Square One

I never dined at Square One under the previous owners, so I can't compare the 'new' restaurant with the 'old.'  Regardless, I have become a big fan of what they are doing there right now. 

The setting is nice, to start. Square One is located in Duval Square, between Simonton and Duval streets. It is quiet, definitely away from the crowds, but with just enough bustle to feel special. Origami and New York Pasta Garden are neighbors, and all three establishments have generous outdoor seating. The inside of Square One is quite striking, but I love to dine al fresco whenever possible.

Every Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am until 3 pm is brunch. You'll find the best of both breakfast and lunch, of course, from tried-and-true favorites to some things to make your meal extra special. I'd say starting the day with a flight of crafted Bloody Mary's is pretty special. At Square One you get four - The Red (zesty with horseradish and Sriracha), The Green (tangy with tomatillo, kiwi and wasabi), The Orange (made with carrot, beet, and orange juices), and The Fisherman (clam juice, Old Bay, and white peppercorn-infused vodka).  Ending your brunch with their Coffee and Donuts dessert is just downright decadent. Dunking housemade donut holes into rich mocha pudding and whipped cream? Yes, please.

Crafted cocktails are important at Square One, so definitely spend some time with the drink menu before placing your order. Then check out the dinner menu with its unique mix of plates large and small, appetizers and entrees, a little Asian (pot stickers), French (tartines), and Italian (carpaccios). The restaurant is now under the same ownership as Banana Cafe and The Cafe, so you will see symbols identifying their classic dishes including several vegan and vegetarian choices.

Recently I celebrated my birthday there with my husband. We started with Banana Cafe's delicious French onion soup and The Cafe's outstanding  Cream of Tomato with cheddar croutons.  Next up, pork pot stickers in pineapple-hoisin sauce and the wild mushroom tartine, with a pile of delicious wild mushrooms, braised cipollini onions, fresh herbs, and fontina cheese on thick toasted bread. Next came one of the evening's small plate specials - roasted prawns in a sauce of lime juice, smoked paprika, and cherry tomatoes. Probably one of the most delicious dishes I've had in Key West. For the entree, we shared the grouper special. Impeccably fresh fish with mascarpone polenta and a flavorful sauce...just wonderful. 

No room for dessert that night, but I did want to try the house red sangria before heading home. So glad I did! The best I've ever tasted, with tiny chunks of watermelon and orange.  I look forward to going back to Square One, for more sangria and to try the rest of the interesting menu.

The roasted prawns special....so good!

Abbondanza

When the sun goes down, Abbondanza restaurant on Simonton Street literally glows. The combination of the yellow exterior and warm lighting from inside is welcoming. You'll notice the music right away....all those old Italian songs from 'GoodFellas' and 'Married to the Mob.' It's like someone's nonna is inviting you in for dinner.....'come, eat!' as she puts  'Hey, Mambo' or 'That's Amore' on the stereo.

Abbondanza is open nightly from 5 to 10:30. And depending on the season, it's usually pretty busy, with a mix of locals and visitors staying at the hotels at that end of Key West. You can eat at the bar or in one of several dining rooms. The space is much bigger than it looks from outside.

Your meal will start with some really good crusty bread, perfect for sopping up the olive oil/balsamic vinegar combo your server will provide. All pasta entrees come with a small house salad dressed lightly in the house vinaigrette. The salad is the last thing you will see that can be described as small....portions are large and perfect for sharing. You will probably leave with a few to-go containers as well.

Abbondanza is part of the restaurant group that operates Duffy's, Pieces, and The Commodore. Fresh seafood is a major focus of the menu at each. 

Linguine al Pesto con Gamberetti is a local favorite, arriving in the restaurant's signature white bowls brimming with pasta, pesto sauce and fresh shrimp. If you prefer red sauce with your seafood, go for Linguine Pescatore with shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and fish in the house marinara. And you can never go wrong with linguine in clam sauce, available with red or white sauce, of course.

There are filled pastas, including cannelloni stuffed with ground veal and ricotta and topped with tomato cream sauce, and manicotti with ricotta and spinach, topped with marinara. Veal , chicken, or eggplant parmigiana with a side of spaghetti? Check. Lasagna with meat sauce? Of course. Classic stuff, done well. 

One of the most popular items, and the one that we order the most, is the Spaghetti Abbondanza. Basically a big bowl of spaghetti with marinara, meatballs, and fresh basil. It's enough for my family of four to share, plus an extra side of meatballs so everyone gets their own. When we  are really hungry we start with the restaurant's generous Antipasti platter to eat with that crusty bread. Italian meats, cheeses, olives, pickled vegetables....fuhgetaboutit.

Antipasti Abbondanza

Spaghetti Abbondanza

Local Sources

For a small island, we have some great resources for locally made foods, fresh produce, and specialty items. In the last year or so, Key West's non-restaurant food scene has really taken off.

When I first moved here, Annie's Buying Club (www.anniesbuyingclub.com) was the first thing I found. For a really reasonable price (especially compared to how much something like this would have cost in Maryland) you can choose from the various boxes of organic produce (fruit only, paleo, whole or half share, etc) for weekly pick up at sites around the island.

Next I discovered Help Yourself (www.helpyourselffoods.com) on Fleming Street. This natural-food restaurant and shop has really expanded since then, with the retail space now offering a selection of fresh organic produce daily. Plus I can find many of the things I used to purchase at my beloved food co-op in Frederick, The Common Market, like organic vitamins, teas, cleaning products, etc. And their smoothies and juices rock.

Sugar Apple (www.sugarapplekeywest.com) on Simonton Street has been in Key West the longest, and it's a place I need to explore more, especially the tiny cafe/juice bar attached. They offer every type of supplement/vitamin/herbal remedy you can think of and the staff is very knowledgeable.

The entire island was thrilled last year when the Restaurant Store started filling their large parking lot area with food purveyors, vendors, and crafters on the first Sunday of the month. This Key West Artisan Market (look them up on Facebook) is like a little party, and I just love it. Taste some wine and cheese, shop the local crafters (Kdub Designz, Guilded Peach, SALT Provisions, etc), and have some lunch. There are several vendors each month selling food to eat there or take home, including some really great barbecue from Tennessee Steve's, tacos from Death by Tako, and special soups and sandwiches from Cole's Peace.

The fresh produce has really expanded at this event (they drive up to the markets in Homestead and Plant City for pick up), and the flower vendors make it feel like a big-city market to me. I never leave without some flowers for the table, some killer mozzarella from my friend Mozzarella Mark, fresh-made pasta from Pasta Pailloux, pantry items from the Pickle Baron, and whatever else strikes my fancy.My husband's friend Mundy the Pirate sells  local shrimp and fish and if he's got the big red shrimp, I always get some.

When I first heard about the Key West Green Market (look them up on Facebook) last spring, coming to Bayview Park every other Thursday, my first concern was for the Artisan Market....oh no, can little KW support two similar markets? Well the answer is a resounding YES to that - locals love them both and have supported them so well that both have grown and expanded.

Key West Green Market has become so popular that is is now open EVERY Thursday from 9 to 2. Bring some shopping bags for fresh Florida produce, the basics plus some unusual Caribbean stuff. And bring an appetite for Indian, Greek, Conch Ceviche, Gumbo, Pulled Pork and much, much more. The Empanada Lady's empanadas are outstanding, with the blue cheese/caramelized onion/walnut version our personal favorite. The new Italian cheese/meat/olive vendor has some great stuff too. It's all great stuff, really. Served up with a smile and a hug for the regulars in true Key West style.

Rusty Anchor

When we first moved here in 2010, I would often hear older people talk about eating at the Rusty Anchor, so for a while I assumed it was too old-school for me. But it has become one of my favorite lunch spots, with the kids or without. Yes, the decor and ambiance are definitely a throwback to seafood houses of the past (the same family has owned and operated it since 1983). But go more than a few times and the waitress will bring you your favorite beverage without you saying a word. The fish and shellfish is super fresh and prepared well, and the daily specials can seriously rock. So maybe I'm a bit more old school than I thought. And I'm not the only one - I see the same diners every time we go in there....young, old, and from every walk of life.

One of the first things that got me hooked (excuse the fishing pun) was the White Conch Chowder. It's served every Friday, and on Saturday if they happen to have any left. Seriously good stuff, made with a flavorful creamy base, tender chunks of potato, and lots of conch meat, cut small so that you get the flavor and not the chewiness. I enjoy ordering this soup at several restaurants in the lower Keys, but I think  Rusty Anchor's version just may be my favorite.

I love the women who serve lunch there, and the way they serve it. You don't just get an iced tea, you get a pitcher in case you need a refill. All seafood orders come with chilled squeeze bottles of both tartar sauce and cocktail sauce so you can use as much, or as little, as you prefer. Extra napkins, 'to go' boxes, and inquiries about the family are delivered without request. Food is served quickly. Maybe that is why it's so popular with large groups of local businessmen and the staff of the Sheriff's office?

Rusty's Fish Sandwich is served on Cuban bread with lettuce, tomato, and onion. I prefer the yellowtail snapper if they have it, fried, but you can also get your choice of the day's catches grilled, blackened, or lemon peppered. The Fish Reuben is really good, as is the Cuban Mix, dressed with mustard as it should be. If they have Pulled Pork as a daily special, order it! One sandwich is enough for two people, easily.

Along with fresh fish and local shrimp, the dinner menu offers spiny lobster, conch steak, and fresh tuna steak seared with sesame seeds, served with wasabi and soy sauce. They cut the Delmonico steak in house. That and baby back ribs make sure that the non-seafood eaters won't be hungry. Every Wednesday is 'Prime Rib Night.' I hear it's very popular. And kind of old school. At the Rusty Anchor, that's a good thing.

White Conch Chowder at Rusty Anchor

Breakfast at Azur

Short Rib Hash & Eggs

Breakfast is an important meal in Key West. We need fuel to start a busy work day and to take in the sights on land or water. There are quite a few who count on breakfast (no matter what time it is eaten) to 'get right' after a long night of fun. It's great that the island offers so many good places to choose from. Cuban coffee windows, healthy smoothie spots, diners, and more upscale options all abound. 

One of my favorite breakfast spots is probably better known for lunch or dinner. In fact, many locals don't seem to be aware that Azur is serving up a great breakfast Monday through Saturday mornings on a quiet corner in Old Town. Guests at Eden House, just a few doors down on Fleming Street, are invited to start their day there, but everyone is welcome.

Azur's breakfast menu is divided into sections, just like most morning menus, but the sections here are rounded out with some unusual and delicious choices.

First off, the Benedicts. Yes, an entire section devoted to them. Five options, each topped with two poached eggs. It's the rest of the plate that makes it special. How about a crisp flat bread with a layer of grilled tomatoes, two excellent crab cakes, and lemon hollandaise? Or maybe you'd like crisp yellowtail snapper filets atop grilled ciabatta with wilted spinach and caper hollandaise? Even the more traditional choices aren't so traditional. The Azur Benedict is made with the house-cured fennel salmon, crème fraiche, and tobiko (flying fish roe) hollandaise. The Roesti Benedict reflects the owners' time in Germany, with a crisp potato pancake as the base, and Brie, prosciutto, arugula and hollandaise on top.

Next, look at the frittata section. Another five enticing choices. These open-faced omelets are tender and full of flavor from combinations like spinach and sheep's milk Feta, Prosciutto di Parma, Fontina, and caramelized onions, and Brie, Herbs de Provence, and mushrooms. Potatoes and ciabatta toast are served alongside.

For those who like to start the day with a sweeter meal, Azur's key lime pie stuffed French toast should do the trick. It's made with thick bread slices soaked in vanilla custard then grilled. Add a same-size slice of real pie between each piece of toast and a wild berry compote, and you should be ready to face the day no matter what. 

The winner on this menu is the Carbonara Breakfast, listed under the Hearty Breakfast section. What, you say? Isn't that a pasta dish? I was skeptical but as I watched the plates of it pass my table on numerous visits I had to give it a try. Amazing! And not as heavy or sinful as it sounds. Azur's breakfast/dinner mash up features crisp pancetta, mushrooms, and soft onion throughout the pasta, with two poached eggs on top. The egg yolk blends with Parmesan Reggiano to make a sauce that is, well, just trust me and go try it. I've heard from the servers that they consider taking it off the menu sometimes, but that customers beg them not to. It's that good.

Yellowtail Snapper Benedict

Proscuitto & Fontina Fritatta

 

 

 

Generousity

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind....the stuff of daily life with kids and a house to keep in fairly decent order, plus girl scout cookie season and a large fundraising event at our church. As I sit here at the laptop in my office (wow, where does all this stuff on my desk come from??), on probably the first morning in several weeks that I haven't had a place I needed or wanted to be, I am feeling kind of emotional (just a little!) about all the kindness I have witnessed in my recent travels.

First off, I want to thank all the awesome people who have listened to the members of my girl scout troop's impassioned pleas and explanations on the business of cookie selling. Sometimes you may have gotten WAY more information than you were looking for, but you didn't show it, and I'm sure you felt as good as I did when you walked away from our little table with a armful of Thin Mints and Samoas. Key Westers are kind-hearted souls. So far we've sent many boxes to the troops deployed overseas, and I know the donation jar will be filled again in these last two weekends. Filled with not just dollar bills, but with fives, and tens, and twenties for cookies you will never taste. Thank you! What an example for the girls - giving to others may just be the sweetest treat of all.

Next, I would like to thank the generous business owners on this small island for their overwhelming support for the fundraising event. As a member of the silent auction team, my main job was to hit the streets. Armed with a thick file of donation request letters, I visited restaurants, gift shops, jewelry stores, and bars. And more often than not, I left with a gift certificate or a specialty item.  If the manager wasn't there, I left a letter with my cell number, offering to come back and pick up anything they may like to donate. And sure enough, they called me back. It was fun to answer my phone and hear 'Hey Kendi, I'm the manager of Margaritaville....your items are at the hostess station!' and 'Hi, it's Sean from Eaton Street Seafood. Lunch rush is over so your gift certificates are ready and waiting!.' There are many, many fundraising events in Key West throughout the year. And the island's businesses somehow manage to donate to many of them. One more reason to shop local and support them. They deserve it.

White Street Grill at the 4th of July Cafe

When new owners Steve Kibbe and Hannia Rivera took over Mattheessen's on White Street earlier this year, they kept much of what made the 4th of July Cafe a local favorite. As long time Key Westers, they both knew the homemade ice cream and big-as-your-head cookies would always be a hit. Adding more items to the menu and offering an interesting list of daily specials? Well, that is what comes from many years in the restaurant business....both Kibbe and Rivera (who also own Shots & Giggles on Caroline Street) obviously know what the people want.

      You might not notice many changes when you walk in the front door of what is now called White Street Grill at 4th of July Cafe. Those big cookies, weighing in at a half-pound each, are still in the case. And so is the colorful array of ice creams. Both are still made by the Mattheessen family at their other shops closer to Duval Street.

      Every day brings a list of lunch specials, with two soups (everything from Turkey Corn Chowder to Beef Barley to Chicken Brussels Sprout), an entree salad (like Greek Salad with housemade tzatziki sauce or Summer Salad with strawberries, grapes, nuts, and blue cheese), and maybe a special sandwich. You'll still find the famous chicken salad, in a wrap or on a croissant. The Famous White Street Grill Burger is bound to become just that, with a half-pound burger topped with sliced prime rib, sautéed mushrooms, AND melted Brie.

      Starting at 5 pm, there are usually new specials for dinner along with the new dinner menu (you can still order from the regular menu). The BBQ Spare Ribs are very popular here, available as a 'Teaser' or a half- rack with sides. Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Meatloaf, Pasta Alfredo, and a hand-cut 16-ounce ribeye are other options. Recent dinner specials have included Shepherd's Pie, Three Cheese Ziti Marinara, and Surf & Turf, here made with the ribeye and a skewer of teriyaki shrimp and red peppers.

      Every Tuesday is Taco Mania, with taco (beef or chicken) platters, taco salads, and a burrito or other Mexican entree available at both lunch and dinner. We live nearby, so it is a popular choice at my house. And if we are too lazy to ride our bikes up the street, they will even deliver in Key West, free of charge.

With two girls under ten, I am a big fan of the restaurant's children's menu, available every day from 11 am until 10 pm (9pm on Sundays). It covers all the kid favorites (hot dog, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, even buttered noodles), adding a side (fries or fruit), a drink, and a small dish of ice cream for just $7.95. Last week the girls were hot and sweaty from day camp, so we headed there for an early dinner, ending with one chocolate ice cream sprinkled with M&M's and one Papa Smurf (it's bright blue, and tastes like blueberries....or something).