| Visitors to Key West will find eclectic cuisine that ranges from Jamaican, French, and Cuban, to Chinese, Italian, Mexican and Key West specialties, which are based on a blend of Bahamian, Cuban, and New Orleans cuisine. It utilizes fresh seafood and the "catch of the day," which can include swordfish, black fin tuna, mako shark and grouper. The local pink shrimp is barbecued, baked, broiled, grilled, marinated and fried and offered on almost every menu. The Cubans and Bahamians introduced black Cuban-style beans, marinated pork plates, plantain, conch, and chicken and curry rice plates served with a scrumptious helping of flan for dessert. Conch is prepared in a variety of ways including spicy conch chowder to simple golden fried conch fritters. At the end of at least one meal, treat yourself to an old Key West tradition, key lime pie, a tangy treat prepared with a homemade graham cracker crust and fresh key lime juice topped with meringue. |