My View of Life on the Dock
July 20 August 17 September 21Mark your calendars and fit us in your schedule!
Contacts
Organization, Publicity: glostablockpahty@gmail.com Valerie Marcley
Artistic Director (Talent): whuntrock@gmail.com Will Hunt
Restaurant Liaison: northshorerestaurantgroup@gmail.com Mark McDonough
Merchant Liaison: lseigel1@gmail.com Lucinda Seigel
Sponsor Information: jbrackley2@comcast.net Judith Brackley
“Olivia’s by the Sea”, formerly “Amelia’s” (near Good Harbor Beach), is under new management! It has been taken over by the same people who run the new Cape Ann Diner in Brown’s Mall. It has been renovated, and work will continue until the summer. The new layout includes an informal, tray-serving-style dining area, designed to be comfortable for beach-goers:
and a smaller, more formal area where there will be waiter service and a more comprehensive menu.
Outside, the plan is to have an ice cream window on one side of the outdoor eating area. In short, something for everyone!
On Wednesday, the restaurant opened for a breakfast test run “on the house” so that a small number of people could try the food and meet the staff. I was invited, so I showed up for a late breakfast. The menu has a wide selection of scrumptious sounding breakfast food, with reasonable prices (although not as inexpensive as the Cape Ann Diner, which is to be expected for the location and style). I opted for a scrambled egg with bacon, home fries, and beans, with a mug of decaf coffee.
It was delicious! And the owner, Ron, and the greeters and servers were friendly and cheerful.
They will be opening fully for business sometime next month. I look forward to it!
The first of our 2013 Wine Dinner Series celebrates the Wines of Spring.
Always a popular event, our wine dinners combine beautiful seasonal dishes paired thoughtfully with choice wines and presented by the knowledgeable and entertaining BZ from United Liquors.
Reservations are recommended.
Call Maria @ 978-283-7888
Everything they serve at Willow Rest is fresh and delicious. I went for their cheeseburger, my favorite. Friend Chris got the Cuban, and my mom got the best BLT she’s ever had in her 80+ years. Even our beloved Mayor loves to scoot over there from City Hall for lunch.
If you haven’t been to Willow Rest lately for breakfast or lunch, or to pick up some of their fresh baked goods, veggies or other goodies, stop in and enjoy.
E.J. Lefavour
I’m taking category by category and highlighting some locals who you may want to consider worthy of your vote (BTW St Peter’s Fiesta is currently trailing Topsfield Fair and Good Harbor is close to Crane’s) so if you haven’t voted in the Play Category get on it!- Voting in the Play Category here
Here are some local joints that have been nominated in the Eat category (you can click on the highlighted establishments to see pictures or posts we’ve done about them)-
Vote Here For The Eat Category In The North Shore Magazine 2013 BONS Awards
Al Fresco Dining- Franklin Cape Ann, Lobster Pool
Bake Shop (Pastry)- Jim’s Bake Shop, Plum Cove Grind
Bakery (Bread) Virgilio’s
BBQ- Smokin Jim’s, The Farm Bar and Grille
Beer menu- Franklin Cape Ann, Cape Ann Brewing
Breakfast- George’s, Sugar Mag’s, Willow Rest (as you know my love of Gloucester Breakfast joints is unmatched- way too many to list so we will stick with the nominated but Mamie’s Kitchen, and Fort Square should be at least nominated as well)
Burger- Passports
Cocktail Bar- Franklin Cape Ann
Coffee Shop- Lone Gull, Cape Ann Coffee Café Sicilia and Pleasant St -None are nominated all deserve to be!
Confectionery- Nichols Candies and Turtle Alley
Farmer’s Market- Cape Ann Farmer’s Market
General Excellence- The Market, Duckworth’s is not nominated but I’d say needs to be a write in.
Gourmet Market- Savour Wine and Cheese
Lobster- Causeway, Lobsta Land and Roy Moore are Nominated, For Lobster Pool and Seaport Grille not to be nominated is silly IMO
Italian- a write in for La Trattoria Gloucester only makes sense
Lobster Roll- Seaport Grille
Mexican- Jalepenos– for Tacos Lupita Gloucester needs to be a write in as well.
Pizza- Giuseppes and The Willow Rest. There are so many great pizza joints in Gloucester and everyone has their favorites you could write in any number- Sebastians, Sclafanis, ect, ect ect
Pub Food- Franklin and Topside Grille
Raw Bar- Lat 43 nominated, Rudder could be a write in
Sandwiches- There is no Gloucester nomination and you could easily write in Virgilios, Sclafanis, or Willow Rest here
Seafood Prepared- the Causeway and The Rudder
Sushi- Latitude 43
Thai- Thai Choice could be a write in
and when you’re done you can vote in the Play Categories-
So far I’ve featured local nominees in the Play and Eat Categories, in a couple days I’ll highlight the Shop, Renew, Kids, and Live Categories.
See those locally nominated in the Play category here
From The Gloucester Daily Times-
When Felicia was growing up this special recipe was prepared by her Aunt “FeFe“, Vincie and Uncle Mike (Militello). Now she makes it herself and passes along the family’s recipe secrets. The main ingredients are cauliflower, fava beans, and the ferns on top of the anise bulbs. In fact, since the grocers and supermarkets typically throw away this part of the plant before even putting it on the shelf, Felicia goes around each year to remind them to avoid that for this special week of St. Joseph’s Day so that she and others can properly make the dish.
Her aunt and uncle FeFe and Vincie used to create an alter every St. Joseph’s Day and that became very big, so big that many people came each year to pay their respects and eat some of the special pasta dish. The pasta sauce was served over home made St. Joseph fettuccini pasta. What made this St. Joseph Pasta is that all the flower used to prepare the feast was blessed by a priest the day before St. Joseph day. It was done, in fact, at a very special mass in Aunt FeFe and Uncle Vincie’s home in front of her alter. You cannot get much more authentic than that.
You can read my buddy Heather Atwood’s article about Felicia and St Joseph’s Traditions here-
The feast of St. Joseph isn’t until the 19th, but the celebrations are getting started! Felicia’s St. Joseph Altar was the first one I have blessed this year, and I was very happy to join the family and friends for a magnificent feast yesterday.
The fish was wonderful, and came in many varieties!
They made literally piles of home-made pasta for the occasion.
Fish was just half of the story; there was a variety of salad and antipasto.
And, of course, there were desserts! I particularly liked these nacho-style cannoli!
And of course, Joey was there with is family, along with several other members of the GMG team. Thanks again, Joey, for inviting me to be a part of the GMG family!
AS OF 1PM TODAY:
Most of main street is open right now and planning to stay open. Check the live music listings as you get closer to going out. CANCELLED shows are marked and we’ll be updating all day long. Here are some highlights of things that we know are open or closed.
The Brewery is open and said they’re extending they’re kids under 10 eat free special until 5pm.
Jalapenos is open and planning to stay open.
Poseidon says they are “fully operational”.
Rhumb Line is open now and will stay open tonight with Runaround
Minglewood Tavern is open with Dave Bailin tonight.
Espresso’s is open and Wes says Full Circle is till on for tonight.
The Sold out Gordon Bok show with Three Sheets to the Wind at Old Sloop is still on. And tomorrow’s Debbie & Friends show is still on for tomorrow at 10:30 AM
The Farm is open. Kid’s eat free until 4pm. MAC members get 15% 0ff (you can work your ass off then pig out). Nick’s Jazz Fest is on for tonight.
Looks like Northbound Train will be at Dog Bar.
CLOSED ~ CANCELLED:
Dress Code – Closed
Cherish the Ladies Concert at Shalin Liu Cancelled
Grove Cafe in Manchester is closing early and has cancelled Marina Evans.
Grow a more productive garden with less work! And enjoy eating your own home-grown veggies this year!
Quick Links
Square Foot Gardening Training
This year we are offering a limited number of spots to the general public to attend our Backyard Growers Program training. The training program fee is $25. You will be trained alongside this year’s program participants. (Sorry! We can’t provide you will additional Backyard Growers Program resources! The $25 fee is for the 2-hour training only.) To learn more about our program go to the Quick Links above.
The Backyard Growers Program partners with The Food Project to provide an interactive, hands-on training, which is fun, informative, and gives you what you need to successfully start and maintain a garden. You will learn the "square foot gardening method" and how to plan your family’s garden.
Where & When
Sign-up & Payment
If you’d like to participate please email me with the date you would like to attend and the number of people attending. Space is limited! After confirming your spot you can:
Click here to pay on-line
Or mail a check with BYG in the memo line to:
Cape Ann Farmers’ Market, PO Box 1458, Gloucester, MA 01931
Your $25 fee goes back into supporting the Backyard Growers Program.
Spring is coming, I promise!
Lara Lepionka
Backyard Growers Coordinator
Dear Joey,
Happy Anniversary Seaport Grille at Cruiseport Gloucester
Yes! Can you believe we are four years old. Where did the time go.
When I think back to when the Restaurant first opened, I sit amazed. We have grown so large. But not large enough to forget our roots.
Our small kitchen went to a large kitchen, from three cooks to ten lines cooks, from one prep cook to five prep cooks, from one dishwasher to two.
However, we know everyones name and we care for each other deeply, this is our roots. Our servers, bartenders, line cooks, host and hostess, bus persons and managers have dedicated themselves to my business values of kindness to each other and ultimately our kindness overflows onto you our cherished guest.
The guest made us famous, you the guest are most cherished. We welcome you into our Restaurant and try to make it your main stay. Your home. We love you, so may I say to you our guest
Happy Anniversary to you. Congratulations on 4 years at Seaport Grille.
Sheree DeLorenzo
Seaport Grille at Cruiseport Gloucester
Raw Bar on the Deck
Daily 6-9pm
Come by Celebrate …Eat…Party…Enjoy…
Drink and Dance with us here at the Seaport Grille.
THREE DAYS OF SPECIALS, ENTERTAINMENT, & FUN!
RAW BAR on the Deck!
ALL THREE NIGHTS!
Rick ordered Potato Boats on Sunday, they looked and tasted delicious, Rick finished every crumb.
Wine Classes
Wine Classes start a week from today!
Kathleen begins the 5-part series Tuesday evening, March 5.
Skip begins his 2-part classes, with the first series on Italian wine, Thursday, March 7.
Be sure to email Kathleen Erickson or call Savour (978 282-1455) to sign up. Remember, this is the only time the 5-part course will be offered this year. Please feel free to call with any questions or concerns. If you have to miss a class, Kathleen can review the content with you (and you will have a notebook with all the articles and handouts, so you can keep up).
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner
Sunday, March 17
5:30 – 6:00 – appetizers and snacks
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. – dinner
We plan to have a great St. Patrick’s Day meal for about 40 people. So come celebrate with us! From colcanon to corned beef, with beer tasting and wine, we will all have a good Irish party! (The cost is $25.00, excluding MA meal tax and gratuity).
Menu
Cheddar and Stout Fondue
Irish Soda Bread
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Colcannon
Dark Chocolate Cake with Irish Cream Mousse
Chocolate Stout Pot de Creme
Cape Ann Brewery WINGS
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.
This week we’re thinking about China. Kathy is working with Philips Auction House opening on the Back Shore next week (http:www.philipsauctionhouse.com). She came across these wonderful pictures of fishing boats from a personal vacation album dating from 1910-1920 China.
A little closer to home, Marty visited Horizon Chinese Restaurant, 4 Rogers St., Gloucester, and watched Chef James prepare mouth watering stir fried shrimp in garlic sauce and lobster in spicy chili sauce. All seafood is fresh off the boat in Gloucester Harbor.
Photos © Kathy Chapman 2013
www.kathychapman.com and
© Marty Luster 2013
matchedpairs.wordpress.com
slicesoflifeimages.wordpress.com
BTW, The Blue OX perennially wins the award of favorite restaurant voted on by Boston area chefs.
Help Felicia–I was too busy eating these tantalizing beauties and forgot to ask the name?
The cake is made with almond paste, which makes them perfectly moist, apricot preserves between the layers, then topped with a paper thin layer of rich dark chocolate on both the top and bottom–and yes, I am happy to report, this recipe is going to be in her cook book!
On February 25th, 2013 Tacos Lupita Will Be Offering $1 Tacos In Appreciation Of It’s Customers After One Year In Business.
63 Washington Street Gloucester MA
http://tacoslupitagloucester.com/
Total no brainer
Saturday- Avocado Cups-
Good Morning Gloucester 