Category: Eats
Culina Cafe Salads- Special- $4.49
Who’s Coming To The GMG Man Vs Food Challenge Saturday Morning?
I hope to see a good amount of GMG fans tomorrow morning at Passports for the GMG Passports Man Vs Food Rouge Burger Challenge.
We will be kicking things off at 10:00AM sharp. I’ll be sure to have Free Homie Stickers and we will be doing a live taping. Come on down and be a part of the action!
CAPE ANN RESTAURANT WEEK October 18-23, 2009
CAPE ANN RESTAURANT WEEK
October 18-23, 2009
www.CapeAnnChamber.com/rw
Only two nights left to take advantage of these great deals!
You won’t want to miss the tastiest week this fall! For six delicious days, participating Cape Ann restaurants will entice you with delicious three-course dinners, all for one low price of $22.09 (not including beverage, tax or gratuity)! With no passes to buy or cards to punch, this mouth-watering event is designed to put a smile on your face! You’ll want to eat out every night of the week!
Click here for a list of the restaurants participating in Cape Ann Restaurant Week.

Napa Cabbage Stuffed With Beef At Duckworth Beach Gourmet
Many prepared foods all ready to bring home for the family at the end of the day.
Napa Cabbage Stuffed With Beef At Duckworth Beach Gourmet, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Restaurant Week Update From Kathy Ciluffo
It’s Wednesday and we’re half-way through the week. Do you really feel like cooking tonight? Probably not. Why not try one of Cape Ann ’s fabulous restaurants and get a three-course meal for only $22.09?
How does a Grilled Tenderloin placed atop a grilled marinated portabella Mushroom cap, topped with gorgonzola cheese and Cabernet demi glaze served with red bliss smashed potatoes and fresh vegetables sound? Not a red meat person? Then how about Lobster Stuffed Haddock Filet with Lemon-Tarragon Aioli stuffed with seasoned lobster stuffing, pan-roasted and served with lemon-tarragon aioli and choice of potato or vegetable? Not a seafood lover? Then perhaps you might want to try a Wild Mushroom Pizza, fresh herb cream sauce, wild mushroom ragout, and aged provolone? Not into shrooms? Then why not try a Grilled Peppercorn Duck Breast sliced and served over butternut squash raviolis with a goat cheese basil sauce, caramelized fennel and Swiss chard?
Are you hungry yet? These are just four of the main dishes served by a few of the twenty plus restaurants participating in Cape Ann Restaurant Week. Wednesday does not have to be Prince spaghetti night. Go out and take your family and friends and support our local restaurants.
Finally…this does NOT have to be the best kept secret in town. Share this e-mail with family and friends as well as the link to participating restaurants http://www.capeannchamber.com/rw/restaurant/ .

Autumn Harvest Cranberry Filled New England Bundt Cake
If you are feeling like you want to stretch your baking muscles this lovely fall day, try this recipe. In 2008 I competed in NECN new’s TV Diner Bake Off and this was the winning recipe. Other than the Topsfield Fair, this was my first head to head competition and after I won, I realized I was totally hooked on contesting!
Here’s the link to the judging portion of the show:
http://www.necn.com/tvdiner/3rd-Annual-TV-Diner-Bakeoff-cookies-and-bundt-cake/1205596656.html
This is a filled bundt cake with a glaze. There is a lot of batter and this recipe requires a large bundt pan (like the Nordic Ware original pan) that can hold 10-15 cups of batter plus the filling. If you have a basic tube cake pan it will work as well. Check your pan and often times they are marked with the measurement. If all else fails, fill a one cup measuring cup with water and see how many cups your pan holds. Make sure to grease your pan well. I use a canola oil baking spray and go over it twice. As always, you can email me with any questions about the cake (or any recipe I have) before you get started. This one is worth the effort, believe me!

Taste of New England Harvest Bundt Cake
For the Filling
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup Vermont maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons Cape Cod whole berry cranberry sauce
1/3 cup dried Cape Cod cranberries, chopped
For the Cake:
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
3/4 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
1 cup butternut squash or pumpkin puree (canned is fine)
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Topping
1/2 cup Macintosh, Granny Smith or other tart New England apple sauce
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons apple brandy
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup New England hazelnuts, toasted and chopped ( may substitute walnuts)
1/4 cup sweetened dried Cape Cod cranberries chopped
In a medium bowl prepare the filling. Beat together cream cheese, egg, cornstarch and maple syrup. Add brown sugar, butter, salt and cinnamon, cranberries and cranberry sauce until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use but for at least one hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heavily grease a 12 cup Bundt pan and set aside.
In another bowl sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt and set aside.
In a large bowl beat granulated sugar, brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. With mixer running, add eggs one at time and mix until blended. Beat in squash, sour cream and vanilla until well combined. Beat in the flour mixture until just combined.
Spoon one third of the batter into the pan. Spoon filling in a circle on top of batter but do not allow filling to touch the edge of the pan (a tiny ice cream scoop is perfect for this). Top with remaining batter.
Bake for 55-65 minutes until golden brown and cake tester comes out clean.
Remove from oven and place on cooling rack for 15 minutes. Turn out on to serving plate to cool completely.
Before serving, make the glaze. Whisk together apple sauce, confectioners sugar, cinnamon, brandy, heavy cream and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Drizzle glaze over cake and sprinkle with hazelnuts and cranberries. Enjoy!

Another Apple Pie Alternative–Pastry Wrapped Cinnamon Baked Apples

If you have an over abundance of apples from a trip to a local orchard or a good deal at the grocery store or farmstand, try these! Not too many ingredients, easy to make and the kids will have fun making them too! Took this photo before I put the toppings on (must have lost my mind for a second) but they are excellent and big enough to share. Go crazy and put a little ice cream on them too!
Pastry Wrapped Baked Cinnamon Apples
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
4 medium Cortland or other baking apples (about 3” diameter), peeled and cored
½ cup cinnamon flavored baking chips
2 tablespoons softened butter
1-15-oz. box refrigerated pie crust
2 tablespoons milk
½ cup caramel ice cream topping
¼ cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle mixture over peeled apples.
Cut both rolled pie crusts in half to make four portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 9 to 10 inch circle and place on prepared baking sheet. Place 1 tablespoon of cinnamon chips in center of dough and seat apple on top of chips.
Pour one tablespoon of the remaining chips into the center of each apple. Press ½ tablespoon butter into chips. Gather crust up around apples and pinch together at the top to seal. Gently press any loose crust on to the apple. Brush lightly with milk.
Bake apples in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until apple is softened and crust is golden brown.
Remove apples from oven. Drizzle with caramel topping. Sprinkle with nuts and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Soups and Chowders At Duckworth Beach Gourmet
Soups and Chowders At Duckworth Beach Gourmet, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

GMG Passports Man Vs Food Challenge Preview
GMG Passports Man vs Food Challenge This Saturday
Duckworth Beach Gourmet Soft Opening Scene Video II
Inspired Cooking With Laurie To Air Tuesday Night
These recipe’s will be cooked on Tuesday night’s episode.
Due to some crazy circumstances about the Seafood Throwdown from September is finally airing tonight! Inspired Cooking airs on Channel 12, Cape Ann TV, on Tuesday evenings at 8:30, Friday afternoons at 4:30 and Sunday mornings at 11:30–I hope you will tune in! Here are the recipes for all of the components of the winning dish.

Panko Crusted Haddock with Gremolata
For the fish:
2 c. panko crumbs
1 lemon, zested and juiced, zest finely chopped
2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder (for the throw down I used fresh garlic, very finely chopped)
11/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk or light cream
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound skinless haddock or cod filet, cut into 3 pieces
In a medium bowl, whisk together crumbs, zest, juice, parsley, garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in to a shallow dish, such as a pie plate and set aside.
In another shallow dish, whisk together egg and milk. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
In a large saute pan over medium high heat, combine butter and oil. Dip fish into the egg mixture to cover completely and then press in to crumb mixture. Turn fish over and repeat. Press crumbs into fish if necessary. When butter and oil is melted and hot, cook fish about 5 minutes until crumbs are browned and fish is partially cooked. Flip over and cook second side for an additional 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Cooking times vary with thickness of fish. Remove to serving plate and top with a drizzle of gremolata.
For the gremolata:
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, finely chopped
Olive oil (traditional gremolata has no olive oil but I wanted it a little looser)
Salt & pepper to taste
Combine parsley, garlic and lemon zest in a small bowl and add just enough olive oil to make the mixture liquid enough to drizzle on the fish. Season with salt and pepper to taste. This can be doubled or tripled as needed.
Grilled Vegetable Napoleon with Goat Cheese
1 ear corn, silk removed husk left on
1 tablespoon softened butter
Salt and pepper to taste
2 oz crumbled goat cheese
3 springs rosemary, leaves stripped from stem to within 2″ from the top, leaves finely chopped, stems reserved
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 whole eggplant (about 4″ in diameter), sliced in 1/2″ in slices
1 whole summer squash or zucchini, sliced in 1/2″ slices
2-4″ diameter tomatoes, in 1/4″ slices
Preheat outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium high heat. Pull back husks of corn and rub kernels with butter. Season with salt and pepper. Pull husks back up over kernels and tie top with one of the husks to from a covering over the kernels. Grill corn for 10-15 minutes, turning frequently. Remove from grill and allow to cool. Using a sharp knife, cut kernels from ear and set aside to cool completely. When cool, combine with goat cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
In the meantime, prepare the marinade for the vegetables. In a large bowl, combine chopped rosemary, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Toss eggplant and summer squash with dressing and grill on preheated grill or grill pan about 5 minutes per side until softened. Remove from heat and set aside. On the serving plate, build your napoleons. Layer grilled vegetables and then one slice tomato, and repeat. Trim the reserved rosemary stems to the height of the napoleon and insert into the center of the stack. Sprinkle the stack with the corn and goat cheese combination and enjoy!
Sauteed Swiss Chard
2-3 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon shallots, finely chopped (for the throw down we used small Walla Walla onions because there were no shallots available)
1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped into 2″ pieces, stems set aside.
Salt & Pepper to taste
In a large saute pan over medium heat, combine olive oil, garlic and shallots. Cook until translucent, about 4-5 minutes.. Add the stems to the pan, toss in the oil and cook for about 5 minutes until slightly softened. Add chopped leaves and cover until wilted, about 4-6 minutes. Toss mixture again to flavor the leaves with the garlic and oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with fish and vegetable napoleons.

Gourmet Cheeses At Duckworth Beach Gourmet
Gourmet Cheeses At Duckworth Beach Gourmet, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Joey’s Mushroom Soup At Duckworth Beach Gourmet
As promised Ken is carrying his incredible Mushroom Soup at Duckworth Beach Gourmet. To my surprise when I walked in it was labeled “Joey’s Mushroom Soup”, not just one container that was put aside for me, but all of them. And when they ring it up in the computer it comes up as- you guessed it- “Joey’s Mushroom Soup” How cool is that??????!
The street address for Duckworth Beach Gourmet is 24 Washington Street in the building which used to house Ned’s and before that Donut Jim’s
Joey’s Mushroom Soup At Duckworth Beach Gourmet, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

You gotta get this soup. On a day like today- Killer! I got three meals out of teh one container. A Bargain at $10.95
Roasted Pork Loin Sandwich Review With The Rabbit
Fresh Veggies At Duckworth Beach Gourmet
Fresh Veggies At Duckworth Beach Gourmet, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
The Rabbit Hangs Out At The Farm Bar and Grill
One of my best friends “The Rabbit” and I went to The Farm Bar and Grill night before last. I look stoned in this picture but I can assure you it was just me being tired.
We laid a beating on an order of chicken wings and their killer nachos.
The aftermath


The boys at the Farm are killing it! The place is mobbed and even though they have plenty of parking we barely found a spot. They are doing a lot of things right starting with the food and the competent no attitude service from the bar staff.
Duckworth Beach Gourmet Soft Opening Scene Video I
Roasted Pork Loin Sandwich At Duckworth Beach Gourmet

I don’t know where to begin really. But being forced to come up with something I will say right now that you MUST try the roasted pork sandwich on baguette with spicy roasted red peppers, 1/2 sour pickles, herb mayo and manchego cheese. OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD
When I say it was out of this world I mean it was out of this world!
Part II of the Duckworth Beach Gourmet video from the soft opening yesterday coming at 10AM
Roasted Pork Loin Sandwich At Duckworth Beach Gourmet, originally uploaded by captjoe06.











