Cero Mackerel

Yesterday was literally the one good boat weather day so we jumped on it!  Good job too, because is raining really heavily, all day.

We headed out past Sunset Key towards Hemingway's Stilts and set up our trolling rods.  A few little bites but nothing catching. We described the fish as "very tentative today".  Finally however we got this nice little (20 inch) Cero Mackerel. Nice!

Considering the weather we decided to push on and go check our crab traps - we were happy with this little haul of 4 nice sized ones.

We were pretty tired after that morning! We were going to go to Martin's for happy hour but decided to go casual to Half Shell where we shared a dish of clams, mussels, shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn.  Mmmm!

Here is Patrick, waxing lyrical in Half Shell Raw Bar

 

Edith's Clam Bake in Half Shell Raw Bar

Sunday night before the working week (well, I don't work Mondays lol!)  we treated ourselves to a little outing to Half Shell Raw Bar.  We got a nice table with a nice view of the water and the boats so it couldn't have been any better.

Edith's Clam Bake arrives in a silver tin with aluminium foil on it, topped with garlic bread and coleslaw

Clams, mussels, shrimp, potato, andouille sausage and corn in a lovely buttery garlic and chili oil.

It was a small bit "cold" (by Key West standards!) yesterday so it was the perfect sociable sharing dish for the day that was in it.

Eats

After Patrick's family left we decided to have our own little Holiday Season and treat ourselves to some little date nights out.  Another little treat is that for the week, we cranked up the pool temperature and turned it in to a big old hot tub.  It is relatively "cold" here right now so the pool feels just divine.

Food!

First up: El Siboney (Cuban food) - Garlic Chicken, Yellow Rice & Plantains

Next evening we had Indian! Tikka House, Key West:  Chicken Tika Masala, Basmati Rice & Naan Bread

Saturday 12/30/23: we smoked a big lump of brisket at home and were delighted with that!

New Years Eve 2023: Oysters and more oysters in Alonzos.  Patrick chose Blue Point's on the half shell which we shared, and I ordered baked oysters which we shared too.  All fabulous.  We then came home and drank some wine and brie cheese.

New Years Day: Half Shell Raw Bar - we shared a "Clambake" dish - shrimp, clams, mussels, andouille sausages, potatoes and corn.  And then I got the craziest shot ever: Read about it here!

Tikka House

 

Little catch up with photos

Lovely Saturday light dinner/quick happy hour in Half Shell Raw Bar.  You simply can't beat Half Shell for their tasty appetizers, good value hh drinks and that water front ambiance.

We got out on the boat twice this weekend.   Checked the crab traps and harvested 4 medium size claws.  The season is slowing down...as it always does around this time of the year.  Feels like we might only have two more rounds of crab traps left.  On Sunday morning we went fishing and Patrick caught this beauty of a Spanish Mackerel.  I caught a nice size porgy.  And that was that.  It was a fun morning out all the same - our neighbours pulled up beside us in their boat and fished alongside which was a bit of craic!  Patrick was working hard all afternoon then, so I am glad we got up and out so early (8am - 7am old time - daylight savings kicked in etc etc!)

The cat is still a little molly.  Seriously.  Have you ever seen anything like this??!!!

The Saint is getting ready for St Patrick's Day! I ordered this big backdrop for people to take photos/selfies in front of and it arrived much bigger than I remembered ordering 🤣🤣

 

Girls night out - Half Shell Raw Bar

Lovely evening spent chatting, eating and drinking at Half Shell Raw Bar.

And Isabelle found a pearl in one of her oysters!!!

 

Monday, January 11th 2021

 Here is a summary of what I did today.  Brace yourself, a lot of "and then I went to", "and then I got" over and over again

1st Stop. I got up this morning quite early considering it was my day off, around 7.30am, and after a cup of coffee headed into the hotel to pick up a credit card.  My boss (the GM) is off on vacation at the moment so there are gaps that need to be filled.  I headed to Home Depot to buy some temporary blinds for two of the rooms, while we wait for our fancy ones to arrive.  Quite the conundrum getting the right size and the best material that I could, but I think I got there in the end.

Stop 2 was dropping it back to the hotel where I handed them over to our maintenance guy. They are his baby now!  Took a call from Patrick where he had super news, that he had found a great dentist that took our insurance, and that he had got me a same day cancellation appointment for 1.45pm

Stop 3 I came home for a bit, and then headed to Dennys for something I like doing every Monday or every second Monday.  Pancakes, coffee and reading The New Yorker.

Stop 4 Headed to the dentist.  Thank you Patrick for arranging! My first appointment with an American dental clinic (office?) and I was very impressed.  Full set of xrays, inspection done by the dentist and then a great clean/scale/polish by a lovely hygienist.  They all said my teeth and gums are in great shape which was a relief.  I will go back for another clean in 6 months.  10 out of 10 for service.  And 10 out of 10 for being just the cutest little dentist I've ever gone to.  Photos below...

Stop 5 I took the Christmas tree down :( The decorations had been off it about a week now.  But it still looked just so lovely lit up every evening.  I am going to miss it.

Stop 6 We headed off for dinner in one of our casual favourites, Half Shell Raw Bar! And it was just lovely as always.  A bucket of steamed garlic clams, buffalo shrimp and fish dip - all to share. Fabulous.  And a few little drinkies.

I think that.  :Let's not talk about Stop 7 where I went online to Bath and Body works and did some drinky shopping :)))  Let's just pretend that didn't happen lol!

Good night friends!

Photos of my dentist below:

Isn't this cute? I love the ceiling fan

Socially distanced waiting room

Irish dentist waiting rooms do not look like this!

A great start to the year!

 It feels like since we came back from Miami we have just been celebrating or having a lovely time - whether with friends (OUTDOORS to stay covid safe) or our own eating out or eating at home.  It is like...things were good before that trip, but they are even better now.

New Years eve:

I worked until 3pm when Patrick collected me which was a nice treat.  Easy to throw the bike in the back of the jeep when the roof is off.  Later that afternoon/early evening we had a few drinks and a bottle of bubbly (prosecco) with our neighbours out the front of our house until about 8pm. We then had takeout of awful dirty sweet fire chipotle chicken wings which were fabulous! Toasted happy new year and were in bed asleep by 10.30pm lol (I was in work next morning at 7am fyi)

Half Shell Raw Bar:

Happy hour.  We were sat at the bar for the first time in forever.  While there was a big (nice) space between us and others at the bar which was good for covid safety, it still just felt nice and almost normal.

Saturday evening in our friend's house:

Yesterday we visited with G&K for drinks and dinner. We bought a bottle of bubbly (cava) and dinner was an amazing home made in the crock pot bbq pulled pork and divine mac and cheese. We ate outdoors.

Sunday on the baby boat:

Mixed it up and went out this afternoon rather than our usual Sunday morning trip.  Caught some throwbacks - an exotic looking (and foul tasting lol!) porkfish, and a big (but not big enough) mutton snapper.  And then caught some keepers of lovely porgy (aka "Sea bream" in Ireland). And three crab legs to add to our stockpile. 

Normally Patrick pulls the one crab claw off the crabs.  (Did you know? You take one, they grow it back. You don't take two as it leaves them defenceless).  Today I took over that task. It is hard! They are TOUGH! You need to be so careful you don't have your fingers near their pincers and then you really need to push/pull with all your strength to get the arm off cleanly.

Back to work tomorrow for this lad!  But I think he will tell you himself that he had a good break, and this was a great ending to his Christmas vacation

Sunday Funday

It's hard to think that I could squeeze any more "stuff" into yesterday. Actually, there is no think about it, I know I could not have done more.

First up!

I went to The Custom House Museum to see their latest exhibition "The Literary History of Key West".  It was excellent.  

I counted over 40 writers featured - and the curator notes there are many more but space did not allow for them.  It is amazing really, for a little small island with, let's face it, a bit of a party reputation, it has massive literary influence, culture and history.  I honestly cannot fathom a place where so many recipients of the Pulitzer prize, Tony Awards,  Nobel prize for Literature and Poet Laureates reside, or have resided. So cool.  

Have I mentioned lately that I love this little island?

From there, I cycled up Duval and Truman, stopping off at the little Tennessee Williams Museum.  

It is small but packs a mighty punch, packed to the gills with information, photos and paraphernalia from his time on the island. I love this exhibit for the personal insight you get. Aside from the obvious, that Tennessee Williams was incredibly talented he also was just a good guy (the care - emotionally and financially - and the bond he shared with his sister Rose who had special needs) and a fun guy (Key West suited him, and he suited Key West!)

Me personally:

I adore Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  The book of course, but whoa, that film! Not just for Paul Newman (no seriously, I mean it), my God Elizabeth Taylor is just wonderful as Maggie/Cat. The storyline, the writing, the themes.  It is a brilliant piece.

Did you know I live on a street with not one, but two Tennessee Williams connections?

His house where he lived is on this exact street.  Plus right beside it is the house where The Rose Tattoo was filmed - he wrote it here, it was filmed here, and it premiered her in the San Carlos Institute.

How about that for history! 

Have I mentioned lately that I love this little island?

The day continues!

I met Marta in Halo to watch the Boat Race Parade.  These boats are like nothing I have ever seen - like they were conceived and built on the set of a futuristic movie, think Blade Runner or Minority Report.  We had fun!

Also there was Dawn and her gal pals so when Marta left I hung with them.  We strolled down to General Horseplay where we met up with others.  Another fun time!

But wait! 

There is more! At 6pm I went to Half  Shell Raw Bar and had the usual WONDERFUL dinner of garlic steamed clams, buffalo shrimp, fish dip and sesame crackers.  Deeeeeeeeeeevine.

Phew! What a great day.

Raw bar and Smoked bar(beque)

Sunday started by watching soccer - USA women's team winning the World Cup.

I really am not much of a soccer fan (not much of any ball sports really) but for the big events I will make an exception.  

Afterwards it was off to Fort Zachary Taylor beach for SNORKELLING which was AWESOME!

We were pretty hungry by the time we got Half Shell Raw bar for Happy Hour so we had to Order All the Fudz in the Whole World. It was a pretty awesome meal and we relaxed over a few beverages afterwards.

And then on Monday night I took my cowboy boots out for a spin to a new bar in town - for some blues and barbeque.

Ribs, Mac and Cheese were fab!  And it is a great bar for live music - nice big sound from a cool blues band.  Will be back to The Dirty Pig back for sure!