The Key Lime Festival, usually held on or near the 4 th of July, is 3 to 4 days of eating, drinking and celebrating all things Key Lime. Perfect for a mid-day dessert after lunch. Hog Heaven: This may not be the first spot you think of when you are craving a key lime pie but we assure you it is just as good (maybe even better?) than the ones you’ll find at some of the fancier restaurants in the Keys. Take a nice stroll by the water to digest and hit up this not-to-sweet key lime pie when your stomach is ready for more. That’s why the Islamorada Times staff’s insider tip is to order your key lime pie to go. The generously sized entrée portions at Lazy Days and complimentary banana bread before dinner may have you feeling full by the time dessert rolls around. Served cold and plain, with a strong and citrusy key lime flavor, this pie is the perfect ending to a seafood dinner on the water in Key West. Topped with a very small dollop of whipped cream and surrounded with berries, this pie is just as pretty to look at as it is to eat.Ĭonch Republic, Key West: This is your all-around quintessential key lime pie. Morada Bay Beach Cafe: Morada Bay has a classic key lime pie with their signature flare being its presentation. Here are some of the highlights and favorite key lime pies we have experienced while tasting this treat throughout the Keys. The taste of the filling can vary with some being creamier and others being more citrusy with a stronger key lime taste. Some people favor meringue topping, others whipped cream, and then there are the purists who want it plain. The fun thing about trying key lime pie at so many different establishments is that each stays rooted in the authentic taste of the Florida Keys, but each has its own twists and specialties that make it unique. Here are some of their insights and a few reviews. Islamorada Times staffers Katie and Linda have taken it upon themselves to try the key lime pie almost every time they visit one of the area’s fine eateries. Opinions are divided and the battles are fierce. So if you do the math, we really only have 4 options. The main arguments in the variations of Key lime pies are in the crust, Graham Cracker vs. Minor variations have been tried to enhance the filling, such as the addition of whipped cream, sour cream, butter, vanilla or powdered sugar, but all seem to be feeble attempts to enhance an already perfect combination. VariationsĪs mentioned before, authentic key lime pie has only three ingredients in the filling, key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolks. There are still many Key Lime trees in the Florida Keys and locally harvested for the Key Lime Pies. Today most of the keys limes are imported. Back in 1926 a hurricane wiped out most of the citrus groves in Florida and they were replaced by Persian lime trees because they were more durable and economically more productive. Key lime trees are more susceptible to frost than other citrus trees. The key limes are juicier and the flavor is deeper and more acidic. They are smaller than the Persian limes, still oval in shape, but have more of a yellowish color with thinner rinds. It is tarter and has a more distinct aroma. LimesĪ key lime is different than the regular Persian limes you are use to buying in the grocery store. Many adaptations and recipes have been created since, but the three main ingredients, condensed milk, eggs, and key limes remain constant. Today all Key Lime Pies are baked because of the known dangers of consuming raw eggs. The mixing of ingredients and the acidity of the lime juice caused a chemical reaction and the filling thickened. They added this to key limes and eggs and the first unbaked, crustless version of the Key Lime Pie was created. Others will argue Gail Borden’s invention of canned milk allowed local sponge fisherman to take this product out to sea for many days without spoiling. A wealthy Key West resident named William Curry claimed it was his cook “Aunt Sally” who first made the iconic pie for him back in the early 20 th century. The actual origin of the first key lime pie is unknown. Everyone has an opinion and the debate as to who has the best has been going on for decades. The same goes on here in the Florida Keys when the topic of Key Lime Pie is mentioned. Ask a Texan which city has the best barbecue and the list will be endless. If you ask a Philadelphian, where can I find the best cheese steak, they will direct you to the corner of 9 th and Passyunk Ave. If you ask a New Yorker who has the best pizza in town, you will get many different responses.
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