Key West

Ive been doin a bit of traveling and about to do some more but I want to show you some of the awesome food I have been trying.  This last trip I flew into Miami and drove to Key West. By myself!  It was great.  I only stayed for 3 nights but I checked out a lot of great places and met some good chefs and fishermen who were more than happy to answer all of my questions regarding local ingredients in the keys.

This mojito is made with dragonberry rum, cranberry juice and lots of fresh crushed mint.  Totally delicious!!

These guys are from the stone crab.  They are local to the keys and can only be caught from the end of October to the middle of May.  These crabs can regenerate themselves.  The fishermen catch the crabs harvest the claws. They then return them to the ocean where it takes them about two years to grow their claws back.                                                                                                              Now, I have to say, for the sake of all my research and for my company ljchapman culinary travels I did try one of these claws.  I don't agree with taking something from any living creature that is necessary for its survival.  Although I do find it kinda cool that this is one of the only sea animals out there that is not killed and becoming extinct do to over fishing.