You Can't Keep a Good Time Down
By Margit Bisztray, Food Critic

What encouraging news last month that Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans were a smashing success, and that the festivals coming up (like Jazz Fest) are looking to be packed and exciting as well. And how great it is to see the streets of Key West busy for a proper "season" of snowbirds and snow-weary tourists…especially since the weather here has been exceptionally beautiful.

Some people get patriotic and proud when they watch a sports event or 4th of July fireworks; me, I get that way seeing people eating and drinking and celebrating life despite tough financial times. That's the spirit! What could be more fundamentally reassuring and comforting than joining with friends or family or both, eating good food and drinking good wine (or Shirley Temples) together? Nothing. Our family couldn't even get on the ferry to the Dry Tortugas two weekends ago because the trips were sold out! Great! We have to wait for a table at our favorite popular restaurants! Great! Yes there are many people who have had to cancel vacations this year, and are too busy looking for a job to take any time off, but more power to the ones who decided they could take a vacation and decided to spend vacation dollars in their own country. Every time someone buys a mask in New Orleans, an excursion in Key West, or a meal and drinks in either of those places, someone who works or owns a business gets to stay afloat a little longer. Spring Break in Key West, Panama City and Myrtle Beach are looking promising also. Florida, I happen to know, took active measures to woo college students back, after emphasizing family travel for a few years. Everyone has to learn to share these destinations, whether they're a college student here to have a wild and crazy time, or a family looking to catch up on sleep. Normally, this time of year, when I'm stuck behind scooters with two 20-somethings laughing and weaving around on the road, I roll my eyes and mutter something about "Spring Breakers, great". This year I smile because I'm glad that they're here. I'm glad for everyone who comes to Key West. I'm even glad when my friends who own restaurants don't have time to talk to me when I come in. All they can do is wave from across the room and get back to work. No matter what the news says, or the stock markets, or even the headlines, you can't keep a good time down.

NOTE: Margit Bisztray has been reviewing restaurants and writing about food for ten years. She has published three editions of The Complete Key West Dining Guide, and her work has appeared in such publications as Vogue, Gourmet, Islands and Metropolitan Home. To read more restaurant reviews, log your own personal opinions, rate your favorite restaurants and watch streaming video archives of these shows and other reviews, visit Margit's Top 5.