My View of Life on the Dock
Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts
Main Street storefront signs upon the Covid-19 phased reopening stage are sweet, humorous, hopeful and helpful.
update! There are more on the way! Lettering for Love project brought to Gloucester by Brittany Barry. She brightened all shown here albeit Passports. See also Brit Barry Design website
The Franklin Cafe 118 Main Street
The Comeback is always stronger than the setback and curbside pickup
Passports 110 Main Street
Open for Take out ( Full Menu ) Masks Required
Salon Amara 133 Main Street
**Roots** grow strong in a storm and After Every Storm Comes a Rainbow
Sample This 116 Main Street
Retail is my favorite kind of therapy
Be fun if this takes over the street!
Signs of the times-
Main Street/downtown: Passports, Mark Adrian Shoes, ToodeLoos!, Design of Mine
Further out: Cape Ann Motor Inn
photos: teens help the annual fundraiser run smoothly (click on photos to enlarge and see captions)
I don’t think that there are many individual YMCA or towns that could pull this fundraiser off so well. They don’t have Rick Doucette and the rest of the great staff in Gloucester or such a ridiculous abundance of local foodie establishments and culture. Here’s a list of Gloucester, Cape Ann and North Shore great eats and drinks establishments that participated this year:
1606 Restaurant, Beauport Hotel, Gloucester; Azorean Restaurant, Gloucester; Cake Ann, Gloucester; Cape Ann Brewing Company, Gloucester; Cape Ann Foodie Tours, Gloucester; Captain Carlos, Gloucester; Classic Cooks Catering, Gloucester; Feather & Wedge, Rockport; Ipswich Ale Brewery; Italiano Restaurant & Bar, Gloucester; Jalapeno’s Mexican Restaurant, Gloucester; Latitude 43, Gloucester; Liquor Locker Gloucester; Mile Marker One Gloucester; Mojo coffee Beverly Cape Ann Farmers Market; Mom’s Kitchen Gloucester; Passports Restaurant Gloucester; Pigeon Cove Ferments; Pigeon Cove Tavern & Emerson Inn By the Sea, Rockport; Riverwalk Brewing Company, Newburyport; Ryan & Wood Distilleries, Gloucester; Sea Glass Restaurant @ Castle Manor Inn, Gloucester; Seaport Grille, Gloucester; Stones Pub & Eatery, Gloucester; Sugar Magnolias, Gloucester; Virgilio’s Italian Bakery, Gloucester
Dazzling fine food, desserts and drinks were at every turn. Feather & Wedge, 1606 Restaurant, Mile Marker One, Classic Cooks, Azorean, Sea Glass Restaurant, and Sugar Mags served winning main dishes. To die for desserts and specialty drinks were abundant. Virgilios cannolis were gone fast!
photos: Great fun taking snapshots at all the booths. (Apologies to Liquor Locker! The only photo that didn’t come out.)
Sounds of Taste of Cape Ann thanks to fine musicians were John Jerome on guitar and vocals, and Steve Jerome on drums. Cameron sat in as a back up drummer.
Platinum Sponsors: Institution for Savings and Cruiseport Gloucester
Presenting Sponsors: Beauport Financial Services, Robert Stewart PC, Tom Davis CPA
plus all the participating restaurants, hotels, specialty food and liquor businesses, and local business support for all those gift basket raffles
GloucesterCast 224 With Paul Russo, JD MacEacheran, Elise Jillson and Tucker Smith, Kim Smith and Joey Ciaramitaro Taped 4/28/17
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GloucesterCast 223 with Nicohle Schrafft, Jimmy and Pat Dalpiaz, Kim Smith and Joey Ciaramitaro Taped April 23, 2017
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Topics Include:
Tonno Restaurant is now hiring for an Assistant Manager.
The Lobster Pool is now open Thursday-Sunday’s 11:30-8pm!
The Studio Restaurant Opening Weekend April 20th-23rd Half Off Entire Menu!
Rudder Opening Weekend April 14th-16th Half Off Entire Menu!
Announcing Loren Doucette’s 2014 new space at 1 Center Street
My husband and I like to make it to every wine dinner event at Passports because it is a wonderful opportunity to taste outstanding and delicious entrees, appetizers, and wines that we wouldn’t ordinarily try. For example, I LOVE Passport’s lobster roll and think it is the absolute best around. So that’s what I usually have when there and it is always fabulous. At their upcoming wine dinner, which is this coming Thursday, September 22nd, the first course is Captain Joe’s lobster in sherry cream sauce with Pastaio’s handmade campenelle pasta. Doesn’t that sound simply splendid? Each course at Passport’s wine dinners are paired with a thoughtful selection of excellent wines, and with the lobster, we will be enjoying Stags Leap Chardonnay from Chef Eric’s special reserve. Come, I guarantee you will not be disappointed!!
September Wine Dinner
1st Course: Captain Joe’s lobster in sherry cream sauce over Pastaio’s handmade campenelle pasta, served with Stags leap Chardonnay.
2nd Course: Jerk pork shank w/sweet potato hash accompanied by Hess Select Trio, Red Blend.
3rd Course: Pepper crusted Brandt beef tenderloin, grilled polenta, radish and tomato Béarnaise with Rodney Strong Brother’s Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon.
4th Course: Pumpkin pie, from locally grown pumpkins, and pistachio crumble, with Argyle, Vintage Brut.
To reserve a seat and for more information on the September Wine Dinner call 978-281-3680.
While there check out the new paintings by artists Elizabeth Bish and Coco Berkman.
Eric has something HUGE cooking up tonight!! If you want a taste of these huge fish, Passports is running a special tonight, the secret is in the video!
We enjoyed yet another outstanding Passports wine dinner event this past Thursday evening, hosted by owner and Chef Eric Lorden and wine expert Matt Rose. Each of the four wonderfully delicious courses was paired with the perfect wine from the Loire Valley of France. And too, my husband and I enjoy so much the welcoming wait staff at Passports. Michael and Sally were our servers and they are always friendly and professional. We especially appreciate their fine and seamless service during the wine dinner events with a dining room bursting with patrons.
My favorite of the wines was the Champalou, Vouvray 2014 accompanying the salad of heirloom tomatoes, Tasso Lardons, Dolce Bleu, fava beans, butter lettuce, and Provencal vinaigrette.
Fantabulous roast lamp chops, with capers and wild mushrooms
Passports serves lunch and dinner seven days a week. They open at 11:30 am. You’ll love their everyday menu and they also post daily specials on Facebook, which you can check out here. Passports will be resuming their wine dinners in the early fall.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGwq9wcjyub/
After each Passports wine dinner, I think, how can they possibly top this? Last night’s menu surely took the cake!
The charming and knowledgeable Matt Rose presented a fine selection of East Coast wines from Bedell Wines of North Fork, Long Island, and with that theme in mind, Chef Eric Lorden, Jeremy, and company created a menu that was pure American and pure delish.
Where else can you go for a dinner of four sublimely delicious courses, each course paired with a different wine, outstanding and welcoming service, learn about new wines, and all for the amazingly reasonable price of $45.00??
Cell phone photos do not do this food justice, but at least you can get an idea.
Eric Lorden, if you are reading this, please add all these dishes to your daily menu!!
First Course – Jeremy’s Clams Casino
Second Course – Pulled pork and fried oyster slider on grilled brioche
Third Course – Yankee pot roast, mashed root veggies, sauteed ramps
Fourth Course – Fresh strawberry shortcake
The rose was paired with the strawberry shortcake.
Matt Rose from Carolina Wines
Thanks so much to our hosts, Passports owner and Chef Eric Lorden and wine expert Matt Rose, for a lovely evening of exquisite food paired perfectly with a selection of fine southern Italian wines.
Superb, and my new favorite entree, is Eric’s rosemary scented duck leg, with walnut gremolata* and red quinoa, which was paired with an delicious rich and spicy red, Pipoli Aglianico, Del Vuture. What a treat! The shrimp scampi was equally as tasty, and for your information, Eric only purchases fresh native Gulf shrimp, no questionable farm-raised Asian shrimp is served at Passports.
Matt did an absolutely excellent job explaining the different regions from where the wines hailed as well as sharing interesting stories about the Sicilian farmers and families that grow the wines. As usual, the service at Passports was outstanding. Don’t miss the next Passports wine dinner; I recommend making an early reservation. The restaurant was filled with equally as happy and satisfied patrons as were my husband and I.
Hosts Matt Rose and Eric Lorden
* I had to look up exactly what is gremolata (or gremolada) and it is a chopped herb condiment classically made with garlic, parsley, and lemon zest.
Eric Lorden, I am begging you, please add the Oysters Rockefeller to your regular menu!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday night we attended Passports Sparkling Wine Dinner and it was out of this world delish. We Loved everything–the sparkling wine selections, especially the creamy Blanc de Blanc Brut Dargent from France–and each and everyone one of the dishes was fantastic. But if I had to choose a favorite of the favorites, I must say that Eric’s Oysters Rockefeller is sublime. Perhaps he’ll share his recipe–I am going to get right on that!
Oysters Rockefeller was created in 1899 by Jules Alcitore at the world renowned New Orleans restaurant Antoine’s. At that time there was a shortage of snails coming into America from Europe. Jules was looking for a substitute and he wanted the replacement to be local to avoid future problems in procuring the product.
My copy of Antoine’s cookbook does not include the recipe; to this day, it is still top secret.
The sesame encrusted diver scallops with jasmine rice was definitely an entree I’m inspired to try making at home.
Join us Tuesday nights for Passports Restaurant’s Community Dinner Nights!
Celebrating 20 years in business we are giving back to the community every Tuesday night. Full menu also available.
If you would like to inquire about support for your organization, please email us at passportsrestaurant@gmail.com. We look forward to working with you!
Passports Restaurant 110 Main Street Gloucester, MA 01930
Please call for Reservations: 978.281.3680
For questions please call:
Eric Lorden
978 304-7723
Visit Passports Restaurant on Main Street Gloucester Mass.
Join us Tuesday nights for Passports Restaurant’s Community Dinner Nights!
Celebrating 20 years in business we are giving back to the community every Tuesday night. Full menu also available.
If you would like to inquire about support for your organization, please email us at passportsrestaurant@gmail.com. We look forward to working with you!
Passports Restaurant 110 Main Street Gloucester, MA 01930
Please call for Reservations: 978.281.3680
For questions please call:
Eric Lorden
978 304-7723
I am speechless, without words, and really full from the first Community Night at Passports held for the League of Women Voters! The portions were over-the-top, the flavors were fantastic, and the vibe was amazing. Every participant could not help but smile and toast to the folks around them that were having an equally great time. And above all, money was raised for local scholarships! Thank you again to Lyla, Eric, and the entire PASSPORTS staff for making this a wonderful night that bares repeating!! I look forward to the next big Community Night, and the good times and funds it will raise. See you there! ($15 for 3 courses?..Yep, it’s true)
Do you have a local community based group that want’s help with a fund raising dinner night? Please contact Passports!!
Good Morning Gloucester 