Category: Eats
My Beautiful Mother’s Day Dinner
Best Mother’s Day Dinner E-V-E-R, cooked by my son Alex
Seafood Heaven ~ with lobster, shrimp, steamers, and salmon
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Block Party Dates Announced. Will Hunt New Artistic Director.
Block Party Head, Valerie Marcley, sent along the good news . . .
It’s Party Time Gloucester! Block Party Dates Announced
Will Hunt Accepts Artistic Director Position
The Downtown Gloucester Block Parties will be held July 20, August 17 and September 21 beginning at 6 pm. Main Street transforms into an entertainment mall with live performances, al fresco dining, stores open until 11 pm and Kids’ Town for the youngsters.
Block Party organizers are thrilled to announce Will Hunt as the new Artistic Director. Hunt is a skilled musician familiar with performers from Cape Ann and beyond. He has equipped and been technical director for Block Party stages. Hunt contributes innovative vitality to the Block Parties.
“I’m pleased to take on the role of artistic director this year. I’m planning some exciting new bands and performers as well as favorites from previous years.”
Chief Blockhead, Valerie Marcley states, “Will has the talent and knowledge we need to become an even better event.”
Lucinda Seigel has accepted the post of Merchant Liaison, helping the stores organize for the three parties. “Lucinda is very sharp, has international business experience and is a skilled organizer with wonderful enthusiasm!” states Marcley.
To take part in the dynamic Block Party Series please contact the following.
Those who wish to perform contact Will Hunt at:whuntrock@gmail.com
Main Street Merchants contact Lucinda Seigel:lseigel1@gmail.com
Restaurants contact Mark McDonough:northshorerestaurantgroup@gmail.com
Sponsor and donation inquiries to Judith Brackley:jbrackley2@comcast.net
Press, Vendors, Suggestions & all other inquiries contact: glostablockpahty@gmail.com
The Block Party welcomes performers in all genres including theater, comedy, music and dance. Street performers are also invited.
The Downtown Gloucester Block Party Series is a project of
the non-profit Cape Ann Business Incubator.
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Sarah Kelly, Rockport Short Film Festival, 7th Wave, and a Great Saturday on Cape Ann!
There were so many amazing community events taking place yesterday. Although our GMG Cape Ann Monarch Milkweed Project was held in the morning, I was able to attend the Rockport Film Festival in the afternoon, where Sarah Kelly, the festival’s organizer (and GMG contributor) had invited me to speak about my forthcoming film “Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly” and my short film”BomBom Butterflies” had been accepted to the screening.
Rockport was teeming with families and activities. It was difficult to find a parking space but when I finally arrived at the Firehouse where the afternoon’s screenings were taking place, Craig and Hannah Kimberley had very kindly saved me a seat. All of the films were well-worth seeing; just some of the highlights were Len Burgess’s film about the launching of the Schooner Ardelle, Robert Newton’s film about Gloucester’s WPA murals, and “Homemade Parade” by Emile Doucette. The short film event was followed by poetry readings from local poets. I left shortly after and returned home, with plans to return to the 7th Wave with my husband for dinner (where our son is the cook).
When we returned to Rockport at 7:00, Sarah Kelly was still working away at the Firehouse cleaning up with her family and friends after the day’s events. She was so gracious and I think is doing a fabulous job promoting the festival. I am hoping she will perhaps write a post-festival GMG post on her perceptions of the event’s successes.
We arrived at the 7th Wave Restaurant and were seated at a lovely spot by the window, with the gorgoeus view of the harbor made even prettier in the light of the setting sun. I had a Blue Moon beer, which I love because the name of the beer is one of my favorite Ella Fitzgerald songs. The beer was served with a wedge of orange–a flavorful touch, and fitting because Blue Moon’s list of ingredients includes orange peel. My husband had the cooked-to-perfection grilled mahi-mahi with a delicious spicy mango salsa. Usually I don’t order fried clams because frankly they often aren’t very well prepared and, as they are currently more expensive than a lobster dinner, it really is no fun to bite into a pricey soggy, soden lump of sand and grease. Have no fear of being diappointed at the 7th Wave because, really, their fried clams are to-die-for; simply the best fried clams I have had in a long time (take note Craig if you are reading this!). The batch I had last night was soooo fresh and delicious, perfectly golden brown and crunchy crispy on the outside, with tender, fat bellies on the inside. I had heard in Joey’s podcast with Craig that the fried clams at the Cape Ann Brew Pub are pretty awesome and I have yet to try those, but I know where I will be heading next time I get a jones for extra delicious fried clams and dinner with a stunning view!
7th Wave Khan Family
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Savour Wine and Cheese
Rick and I went to Savour Cheese and Wine the other night. What a great spot. Please check out a couple of pictures of a very fun experience. Savour Cheese and Wine is located at 76 Prospect St., Gloucester, MA, at the corner of Pleasant St., across from St. Ann’s church. Tasting is complimentary always and anytime. They have their own parking lot in the back. For more information please feel free to call 978-282-1455.
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Dinner at Latitude 43
On Tuesday, a friend of mine was visiting from New York. He loves good food, so we had planned to head down to one of Gloucester’s fine dining locations on Main Street. We had settled on the Franklin, but when we got down to Main Street, we found out about the broken water main and saw that all the restaurants were closed.
We ended up going down to Rogers Street and trying Latitude 43. I had only been there once before, quite a while ago, and it was the first time for my friend. We were both impressed by the decor as soon as we walked in. The metal sculptures of the octopus, fish, etc., are quite something, as is the mural of the shoreline over the bar!
Our waiter, Zorba Kinigstein, was enthusiastic, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the menu, giving us tantalizing descriptions of how the different dishes are prepared and the different flavors and textures we could expect. My friend ordered the lobster bisque and the pan-seared halibut special; I opted for the clam chowder and the crispy potato sushi roll (tempura asparagus, lettuce, avocado and cream cheese, topped with fried sweet potato and served with a spicy mustard sauce!) which you can see in my photo at the beginning of this post.
Everything was delicious! I’d read a lot about Latitude 43 on GMG before, but I don’t eat out often on my own and usually aim for more inexpensive options to fit my budget. I am glad that circumstances (and my friend’s generosity) led us to eat there!
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Backyard Growers Is Growing!
Hello Friends, Colleagues & Get Fit Gloucester Partners,
The Backyard Growers Program has just launched its first-ever on-line fundraising campaign! We are raising money to host a FoodCorps Service Member next year and to support our expansion into Gloucester’s elementary schools (read below for details).
Check out our campaign at www.indiegogo.com
Please consider making a donation and/or forwarding our campaign to your networks.
The fundraiser video features my lovely daughters, and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face : )
Thank you!
Lara
Here’s the nitty-gritty on who we are and what we’re asking for (you can also read this on our campaign site):
What we do
Backyard Growers is a program of the Cape Ann Farmers’ Market. We are part of the farmers’ market strategy for increasing fresh veggie eating in Gloucester!Since 2010 the Backyard Growers Program, in partnership with The Food Project, has provided low- to moderate-income Gloucester residents with backyard raised-bed vegetable gardens, garden training, and ongoing mentor support.
It’s simple! We help people grow their own fresh vegetables. Our survey results show that having a backyard garden and knowing how to use it:
- Increases the amount of fresh produce a family eats,
- Gets kids excited about eating fresh veggies,
- Saves money on grocery bills, and
- Builds community within neighborhoods.
We are expanding!
Next fall we will expand into Gloucester’s elementary schools, bringing our comprehensive garden program to over 1300 students! Our program will build the capacity of each school community to manage their school farms over the long term. Students will:
- Learn through doing in the school garden!
- Grow and harvest their own salad greens and eat them as part of school lunch in the cafeteria.
- Plant crops in June to be harvested when they return to school in the fall as part of an annual harvest celebration.
To do this we need help…
We have an opportunity to host a FoodCorps Service Member for one year starting in September.FoodCorps is a national nonprofit organization that works with schools to create a healthier school food environment. It is part of the AmeriCorps service network, and targets improving childhood health by placing service members in public schools around the country to teach hands-on nutrition education; build and care for school gardens; and work to bring high-quality local food to school cafeterias.
Our Service Member will build the capacity of each school to maintain productive school gardens with the goal of school gardens becoming part of the culture of each school!
Donate!
Your contribution will make all this possible! Please help us raise $7,500 by donating to our campaign.
- $5,000 = Our salary contribution for a one-year, full-time FoodCorps Service Member
- $2,500 = Program expansion costs (garden & program supplies, additional staff costs)
We have some fun perks for you, including free seeds & seedlings and garden training, and some special ways for you to connect with the school garden program. If we don’t reach our entire fundraising goal we will ramp up the grant writing. If we exceed our goal, we will put the funds toward the future sustainability of the Backyard Growers Program.
Help us Spread the Word!
Forward this indiegogo campaign to your people.Like and follow Backyard Growers on Facebook.
Lara Lepionka
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Yummy Post Workout Salad At the Manchester Athletic Club
Get this salad at The Manchester Athletic Club-
Order the Greek Salad and then top it off wit a scoop of chicken salad and use balsamic vinegar instead of the Greek dressing.
Killer! Trust me on this one, you feel like a bajillion bucks afterwards, (and a bajillion’s a lot)
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Stones ReduncuBurger
Redunc for Redunculouus!
Just get your ass down to Stones and do yourself a favor and order up one of their burgers will you already?
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Exploring Gloucester Eateries and Drinkeries From Ann Kennedy
Alchemy’s Fried Chicken, The Rudder’s Soft Shell Crab, Topside Grill’s Sauteed Oysters on pasta, Willow Rest’s Cuban and a host of other great meals are keeping us well fed!
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7th Wave Restaurant in Rockport is Open for the Season!
One of our family’s very favorite restaurants (and not just because our son is a cook there) is the 7th Wave Restaurant, located at Tuna Wharf on Bearskin Neck in Rockport. The staff is delightfully friendly, the seafood is always fresh, delicious, and cooked to perfection, and we love eating al fresco amongst the treetops on the 2nd floor deck, with a spectacular view of Rockport Harbor below
7th Wave Seafood Medley
The 7th Wave is not only owned by the Kahn Family, it is a family-operated business as well; in fact their name is derived from the seven family members who work and own the business–the parents and their five children. Now through Father’s Day, 7th Wave is open Friday and Sunday from 11:30 to 6pm and on Saturdays from 11:30am to 8pm. For more information visit their website at 7th Wave Restaurant.
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Stones Pub When Pork Meets Beef
Joey,
Here’s what’s going on down a Stone’s Pub. With a little help from a new customer, we have created “The Moe”: Pepper Jack Cheese Burger, lettuce, onion, bacon, cherry peppers, topped with……….Stone’s own pulled pork.
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Mamie’s Kitchen $5 Fridays Burger
I love the way Chris grills the roll first. Tremendous value. Tremendous, just tremendous.
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This weeks SingerSongWritersShuffle ~ Crazy good line up!
Check it out …. Nick Zaino, Alexandra Valenti, Willie Alexander, Chelsea Berry, Megan Burtt, TMax and David Balin
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Lat 43 Crispy Fish Burrito
DEEEEEELISH!
Used my $10 off of $30 Dinner Dealer Coupon. Money in the bank homie!
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Welcome to the West End ~ Short & Main! Gloucester’s Latest Restaurant
Fred Bodin Submits-
I just had to go the grand opening of Short & Main Tuesday evening. They’re at 36 Main Street, where Valentino’s used to be. Pretty packed by 8pm, but we found seats at the counter that faces the open kitchen. We sat in front of an iced tray of lobster, shrimp, clams, and oysters.They serve draft beer and have a full liquor license.
Amelia Monday shucked our oysters and placed them on an iced platter. Fresh and delicious!
This was the view from my seat. It’s fun to watch your food being prepared, and your pizza baked in the wood-fired brick oven. Very cozy and friendly place.
Janet and I shared a La Quercia Prosciutto pizza, made with arugula and Parmesan. It was quite tasty and unlike any pizza I’ve ever had.
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Singer vs. Crowd
The deck is open. We eat outside because Cape Ann Brew Pub is full inside. People had come to hear Chelsea Berry and her friends and to support Boston Strong.
After dinner, there’s room to stand inside to see the music. It’s a relaxed, fun, lively atmosphere. But it’s loud. People are talking over the music. You’ve been there right? The band turns up. The crowd talks louder. It begins to feel like a contest. Most musicians hate this. They’d rather be playing to a listening crowd.
Chelsea sings her song, “Blues House”, which is about this very problem. From the back, it’s hard to hear her over the crowd. But it’s too loud in there to carry on a conversation either. I’ve always puzzled about this singer vs. crowd phenomenon.
Then something magical happens. Chelsea sings her signature a cappella song, “King of Rome” and does something unexpected. She leaves the mic. Chelsea’s powerful voice is still heard over the din. And the sheer power of her presence and performance begins to quiet the crowd. Finally all you can hear is Chelsea’s soaring song about Charlie and his racing pigeon accompanied by the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen as if it were an off-stage percussion section.
Singer vs. crowd. Singer wins. But so does the crowd. Live music takes you to a place you simply cannot experience any other way.
BTW: This is the 100th anniversary of the 1001 mile race from Rome to England that Charlie Hudson’s racing pigeon, The King of Rome, won in 1913.
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Short & Main: Welcome to the West End
Fred Bodin submits-
Walking to my car tonight, I heard a circular saw running behind the old Valentino’s restaurant on Main Street. One guy was working OT to get it together for the 4pm opening of Short & Main tomorrow. Here’s a view of the main dining room. New decor and lighting, with a long bar and open kitchen.
Looks inviting to me! They also own the Market Restaurant in Annisquam.
http://www.facebook.com/ShortandMain
Fred Bodin Bodin Historic Photo
http://www.facebook.com/BodinHistoricPhoto
Here’s a video interview Donna Ardizzoni did last month as they were preparing to open-
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Da Ruddah
Yep Every Bit As Good As It Looks. Check It!
http://www.rudderrestaurant.com/
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Dinner Dealer Card of The Week-Alchemy We used our first one today at Lat 43
If you’re feeling a little adventurous for dinner tonight, or want to make a great first impression on a first date — swing into Alchemy’s Bistro. Their inventive and creative menu will keep you coming back for more.
Or maybe you’d prefer a warm intimate atmosphere by the fire while sipping a cocktail or drinking a beer from their impressive selection of ales and brews. Alchemy is the type of place where you can retreat from the stresses of everyday life, slow down and recharge those batteries. At the same time, you can also pull together your friends for a fun night out at Alchemy and share a bunch of their amazing small plates—Tapas style!
With produce and meats locally sourced, Alchemy’s menu is designed to highlight and celebrate the flavors of the season. Long story short, you have to go. But don’t just take our word for it, check out their online ratings . . .
Yelp — 4.5 out of 5 stars (110 Reviews)
Trip Advisor — 4 out of 5 stars (95 Reviews)
Open Table — 4.4 out of 5 stars (127 Reviews)
Need we say more?! Shuffle through your Dinner Dealer deck of cards, and find the $10 off coupon to Alchemy. Now, go and eat!
www.DinnerDealer.com
DINE OUT. DINE LOCAL. DINE OFTEN.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What? You don’t have a deck yet? No worries! You can get ’em online.
FYI, Dinner Dealer has teamed up with 5—women-owned—North Shore businesses to create an amazing Mother’s Day Gift Set ( including *bonus coupon* to Mamie’s Kitchen )! Order yours by Thursday, May 9 to receive in time for Mum’s Day.
Check it out at https://www.DinnerDealer.com/Mom
Good Morning Gloucester 