More Pictures for New Years. Happy Happy

Happy New Year

Tohono O'odham Tribe

While in Tuscon, Arizona researching for LJChapman, Jessica (my sales manager and long time very good friend) and I visited the San Xavier del Bac Mission.  The church is over 300 years old and still has most of its original parts.  The church is built on the Tohono O'odham reservation and holds service almost everyday to the Tohono O'odham people.  Its open to the public as well.

Before leaving I had to have some Fry Bread which, is exactly what it's called.  A light, crispy fluffy dough, deep fried then sprinkled with cinnamon, sugar and honey.  Cooked in cast iron pots over an open fire.  Simple and really good.  This man gave me permission to take his picture after I asked, and bought some fry bread.

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.