January 9, 2018. – (Key West, FL). Bahamian culture celebrated January 22 at Conch Revival Picnic at Key West Lighthouse
Key West Art & Historical Society, Isle Cook Key West, and Great Events have teamed up to present the latest in an ongoing series of popular picnic-style heritage dinners prepared by acclaimed chefs Martha Hubbard and Dave Furman. This year’s Conch Revival Picnic, taking place on Tuesday, January 22 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm on the grounds of the Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters, 938 Whitehead Street, celebrates the island’s Bahamian culture and complements the Society’s new Custom House exhibit, “The Key West/Bahamas Connection.”
“Key West Art & Historical Society is honored to celebrate our local Bahamian community in this year’s picnic,” says Society Executive Director Michael Gieda. “It’s a great opportunity for all of the island’s heritages to come together and share a meal that highlights some of their delicious culinary traditions.”
This year’s feast starts off with conch ceviche and black-eyed pea fritters followed by the main course of whole baked local fish, roasted pig, Key West shrimp and grits, short rib picadillo, Louie’s Backyard conch chowder, black beans and rice, plantains, and Key lime squares for dessert. The evening’s epicurean highlight is Bahamian picadillo, featuring raisins, olives, allspice, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and chili— spices that reflect the Bahamian style of cooking.
“Picadillo is a culturally amazing dish,” says Hubbard. “It can be Bahamian, Spanish, Cuban, and Caribbean, and really tells the story of migration in and out of Key West. Together, the ingredients reveal the origin of the recipe.”
Inspired by The Society’s board member, the late Dianne Zolotow, the Conch Revival Picnic tradition was launched in 2016 to increase awareness of Key West/Conch culture by preserving and promoting historic recipes created and consumed by Conch families for generations, but which have, over time, been disappearing from memory and tables. Some of the recipes presented are inspired by the postwar Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook edited by original Conch and first Florida Keys woman mayor Wilhelmina Harvey, as well as recipes from other books located in the Key West Public Library collection.
Visit KWAHS.ORG to purchase your ticket—$45 for Society Members and $55 for non-members. Kids under 12 admitted free. For more information, contact Society Event Coordinator Dani Holliday at 305-295-6616 extension 114. Sponsored by the Helmerich Trust, Isle Cook Key West, and Great Events. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.
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Dave Furman, left, and Martha Hubbard, right, along with Isle Cook Key West, Great Events, and Key West Art & Historical Society, have teamed up to present a picnic-style Bahamian heritage dinner at the 4th Conch Revival Picnic, set for Tuesday, January 22 at the Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters, 938 Whitehead Street.