Taste the Florida Keys with Chef Michelle Bernstein

Presented by Miami’s WPBT and distributed nationally by American Public Television (APT), Taste the Florida Keys with Chef Michelle Bernstein premieres on public television stations nationwide beginning February 1st, 2019 (check local listings).

From conch to coconuts and from Cuban coffee to the ubiquitous key lime, the delicacies found on this chain of Florida islands are steeped in history and tradition. The tropical climate, geographic isolation from the mainland, and creativity of the Keys residents has produced a cuisine that is, just like the Keys culture itself, far from ordinary.

Taste the Florida Keys with Chef Michelle Bernstein explores the ocean’s contribution to Keys cuisine, with fresh snapper, mahi mahi, and grouper offered daily. Some local boat captains fill us in on their favorite ‘dock to dish’ recipes and offer advice for tourists who come to catch their own meal. We get a glimpse into the kitchen at some local restaurants known for their pristine seafood specials. We also learn about spots that will cook your catch, and we find out why Hogfish and Lionfish have become especially popular.

From Key West Pink Shrimp to Lobster to Stone crab, we celebrate all things shellfish. Folks at the Keys Fisheries give Michelle Bernstein a primer on what it takes to catch these staples on the menu and share a taste of their famous Lobster Reuben.

No matter where you are in the Florida Keys, sunset is a time of celebration. Learn how this event is celebrated nightly at establishments across the island chain --from Snook’s Bayside in Key Largo to the famous Sunset Celebration in Key West.

The official dessert of the Florida Keys, Key Lime pie, is named for the tiny tropical fruit that provides the kick to this delectable treat. Though many restaurants lay claim to the ‘best’ or most ‘unique’ version of the pie, Michelle Bernstein digs up an early version of the delicacy that just may have been invented by sponge fishermen.

Taste the Florida Keys with Chef Michelle Bernstein the one-hour special was made possible in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and Badia Spices.

About South Florida PBS:
South Florida PBS, Florida’s largest public media company, connects organizations and institutions across our region and preserves South Florida's history. Leading the way in this global society, SOUTH FLORIDA PBS serves diverse communities from Key West to the Sebastian Inlet and from the Atlantic Ocean west to Lake Okeechobee. SOUTH FLORIDA PBS is committed to creating and presenting unique arts, education and cultural heritage programming, and serves as a model for telling unique local stories across a wide variety of media platforms

About APT:
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. For more than 10 years, APT distributed one-third or more of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. Founded in 1961, among its 250 new program titles per year, APT programs include prominent documentaries, performance, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country, AfroPoP, Rick Steves’ Europe, Chris Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Front and Center, Doc Martin, Nightly Business Report, Midsomer Murders, A Place to Call Home, Lidia’s Kitchen, Globe Trekker, New Orleans Cooking with Kevin Belton, Simply Ming, and P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. Now in its 13th year, Create®TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — is distributed by American Public Television. APT also distributes WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.