the Midwest and into the Keys before noon, but that early morning flight no longer flies out of our airport, so we had to catch a noon Delta flight. Because of all that, our first meal in Key West was supper. We hit BO's Fish Wagon. It was only a couple of blocks from where we were staying and one of our favorite places anyway. (I know I did an entry on this place last time, but I got better pictures and it is such a funky place)

The fist few times we were in Key West we did not eat at BO's because we couldn't find it. We went past it lots of times on the way to the harbor market (now closed, there is talk of making it into a bowling ally) and never saw it because it looks pretty much like an old truck covered with trash. That is called Key West rustic. It is mostly outdoors with rocky dirt floors, mismatched tables and chairs, decor that could be called driftwood deluxe, and rattling fans all around. It doesn’t look much better inside than out.

The last time I wrote on these pages I think I mentioned BO's shrimp on a stick. Yes, in heaven all shrimp will come on a stick either grilled plain, barbequed, or blackened. There will be six big juicy sea critters so fresh you can taste the sea with every bite, just like you get at BO's.

I like a side of homemade fries or coleslaw with mine, but Nancy, being not so finicky as I and of German descent as well, got black beans and rice with her's that she said were quite good. Oh, yea, you gotta have a cold beer with that. ( Landshark in the bottle works just fine).

We ate at BO's several times while we were in Key West. We always do. Usually ate pretty much the same thing every time. The price for two suppers for two as described was $32 and $29 with the tip. That is with beers. Lunch can be had for less that $20 if you drink pop and share some fries. Fresh seafood for not much more than a trip to the golden arches.

Speaking of fresh seafood, watch out for the sand crab that lives under the table by the door.

We tried to feed it but the little guy did not seem to like seafood. (unlike the chickens who wander around aimlessly and grabbed anything we dropped) The waitress said the crab's favorite food was toes. That is why I never wear sandals.

Bon Ton Roulett   Y'All  
Gene and Nancy

“Chew a little Juicy Fruit
Wash away the night” --- JB

Key West Introduction

Hello, my friends!  Welcome to another installment of The Key West Chronicles!  

Thank you to Uncle Gene and Aunt Nancy for their awesome contribution.  

I TRULY appreciate it, and them!  

I'll be posting one a day til they're done.  

Be a dear & comment, would you?  

Have you been to the Keys?  Are you planning a trip?

What's your favorite color?  No, wait, not that one!  

What's your favorite dish featured here?
What's your favorite JB quote?

There may be a contest for comments going on in one of these posts, so keep your eyes peeled and fingers ready!  : )  

And now, without further ado...

Carrie has once again asked her somewhat addled uncle to contribute some entries to her much celebrated  food blog. It is back to that 100 mile chain of islands that stretch from the tip of Florida into the gulf of Mexico.

Yes, it is back to the keys!

This time we will be eating our way around that wild and mysterious place called Key West. (The Spanish called it Cayo Hueso, translated “Isle of Bones”, because is was covered with bones of many Indian battles that took place there. Drunk Americans couldn't pronounce that, so they called it Key West … Close enough)

There are lots of cool places to eat in Key West. Hope we can pass on some useful information and get you a little hungry along the way.

The picture is Key West harbor near sunset. We did a lot of eating and enjoying this view at the same time. Food always tastes better with the ocean in the neighborhood.

Bon  Ton  Roulett   Y'All  
Gene and Nancy

 “But there's this one particular harbour
So far but yet so near.”
--- JB

Las Margaritas - New Mexican restaurant in town

Hello, my foodie friends!  

Uncle Gene gave me a disc w/ the Key West posts - but my computer is being anti-social & not letting me download from the disc.  In fact, it won't even OPEN the disc... *pout*  

So, I'll be attempting to email the posts to myself from a different computer.  We'll see if that works!

: ) 

Meanwhile, I thought I'd do a little review of the latest Mexican restaurant to open in town, Las Margaritas.  The owner used to have another restaurant, El Rodeo, which I LOVED.  I was sad to see it go, altho it was sold to another of my favorites, Azteca.  So I was happy to hear they were opening a new restaurant, and close to my house, too!  

Mom, Leyton & I ventured over there Wednesday night.  The service was very friendly, with our waitress even letting Leyton take her picture!  : ) 

The chips were brought to us warm and were just the right texture and thick/thin-ness.  Salsa was perfect!  I'm not one for a spicy salsa, I like it to be more sweet w/ a hint of cilantro.  We also ordered white cheese dip, which came out almost immediately after we ordered it, and it, too, was the perfect temperature and flavor.  

Leyton ordered a taco, beans & rice - altho he decided he didn't like his beans.  Mom had a vegetarian quesadilla, which she said was delicious.  It had mushrooms, green peppers, all sortsa goodies in there!

I had a combo, which included enchiladas, a quesadilla and a taco.  I don't always like the red sauce traditionally served w/ enchiladas, so I requested to sub cheese.  To be quite professional about it - Nom Nom Nom!  ; )  I added some more cheese & salsa & enjoyed it very much!

All in all, I would call this a successful dinner.  And with it being so close, I'm thinking carryout for lunch might be a good idea!  

Until next time - when eating at a Mexican restaurant, do you prefer salsa, cheese dip, or both?

Birthday (cake edition)

Today (well, November 19th - it's technically the 20th right now!) I turned 35.  To celebrate, we party!  : )  

Lunch was at a little Italian Bistro called Biaggi's.  Or, as Sarah called it - the fancy restaurant.  

Heh.  

I liked my dish a lot, it was one of the daily specials, a linquini w/ white sauce, chicken and - this is what cinched it as my choice today - olives.  

The chicken was cooked well, the noodles were the perfect tenderness, and the olives added just the right bite of salt to the dish.  (I mention the chicken being cooked well because at some restaurants, the chicken has NO flavor, and it's always sad!)

Nicki chose the Muffaletta sandwich - ironically also because of the olives!  She said it was very good, and I actually took home 1/2 & had it before I left mom's - it WAS very good!!  

Along with the restaurant's provisions, we had birthday cake, baked and decorated especially for me by my friend, Nicki.  I think she did an AMAZING job - what do you think?

Aunt Nancy certainly couldn't wait to dig in!!  ; )  

There was even a frosting surprise in the middle, and it was quite tasty!!  If you're in the area & need a cake for any occasion, let me know & I'll get you in touch w/ Nicki.  She has done not only turtles, but shoes, pizzas, popcorn, Elvis, Toy Story, and many, many more!  

Until next time - what's the most unusual shape you've had in a cake?  : ) 

P.S.

Stay tuned - Gene gave me a cd full of posts from their adventures in Key West this year.  

I'll be starting those posts as soon as I can!!  : )  

*EXCITED*