Conch Cooking: Island Girl Recipes

Coming from six generations of Conchs, born and raised in a small town of Key West, Florida, where families were very connected. We all grew up as a family and shared many of our recipes, which are none like any other, nowhere to be found but in our small island. I remember when we would gather on weekends and share our recipes. We would sit out on the White Street pier with our folding chairs, fishing and crabbing as the children played. I have to say I miss that island. Key West people are so unique. If you look at our history, we are all related to each other somehow. One thing I can say is that Conchs (Key Westers as they call us) stick together. I remember going to the beach as a child, and the families would get the grill going, pull out the big cast-iron skillet, fill it with lard, and cook shiners (mahua), a little shiny fish, which they would fry till they were crispy, and we would squeeze key lime on them and eat with a couple of loaves of Cuban bread. That was our barbecue. LOL. How simple life was, and we had such great times. I know that anyone in Key West who reads this cookbook would agree that our island is like no other. This cookbook is so important to me because it brings back our history and great memories of Key West, which I love sharing.