The year was 1817 when Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court John Marshall rendered his decision in the case of Laidlaw v. Organ. In stating the case he introduced the practice of Caveat emptor in the United States. Simply stated it places on buyers the burden to reasonably examine property before purchase. That is to say that the buyer must exercise due diligence when purchasing an item or service.
Coincidentally it was only 5 years later in 1822 that the United States laid claim to all of the Keys off the coast of Florida, including what the Spaniards called Cayo Hueso (pronounced "Kayo weso"), or in English "bone island" a communal graveyard that we know today as Key West.
My most recent culinary research took place there over the Christmas holiday. And I found that the principle of Caveat emptor, still needs to be exercised there by anyone desiring to order a meal from one of the many eateries on the island. Translated from the Latin the phrase means, "let the buyer beware," and with good reason when it comes to locating a reasonably priced meal that is properly prepared and served in a timely fashion using fresh ingredients.
I quickly learned that there are two types of eating establishments on Key West. First, there are the ones who are out to make a fast buck from the unsuspecting visitor who is there for the first, and perhaps, only time. The prices are high and the quality is low and the service is terrible. Then there are the places that want to maintain high standards and work hard to serve the public, creating a good reputation among travelers and residents alike.
I was fortunate to sit next to a "local" on the plane that took me there. As we chatted he was writing down the places where he would want to go for a meal. Just before we landed he gave me the list. It was like finding a map to hidden treasure!
In the next few postings I will pass along to you my impressions of the places he recommended and some that I found on my own.
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