How do I find the best Key lime pie in the Florida Keys?

July 22, 2007|Q & A, Hillary Geronemus, Globe Correspondent

Whenever my husband and I travel, we pick one food from a particular region and attempt to find the best variety. Our next trip is to the Florida Keys and the obvious choice is Key lime pie. Are there any standouts that would help us get a head start on our mission?

B.P., Chelsea

The debate over who makes the best and most authentic slice of Key lime pie goes back to the late 19th century when the sweet and sour dessert was introduced. For the most part, it's a matter of preference -- graham cracker crust or pastry, meringue or whipped cream. If you can't decide on the best, you can always find the most unique, and there are a few restaurants and bakeries thinking outside the recipe box.

The barbecue is great at Porky's Bayside Restaurant (1400 Overseas Highway, 305-289-2065 ) in Marathon, but what people really come for is a slice of their famous and downright gluttonous deep-fried Key lime pie with a raspberry drizzle. Just don't ask the husband-and-wife owners what the batter is made of -- it's top secret. Farther south, chef Alice Weingarten of Alice's Key West Restaurant (1114 Duval St., 305-292-5733, aliceskeywest.com ) has garnered attention for her black bottom pie -- a layer of creamy chocolate ganache sandwiched between a graham cracker crust and traditional Key lime curd, topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. And if you can't stand the heat, swing by either the Blond Giraffe (107 Simonton St., 888-874-7437, blondgiraffe.com ) or Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe (200-A Elizabeth St., 305-296-0806, keylimeshop.com ) for a slice of frozen, chocolate-covered pie on a stick.

Got a travel-related question? Send it to Hillary Geronemus, travel editor at Body + Soul magazine, at hillarygeronemus@yahoo.com.