Key Lime Pie - Key West, United States

What is it - People love food. It is something that everyone has in common and most people enjoy talking about. When traveling to a new destination, it is often tempting to ask the locals what place around here has the best pizza or the best seafood.  But opinions can vary and sometimes people argue about which place is best, what certain food items should be called, or where a certain food was first invented or sold.

One example is in Philadelphia where everyone has a different opinion as to which place serves the best cheese steak. Another is in the northeastern United States where a submarine sandwich can be called a hero, a grinder, a sub, a hoagie, a wedge or sometimes even referred to as a spukie. However, there is unanimity throughout Florida as to the popularity and importance of key lime pie. The dessert was selected as the official pie of the state of Florida in 2006 and the annual Key Lime Festival is held  over 4th of July weekend in Key West featuring food, drinks, and events celebrating the use of key limes. Nevertheless, debate continues in Key West about which bakery first created and sold key lime pie. 

Key limes can be found naturally in the Florida Keys and are also sometimes imported from Central America. These limes are known for their aroma and pale-yellow juice. Key lime pie

is generally cooked using a pie crust made of graham crackers. Although ingredients can differ, almost all pies include key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk and some egg yolks which are then baked to thicken the filling and pasteurize the eggs. The pie is usually served with whipped cream on top or some meringue. 

Today, key lime pie can be found from time to time in various grocery stores or specialty bakeries around the country. But it is quite common to find it on the menu in Florida restaurants or in the bakery section of stores there. Although there is no uniform agreement nationally about who invented key lime pie and when, the plot thickens when tourists visit Key West. Bakeries, cafes, and restaurants in Key West rely heavily on conch related foods, margaritas, and key lime pie to promote their businesses. Most tourists enjoy the experience of checking out these three delights whether on a day trip from the mainland, a cruise line stop, or a longer stay.

When in Key West, there are several establishments keying in on key lime pie. One is the Key West Key Lime Pie Company which boasts of winning numerous pie awards from national publications and a Food Network show and receiving investment support from CNBCs The Profit. The company touts its menu of traditional key lime pies as well as unusual flavors such as mango, blueberry, coconut, and even frozen chocolate. It also offers customers the opportunity to take a class in the kitchen on how to make a small key lime pie.

We wandered into the Key Lime Pie Bakery on Greene Street which has an outdoor sign proclaiming to be the “Birthplace of Key Lime Pie” in 1856. This brightly colored yellow and green bakery also offers whole pies, individual slices, and interesting combinations such as coconut, coconut cream, and lime cheesecake. We sampled the wares and enjoyed both the flavoring and light texture of the product.

Other capable establishments in town also lay claim to having the best key lime pie or different varieties of key lime pie, but consistent with the spirit of Key West no one seems too hung up on the matter. One thing is clear. Just as Cooperstown, New York jumped on Abner Doubleday's pre- civil war notes and reputation as the inventor of baseball to help put itself on the map, Key West will continue to allow its citizens to proclaim that key lime pie was created within its jurisdiction.

Interesting Facts - There is also apparently some dispute as to who originally served Boston cream pie which is the official state dessert of Massachusetts. Generally, a French chef employed at the Parker House Hotel in Boston is credited with creating the concoction in 1856. In addition, some food experts claim it is a cake and not a pie.

When to Go - Key West is not a place where you want to end up stuck during the hurricane season which generally runs from late July to early October. But all the shops, bars, and bakeries remain open year-round and the well-shaded downtown area is worth visiting throughout the fall, winter, and spring.

Cost - The cost of a complete key lime pie to go usually ranges from $20 to $25. A slice is available in most shops for $4 to $5.