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This edition of the Sauce Boss Gazette goes out to all you Parrotheads. The Sauce Boss is comin' to git ya. From October 31 through November 5, we're jammin at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville during the Meeting of the Minds. For those not in the fold of Buffettism, the "Meeting of the Minds" is the convention of Parrothead clubs from all over the country. Did somebody say "party"? We'll be playin for gumbo and we're doing some cool new stuff that we've been recording for our next album. When I say jammin', I mean JAMMIN!

The great thing about key west is the food. An abundance of good restaurants is one of my priorities for a good vacation. There's so many great ones that I can't name them all, but here's six hearty recommendations for your key west vacation. Tell 'em the Sauce Boss sent ya.

THE CARIBBEAN DELI Near the corner of Simonton Street and South Street The Name says it all. Tater salad and meatloaf. Killer muffalatas. Deli delicious samiches, and wait a minute, did I hear gumbo? Well, let me tell you about the owner. Mick Kilgos played drums with me for a long time. In addition to holding down the backbeat, he was my gumbo tech. I guess he was payin' attention, 'cause he's got the only real gumbo in key west. Unless I'm in town. He's also got Caribbean's. Spicy green beans. He puts the stuff together himself that they're gr . . .Wait a minute. Musician bottles his own product and makes it through the lean times with a little truck farm. Sound familiar? Yeah, Mickey musta been payin' REAL good attention to the Sauce Boss. I love it, love it, love it! Good food at a very reasonable price.

PEPE'S CAFÉ 806 Caroline Street Steak smothered in pork chops. It says so right on the menu. This place has charm coming and going. From the proprietor to the wait staff to the ambience, it's real comfy. It looks like it was decorated from wreckers. Not your typical fem bar décor with soda pop signs on the wall. No. There's a tabletop made out of a rudder. No matter what you order, the quality is always tops. PLUS, my Liquid Summer Hot Sauce is on the tables. I like these guys.

B.O.'s FISH WAGON On Caroline St, across from Pepe's Go there for happy hour and chow down on a fish sandwich while listening to Barry Cuda and the Sharks. The guy's got dolly wheels on an old upright piano and he pushes it down the sidewalk from gig to gig. It's a beautiful thing. That ol' piano maybe be a little out of tune, but the way da Cuda plays that barrel house blues, makes it sound just right. Sun goin' down. A couple of brewskis. Life is good. BOBALU'S On US 1, Big Coppitt Key, about ten miles up from Key West Where can you get a collard green in the Key? Bobalu's, that's where. Bobby and Lucy Mayo have been cookin down-home food all their lives and they bring a southern flavor to the Florida Keys via Jamaica. Jerk chicken, fresh seafood, conch chowder, and traditional meatloaf and barbecue. The vegetable plate is a great buy. The desserts are absolutely fabulous. Lucy makes coconut cream pie from nuts falling in the back yard. The best key lime pie I ever had. All made on the premises.

BLUE HEAVEN Thomas Street. Hemingway was a referee for boxing matches at this Bahama Village gathering place. Jimmy Buffett occasionally does a set while mixing up "trouble" in paradise. Tables are under the trees, with little chickens walking (as only chickens can walk) from table to table. The chicks peck at the crumbs falling from the tables, and what gourmet crumbs they are. Relaxed Caribbean dining in the back yard.

EL SIBONEY 900 Catherine St Real Cuban food made and served by real Cuban folks. Cubanismo pork, tender and roasted to perfection. Dinners come with black beans and rice (while or yellow), fried plantains, and bread. What kind of bread? Cuban bread, that's what kind. Buttered and pressed. Unreal. The most incredible thing is not even on the menu. The oxtails in a raving sauce. Falling off the little vertebrae, these morsels melt in your mouth. Now, I know that some people have trouble with the thought of eating the tail of an ox. But if you can just get past that location thing, it's really quite enjoyable spanish bean soup, picadillo, shrimp enchiladas, butterflied yellow tail, and the classic cuban sandwich make this a destination while in Key west. I'm trying to forget about the flan, but it's callin', my name. "Beeel, Beeeeel, oh Beeeeeeeel."

LIQUID SUMMER BABAGANOUJ
Punch holes in three large eggplants and bake until "pooped"
Remove the skin and seeds
Add: 1/2 cup tahini, 1/2 cup of cashew butter, 1 lemon, 3 tbs Liquid Summer Hot Sauce, 3 cloves of pressed garlic, pinch of salt.
Mix well. Serve with warm pita bread and olives, and drizzle a little olive oil and Liquid Summer hot sauce over the whole mess. Yumm.