Summertime Eats: Freshest Fish in Islamorada

July 7th, 2009 · No Comments

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of “Summertime Eats” guest columns. We’d’ love to have your favorite summertime food story — submit yours by email to: Jan@JanNorris.com. Write “Summertime Eats” in the subject line and if possible, include a .jpg of yourself. If published, you could win one of my cookbooks.

By Larry Carrino, Guest Columnist

Kon-Tiki Resort

Though growing up in Miami Shores I had a family of my own, as a teenager I was blessed to be “adopted” by my friend Steve’s mother and father. He has an amazing, tight-knit Southern family – full of great cooks and outdoorsmen.

Those two specialties merged beautifully each summer when his entire clan practically rented out the Kon-Tiki Resort in Islamorada, Fla.

Fishing in the Keys

I had never been to the Keys and was thrilled to be invited along. In the morning I’d wake and climb on Uncle Glenn’s boat and hit the water, fishing for snapper. Even as a novice fisherman I did okay, but was more successful cutting bait fish, I think, than hauling in fish.

After a full day in the sun and with coolers brimming with our fresh catch, we’d head back to the resort for showers, ice cold drinks and the tastiest fish fry I’ve ever experienced.

Fish and hush puppies -nothing better

The snappers were filleted, rolled in a glorious mix of flour and cornmeal and dropped into vats of bubbling oil. Steve’s mother and grandmother would dish up the delights – scooped out of the oil onto plates lined with paper towels – along with homemade hush puppies, tartar sauce, fresh veggies, mac n’ cheese and coleslaw.

Dessert was usually a buttery pound cake served with homemade vanilla ice cream.

Back then and probably to this day, it doesn’t get any better.

Larry Carrino is vice president of Brustman Carrino Public Relations in Miami. The company specializes in culinary and hospitality public relations and marketing. www.brustmancarrinopr.com