VIDEO- MARKOUK BREAD AT CAPE ANN FARMER’S MARKET

Grilled Breads and Sandwiches Made On Traditional Lebanese Saj

DSC00109DSC00124DSC00120DSC00113DSC00121

From The Website- www.markoukbread.com

Markouk Bread
Markouk Bread started its flatbread business at the Cape Ann Farmers
Market in Gloucester, Ma in August 2011.  Since then, we have sold our
food at many local events including St. Peter’ Fiesta, Gloucester Block
Party, and Grand Prix of Gloucester, and the Gloucester Sidewalk
Bazaar.   We also provide catering services on Cape Ann as well.
We prepare and sell a variety of foods typically found in Lebanese
meals. These particular recipes are from a small village in the Bekaa
Valley.  We also sell some new items that fuse local taste with our
traditional meals.
All the breads and pastries are either prepared and sold fresh at the
point of sale or prepared at our business on the day they are sold at any
of the local events.  We use the highest quality ingredients to prepare
our foods to ensure they consistently inspire those that eat them.

The Saj
The saj is a traditional cooking stove used in Lebanon and other places
throughout the Middle East. Most people there use a propane heated saj.
At one time, all breads were made with a saj over a charcoal fire.  The
use of the saj brings out the characteristic flavor of the flatbreads
that we produce, unlike modern baking and processing equipment.  You
will taste the difference.

What is Markouk?
Markouk is one of several local Lebanese names of the flatbread that is
cooked on the saj.  Other local names include saj or hubs tabouni. 
Markouk is typically eaten with some combination of olives, labneh or
other cheeses,  mint, or zharta.  It is also used to make a variety of
rollup sandwiches or wraps.   Markouk Bread can prepare a variety of
sandwiches to your taste.

20 days to the Schooner Festival … Sign up for the race!

Here we Go- Al Bezanson and I Am Going To Beat You Into Submission Until You Signn Up And Take Part Of The 2013 Gloucester Schooner Festival!

Al Submits-

20 days to the Schooner Festival … Sign up for the race!

Sunday, September 1st is the date for the 29th Annual Gloucester Schooner Race.  There is plenty of space remaining for passengers in the race.  Maritime Gloucester will link you to a schooner or arrange for a ticket. 

http://gloucesterschoonerfestival.net/?p=408

This photo of AMERICAN EAGLE leading ALABAMA in the 2011 race came from Amy Beaudet on GREEN DRAGON.  The race course is set for beam reaching – optimum sailing for schooners.  About 20 schooners have signed up and as the race progresses you can expect to be in traffic the entire time with photo opportunities like this.

Al Bezanson

American Eagle and Alabama

INQUIRING MINDS WANNA KNOW… "Whatever Happened to Smokin’ Jim’s Bar-B-Q?"

Due to my (Joey Ciaramitaro) ineptness I completely messed up the fantastic press release that Judy Howard forwarded to me regarding the next step in the progression of Smokin Jim’s.  With my sincere apology for messing it up so badly here is a revised copy offered so graciously by Judy for re-submission


Well, here’s the scoop……………….. The property which housed Smokin’ Jim’s BBQ on E. Main St. for the past 12 years has been sold, AND, in looking for a new location to re-establish the business -I have been offered a FANTASTIC YEAR-ROUND SPOT IN GLOUCESTER.

We have expansion plans ready to include Authentic Southern Fried Chicken, Lamb, Brisket, Smoked and Grilled Seafood,- AND- Special Holiday Orders including Hams and Turkeys.  We’re introducing Hormone-Free  Meats and adding New Southern Sides (i.e. Homemade Sweet Potato Pie) to our already popular menu.

IMAGINE! 362 Days Per Year! It can happen this Fall in time for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Basketball, Football, Super Sunday, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day,Your Birthday and EVERYDAY!

We need $$ to make this happen- so- if you love BBQ, want to go into the Business  and have money to invest, or know somebody, this just may be what you’re looking for.  We’ve outgrown summertime. This business has a great year ’round future.  I’d love to talk with you.

CALL ME,  JIM YANCEY- 978-283-3379     Cell 978-380-2553     EMAIL- bbqsmokinjim@comcast.net

image

MEANWHILE…

Our Catered Events business is flourishing and we are taking orders for full-service backyard parties, business functions, weddings, etc. as well as drop-off orders.  Call us.

Fish On Fridays

The Fish on Fridays series is a collaboration between Gloucester photographers Kathy Chapman and Marty Luster. Look for various aspects of Gloucester’s centuries-old fishing industry highlighted here on Fridays.

An impromptu visit to F/V Lady Jane caught Captain Russ Sherman and crew in the process of cleaning out some old gear and fueling up for their next run.  After a short jaunt from its berth at the Jodrey State Fish Pier in Gloucester to the fuel dock, Lady Jane took on approximately 3,600 gallons of fuel at $3.39 per gallon, or about $12,000!!

While photographing the wheelhouse, Kathy asked Russ about the dangers of high seas. Russ recounted a time (20+ years ago) he and five crew members were washed from a fishing vessel and he spent 19 hours in frigid waters until the Coast Guard rescued him. Only three survived.

Russ
MaPa

Captainsseat

FireExtinguisher

Photos © Kathy Chapman 2013
kathychapman.com

Video © Marty Luster 2013
matchedpairs.wordpress.com
slicesoflifeimages.wordpress.com

Madfish Wharf Mug Up – Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition and Opening Reception

madfish wharf mug up

chocolate chip cookie

This Sunday, August 11th at 9:30, there will be a joint Madfish Wharf Mug Up on the patio behind Alma’s Arts & Antiques and Carol McKenna’s Gallery – a  lovely, cool undercover outdoor spot with a gorgeous view of Smiths Cove.   Come by for some Sunday morning socializing and sharing of food with friends old, new and not yet met.  Parking is a breeze on Sunday mornings.  This Mug Up will also include the first annual Chocolate Chip Cookie competition, so bring on your favorite Chocolate Chip cookies for a friendly competition.  Cape Ann Giclee James is judge #1, who else can we convince to judge chocolate chip cookies?  Paul?  Ed?  Joey?

Then from 6-8:00 pm, Kathy Roberts will be having an opening reception for her View of Beaches, Back Shores and Seaports of Cape Ann exhibit of paintings at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery.

E.J. Lefavour

Thank you!

Phillips Andover SHED ©Kim Smith 2013

Thank you notes from a butterfly program I gave recently. What fun it was, and what a wonderful surprise to find in my mail box.  The mind of a child is the most extraordinarily beautiful sponge!

Stormy weather blues cured by music tonight and over the wekend

Live music starts at 6 tonight, 11 AM tomorrow & Sunday.  You can’t get to every show so here’s the schedule to help you choose.

Tonight you can catch an unusual lineup of top musical talent in one intimate venue that you don’t see every day: Allen Estes has been quietly assembling a band of all-stars,  including the great David Brown, Dave Mattacks and Wolf Ginandes to plug in and rock.   Wait, you might say.  Isn’t Allen Estes, folk, country or americana?  Sometimes.  But when he’s with these guys and their plugged in they ROCK!  And that’s precisely what they’ll do at Minglewood Tavern tonight starting about 9.  Check them out!

Tomorrow, start off at the Blues Fest (weather will clear by morning).  Then take the party to town at any of a dozen venues at night (see here).  Get up Sunday by 11 and check out the Rockport Acoustic Music Fest.

Saturday, September 21, 8 PM Presented by M.E. Productions SAVOY BROWN- UNPLUGGED featuring KIM SIMMONDS

Legendary…a blues/rock institution…true innovators. These are just a few of the ways Savoy Brown has been described over the past 40 years by music critics and fans. One of the earliest of British blues bands, Savoy Brown, with founder guitarist Kim Simmonds at the helm, helped launch the 1967 UK blues boom movement that brought blues music back to the USA invigorating the style forever. In the process, the band became part of the framework that launched the rock and roll music of the 1970’s. Their influence now stretches into modern rock as we know it today. From London’s Soho night clubs in 1966 to headlining the world’s most famous venues (Carnegie Hall, Fillmore’s East, and West, Cobo Hall, etc.), Savoy Brown has done it all and as the band continues to tour worldwide they give a glimpse into the past and also inspire new listeners with their personal brand of rocking boogie, blues, and rock.

The band will play a special ‘bare essentials’ unplugged show, tailored for the intimate setting of the Shalin Liu Performance Center. For any Savoy Brown fan, this is a unique opportunity to see a one of a kind show with special material!

Origami goldfish

Another bit of fishy origami, on my last day of vacation away from Gloucester…

This little goldfish is not as complicated as the horseshoe crab, but just as delightful to me.  It is designed by the same artist – Robert Lang – and is found in the same book as well, “Sea Creatures in Origami“, a collaboration between Robert Lang and John Montroll (another of my favorite origami designers).

Matthew Green

 

Community Photos 8/9/13

Hi, Joey,
Thought I would share this photo of the view from Mad Fish on Rocky Neck Sunday afternoon.  Best sushi around and a Chebacco Schooner gliding by.  Not a bad way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon in Gloucester.  Genie Wills

photo-4


Al Bezanson submits-

Reflection of the railing at Madfish Grille from a table at the Rudder

View from the deck of the Rudder c


Folly Cove Photos from Anthony Marks

IMG_2127IMG_2128


A-Rod on Rocky Neck?

Lowell Peabody Submits-

IMG_7722_3126

O’MALEY INNOVATION MIDDLE SCHOOL Summer Reading Rally!

O’MALEY INNOVATION MIDDLE SCHOOL

Summer Reading Rally!

Who: All O’Maley Innovation Middle School students

What: A casual, drop-in gathering for Summer Reading

When: Thursday, August 15, 2013, 5:30 – 7:00 pm

Where: O’Maley Innovation Middle School Library

Why: Get it done and Celebrate! Whether you want some help, a check-in on what you’ve done, or book talk with other kids, come on in and get it done! Pizza, popcorn, packets and books.

Hosted by O’Maley ELA teachers 6-8

Please call school to leave your name before Thursday 08/13. 978 281 9850