heavenly indeed, and home of quite possibly the best key lime pie the island offers, with its mountains of baked meringue topping. the menu barely changes (not even the specials, except to offer seasonal stone crab claws), which means that caribbean shrimp deglazed with red stripe, jamaican jerk chicken or pan-sautéed yellowtail with citrus beurre blanc will be there for you next time, too - even if the reserve selections on the notable wine list may change. One taste of the blueberry pancakes, carrot and curry soup, miso-marinated eggplant salad, or scallops provençale and you’ll have no doubt ingredients and the gentle time it takes to prepare fine food are the priorities. But don’t let the whimsical décor mislead you: the food is taken seriously. Blue Heaven is al fresco dining, Key West style: canopies of tropical foliage, improvised art (a leopard-spotted mannequin, a rooster graveyard, jolly-colored coconuts and trap floats) and a sail strung between trees providing shade. The chickens and cats roaming the premises are almost as famous as the food. P.s.Opened by a pair of free spirits, Suanne and Richard, Blue Heaven has become its own well-known destination in Key West. Which specific place (restaurant, landmark, park, mountain, anything) is your heaven on earth? Afterwards, take a few steps past their outdoor shower (decoration only…I think) into their gift shop filled with hand-made artwork that celebrates this extra-special corner of an already magical island. If you find yourself exploring the Florida Keys, you must make the trip to Key West and sit underneath the sparkling trees of Blue Heaven. Key lime pie has become a bit of a tradition in my family and having a piece together at Blue Heaven is almost like a second Christmas morning. But the piece de resistance, the reason I dream about Blue Heaven often, is the towering, perfectly light, citrus wedge of key lime pie. The menu changes seasonally, but a few vital staples can always be found at Blue Heaven like lobster Benedict (Yeah, you bet they do breakfast!), yellow-tail snapper, pork loin, and purple mashed potatoes. I’m sure someone reading this just let out a “Oh, gross!” but I assure you they aren’t sitting at your table sharing a mojito. Key West is well-known for its special friends that roam the streets like stray cats, chickens, and roosters. Two outdoor stages are used for local and visiting musicians, usually lightly tapping the pans, or crooning guests with smooth melodies filled with lyrics about the island’s sand and sun. Its small kitchen and a few tables are the only indoor part of the restaurant, while the tree-house bar and most tables are all housed underneath magical, leafy trees that are connected together by twinkling lights. Tree house barīlue Heaven was opened in 1992 by a writer and an artist (in true Key West fashion). When I finally found myself at Blue Heaven, I internally screamed “Yes! This is it!” It was like a fairytale except that it was real and right there all for me (and a few other patrons). It took about 10 seconds for my heart to be completely taken over by the islands bright colors, live music plunging out of every bar window, and its mix of peculiar (but friendly) locals and fellow tourists – some looking for piles of plastic souvenirs and some, like us, looking for our own little piece of paradise. In 2009, I went to Key West for the first time. They talked about the chickens and roosters running around the restaurant yard, the tree-house bar, and most of all, the to-die-for menu that always ends with a sky-high piece of key lime pie. Yes.” feeling? You know that feeling where you’re in disbelief that so many amazing things could be happening in the same place at the same time and it’s all right in front of you to enjoy? Well, I have found my heaven on earth in a small, open-air restaurant, tucked away on 729 Thomas Street, Key West, Florida.Īt the Blue Heaven gates as a fresh college graduate in 2011!īefore I had been to Blue Heaven, I heard about it from my parents, a lot. Is there a place that you’ve traveled to that when you land, dock, or walk through the doors that you get that instant “Yes.
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