Kermit’s among world’s best restaurants

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
The DeLand journey — John Meyer, managing director of Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe in DeLand, holds Food Journeys of a Lifetime. The book features 500 extraordinary places to eat around the globe; Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe in Key West made the cut. Many of the restaurant’s products are created in DeLand.

By Jen Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Feb 3, 2010 - 10:32:39am

National Geographic has created a glorious hardcover book filled with information on the most amazing places in the world to eat.

It’s like a foodie “bucket list” — 500 places you want to try before you kick the bucket.

And a restaurant with a strong DeLand connection made the cut.

Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe, in Key West, has Page 292. The description sings the praises of Key limes, and extolls the virtues of Kermit’s use of those limes.

Managing director and co-owner John Meyer said most folks don’t know those tantalizing confections sold in Key West are made right here in DeLand.

“The production warehouses and kitchens are in DeLand,” Meyer said. “We make ’em here and ship ’em down there.”

Neither Meyer, nor his brother-in-law and partner, Kermit, knew they were being considered for the acclaim in Food Journeys of a Lifetime, 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe.

“We found out about it when a customer walked in and said, ‘Hey, have you seen this?’” Meyer said. “And we said, ‘No, we haven’t seen it.’”

They rushed out to find copies of the book, and were surprised to find an entire glossy page dedicated to their business.

The exposure has been great for the Key West shop and the DeLand shop.

“Life is good,” Meyer said. “Since it published, we’ve had a lot of customers come in and say they want to try all of the restaurants, and they’re going to start here.”

The biggest seller at all of the Kermit’s stores is Key lime pie and variations, including a sort of Key-lime-pie popsicle.

“Every other week, we ship about 3,000 pies-on-a-stick to Key West,” Meyer said.

Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe has been open in Key West since 1994. The DeLand location and production warehouse have been on the DeLand Municipal Airport industrial park for about five years.

The DeLand location has a full retail shop, and offers tours. Also, all the company’s online orders are shipped from DeLand.

Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe has three locations offering a full line of products: 1842 Patterson Ave., No. 8, in DeLand (386-740-0502); 200-A Elizabeth St. in Key West (305-296-0806); and Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe, 111 East 4th Ave. in Mount Dora (352-385-0693). The company is online at www.keylimeshop.com.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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