Local Seafood

This may sound like a silly question, but you have to remember that it is coming from somebody that lives in the middle of the country and is not someone who fishes. Just someone who loves seafood. Is the local seafood in Key West available year round or are certain types more seasonal? What are the best types of seafood that you get there locally? Any favorite ways of preparation for the local seafood?

Local Seafood

not a silly one at all. If you ordered a fish sandwich, most places will offer it fried, grilled or blackened. Fresh local fish is year round for common types such as Mahi (we call it Dolphin, but it%26#39;s not porpoise!). Available most of the time is Grouper, Hogfish, Yellowtail and other snappers. Our fish is pretty much all very mild, bright white and flaky (the opposite of a Salmon type taste). Oysters, shrimp, bivalve type seafood is year round. Seasonal is fresh spiny lobster and stone crab.

Eat as much as you can......it%26#39;s sometimes not yet one day old. If a fish smells like fish, it%26#39;s been frozen. Our fresh stock smells of seawater (you%26#39;ll learn that smell).

Local Seafood

You can also catch your fish for dinner! Head boats are $35 to $50 or so and it%26#39;s almost certain you%26#39;ll get something. Many restaurants will cook your catch and give you side items for around ten bucks.

While you are in KW Stone Crabs will be in season. Be sure to put them on your must try list.

You can actually become an accidental seafood snob down here! If it wasn%26#39;t swimm%26#39;in in the morning and sizzeling in the afternoon then you turn your nose up at it. Red Lobster would have a hell of a hard time making a go of it. (Although, truth be told, I get a huge hunger for a Micky D%26#39;s Filet O Fish... Usually on the way home from a board meeting.)

Munchies are a common occurance Tim

A few things you should know.

The preferred way to eat stone crab is cold. Most places offer it hot, but cold is the way to go. The standard sauce is a mayo/mustard sauce for dipping.

Florida lobster is best prepared grilled. You can%26#39;t steam them. They are tough. Properly done, they are similiar to cold water lobster. Not as good, but close.

If you see ';fish of the day'; on a menu, it%26#39;s grouper or dolphin (mahi). Although you may find snapper or other fish on a menu, they will almost always be listed by what they are. Fish of the day is dolphin or grouper. Don%26#39;t try to understand it. Just go with it.

Shrimp. Remember it. Live it, love it, buy it, eat it. You won%26#39;t find a better place to do so.