Key West Food Tours Offer Tasty Locals' Experience
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Key West Food Tours, guided by third-generation Key West resident Analise Smith, offers guests a sensory tour of the southernmost island's cuisine and history through a local's perspective.
After calling Key West home for more than 22 years, Smith knows its food, characters and culture. Curating the restaurants and stops on her company's current tour, the Southernmost Food Tour, was easy for her.
"I want to show people my side of the island because there's more than meets the surface," Smith said. "Key West has a lot of depth."
Smith guides guests through the banyan-shaded streets of the island on a three-hour, 1-mile, leisurely paced walking tour that stops at six restaurants and emporiums. From beginning to end, guests sample Key West flavors ranging from Bahamian and Cuban dishes to local seafood and tropical fruits.
The food circuit begins at Camille's Restaurant and finishes with a rum and vodka tasting at the Key West Distillery on Southard Street. Each restaurant on the tour supports the local community, since everything from the seafood to the produce is local and fresh.
In addition, participants stop at Key West landmarks such as the Southernmost Point. They also visit lesser-known sites and discover architectural, historic and cultural tidbits that enhance the experience.
"I care how the island is portrayed," Smith said. "People expect me to tell them what to eat and where to eat it, but they get a lot more out of it than that."
Now in its fifth month, Key West Food Tours has attracted the attention of numerous visitors despite minimal advertising. To date Smith has hosted more than 250 people on the unique and tasty excursion.
Tours begin at 11:30 a.m. and take place rain or shine. The cost is $65 for adults and $45 for children.
Tour information: keywestfoodtours.com or 1-800-656-0713
Key West visitor information: fla-keys.com/keywest
or 1-800-LAST-KEY
Social: Facebook • Twitter • KeysVoices.com • YouTube
Guests sample Key West flavors ranging from Bahamian and Cuban dishes to local seafood and tropical fruits.
The three-hour, 1-mile tours wind through the banyan-shaded streets of the island on a leisurely paced walk that stops at six restaurants and emporiums.