Mrs Macs Kitchen Key Largo
You cant miss the glowing neon sign advertising the award-winning Key lime pie at Mrs. Macs Kitchen as you drive down U.S. Highway 1 in Key Largo. Featured on PBSs Flavors of the Florida Keys and Check Please as well as in Cosmopolitan and Travel + Leisure magazines, their silky pie is more on the sweet side. Perfect for a hot tropical day, they serve a cold version more similar to an ice cream pie in texture. The recipe, in use since 1976, was handed down from the original owners mother, who is the namesake of the restaurant. They bake their pies daily, using a graham cracker crust for the base and a fresh whipped cream topping. Hungry patrons savor about 200 slices a day, and the restaurant mails an average 300 pies per year to devotees around the country. Now with a second location, also in Key Largo, Mrs. Macs makes it easy to stop for a slice on the way south to Key West and north back to the mainland.
The Green Turtle Inn Mm 812
The Green Turtle, a long time Islamorada landmark, is a restaurant where turtle soup and steaks were legendary before the endangered species was banned from commercial fishing. Still a well-known island hangout, the Green Turtle has a key lime pie that we consider a chefs special on the fancier side. The macadamia nut crust is covered with a denser style filling topped with coconut whipped cream, berry syrup, and sprinkled with fruit.
The Famous Key Lime Pie Comes In Delicious Variations Sample The Best At These Keys Eateries
Capturing sunshine in a pan, Key lime pie represents the heart and soul of the Florida Keys. Each slice is a reflection of the pioneering spirit that led settlers to these isolated islands in the 1850s. Fresh milk was scarce, but the indigenous Key limes were plentiful. When condensed milk reached the market in 1856, it became the perfect marriage of ingredients. The acidic lime juice when mixed with egg yolks and condensed milk caused the filling to thicken without bakinga process called souring. The creamy concoction was poured into a pastry crust and topped with a whipped meringue made from sugar and the leftover egg whites. A classic dessert, named the official Florida state pie in 2006, was born.
Variations of the original recipe have emerged over the years from the graham cracker crust to whipped cream topping. Only one rule holds true: Key lime pie must be made with real Key limes. In 1965, Florida State Representative Bernie Papy, Jr. even tried to make it illegal for anyone to advertise Key lime pie not made with Key limes. The unique taste of the Key lime is more tart and aromatic than Persian limes, which have a slight bitter flavor. The juice is yellow, making the filling of any Key lime pie a pale yellownever green. Want to embark on your own quest to discover the best Key lime pie? These five restaurants always make the shortlist of favorites in the Florida Keys.
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Blue Heaven: Key West
What can I say? I like a little Key Lime Pie with my meringue! Blue Heaven is famous for its mountain of meringue, which is evenly torched all the way around. And look at how neatly it slices. There was no caving in at the point of the slice. It was perfect. Oh, and the Key Lime layer was pretty good, too! Its a must eat when in Key West! But get there early. They sell out!
Its not just Key Lime Pie, though! Here are the Best Restaurants in Key West.
Not a fan of Key Lime Pie? Whats your favorite dessert?
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Best Key Lime Pies In The Florida Keys
Ive always been drawn to the citrus flavors of the world. Lemon Meringue was my all-time favorite dessert for years until a visit to Floridas Key West changed my life.
A little bit of sweet. A little bit of tart. And a whole lotta heaven. Could there be anything better than Key Lime Pie?
I dont recall the first time I tried it. You would think something as delectable and delicious as that first bite of sweet tarty goodness would be more memorable, but I just cant. But what I can tell you about that first bite of Floridas official national pie is that it would never be my last. And one day I would find the perfect Key Lime Pie straight from the source. The Florida Keys.
It was a beautiful hot fall when the kids and I completed our 2-year road trip through the US, ending in the Florida Keys. Why? For the love of pie, of course. And the best desserts always come last.
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Your Key Lime Pie: Tips
- We suppose we dont need to say this but we will just say it: Fresh is better. For ingredients, use key limes if you can get them, otherwise use fresh limes, but many use bottled juice, or in a pinch, a combination of key limes and limes. If you like your pie tart, fresh is the way to go.
- Also, homemade is better especially the crust. But if you dont have time, dont fret, its the filling that really makes the difference.
- One tip we learned on our sampling tour, by increasing the egg yolks or juice, makes the pie lighter. But, it is all about personal preference.
- Use the zest from the limes it will make the pie tarter.
- A hand press works best for squeezing the limes.
- Use a glass pan, not aluminum. Key limes react to aluminum.
So whats the best key lime pie we have ever tasted? We humbly tell you that it is the one the original creator of AuthenticFlorida.com, Robin Draper, makes. She has perfected it and its simply delicious. Its homemade, light, and very tart. Whats the secret? Try it and youll find out! Heres the link:
We would love to hear how you make your key lime pie. How about sharing your recipe? If you have a good one, we may make it and feature it on our website or our . Post it in the comments below or email it to us:
Wed also love to know where is your favorite place to get key lime pie, especially if we didnt cover that establishment in this article.
What You Need To Know About Key Lime Pies
Basically, there are three parts to a key lime pie. The crust, the pie filling, and the topping. Here are the battleground issues: Graham cracker or pastry crust? Homemade or store-bought? Key limes, bottled juice, or regular limes? Whipped cream or meringue topping? Homemade or canned whipped cream? Cooked or uncooked? And the controversy goes on. Feuds have begun, alliances have dissolved, and friendships have ended over this simple pie. Its a battle of personal preference, family tradition, taste, and appearance, and no matter what your recipe, its important to know where you stand on the issue.
Key lime pie is the family favorite at our house. Always has been. We especially love it because it complements seafood and many of Floridas lighter dishes. Whenever we make a key lime pie, we have to make two as its consumed breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
We also make it a point to sample key lime pies in every restaurant we visit. We are self-proclaimed semi-professional key lime pie tasters.
So we took a trip to the Florida Keys, the birthplace of the signature dish, and decided to do a sample tasting of key lime pies. From Mile Marker 112, the measured distance on the north end of the Florida Keys to the southernmost point of Mile Marker 0 in Key West. We tasted plenty and since this was work related research, Weight Watcher points need not apply.
Its such a hard job, but someone had to do it.
We have come to the conclusion there are three types of key lime pies:
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Kermits Key Lime Shoppe
Kermits Key Lime Shoppe is the quintessential Key Lime Pie experience in Key West. Kermits is known to have some of the best Key Lime Pie in the Florida Keys . Kermits serves up traditional Key Lime Pie with a graham cracker crust and whipped cream topping that you can buy in an entire pie or by the slice. Plus, you can also find Key Lime Pie on a stick , Key Lime Pie dipped in chocolate and gluten-free Key Lime Pie.
One of the best things about Kermits shoppe is the amazing key lime concentrate they have for purchase. The key lime concentrate is super concentrated meaning you only use 1/2 as much as what your recipe calls for and it the the guaranteed way to make amazing Key Lime Pie once you are home from vacation. Not only do you need to buy this concentrate, but it makes perfect gifts for friends and family as well. I brought multiple bottles home with me after my summer in Key West and always loved pulling it out to whip up a Key Lime Pie to feel like I was back in the Florida Keys with no cares in the world.
Kermits Key Lime Pie Shop Key West
Kermits Key Lime Pie Shop, owned by Kermit Carpenter, is a Key West institution. He is known to stand outside his brightly painted yellow and green store throwing pies at people for fun. His pies are light, fluffy, and creamy. The recipe is heavy on the egg yolks, which makes it very light. He tries to source fresh key limes from throughout the state and while the crust is not homemade, the whipped cream is. He also features key lime pie on a stick dipped in chocolate.
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Best Places To Try Key Lime Pie In Key West
March 29, 2021·In: Florida, USA
Youre in the right place to find the yummiest and best Key Lime Pie in Key West. When youre headed to Key West youve got to make sure to grab a slice of Key Lime Pie . Even if youre usually someone who picks chocolate over fruit-flavored dessert, just try it. Im here to let you know all of the best places for Key Lime Pie in Key West .
I spent an entire summer living, working, and playing in Key West, Florida so Ive got my fair share of amazing recommendations for your trip. I even compiled the ultimate Key West, Florida bucket list with 98 amazing things to do, see and eat- youve got to check it out. Plus, in addition to these mouthwatering places to pick up Key Lime Pie in Key West, there are also loads of other amazing places to eat in Key West you need to add to your itinerary. And for my top tips and tricks, check out my list of 17 things you need to know before visiting Key West, Florida.
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Whats Key Lime Pie anyways?
So whats the deal with Key Lime Pie? Key Lime Pie is a delicious, creamy pie usually made with Key Lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolks . Key Limes which are similar to traditional limes, do vary in taste and are usually more yellow than green in color.
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Tips For Buying Key Limes
Key limes differ from the more commonly available Persian limes in that they are smaller, have more seeds, a thinner rind, and contain a larger volume of juice. When ripe, they are more yellow than green and should feel heavy for their size.
Floridas growing season for this fruit is relatively short , so you may see Mexican-grown Key limes in your market. Be cautious buying these because they are often picked underripe and will not continue to ripen once off the tree. Underripe limes tend to be dry, more acidic, and hard to juice.
If you cant find ripe Key limes, youre much better off using the juice from regular Persian limes in this recipe. Just avoid bottled lime juice as it wont give you the same bright, fresh-squeezed flavor.
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Where Is The Best Key Lime Pie In Key West
The best Key Lime Pie in Key West is a hotly contested issue. Locals simply cant agree who has the best pies, with many having their own regular go-to Key Lime Pie haunts. One of the most popular places to enjoy a slice is Kermits. Their sweet but bitter pie is the perfect sugar fix. Check out our best Key West Key Lime Pie spots and choose your favorite.
Moondog Cafe & Bakery
The Moondog Cafe & Bakery is a really Instagrammable spot. The place is covered in murals, including ones featuring their cute French Bulldog mascot. The decor is on point, and theyve created a welcoming and lively space to eat.
They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you guessed it, they also have some of the tastiest Key Lime Pies. They have a good selection of food to choose from too. Try the Quiche Lorraine, Breakfast Burritos, burgers, pizza, and treats from the bakery. The bakery sells croissants, Key Lime Pie, eclairs, muffins, and zucchini bread. There are also a lot of gluten-free and vegan options. There really is something for everyone.
It is a great spot to grab a seat in their cozy outdoor seating area for the best atmosphere. Its lovely at night with the hanging lights and chattering guests.
- Address: 823 Whitehead St., Key West
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Meet Chef David Dorsty
Head Chef David is from Long Island, New York, but has spent most of his life living in the Florida Keys. In his younger, formative years, he worked as a Chef at all the major resorts in the area. Then David found himself at Blue Heaven, where he dedicated 4 years as a Sous Chef. In 2012, he took a hiatus to the Catskill/Finger Lakes area of New York to work farm to table first at the North Branch Inn, then briefly at Cornell University and finally at a local farm driven gastro pub. Now, as the Head Chef of Blue Heaven, David continues to pursue his love for locally driven food, adding his personal touch to Blue Heavens already delicious menu. His style of cooking can be described as clean and highly developed flavors with an emphasis on fermentation, spice and authenticity. Chef David says, I enjoy working with seasonal ingredients and telling a story of where we are in this moment. Good food brings people together and teaches us to understand different cultures.