Owner wants me to "whip up a few Key Lime Pies". Does anyone know where I
can obtain/order key limes from? None of my suppliers have. I would like to be
able to purchase from local supplier (North of Boston, Mass., south of
Portsmouth, NH) but will order from anywhere if I have to.

By momoreg on Monday, March 27, 2000 - 07:44 am: Edit

I just saw them at a supermarket in Connecticut (Stop & Shop, to be exact). If you only need enough for a few pies, you might have more luck with retail. Also, did you try Sid Wainer? They're based in Mass., and they deal in specialty produce.

By W.DeBord on Monday, March 27, 2000 - 08:34 am: Edit

We get key limes at the Mexican grocery store. They are not real "keylimes" because I think the name can only go to certain limes. But it's the same EXACT looking and tasting lime, with-out the label! They are cheap at Mexican grocery store and sometimes they even label them as "Keylimes".

By seawitch on Tuesday, March 28, 2000 - 01:47 pm: Edit

Many thanks. There's a Stop & Shop about 20 miles south of me. Going to try
there first. A friend also told me about a hispanic grocery about 20 miles west,
so I can try there too. If owner wants on the menu, then I'll try Sid Wainer. I
really appreciate your he

By Panini (Panini) on Tuesday, March 28, 2000 - 04:49 pm: Edit

I use KeyWest keylime juice. Gallon jugs. I have to do large batches but even so when we ordered real key limes I found them to be very inconsistant.
Available at most bakery supply.

By Panini (Panini) on Tuesday, March 28, 2000 - 04:54 pm: Edit

Hey seawitch, just an idea. add gold taquila, triple sec, and a hint of green color. gring hard pretzels,butter and a little coarse salt for crust. Margarita tarts and pies are one of our biggest hits.

By byytor on Tuesday, March 28, 2000 - 05:19 pm: Edit

Sid Wainer 1-800-423-8333 also sells fresh squeezed juice in quart containers, but it comes frozen. Sid is great because they don't have a minimum order even for delivery up here in maine.

good luck

By Seawitch (Seawitch) on Tuesday, March 28, 2000 - 09:57 pm: Edit

Juice makes a heck of a lot of sense. I love the Margarita tart...I work for basically
a new, small seafood/steak restaurant in a marina. They've been doing all their
own breads, but now want to do all their own pastries too. The owner hasn't a
clue about the restaurant business/cost controls, etc., so I pretty much have
free rein. I'm also cooking a couple days until they can hire more help, so it's
very creative. Margaritas are the best selling drink at the bar, so this pie should
go over very well with the summer "boat people". My thanks to you all.

By W.DeBord on Sunday, April 09, 2000 - 11:32 pm: Edit

Another place to find it is Classic Gourmet 800-235-6763. 1 gal. $14.50 or 12/16oz. $22.50.

I came across some interesting information in Bon Appetit May 1982 about key limes. They say key limes are "only found in the backyards of a few lucky Floridans" not something comercially available. What we call key limes really are it's hardier cousin the Tahiti lime. Grown in Florida and Mexico "most key lime pies are in fact Tahiti lime pies."