Kudos to 915 the fab restaurant on Duval St.

From Florida Keys online (link)

KEY WEST’S NINE ONE FIVE EARNS RAVE REVIEWS AT NEW YORK CITY CULINARY EVENT

Executive chef Chris Otten, right, has a conference with staff prior to dinner. Photos by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau Chris Otten positions finishing touches on Roasted Mango Tartlet desserts. Crispy Skin-on Yellowtail Snapper with Baby Beets and a Tarragon Aioli was one of several entrees. Chris Otten, left, nine one five restaurant owner Stuart Kemp address Beard Foundation patrons.

NEW YORK CITY -- Executive chef Chris Otten and owner Stuart Kemp, of Key West’s nine one five restaurant and wine bar, earned widespread accolades after showcasing their sophisticated, innovative cuisine for 80 members of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Thursday night. The nine one five team prepared a Key West seafood-themed dinner at the Beard House, an internationally recognized culinary center that was home to the late James Beard, chef, author and teacher widely acknowledged as the father of American cooking. The event was funded in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. An invitation to cook at Beard House has been called by food experts “the culinary equivalent of earning an Academy Award nomination.” For the hors d’oeuvres and five-course dinner required by Beard guidelines, Kemp and Otten chose their menu specifically to showcase the subtle, succulent flavors of local seafood. Dishes included crispy skin-on yellowtail snapper with a tarragon aioli, seared Key West grouper over parsnip puree, and butter-poached Florida Keys lobster with thinly sliced beef tenderloin. "It was incredible,” said Beard House maitre d’ Lauren Baladan following the dinner. “Everyone was raving about it.” Attendees included Peggy Katalinich, a member of the Beard Foundation and food director of Family Circle magazine. “The chef let the flavors come through,” said Katalinich, who recalled interviewing James Beard himself at the house years earlier. “He didn’t have to masquerade and hide the basic flavor.” During the dinner Kemp, a 19-year Key West resident who opened nine one five in 2003, oversaw service of the six wines that accompanied the dinner. Otten cited the excellent work of his team as a crucial factor in the dinner’s success. Surprisingly, he said, preparing the Beard dinner was less stressful than a typical night at the restaurant in Key West. “Within the restaurant, there’s so many more menu items and people come in at different times -- but this was all one menu that goes out at all one time,” he said. “The plating was very easy, we were all very organized and it went very smoothly.” One of Key West’s most highly acclaimed restaurants, nine one five is located in a restored Victorian mansion at 915 Duval Street. Standout offerings include flavorful tapas-style dishes, indigenous seafood prepared with a unique twist and an extensive wine list with an international flair. For more information on the restaurant click here.