Key West… as seen by Miss D

Did a year really pass so quickly?  I guess it did, and it was a pretty full year for The Priss.  Be that as it may, here we are again back at The Key West Food & Wine Festival’s kick-off.    In many attempts to regenerate new liver tissue, I stopped drinking wine.  And then it was Thanksgiving and visiting with The Handsome Captain’s daddy.  And right after, I stopped drinking wine.  Then it was Lush Bar’s Wine & Chocolate Pairing.   And right after, I stopped drinking wine.     Then, it was the Christmas season and countless holiday parties.  And visitors.  And wine tastings.  And right after, I stopped drinking wine.  And then it was New Year’s Eve.  And right after, I stopped drinking wine.

So earlier in the week, I became the proud mama of a bouncing baby liver.  And just in time for The Key West Food & Wine Festival.  That’s my story

 

 

One of my favorite events has always been the kick-off party.  This year’s was the “Kick Off Your Flip Flops Copa Cabana Beach Party”.

Mamacitaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, Señoritaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…

 

 

Yes, everybody has variations of this image.  We capture it each and every year.

 

So here is an image that is almost NEVER captured…

Prissy actually attending the “Kick Off Your Flip Flops Copa Cabana Beach Party” in…flip flops.  Okay, I associate flip flops as those obnoxious rubber shoes that cost $3.00 at CVS.  These leather sandals (sandals–now isn’t that a better word?) were Steve Maddens and a gift from TraceyG last summer when she couldn’t wear them.  Flats go better with maxi dresses, plus I didn’t want the Manolos getting sandy.

 

 

This is not new, though.  Wine writer Steve Calderwood greeting me with a kiss.

 

What’s not to smile about? Sun, wine, and Cuban eggrolls (black beans, rice, and pork).

 

 

Ari and fellow blogger Stephanie weren’t smiling for the the eggrolls…I think they were just drunk.  Kidding–that came later

 

 

So why was Alden, of Southern Wine & Spirits, smiling?

 

 

Because his girlfriend (and another fellow blogger) Claudia of Florida Travel + Life is très silly.

 

 

Local wino friends Chris and Barbara.  Barbara intro’d themselves to us after we all went on the holiday “look at the lights” trolley sponsored by Grand Vin.  I love when Prissy readers intro themselves…it’s great fun!

 

 

So some of our locals may look like those in your town/city.  Then there is QMitch, Ball Caller Extraordinaire at 801 Bourbon Bar every Sunday.  Nobody looks like him…nobody sounds like him…nobody calls balls like him.  And we are thankful for our fabulous original.  I love ya, Mitch!

 

 

Welcome back to the Key West Food & Wine Festival, Republic National!

 

 

I’m originally from Central New York so imagine my surprise when I learned several months back that Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards would be at this year’s fest.

Priss has spent many afternoons in Hazlitt’s tasting room partaking in the Red Cat Chant…

 

“Red cat, red cat, it’s an aphrodisiac! Red cat, red cat, it’ll get you in the sack!!!”

This representative of Hazlitt could not confirm nor deny how many times indeed Red Cat has gotten anybody in the sack.

 

 

And look! More vino!

 

 

 

All that wine and me with an empty glass.  Sacré bleu!

 

 

Babaluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing screams South Florida Fabulous like wearing fruit on your head and rocking your inner Carmen Miranda.  Where is Ricky Ricardo when you need him?

 

 

Meanwhile, a few steps down the sand, it was A Meeting of the Gregs: My Greg, My friend Jennifer’s Greg, and Random Greg.  No, we didn’t just find this uber-blond guy walking on the beach and say “Hit me up with a group picture, yo”.  Greg 2 and 3 are friends.

 

 

And then there was naked.  Only the wine, luckily for us.  “Simply Naked’s Unoaked Red” had a fairly smooth flavor at a price tag that won’t break the bank.

 

 

Sometimes one needs a break from the hoopla (does anybody use that word anymore?) and enjoy the view.  Alas, I never tire of sunset.

 

Or palm trees with lights.  It’s one of my favorite parts of Florida living.  (Photo courtesy of Claudia Miller, Florida Travel + Life)

 

It was, however, time to bid the kick-off party adieu.  While a beach party is always a fun time, I did find this year’s to be lacking the glorious food and finer wines of kick-off parties past.

 

Time for a new experience!  For the prior two years, we did the Key West Bight Stroll.  This year, we decided to try the new kid on the block: The Quieter Side of Duval.  Just because our particular stroll wasn’t far from Southernmost, we still got to ride Old Town Trolley.

I think our trolley participants had themselves a fine time.

 

 

Our first stop was Le Bistro at Croissants de France.  Pictured is co-event director Mark Certonio with one of his awesome volunteers.

 

 

Lichine Le Coq Rouge from France was the wine.

A little bit closer, now…

 

 

Paired with Le Coq was a Lemongrass Beef Skewer in a Lettuce Cup.  It was a nice pairing.

 

Meanwhile, back at The Bistro Ranch…A Priss checks her phone while TraceyG focuses on a shot.  Then it was onward and upward Duval…

 

 

to Le Petit Paris.  Caymus Conundrum was served with Black Pepper and Lavender Dusted Sea Scallops.  (Photo courtesy of Le Petit Paris).

 

Unfortunately, The Handsome Captain™ was so busy chowing on the extremely juicy, tasty, and peppery scallops that he did not capture an image of said scallops.  More’s the pity.

 

 

It was high time I got to meet local fellow KW travel tweeter Fred and his lovely wife Ralf at Le Petit.  Background consists of Angel and Alden.

 

So we continued on to stop #3: Nine One Five

This was supposed to have been a pairing of Fresh Dungeness Crab with Lemon Miso Dressing wrapped in Ahi Tuna Sashimi and Justin Sauvignon Blanc.  I say “supposed to have been” because apparently the exact amount of crab servings were placed upon a table.  Since nobody was serving, it mattered not that folks took 3-4 plates and leaving the remaining patrons of the stroll to get bupkus.  A member of our party was understandably upset and it seemed to matter not one iota to this establishment.  I found that very sad.  As much as this seems to smack of a venue who may be, as my Mama says, “getting a little too big for their britches”, admittedly I do not know both sides to this story.  I do know that many folks were disappointed.

 

On to Blackfin Bistro for a Conch Cake with a Dijon Remoulade paired with the 900 Grapes Sauvignon Blanc.

Despite the smiling face, this was another disappointment…I just didn’t know it at the time.  This plate was among the very last to be handed out and once again, there wasn’t enough for everyone.  Considering Blackfin is among my favorite restaurants here, I was majorly bummed.  However, as I said about Nine One Five…I do not know the whole story so I don’t want to finger point.

 

Our fabulous crew, once again, went a-walkin’….Up Duval and down Truman to the courtyard of…

Better Than Sex, corner Truman and Simonton.   Look here, a beautiful lady and…

a magnificent spread!!!  Our final pairing, on the food side, was The Popcorn Pimp.  Described by the creators themselves, “This cheesecake manages to expose itself freely while allured to rest on top of a sweet sugar cookie dough crust. His velvet creamy filling remains protected with a robe of soft caramel & eventually gets dressed smartly with a white chocolate bark poked with salted popcorn and a dark chocolate dribble.”  So…do you need a cold shower?

 

What about NOW??????  Oh, the wine? This masterpiece was paired with Mezzacorona Moscato D’Asti.  Yum yum on both parts!

 

 

“Look Donna, we’d better eat like 5 pimps apiece!  We don’t know when we’re EVER going to eat again!”  I still don’t know if that was said by TraceyG or her tapeworm, TabithaG.

 

 

Blogger Stephanie telling us there is both wine AND pizza at their place, while Alden & Claudia enjoy the end of the stroll.

 

 

The smiling bloggers.

 

Forget Applebee’s…Claudia of Florida Travel + Life was definitely “feelin’ good in the neighborhood”.

Strike a pose…

There’s nothin’ to it, Vogue Vogue Vogue.  Says the patron enjoying dessert “These women are batshit crazy”.  She just might be right

 

While I believe this particular neighborhood stroll was not the best it could have been, as you can see, we still had a great time.  It is my sincere hope that if this stroll is on the schedule again next year, it becomes a first class event.  I love my town:)  I want the best for our event planners, our restaurants & bars, and our locals & visitors.  Salut!

 

PS–Stay tuned for Part 2,”Bottles & Busts Grand Tasting” at Mallory Square’s Historic Sculpture Garden.