Showing posts with label Steamers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steamers. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

A Cape Cod Wedding

Why yes, I am going to dedicate a post to the wedding I attended about a month ago. I've been traveling, you understand. Plus, this was one amazing wedding that could not go un-blogged. Enjoy!

On August 27th at 4:30 pm our good friends Mike and Trisha were married at the historic Highfield Hall in Falmouth, MA. Narrowly escaping Hurricane Irene - my heart goes out to the couple whose wedding at this very same venue for Sunday, August 28th, was canceled. Can you imagine? (Understanding, the devastation of Irene proved much worse for many, I'm not discounting that fact for a second.) But back to the blissfully happy, incredible fun weekend at hand. Adam and Mike are childhood friends, so since Adam was in the wedding we arrived on Friday afternoon in anticipation of the rehearsal dinner. We checked into our downtown Falmouth hotel - The Inn on the Square, settled into our room, and explored our quaint surroundings on North Main St.Even though I grew up on Cape Cod, the extent of my visits to Falmouth were high school soccer games and track meets. It is a good 30-45 minute drive from my hometown of Yarmouthport (the cape is big you guys!) and typically, if I do any additional travel during my visits to Cape Cod, it is in the opposite direction to the Lower Cape. (OrleansNauset BeachWellfleetTruro, Provincetown.)As you can see, Falmouth is a lovely town highlighted by a sunny, blue skied afternoon (no doubt, the calm before the storm.) We woke up on Saturday to a thick blanket of fog and impending rainstorms. After a swim in the hotel pool, a hearty breakfast at Persy's Place and few relaxing hours in the room, it was off to Highfield Hall!The ceremony and reception were already moved indoors, where special touches adorned the space, like the bride and groom's initials hanging on the wall above them and a happily ever after banner strung below.The bridesmaids all wore a different shade of blue and varying styles of strapless dresses. I loved how they all looked unique yet cohesive. And the bride was stunning. The ceremony was personalized and touching. Aww. Happily ever after indeed!Cocktail hour was held on the back wraparound porch.It proved to be a quintessential Cape Cod Wedding through and through. From the tastefully done beach themed table locators and décor, to the raw bars freshly shucked oysters, clams and shrimp cocktail.There was a lobster bake dinner complete with clam chowder and a whole lobster each with all the fixins. Were talking a mesh bag full of briny steamers, plump mussels and fork tender red bliss potatoes with a side of crispy, lightly dressed coleslaw and the sweetest late summer corn on the cob. Plus a slice of bread and lots of warm melted butter. You just cant beat a feast like this one. (The wedding officiant to my right is allergic to shellfish - so I think that explains the face.)The rest of the evening was filled with joyous wedding festivities as they go. The bride and groom cake was adorned with golden sprinkles to look like sand, frosting seashells, classic Adirondack beach chairs and a white picket dune fence. Vanilla cupcakes with a citrusy orange frosting topped with gold sprinkles and candy starfish for the guests, were divine. There was a photo booth - one of the most amusing I've ever taken part in.
And of course, dancing. After the reception we went to Liam Maguire's Irish Pub downtown. We had such a blast! Driving home the next morning, we dodged falling trees and narrowly escaped the hurricane! Luckily, it seemed everyone had already evacuated or buckled down - we were one of the few cars on the road proving the quickest ride off Cape all summer.

Where was the last wedding you attended?

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Walrus & Carpenter

Last Saturday I mentioned to Adam my intense week long craving for a lobster roll. After letting my statement sink in a little bit, he then developed a craving too. No persuasion necessary, in that moment, he knew we needed to get them for lunch. But where?! We talked it out. Neptune Oyster? Too expensive and a tad to upscale for our lazy un-showered Saturday afternoon selves. J Hook & Co? Too far of a walk knowing full well it was going to downpour at any moment. Then we remembered the oyster bar over in Faneuil Hall and off we went. Walrus & Carpenter is the name of said oyster bar. Their Quincy Market counter location will always and forever have a pot set up encouraging free chowder samples.
We dodged a slew of people, took a seat in a secluded corner of the bar and right away each ordered ourselves an ice cold Sam Adams Summer ($5.50) draft beer.
It is not that difficult or annoying navigating through the touristy crowds of Quincy Market when you know exactly what you want to eat and therefore what counter you want to end up at!
We were all about the Steamers (Market Price) and Beer! Steamers ($14.75) and Beer!
Nothing better on a hot summer afternoon! Oh yea except the reason we were drawn here in the first place.
The Lobster Roll ($14.75) in all its glory. Although it is not served in the traditional bun, I did enjoy the dense, slightly crispy on the outside, doughy on the inside, sandwich roll as a vessel for the fresh lobster. 
The sweet claws and tail meat are lightly are coated in mayonnaise, loaded with crunchy celery and piled on a bed of bright green lettuce. On the side a bag of my favorite potato chips - Utz!The lobster is fresh. The portions are generous.
Walrus and Carpenter does not disappoint. (Their clam chowder is also really good!) Even at peak tourist season in the middle of the afternoon we managed to snag two seats at the bar.
Our hospitable server offered to take our picture and I just couldn't turn him down. He totally thought we were tourists. Taking photos of everything around will give people that impression.
I do plan to try Neptune Oysters famous roll this summer. 
Where is your favorite place for Lobster Rolls?!

Quincy Market
206 S Market St 
Boston, MA 02109

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Union Oyster House

Rich in history and serving up tasty seafood is the self proclaimed oldest restaurant in Boston and the oldest restaurant with continuous service in America: Union Oyster House. Established in 1826 the character and charm of the earlier centuries are preserved in this establishment designated a National Historic Landmark.
The Union Oyster House sits proudly on the Freedom Trail at 41 Union Street. Below is the original menu from when it was called Atwood & Bacon.
My cousin Kenny, a Corporal in the US Marine Corps is in town to participate in Marine Week Boston. He plays Trombone in the Albany Marine Band, performing in various locations throughout the city all week! Tonight when we met up after work and he told me he wanted seafood, I knew just the place.
When my cousin Paul from Iowa was in town last year he had also requested seafood and so I took him here. Kenny is a born and raised southern gent from Atlanta, Georgia. These boys know what's up: you're in a coastal city, eating seafood is where it's at! From my weekend post you may or may not have gathered, I have lots of cousins and I am pretty close with all of them. I hadn't seen Kenny since the great binge week our family reunion in 2007, so we were thrilled to catch up!
I appreciated the accommodating staff as we showed up and were seated right away with our party of two, which was maybe going to be three, and then turned into a definite four. I think this was part luck as we arrived at 6pm just before the crowds begin to pour in. While waiting for Adam and Leah we ordered some beers. Sam Summer for me, Blue Moon for him, both garnished appropriately with the respective lemon and orange. 
We decided to split the Hot Oyster House Sampler for 2 ($22.95) containing Union Grilled Oysters, Baked Stuffed Cherrystones, Clams Casino, Oysters Rockefeller and Shrimp Scampi. The oceans delicacies were plated around a bed of rice which I thought was a nice touch. Adam arrived next and ordered an appetizer of Steamers (Market Price).
You can't go wrong with steamers at Union Oyster House. I think we get them every time we come here!
When Leah arrived she ordered a cup of Clam Chowder ($5.95).
I think it is a pretty darn good chowder, but I've had so many chowders in my life, I find it hard to pin the best. After the appetizers were cleared we were all served a large slice of sweet cornbread. I was having a hard time narrowing down my entrée but eventually chose the Sautéed Seafood Medley ($25.95) with shrimp, cherrystones, mussels, fish and calamari sautéed in a spicy marinara sauce served over linguine.
Leah snapped a picture (btw these are all compliments of the iPhone, I forgot my camera!) of her dish which was the delightful looking Baked Scallop Special ($27.95).
Adam and Kenny both got Lobsters of some sort. Adam's was your standard Lobster Pot (Market Price).
I made a pretty heavy dent in my huge portion and ended up taking the leftovers home. Love leftovers!
Our waitress was pleasant and attentive. She was on top of the second round of beers and the third round of drinks, which happened to be waters.
I understand that Union Oyster House gets the label of a "tourist trap" by some Bostonians.
I do think they get away with slightly higher prices for location and claim to fame. And they do have a souvenir shop selling stuffed lobsters etc. But their service is friendly, their seafood is excellent, the entree portions are plentiful, and I find the classic 17th century atmosphere to be charming. The upstairs floors creek when you walk across them. Each rustic wooden booth or table is nestled into a unique spot in one of the large dining rooms.
Union Oyster House is undoubtedly busy every night of the week. If you are not a seafood lover I still recommend stopping in for a drink at the polished Union Bar, if just to soak in a bit of history and take in a different scene.
I think it is fun to be a tourist in your own city, especially if you have family visiting from the likes of the south or the Midwest plains to share in the experience.
Where are your favorite places to go for seafood? 

Union Oyster House
41 Union Street
Boston, MA 02105