Bel Mare, Key West

It's taken me a while to get there but I can confidently say that Bel Mare is my favourite restaurant in Key West.  We treated ourselves to a bottle of wine, a mussels dish, Italian cheese and meat board and of course the bread.  We sat at the bar and had a lovely chat with a very nice bartender and an equally nice couple from Ohio.  

Saturday - a fabulous day

As usual, up early and out fishing.  We hit a spot early and hooked a mahi early but lost it just at the last moment before bringing on board.  Heartbreaking.  Looked big too!

Anyway 10 minutes later we caught this guy which we were very happy with.  Brought him home and filleted him for Sunday dinner.

I always get around Patrick by committing to getting up early for fishing (versus me laying in bed drinking coffee while I wake up), that in exchange he buys me a chicken sandwich for lunch.

Popeyes is back in Key West after some time being closed and I am so happy.  I get the spicy sandwich with EXTRA sauce. Mmmm.  Patrick gets the blackened (plain, not spicy)/

And then that evening we had the most beautiful evening in Bel Mare where we shared a bottle of one of our favourites (Orin Swift Locations - CA) and some fabulous food.

Bel Mare - la vita è bella

Oysters for our table to share.  

From Prince Edward Island - succulent and luscious.

And then for entree, something new!

I ordered one of the chef's specials, the "zarzuela".  Carribean lobster tail, Key West Pink shrimp, yellow tail snapper in a creamy madras style sauce.  Served with tagliatelle on the side. It.Was.Divine.  DIVINE

Oh, and drinks: I had a spicy margarita to start and then a glass of red wine - Orin Swift Locations CA

 

70 years of the Glass Bottomed Boat in Key West!

On Friday evening after work I popped down to Zero Duval for a lovely celebratory event marking 70 years of the Glass Bottom Boat in Key West.  I like to think of all the tourists coming to Key West in the 1950s, how exotic and exciting it must have seemed to be able to go out to the reef and see lots of lovely tropical fish.  Now of course there is so much choice for excursions on the ocean - jetsking, snorkeling, diving, dolphin watching, sunset sails - but back then a glass bottom boat must have seemed like the height of technology and sophistication.

Thinking about it now, the glass bottom boat seems rather quaint in comparison doesn't it? But it is still one of the most popular attractions in Key West which is nice.

It was a lovely event and very well ran.  Full bar with complimentary drinks, lovely appetizers, a nice display of historical paraphernalia and a nice band playing the background. Very enjoyable.  Only thing missing was my date.  On Friday afternoon, the news broke that Silicon Valley Bank had collapsed so Patrick had to stay close to his desk and computer for the evening.

Oh yes! I had some cake indeed

Fantastic Jazz/Swing style band provided entertainment.

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Afterwards I went and met a work colleague and his wife in BEL MARE!!  Only one of my most favourite restaurants in Key West.  It is pretty new and making a nice name for itself.  

I started with a spicy margarita.  Heck it was Friday, eh!  We shared some appetizers of cerviche, mussels and some rice arancini

Oh lordy!

Pork Osso Bucco, pureed potatoes and jus

Are you been to all the usual places in Key West.  Why not try out Bel Mare next time you are in town?

 

September Supper Club

September is a quiet month for tourism so many of the (good) restaurants on the island do a locals special as a thank you for your support during the year.  Plus I guess it also means the restaurants stay somewhat busy in what can be a very quiet month (not this year!!! But others).

So I've been getting together with the Squad (as Joe calls us) and we've been making good use of September to eat out.

Here we are in Bel Mare who had a good deal on their pasta dishes and wine. And in such a beautiful setting.  This place gets a recommendation from me.

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And then! Last Thursday.  In what is officially my favourite restaurant "Cafe Sole".  A nice discount off the whole bill for locals (broadly your tip I guess), lovely atmosphere, amaaaaaazing food.  If you are coming to Key West and planning just one good restaurant I say consider this.

 

Bel Mare, Key West

Visited Alonzos and the new Bel Mare down in the historic seaport district.  Bel Mare gets a massive thumbs up from me - high end Italian dining with a beautiful view of Key West marina.  A lovely evening all in