My Key West Kitchen ($20.33 at BN.com) by Norman Van Aken and Justin Van Aken is part cookbook, part love note to Key West, the quirky city at the end of A1A.
In the introduction, Norman Van Aken explains that though most tourists think of Duval Street as Key West, the tiny island city is actually divided into several geographic locations.
The Places in the Hoods chapter focuses on dishes from Bahama Village
and Cuban influences like Nassau "rundown" with snapper and coconut,
Chez Nancy lobster, and ropa vieja.
Places on the Water features recipes for conch fritters, a "90 miles to Cuba" rum runner, and conch chowder, to name a few.
The
last chapter focuses on Key West today, with recipes for stone crab
gazpacho, oven-roasted mojo chicken, and eggplant tostadas.
Norman Van Aken will be at Barnes & Noble in Fort Lauderdale tonight
(2501 N. Federal Highway), November 26 at 7 p.m. to sign copies of this
book, which makes a great holiday present for both foodies and fans of
Key West.
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