Jan. 23 may be National Pie Day in the US, but every day in the Florida Keys is pie day. More precisely, Key Lime Pie Day – for the ubiquitous desert which is virtually the national dish of the Conch Republic. In fact, in 2006 it was even named “Florida’s national pie” by the state’s legislature, while others brand it “as American as apple pie.”

There are high pies, with pieces that are a meal unto themselves, and smaller samplers; with whipped cream or meringue; chocolate crust or graham cracker; they are consumed for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and celebrated in festivals and eating contests. But there’s one thing in common: they are everywhere, and everyone has a favourite!

“Key West is synonymous with key lime,” says Kermit Carpenter, proprietor of Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe, which sells not only pies but all manner of key lime edibles – cookies, fudge, jellies, marmalade, taffy, candies and even dog treats. There’s also lime-oriented wine, oil, candles and shampoo.

“We’re always trying new things,” says Carpenter, who has been at it for over 15 years, and who explains that key limes are more tart than typical limes and are yellowish in colour. “Pies should be yellow,” he advises, adding that it typically takes 20 of the small fruit to make a single pie.

Each year around Independence Day, Key West celebrates its signature citrus at The Key Lime Festival (July 2-5, 2020) – four days of culinary events around town, including events like the Key Lime Cocktail Sip & Stroll, Pie Hop, scavenger hunt and cookbook signing & champagne reception.

Of course, there’s also the World Key Lime Pie Eating Championship on July 4, where contestants outfitted with safety goggles vie to break the current record for eating a nine-inch key lime pie – 51.92 seconds by Texan Trey Bergman – under the strict supervision of judges who warn: “Key lime pie is goobly gobbly, so judging half-inch sections can be difficult. In the event of goobly gobbly, the judges will make the best call they can!” They add, “Things can get messy: in the event of a tie, the contestant wearing the most whipped cream and the biggest smile will be named the winner!”

Ashley Serrate of Florida Keys & Key West tourism figures she’s “literally had key lime pie everywhere,” and that picking a favourite is “like picking your favourite child.”

She’s had pies that were deep fried, deconstructed and coated in chocolate. The biggest question, she says, is, “Whip cream or meringue? Or plain?”

Nevertheless, we pressed Serrate for her top pie preference, to which she conceded to offer a top five, explaining, “You can’t pick just one.”

Serrate’s Keys’ pie picks: The Blonde Giraffe in Key Largo; Chef Michael’s in Islamorada; Keys Fisheries in Marathon; the aforementioned Kermit’s in Key West; and the Square Grouper in Big Pine. “I could name more; there are so many!” she adds.

To this list, Travel Industry Today can add the Morada Bay Beach Café in Islamorada and especially the “Mile High Key Lime Pie” at Breakfast at Blue Heaven in Key West.

In the meantime, if, as Florida Keys tourism says, you’d like to “bring a bit of the Florida Keys into your home,” try their official “Famous Key Lime Pie” recipe:

Ingredients:
One 9-inch graham cracker pie crust
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
4 egg yolk pie (the egg white can be saved to make a meringue topping if desired. See meringue toppings recipe below)
4 ounces of Key lime juice

Preparation:
Blend milk and egg yolks at slow speed until smooth
Add Key Lime juice and finish blending
Pour into pie crust and spread evenly
Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes
In the meantime, if you desire, prepare meringue recipe below.
Cool pie 20 minutes before refrigerating for two to three hours.
Serve chilled Key lime pie with whipped cream topping or meringue.

Meringue (optional):
4 egg whites
5 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of cream or sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat egg whites, sugar and vanilla at high speed. Add cream of tartar. Continue beating until whites are stiff. Spoon meringue on top of pie and bake for 10 more minutes.