The Cafe in Key West serves up lots of great Vegan and Vegetarian options like this Portabella sandwich with a chickpea salad

Times can be tough for traveling vegans and vegetarians. My vegetarian friends complain that there’s only so many veggie burgers and plates of mac n’cheese they can stomach and my vegan friends often are relegated to munching on tortilla chips and salsa or guacamole for their meal. I love guacamole as much as the next girl, but not for every meal out. Not to fear! Diana O’Gilvie, Zest’s first guestblogger, is to the rescue to share her recommendation for a buzzworthy vegan/vegetarian Key West Restaurant:

While many restaurants in Key West offer a perfunctory veggie burger on their menu to appease their vegetarian contingency, much to the delight of their patrons, The Café on Southard Street serves up innovative vegetarian and vegan dishes.

After walking through the madness that is Duval Street, The Café was a welcome oasis of tranquility. The funky décor echoes Floribbean chic. The walls are decorated with photographs and original paintings from local artists depicting slices of Key West life. (All of these items are available for purchase.) Colorful chalk writing tells diners the daily special and the extensive organic and beer wine collection.

The eclectic counter at The Cafe in Key West

I sat down for lunch with my travel buddy and was quite impressed with the offerings. Flavorful soups, spring rolls, pizzas, sandwiches and inventive tofu and soy dishes made it hard to make a decision. Finally, I chose the quiche made with feta cheese and spinach with an orange mango salad. My dining partner had the grilled portabella mushroom sandwich with roasted peppers and chickpeas. Our grilled asparagus appetizer was seasoned simply with sea salt, black pepper and olive oil, allowing the natural flavor of the vegetable to shine. The salad was the star on my plate. The zesty citrus juice and chunks of sweet mango paired well with the savory quiche. And the sandwich’s smokiness didn’t overpower the taste of the roasted peppers and tender grilled mushroom.

Quiche with Mango Salad

Our desert options were pumpkin flan, dark flourless chocolate tart or a vegan peanut chocolate pie. Our pumpkin flan selection had a rich and creamy texture that made it hard to believe that there was no cow’s milk involved in the making of this superb flan.

I am not a vegetarian, and I highly recommend The Café for carnivores and vegetarian alike. 509 Southard Street, Key West, FL. Tel: (305) 296-5515.

Thank you Diana for providing Zest readers with a vegan/vegetarian option in Key West!

Diana is a travel writer based in Orlando, Florida. Her work has appeared on World 66, Suite 101, and eHow. She is also a flight attendant with a major airline and the author of the Love2TravelWrite blog that showcases her biting humor and sharp observations of the general public in air travel. Her latest adventure took her to Bali, Indonesia where she took hundreds of pictures and filmed the daily life and interaction with the Balinese people. Please check out her website!

Does anyone really need an excuse to indulge in the highlight of American breakfast? Interestingly enough, “Pancake Day” or “Pancake Tuesday” didn’t get its name in America. A colloquial term originating in the United Kingdom and Ireland for Shrove Tuesday, i.e. Fat Tuesday or the Tuesday before Lent begins, Christians coined the phrase “Pancake Day” because it was the last day that milk, butter and eggs—which were forbidden during the abstinence of Lent—could be eaten. Pancake recipes were an efficient way to use up these ingredients before they would spoil during the 40-day fasting period.

Lenten sacrifice aside, Florida has its share of notable breakfast joints. The following are our Insiders’ favorite places to get a great stack of flapjacks:

Circle’s. Blueberry pancakes are tops at this South Tampa bruncherie situated in a quaint bungalow. 2500 W. Azeele Street, Tampa, FL, 33609. Tel: (813) 879-5228.

Airport Tiki. They don’t call them hundred-dollar pancakes for nothing! This hut on the Fort Pierce Airport tarmac is where the private jet set gets their grub on. Private pilots looking for an excuse to fly could pony up $100 for a two-hour plane rental, fuel and the opportunity to get out of dodge for a meal. (This may not account for today’s economic climate though. Two hundred dollar pancakes anyone?) 2982 Curtis King Blvd, Fort Pierce, 34946. Tel: (772) 489-2285.

Blue Heaven. Choose from Banana, Pecan and Pineapple pancakes in second-to-none Key West ambiance. Zest’s Best Key West Restaurant. 729 Thomas Street, Key West, FL. Tel: (305) 296-8666.

Farmer John’s Key West Café. On the other side of the state from Key West, this Brooksville café serves up a huge selection of pancakes–many not surprisingly, with a tropical flair. 966 E Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL 34601. Tel: (352) 754-8787.

Connie’s Cafe. This understated New Port Richey breakfast place keeps it simple with diner standards—but always gets it right. 8165 State Road 52, Hudson, FL, 34667. Tel: (727) 862-8797.

Lester’s Diner. Open 24-7 since 1968, this campy Fort Lauderdale institution has been a perennial Insider favorite. Prices are cheap, service is good, and the pancakes (and milkshakes!) are even better. 250 West State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. Tel: (954) 525-5641.

Don't be surprised if you see a rooster eyeing your pancakes at Key West's Blue Heaven

Saying the mood here is casual is an understatement, even by Key West standards, but it’s is part of the experience.  Pretty much anything goes as roosters, cocks and hens roam along the dirt floor patio hoping for the occasional scrap, preferably of some of Blue Heaven’s house-made banana bread. (Blue Heaven doesn’t take reservations.) 729 Thomas Street, Key West, FL. Tel: (305) 296-8666.

Photo courtesy of Croissants de France

Celebrating its 25th year in Key West, this spot on Duval Street is a full service bakery with a bistro that serves up delicious brunch fare including quiche, crepes, eggs benedict and brioche French toast. Croissants de France is the perfect place to shake off a morning hangover with brunch and mimosas. Le Decandante is a sweet tooth favorite– a crepe filled with nutella, bananas, honey and walnuts, served with a side of vanilla ice cream. Decadent indeed. Outdoor seating only, but it’s quaint and cozy with plenty of fans and mist to keep patrons comfortable. 816 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040. Tel: (305) 294-7616.