Tag: Food

Food Drive and Bake Sale – St. Vincent de Paul Society

Posted on by Matthew Green

Don’t forget this note from Helen Downey:

Come join us at Shaw’s Plaza, 127 Easter Ave., Gloucester, as the members of Holy Family Parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society conduct a “Food Drive and Bake Sale” on Saturday, August 11 from 9am to 3pm.

The Society, through dedicated volunteer efforts, services the needs of many families here on Cape Ann.  We succeed in doing this only with  donations of monetary value or food donations for our emergency pantry.

Shaw’s is a great supporter of community projects and we have been chosen to be the recipient of any profits received through their participation in this event. So come on over and have lunch at the concession or perhaps a home-baked goodie from the many delicious items made by our members.  Hope to see you there on August 11th to support our fund raising event.

If you have any questions, contact helen at 978-283-7391. Thank you for your support!

– Fr. Matthew Green

FREE Acoustic Music Festival in Rockport on Sunday

Posted on by S.D. Kelly

David Cutler, Rockport’s acoustic music impresario (yes, I used that word), has been putting together this event for 33 years! While it’s usually held in Rockport’s beautiful Millbrook Meadow, this year the event is being held at the Rockport Legion Band’s bandstand on Back Beach. This is a great time to hang out in lovely Rockport and hear some good local music while enjoying food from Claire Franklin of New Year’s Rockport Eve. For more on that, read on. And click HERE to head over to the Rockport Acoustic Music Festival to discover the lineup and other information.

Here’s a letter from Claire, who is coming off of a really tough year and is looking for volunteers for the weekend. Claire puts on a huge event, Rockport New Year’s Eve, every single year (this weekend’s food tent sales serve as a fundraiser for the New Year’s Eve event). It is a major effort and everyone loves this event, so if you can help her out that would be great. We’re going to be in Maine this weekend and will miss all the action, but I wish I could be there alongside Claire. Everyone at the Acoustic Music Festival is in happy mood, listening to music while eating Claire’s hot dogs, hamburgers and more, so working in the food booth is a great way to be part of the event. You can contact Claire at her email address: claire.nyre@comcast.net to sign up for a volunteer slot or contribute in some other way.

From Claire:

Hello Everyone,

As most of you know, I lost my husband to lung cancer last January right after New Year’s Eve.  It has been a long road back to once again try to do the things I always have done in the past without him along side me.  Starting with this coming weekend’s Rockport’s 33rd Annual Rockport Acoustic Music Festival.  Each summer New Year’s Rockport Eve supplies the Food Tent for the festival.  We are again this year!

New Year’s Rockport Eve is looking for volunteers to help serve & cook on Sunday, August 12th from noon to 6pm.  Also, I would love a few helpers to set up from 10am – 12 noon and clean up from 6 – 7 pm.  This event has moved from Millbrook Meadow to the Legion at Back Beach this year.

Every fundraiser that I put on throughout the year requires that I beg people to help me.  I love putting on the New Year’s Eve program for the town of Rockport, but the begging for help is getting a bit harder.  Please come forward to volunteer to benefit such a wonderful event that I would love to continue year after year.  It takes about $34,000.00 to put on this event and button sales does not support this.  Fund raising is a must!  If you can just do one hour, I will take it or two or three.  Just answer this email and volunteer and please pass this on to everyone on your email list.

I am always looking for Baked goods to sell, also.  Brownies, cookies etc. that can be bagged and sold for 50 cents.

Thanks,

Claire

Food Drive and Bake Sale – St. Vincent de Paul Society

Posted on by Matthew Green

This just in from Helen Downey:

Come join us at Shaw’s Plaza, 127 Easter Ave., Gloucester, as the members of Holy Family Parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society conduct a “Food Drive and Bake Sale” on Saturday, August 11 from 9am to 3pm.

The Society, through dedicated volunteer efforts, services the needs of many families here on Cape Ann.  We succeed in doing this only with  donations of monetary value or food donations for our emergency pantry.

Shaw’s is a great supporter of community projects and we have been chosen to be the recipient of any profits received through their participation in this event. So come on over and have lunch at the concession or perhaps a home-baked goodie from the many delicious items made by our members.  Hope to see you there on August 11th to support our fund raising event.

If you have any questions, contact helen at 978-283-7391. Thank you for your support!

– Fr. Matthew Green

More Farmer’s Market craze

Posted on by Matthew Green

Thursday, 3-6:30 at Stage Fort Park! Don’t miss it! It’s not just food (as if delicious local food were not a sufficient reason to go…); there are also people selling cookbooks, pottery, and art; plus there are art activities for the kids, run by teens from Art Haven.

One of the things I like most about the Farmer’s Market is that the people who are selling things there are usually closely involved in the production of what they sell.  That makes a world of difference; you can see that they are proud of what they are selling, they really know it inside and out, and they are convinced of its value. Their enthusiasm is contagious!  And they often offer free samples.  So, be forewarned: you are likely to spend more money than you planned to.  But that’s OK, it’s supporting the local economy!

Here are some photos from last week. Click on the block of thumbnails to see a slideshow, or scroll down to see some of the photos larger without leaving the post.

 

 

 

Edibles flowers, believe it or not:

Breakfast with Tomato Marmalade

Posted on by Matthew Green

A while back I mentioned Alexander Thompson’s delicious tomato marmalade (I mentioned it here and here).  It might sound unexpected (I had never heard of tomato marmalade before), but tomatos are fruit, and Alexander’s recipe really works.  They served it at the opening of The Cave with cheese and crackers, which was a great combination, but it’s also good on plain old toast for breakfast!

I put it on whole wheat toast with a glass of orange juice.  Just a part of this nutritious breakfast!

You can buy it on line or, today, at the Thursday Cape Ann Farmers’ Market at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, 3-6PM under the blue tent.

He also makes the most addicting bread & butter pickles… also available on line and at the Farmer’s Market.

Supper at Café Bishco

Posted on by Matthew Green

Café Bischo is a little restaurant at 51 Main Street. Yesterday I had supper there with a friend, and it was great as always! We ate at a table outside on the sidewalk, enjoying the sunny summer evening.

I had their “Mediterranean Vegetable Soup”:

It was delicious, and was accompanied by heated, buttered, fresh bread, which was perfect for dipping in the tomato-based broth.

The sun shone bright through my glass of water:

To be honest, all I can vouch for from personal experience is their soup.  That’s the only thing I’ve ever eaten at this venue (and at several other restaurants), because I am a huge soup fan, and their soup is always good!  But the people with whom I have eaten there have also enjoyed their victuals, whether soup or otherwise.  Plus, I have seen a steady flow of people buying their ice cream or frozen yogurt, so that must be good too!

Actually, I can also vouch for their friendly customer service.  So, if while on or near Main Street, you get a hankering for a bite to eat, hot or cold, you should give Café Bishco a try!

The Cave, “Cheese Chocolate and Wine” – grand opening this week!

Posted on by Matthew Green

Remember The Cave,  “Purveyors of Cheese, Chocolate, and Wine”, soon to open at 44 Main Street in Gloucester, covered in this post last month?  They will be having their grand opening on the evening Thursday, June 21, from 5 to 7PM.

I met the proprietor, Laura Cramer at Bodin’s Historic Photo and Fine Art last week at the Dad’s Night Out event. I got a nice photo of Fred and Laura together – but I didn’t notice that I didn’t have a memory card in my camera…  So, you’ll just have to use your imagination.

She had brought along a platter of delicious cheese, crackers and olives:

Since people were a bit slow to come into the store, she took the platter outside to tempt passers-by:

(photo by Fred Bodin)

The cheese was really delicious, and Laura really knows her business; she explained the origin and characteristics of each cheese, which she had obviously chosen with care.  Check out the store’s grand opening this Thursday! And don’t miss those evening events at Bodin’s Historic Photo. You’re bound to find interesting people and good food, not to mention Fred’s fascinating photos, paintings by local artists, and more.

Dad’s Night Out going on now at Bodin’s Historic Photo

Posted on by Matthew Green

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Come and try some wine and cheese from The Cave, which will open next week at 44 Main Street!

Several other places are also involved. Ask Fred and he can tell you where else to get special deals and treats tonight!

Bearskin Neck is heating up!

Posted on by Matthew Green

As the weather is starting to warm up, the shops, restaurants and galleries are opening up and getting down to business. I stopped by for lunch and a stroll the other day.

I had lunch with friends at Top Dog of Rockport.  If you like hot dogs, this is the place to go! They have an amazing variety of hot dog / topping combos, with creative names like “German Shepherd” (which comes with sauerkraut) and “Italian Greyhound” (with grilled peppers and onions). For those who, like me, don’t eat hot dogs, they have other offerings as well. I had a bowl of clam chowder, which was hot and delicious!

Kayaks were out and available for rent:

Corey Tevan (about whom I posted a while back) has added more paintings of trees and flowers to one corner of his gallery. I love his art – if I had the money (and the space to hang them) I’d buy at least half the paintings in his gallery:

Chris Coyne did some work on his gallery over the winter, and has filled it with more of his beautiful paintings of local landscapes and cityscapes. If I had a room for Corey Tevan’s work, I’d have another for paintings by Chris:

Eugene Quinn is also back after being away all winter. I didn’t get a photo this time, but you can check out his work on his web page.  I’d have to have another room in my dream house for his landscapes and still life works.  He also does portraits sometimes, but doesn’t have any on display right now.  He has a very sweet and affectionate dog named Layla who tried to “kiss” me on the lips. No thanks!

There are loads of other great galleries and shops to visit.  I hope to visit a few more of them soon and share more photos. It’s worth walking down Bearskin Neck just for the view at the end. Here’s a partial panorama (looking southeast):

Helmut’s Strudel

Posted on by Matthew Green

I am often in Rockport to preside at one the morning Masses on Sunday.  When I have the earlier (8:30AM) Mass, I like to go down afterwards to Bearskin Neck for a walk and for breakfast.  I’ve tried a couple of places, and one of my favorites is Helmut’s Strudel, down towards the end of Bearskin Neck, on the right.

Ham and cheese croissant – my breakfast last Sunday – delicious!

Service with a smile:

They have a selection of wonderful-looking pastries. My goal is to try one of each eventually…

They also have a patio with a nice view, where you can sip your coffee and munch on your strudel.

-Fr. Matthew Green

Lunch at La Trattoria

Posted on by Matthew Green

Isn’t that just one of the prettiest things you’ve ever seen?

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped to read the menu at La Trattoria as I walked down Main Street in Gloucester.  A customer who was on her way in, took the time to stop and tell me how good the food is!  So when a friend of mine came to visit the other day, I took him to La Trattoria for lunch to check it out.  We had bruschetta and shrimp scampi for our appetizers, and chicken soup for the main course.  We chased that down with tiramisu and gelato with limoncello.  My friend also had a cappuccino, pictured above.

To conclude: The food was delicious, the servings were generous but not overwhelming, and the service was friendly and attentive.  The restaurant’s design and ambience was classy and comfortable.  So, I am glad that that customer I met on the sidewalk sang this place’s praises!  She spoke truly.  If you like good Italian food, give La Trattoria a try!  It’s at 64 Main Street in Gloucester.  I am looking forward to trying their pizza…

Sunday Dinner At Sista Felicia’s

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Barbeque Ribs, Mudiga Steaks, Italian Wedding Soup, Pumpkin Pizzelle. Greek Salad.  The Mrs also made a molten lava chocolate cake which ended up being the knock out punch and an exclamation mark to the final day before my diet starts in earnest.

The woman is a beast in the kitchen.

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Tuna Tar Tar At Lateral, Playa Del Carmen

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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The seafood has been great, but I may turn into an avocado- I’ve eaten them with breakfast lunch and dinner.

Eating in Playa del Carmen

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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At the risk of jinxing us I have to say one of the most pleasant surprises about Playa del Carmen has been the dining experiences.

At every place we’ve eaten be it fancy dinner, casual lunch or breakfast everything has been super fresh and the service SUPERB!

I’d point out a few as highlights but honestly they’ve ALL been highlights!

Lateral for dinner grouper with a a porcini mushroom cream sauce over it topped with lyonnaise potatoes. The juice bar 100% Natural, the place in this picture where they serve your food on your own personal mini-habachi, Sensei Beach Club, Thai dish. Emphasis everywhere on freshness.

Good Chinese Take-out

Posted on by Matthew Green

No city or town is complete without a few Chinese restaurants. When I first moved to Gloucester several months ago, I was happy to see a Chinese restaurant right around the corner from my residence at St. Ann’s rectory: Ocean Garden (1 Maplewood Ave. in Gloucester).  According to the employee I spoke to there, Lily Chen, they have been in business for eleven years.  That means that their food and prices are good enough to attract a faithful clientele.

Ocean Garden, 1 Maplewood Ave. Not much to look at, but the take-out is very tasty!

I have ordered meals there several times (most recently this Sunday) and the food has been consistently hot and good, and I have always had friendly service.

Chicken with mixed vegetables and rice

Their wonton soup is just the way I like it, with a very flavorful broth and not-too-thick wontons.  I wolfed it down before I remembered to take a photo…

They are primarily a take-out restaurant, although there is one table where you could sit and eat. They deliver, and if you ask for delivery you might meet this friendly man:

Mike Marshall, one of the delivery men

He and his father Robert Marshall handle the deliveries. As I arrived, Robert was driving away with a delivery in a black SUV with a festive Christmas wreath still on the hood ornament.  Remember, Christmas isn’t over yet! Not until January 9th (at least, in the Catholic Church).

So if you’re looking for a nice hot Chinese meal, this could be a good option.   Lily said their specialty is the combination plate “General Gau’s Chicken”, but she added that some of their most popular dishes are on the appetizer menu – stock favorites like crab rangoon and chicken wings.

Full information about their menu, phone number, etc., is available on their website.

Blue Shutters Inn Food and Wine Tasting May 7th

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey — here are some details on our upcoming Food & Wine Tasting Fiesta coming up on May 7….

making sliders

The Blue Shutters is having its final Food & Wine Tasting of the off-season on Saturday May 7, and there are still a few spots open. These Food & Wine Tastings are our most anticipated off-season events…and why not? You get to try some great wine paired with amazing dishes in a fun and friendly atmosphere overlooking Good Harbor Beach — and it’s our treat for those who spend a night or two at the Blue Shutters that weekend. And if that’s not enough of an incentive, consider this: we’re using our May 7 event to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, featuring wines and food items fromChile, Argentina and other countries south of the border. This all unfolds in the Main Room of the Blue Shutters, where you can compare notes with other wine and food lovers before retiring to one of our uniquely decorated rooms overlooking Good Harbor Beach. Once again, our Traveling Vineyard wine expert Kathy Hill and Langham Hotel chef Mark Sapienza are putting together the tasting menu for this afternoon. We’ll know more about their plans in a few weeks but to give you and idea of what’s in store, check out the items from our March tasting: Smoked Salmon Crostini; Chicken Rillettes with Apple Ice Wine and Toasted Baguettes; Fennel Salami, Speck and Duck Proscuitto with Fig and Cherry Moustarda Fruits; Meatball Parmesan Sliders; Manjari Soft Chocolate with Burgundy Cherries…all paired with yummy red and white wines (in the photo here you see Mark, his wife Donna and innkeeper Patty preparing those meatball sliders). No matter what Mark and Kathy serve up, this is definitely not your average Saturday afternoon snack. Call or email us today and reserve a room for this weekend — one night or two — and get in on this special event. We’re also offering a weekend discount — if you stay two nights that weekend, the second night is half-price! You won’t find a deal like this anywhere.

Thanks

Tony, Patty, Ed and Annmarie

Mother’s Day is coming soon — May 8 — and we have a suggestion on how you can make this a special treat for Mom. That Saturday, May 7, we’re holding our Food and Wine Tasting — you’ll find details in the post below. Mom can enjoy great wine and amazing food items on Saturday afternoon and wake up to the beauty of Good Harbor Beach the next morning (in this photo you see our innkeeper Moms AnnMarie and Patty enjoying some wine at our last tasting event in March). We’ll make sure Mom has some flowers — our treat! There will be time to enjoy walks on the beach, and we’ll also have menus and recommendations for those interested in dining at one of Cape Ann’s many restaurants – and a guide to some of our favorite spots for drinks, shopping and entertainment while you’re here. Of course it would be even more special if you were there as well — or maybe you want to treat yourself to a Mother’s Day getaway. No matter who comes along, it’s sure to be a special weekend. And we’re making it even easier to spend a few days here — book a room Saturday and get Friday night at half-price. Call and make a reservation while there’s still space left.

annmarie and patty

Cooking Native Shrimp With Felicia Video- For Grandma

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Sister Felicia demonstrates how to cook native shrimp with the pasta, how to peel native shrimp and the secrets to the perfect sauce.

Felicia’s Pasta With The Shrimp

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Oh yeah finally!

Felicia’s Pasta With The Shrimp, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Felicia's Pasta With The Shrimp

 

WHEN IN ROMA……..EAT!

Posted on by Frankie Gentile Jr.

Udine4less_LOGO2So I Wasn’t sure if I was going to much of anything today, seeing how I was up late last night tossing and turning after watching the Patriots somehow give that game away last night to the Colts. I am not sure how many of you watched the game till the end, but WHAT THE BLEEP HAPPENED!!!!!! Ok, had to get that out of my system.

Anyway – There is a new restaurant in town called Roma Pizza and Subs down on the Boulevard. There has been a few restaurants in this spot the last couple of years, but I think that this one has a chance to stick around for awhile. They have a great menu as well as daily specials and soup of the day. The two owners are Pat and Ray, and they seem to fit right in. They have a Family deal that will feed the whole family, and the place is spotless. I am attaching a few deals so that you can give them a try. ENJOY!!!

CLICK TO VIEW ROMA MENU

GMG_Deal Alert

romaphoto

roma-familydeal
CLICK TO PRINT AND ENJOY
romapizzasoda
CLICK TO PRINT AND ENJOY
roma free soda
CLICK TO PRINT AND ENJOY

What’s for supper, Mom?

Posted on by Sharon

Choose-your-own-Adventure Stir-Fry!

This sounds like great idea! And the kids can help. Often if they’re part of the planning and prep, they seem more likely to eat what they make. Good luck! —Sharon