Posts filed under 'Food'
Nantucket Restaurant News
Seats are still available for American Season’s nose to tail “Hog’Toberfest” Pig Dinner this Sunday the 18th, featuring the cuisine of Michael LaScola and Matt Jennings. It begins at 7 pm with 6 courses and snacks, with a wine and/or Cisco Brewers beer tasting available. On the same day, Seasons is offering a pig candy class from 11 am to 1 pm.
On Saturday, Cisco Brewers is offering a beer and charcuterie tasting. Call 508-325-5929 for details. Also on Saturday at 9 am, Michael LaScola (American Seasons) and Matt Jennings (The Farmstead, Rhode Island) will be breaking the pig down. If you’d like to see how it’s done, call 508-228-7111. It’s free, but space is limited.
At Corazon del Mar throughout the month of October:
$1 wellfleet oysters…
from 5:30 ’til the last oyster is shucked
$2 arepitas + gorditas + tostadas…
at the tequila + ceviche bars
$3 tecates…
The Fall farm to Table Series is every Sunday night at The Boarding House with local farm tastings in addition to the autumn menu. The Boho also serves brunch on Saturday and sunday from 10 to 2.
Add comment October 17, 2009
Corazon del Mar on Nantucket
Corazon del Mar opens tomorrow (Saturday, May 30), the new restaurant from Pearl and Boarding House owners Angela and Seth Raynor. This time it’s a Latin kitchen, ceviche and raw bar, tacos and tequilleria. It’s located at the former location of Water Street Restaurant.
Corazon del Mar means Heart of the Sea, and the connection to Nat Philbrick’s best selling book of the same name is not lost on the Raynor’s. The restaurant was inspired by their travels and surfing vacations, focussed on the wine and cuisine of Spanish speaking countries.
Angela and Seth brought me inside recently to show me what they are planning. Angela said that “nothing will feel modern, but will be rustic, warm and worn, with colors inspired by Frida Kahlo”, colors like pink. Very very pink. I saw antique mirrors, distressed finishes, retablos (paintings typically done on wood carvings), fabric art on the walls, and a floor on the ceiling. Not a typo – the ceiling of the second floor bar area was the floor at Pearl. The old Dough Hook window will now be a taquiria offering take out food for lunch and dinner.
On the first floor, now on the left side of the room is a wooden 14 foot ceviche and raw dining bar with 10 seats – I say dining bar because it’s not normal bar height, but lower for more comfortable dining. It’s behind this bar that Seth plans to be most of the time. The bar itself will offer some but not all cocktails, and will have many tequillas.
Upstairs you’ll find the same bar from the old Water Street, but with beautiful new reach-into-the-room liquor shelves behind the bar with more than 50 tequilla brands. Along the right wall are 5 deuces inspired by confessionals; on the left, a large communal table made for large groups or for chance encounters. In country style, tables will have no linens.
On the ceviche menu are oysters, fluke carpaccio, poached shrimp, a latin tuna martini, and lobster ceviche. Entradas include guacomole and chips, tortilla soup, shrimp, poblano relleno, and roasted littlenecks. Large plates include grilled chicken, roasted pig, Brazilian fish stew, beef short ribs, and grilled lobster. There’s more on the menu, but I’ll leave that for you to discover. I’ve given you the English names here, but they will be offered by their Spanish names and served in Latin style.
Expect affordable wines from Sapin, Argentina, Chile, as well as American varietals, with Mexican and Peruvian beers too.
It was inspiring to see how passionately excited Seth and Angela are about this new creation. They wanted to show me and talk to me about every detail of the place, and this in the middle of the construction site that looked as if it were months away from opening. But it’s tomorrow.
Add comment June 2, 2009
Nantucket Wine Festival Update
Here are some tips from Denis Toner on the best events with tickets still available for this year’s Wine Festival:
Olivier Muller’s cooking demonstration on Friday, May 15th, at noon (SEM21). It will be a rock star performance. Olivier is one of the great culinary talents in the nation and is coming up from Manhattan to put on his show. In addition, Bertrand Ambroise is coming from Nuits St.-Georges in Burgundy to pair his wines with Olivier’s food. This is one event not to be missed.
Adeline Druart, from Vermont Butter & Cheese Company, is one of America’s premier cheesemakers and will give you the real lowdown on the world of fromage at her seminar on Saturday, May 16th, at 10:30 am (SEM30). Her cheeses are exquisite, and will be paired with the wines of Foster’s Wine Group.
We recently had the pleasure of meeting Brian Konefal, of BiNA osteria in Boston, and were wowed by the food. A super talent with an amazing resume, he brings an artist’s eye to the kitchen. He will be explaining how to prepare homemade pancetta, so this is a must for fans of the noble pig (SEM32, on Saturday, May 16th, at 10:45 am). The wines paired with Brian’s food are hand-picked and imported by Babak Bina in collaboration with Andy Cartin, his wine director.
It’s not very often that one has a chance to have brunch with a bona fide Italian princess, but that is exactly the case on Sunday, May 17th, 10:30 am (GWB-02). In a comfortable Nantucket kitchen, for a group of 20 people, Principessa Emanuela Notarbartolo di Sciara will prepare a complete brunch of classic Italian cuisine. The wines will be provided by one of Italy’s finest winemakers, Giacomo Mastretta of La Porta di Vertine in Tuscany.
We are almost topped out at the 2009 Auction Dinner at the White Elephant on Saturday, May 16th, 7pm – 11pm, to benefit the Nantucket Historical Association. We sincerely feel that this will be our best auction dinner event ever, from every aspect: food, wine, and auction catalogue. The dinner features the culinary brilliance of Daniel Bruce of Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel, and the critically acclaimed wines of Fine Estates from Spain, presented by Jorge Ordonez, president and founder (and the winner of the 2008 Nantucket Wine Festival Luminary of the Year award).
For the Thursday night Gala & Silent Auction 6:00 pm, wineries will include: Alex Gambal, Maison Ambroise, Arcadian, Arns Winery, Arrowood, Au Bon Climat, Barbour Vineyards, C. Donatiello Winery, Cain Vineyards, Caymus Vineyards, Chateau d’Esclans, Cliff Lede, Craggy Range, Maison Joseph Drouhin, Elyse, Failla, Far Niente, Fine Estates from Spain, Gundlach Bundschu, Champagne Heidsieck Monopole, Hess Collection, Hirsch Vineyards, Maison Louis Jadot, Justin Vineyards, Landmark, Larkin Wines, Leonardo LoCascio Selections, Peay Vineyards, Peter Lehmann Wines, La Porta di Vertine, Pride Mountain Vineyards, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Domaine Comte Senard, Silver Oak, Steele Wines, Tuck Beckstoffer Wines, and Wente Vineyards.
Restaurants and food purveyors participating in the 2009 Gala will include: American Seasons, Aujourd’hui at The Four Seasons, Bacchanalia, Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm, BiNA osteria/Bin 26, Bobo, Brant Point Grill, Brasserie Jo, Chanticleer, Cinco, Company of the Cauldron, Dune, 51 Lincoln, Fifty-Six Union, Galley Beach, Le Languedoc, Les Zygomates, LoLa 41, Metro Bis, Pearl/Boarding House, Pigalle, Queequeg’s, Ranch 616, Sage, SeaGrille, Shrine, The Spiced Pear, Straight Wharf, The Summer House/29 Fair, Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro, Topper’s, Tosca, Tremont 647, 21 Federal, and Vermont Butter & Cheese.
Also featured are specialty beverages from St-Germain, Grey Goose, and Twelve, Acqua Panna and S. Pellegrino waters, and Pierce Brothers Coffee.
Self-described treasure hunter John Hafferty will provide you with the information and the tools necessary to bag those big game bargain bottles. John is the owner of Bin Ends, a first of its kind retail experience dedicated to bringing incredible fine wine values to the US marketplace. Fine cheeses provided by the Irish Dairy Board and Kerrygold.
Jobson Sailing Center, Great Harbor Yacht Club, 96 Washington Street. Thursday May 14th, 3p-4:30p.
Mark Kenward of The Marsh Theater in San Francisco presents a one-man performance piece about the history of one of California’s oldest wineries, Gundlach Bundschu. Jeff Bundschu, proprietor of Gundlach Bundschu, will serve his wines before the show. A rare marriage of wine and art. Fine cheeses provided by the Irish Dairy Board and Kerrygold. Wines: Estate Vineyard 2008 Gewurztraminer, 2005 Pinot Noir, 2005 Merlot, 2005 Vintage Reserve. Bennett Hall, Centre Street: 5:30p – 7:30p, Friday, May 15th.
Our friends at Nantucket Island Resorts’ properties, White Elephant, White Elephant Hotel Residences, The Wauwinet, The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin and Jared Coffin House, are offering an additional 5% discount to all Nantucket Wine Festival attendees. In addition, you will receive special spa and dinner credits at the White Elephant Spa and Brant Point Grill or The Wauwinet Spa by the Sea and TOPPER’S. When booking your reservation online, enter code under special request WINE09 or call 800.ISLANDS and mention at time of booking.
That’s all for now. We’ll update you in a week on any changes.
Denis Toner, President winetone@nantucket.net
For Tickets: Call 508-228-1894 ext.130 or email courtney@nantucketwinefestival.com
Add comment April 26, 2009
Nantucket Restaurant News 4.21.09
Celebrity chef Todd English, with restaurants in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Palm Beach and Las Vegas, now adds Nantucket to his roster. Todd will open Figs at 29 Fair by Todd English this season. Both The Summer House and 29 Fair are owned by Danielle deBenedictis and Peter Karlson, who say that Todd will bring an “already tested menu with very reasonable prices.”
Todd was recently named to the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America. The Beard Foundation also named him National Rising Star Chef in 1991, then their Best Chef in the Northeast in 1994. Among numerous other awards, Todd was named Bon Appetit’s Restaurateur of the Year in 2001.
Figs at 29 Fair by Todd English will open for dinner and Sunday brunch beginning in Mid-May and remain open until New Year’s Day. It will feature traditional and eclectic pizzas with ultra-thin crusts, handmade pastas, salads and other entrees.
The 2009 Zagat ratings are out, and island restaurants fared on average better than last year. The top ten, with the combined ratings for food, decor, and service (out of 90) in both 2009 and 2008:
1. Topper’s: 80 (2009); 79 (2008)
2. Company of the Cauldron: 77 (2009); 74 (2008)
3. Cinco: 75 (2009); 67 (2008)
4. Straight Wharf: 74 (2009); 70 (2008)
4. Galley Beach: 74 (2009); 72 (2008)
6. Le Languedoc: 73 (2009); 71 (2008)
7. Pearl: 71 (2009); 74 (2008)
7: Oran Mor: 71 (2009); 66 (2008)
9. 21 Federal: 70 (2009); 72 (2008)
9. American Seasons: 70 (2009); 69 (2008)
The largest improvements in the top ten were Cinco (8 points) and Oran Mor (5 points).
The highest food scores out of 30 went to:
28: Company of the Cauldron
27: Topper’s
26: Cinco, Black-Eyed Susans, Le Languedoc
25: American Seasons, Queequeg’s, Straight Wharf, Sushi by Yoshi
Add comment April 21, 2009
More Nantucket Restaurant News 4.21.09
The Brant Point Grill at the White Elephant will open on Wednesday, April 22, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, bar menu, Sunday brunch, and a new Executive Chef – Frederick Bisaillon (pictured at left). New this year is a $29 Four-Course Prix Fixe Dinner which includes Calamari or Fried Clams; Nantucket Clam Chowder or Traditional Caesar Salad; Angus Flat Iron Steak, Natural Chicken Chop, or Firecone Salmon; and Nantucket Cream Pie. Best of all the Island Diner Card applies to the Prix Fixe Dinner with a 20% discount for 5:30 and 9 pm reservations. This offer will end May 21, and excludes tax and gratuity. Other spring specials: $15 for the 10oz. Certified Angus Flat Iron Steak, $1 specially priced appetizers including $1 clams, $1 oysters, and $1 one-bite appetizers served in the bar daily from 3 – 11 pm.
Chef Bisaillon has opened or assisted in opening twelve restaurants, most recently as the Executive Chef at the Cable Beach Resorts & Crystal Palace Casino in the Bahamas and Executive Sous Chef at the Fairmont Southampton Resort in Bermuda. Prior to these positions, he worked as Sous Chef and Executive Chef at La Valencia Hotel and the Regency Plaza Hotel, both in San Diego. On Nantucket, he served as Sous Chef at the Brant Point Grill from 1995-98.
“Town” restaurant is expected to open in early May in the former location of Musicall on East Chestnut under Executive Chef Neil Hudson. This will be the fourth restaurant created by Caroline Montgomery and John Keane, the others being Kitty’s, Queequeg’s, and the Hen House which they have sold. You’ll be able to eat either on the outdoor patio (24 seats), the dining room (34 seats), or at the 12 seat bar with well known and loved island bartender Graeme Fleming. Town, open year round, will be serving “International Flavorful Dishes With A Tantalising Twist”, with their signature dish of Tandoori Lobster. Appetizers will range from $8 – $14 and entrees $24 – $32. Beverages will include the latest “sakes, wines, and sophisticated cocktails.”
I had a sneak peak at the menu, and almost without exception every dish is something you won’t find anywhere else on the island. Some of the appetizers: Mulligatawny Soup, Vietnamese Pork Spring Roll, and Curried Chicken and Potato Samosas. Some of the entrees such as Weeping Tiger Shrimp with Thai Chilies and Vegatables and Spanish Pan Seared Skate are also available as appetizers at about half the price. Other entrees are Moroccan Style Lamb, Escovich Red Snapper, and much more. We’ll have more on Town as it gets closer to opening.
The restaurant formerly known as Alice’s Restaurant at the airport is under new ownership and has been redubbed “Crosswinds” under a new chef, John Eisensmith. John adheres to the Japanese philosophy that eating should be an experience to help you enjoy your day. He’s a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and has most recently been the chef at Wish in South Beach. He has also worked here on island at both the Company of the Cauldron and The Hen House.
Crosswinds is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, eat in or take out, with a far more extensive menus than you saw at Alice’s. There’s a special for every night: Meatloaf on Monday ($9.95), Prime Rib Tuesday ($11.95), All You Can Eat Pasta on Wednesday ($7.95), Fish and Chips on Friday ($9.95), 50¢ Wing Night on Saturday, and Turkey dinner on Sunday ($9.95). K-Mom still makes her Thai dinners six nights a week, with 20% off for sit-downs and 10% on take-outs on Thursday.
El Rincon Salvadoreno on Old South Road is open again, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. See our review from last year. Many of the same dishes are back with little or no increase in price. Some American dishes have been added such as a good old cheeseburger. Appetizers range from $2 – $10, salads $6 – $12, and entrees $11 – $20.
Add comment April 21, 2009
Nantucket Restaurant News 4.15.09
Michael Getter has now behind the line at Dune, taking over as Executive Chef while he fine-tunes his menu. Some of the items now on featured: Pea Soup with Crab Fritter, Wellfleet Oysters, PEI Mussels, Steak Tartar, Pan Stew of Chatham Lobster, Soft Shell Crab, Rib Eye Steak, Skate Wing, Spring Lamb Chops, Cod with Lobster, Seared Yellow Fin Tuna, and Herb Roasted Organic Chicken Breast. Apps are $12 to $19, entrees $26 – $31.
Having bowed out of Cioppino’s and leasing the space to Michael Getter for his new restaurant Dune, you might think that Tracy and Karen Root would retire, but you’d be wrong. They’ll be back on May 8 – Karen will be bartending at the Summer House, and Tracy will serve as wine director.
New at American Seasons this year is the $20 entree menu with affordable, regional dishes, including Wagyu Beef Cheeks, Crispy Catfish, and Fried Buttermilk Baby Chicken – available at the bar anytime and in the dining room Sunday through Thursday. The ‘American Bistro’ menu lists shareable small plates such as Foie Gras Donuts, Buffalo Sliders, Orzo Mac and Cheese, each at just $5 a piece. This year’s wine list features over 500 small-production American wines including hard-to-find wines. A more affordable ‘America’s List’ has been added for mid week dining, featuring wines from American winemakers based in North America, Chile and Argentina.
This year celebrates the 50th year that Arno’s has been on Main Street. Arno’s is open now with new menu items, lower prices, 3 apps for $16.99 from 4-6 pm, and a 4 course chef tasting for $25. Children eat free for dinner Sunday through Thursday. Chris is also putting together free wine and food symposiums from 5:30 to 6:30 on Thursday nights.
Dante over at Cambridge Street has a new late menu Thursday through Saturday nights from 10 to midnight, with pork “wings”, jerk chicken quesadilla, pork or beef brisket sliders, chicken wings, pizza, and more. Bring in you TiPS certified training card and get 10% off your food.
Centre Street Bistro now has 6 dinner entrees under $20, salad included.
The Downyflake is open for the season.
Fifty-Six Union has added $14 – $18 entres to their menu.
Kitty’s has a new chef and menu, and all dishes are under $20.
Taylor Cullen will be the bartender at Oran Mor this year.
It looks as if Todd (Joseph) Arno may be running Schooner’s himself this year – he has applied for the food and liquor license in his own name.
Add comment April 16, 2009
Jimmy Chew’s on Nantucket
Sliding in under the radar, we have a new Chinese restaurant named Jimmy Chew’s, now open for business at The Hen House. The Hen House will remain open for breakfast and lunch as the restaurant you already know, but at 5 pm it seamlessly transitions to authentic Chinese food.
The restaurant is in good part the brainchild of Jim Agnew who told me “The Hen House has always been a favorite of mine for breakfast and lunch, and owner Mike Gilles made all this possible. I mentioned something on Facebook about being unemployed and he sent me a message to come talk to him. He and Lou were talking about Chinese food, and it all came together.”
Lou who? That’s the other surprise: painter and Aikido instructor Lou Guarnaccia. When Lou was a student at the Paier Schoool of Art, he worked at a Chinese restaurant in New Haven called “Blessings”, one of the first Chinese restaurants in Connecticut, working his way up from dish washer to cook, the only “round-eye” cook in the history of the restaurant. He has since made occasional guest appearances for dinner parties around the island, and loves to say “Let us Wok your world,” and he does.
The dishes are primarily Szechuan, but include Beijing and Hunan influences. Lou uses the dry stir fry method, using a large wok over an intense flame. The ingredients are seared with seasonings for only few minutes, then finished with a bit of liquid.
Amanda and I popped in one night last week and sampled a half dozen dishes, loving all. The chef likes it hot and garlicky, and so do we, but he will cook it to any degree of heat or spiciness you want. We sampled the Pork Dumplings both steamed and fried, Egg Rolls, Conchon Vert (pork medallions), Mu-Shu Pork, Shrimp and Bean Curd, Kung Pao Chicken, and the Eggplant with Garlic Sauce (delightfully heavy on garlic if you don’t ask for moderation).
Appetizers range from $6 to $8, entrees from $10 to $16. The Shrimp Lo Mein is $18, but includes 7 large shrimp. New dishes will be added as the season progresses, particulary seafood such as Striper with Black Bean Sauce.
The House Specialty drinks are the Blue Hawaiian and of course the Mai Tai. Tsing Tao beer is also on hand.
Word of mouth buzz is filling the place, enough that they have already added a second Wok station to make it twice as fast, and added another cook assembling the dishes.
Jimmy Chew’s is currently open Wednesday through Sunday, but will add days as the spring progresses. Chris Montgomery is the bartender, and a perfect host if you choose to eat at the bar. Coming soon: home delivery. 508-228-2212.
Add comment April 16, 2009
Nantucket Restaurant News 4/4/09
Some personnel shifts over at Nantucket Island Resorts Restaurants. Tania Jones will move from the White Elephant to serve as the Director of the new White Elephant Hotel Residences. Bettina Landt, former General Manager of The Wauwinet, will take over as General Manager at White Elephant. Eric Landt, former Director of Hospitality for Nantucket Island Resorts, will be General Manager of The Wauwinet.
The NIR hotel and restaurant openings are as follows:
White Elephant – April 22
Brant Point Grill – April 22
WEHR – May 13
The Cottages – April 9
The Wauwinet – May 13
Toppers – May 13
A special offer for subscribers to Mahon About Town: rent a one-bedroom pet-friendly cottage at The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin at $125 per night, a savings of $175. Offer will last at least through April.
2009 James Beard Foundation Awards finalists have been announced. Marc Orfaly of Pigalle in Boston and the Summer House here on Nantucket is still in the running for Best Chef: Northeast.
Also in the running for Best Chef in New York City is Wylie Dufresne of WD-50, from whom the new chef of Dune, Philip Kirschen-Clark, learned ‘molecular gastronomy’ while he worked there.
The winners will be announced on May 4.
Add comment April 6, 2009
Nantucket Cuisine
Looks as if the Atlantic Cafe is closed for good under its current ownership. The sign pictured here was on the door for only one day, but the meaning is clear.
There’s a new deli/sandwich shop/wine and beer store on the island. The Dancing Pickle opened a few weeks ago out by the airport at 118 Old South, between Macy Lane and Nobadeer Farm Road, across from the grass field and sculpture garden, which will be a perfect place to eat your sandwich when spring comes along. Plenty of parking on the side and in the back of the building.
Chris Carpenter and Tim Lonergan are the owners. They’ve been working on this concept for a few years – Tim first told me about it when he was bartending at Cinco.
Prices are very reasonable. Hearty sandwiches are $6.95 and $7.95. My favorites so far are the Reuben and Croque Monsieur Paninis. Breakfast includes egg, cheese and either bacon, ham, or turkey sandwiches for $4.95, and the breakfast burrito at $5.95, easily two meals. There’s one prepared dinner every night, and that will be expanding as the season progesses. Call around 5 pm to see what’s cookin’, tell them what time you want it, and you’ll have a no fuss hot dinner. The Dancing Pickle also offers a catering service. The wine selection is all reasonably priced, most $20 and less. Also beer and other beverages. Then there are the damn cupcakes I can’t say no to.
Also on the menu are muffins, croissant, bagels, scones, cookies, burgers, salads, soups, stromboli and pizette’s.
You’ll see many of your friends there. It’s crowded with tradesmen right around 12, so go earlier or later. Current hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 7 to 7, and Sunday from 8 to 6. Closed Mondays.
Just before the recent White House dinner for the country’s governors, Michelle Obama brought a group of students and reporters into the kitchen where one of the dishes being prepared was wagyu beef with Nantucket scallops. The First lady said the scallops were her husband’s favorite.
Evan and Maria Marley of Pi Pizzeria will go to Las Vegas from March 10 – 12 for the International Pizza Expo, the world’s largest and oldest Pizza trade show, to take seminars and see what’s new in the pizza biz.
Evan will be one of 60 pizza makers competing for the title of the Worlds Best Traditional Pizza Maker in the International Pizza Challenge, on of the world’s premier traditional pizza-making contest. The winner will receive recognition as The World’s Best Traditional Pizza, a trophy, and a check for $10,000. Good luck Evan.
A correction on the background of Annie Quatrano from last week’s issue: Annie was not the chef at the Atlantic Caf, although she was the assistant manager. She did work as a chef at 21 Federal for one summer. She has been nominated as Outstanding Chef 2009 for her restaurant Bacchanalia in Atlanta, which has also been nominated in the Outstanding Restaurant category. She and her husband, Clifford Harrison, won the Best Chef, Southeast JBF award a few years ago.
Add comment March 31, 2009
Nantucket Restaurant News
A spate of restaurant openings next week is just adding to the spring feeling and energy in the air.
Cambridge Street Restaurant opens at 5 pm on Wednesday, April 1 with an event with Cisco Brewers, with two dollar specialty Cisco brews as long as current stocks lasts, and two dollar pork sliders. Dante Benatti, formerly with the (now closed) Atlantic Cafe, is the new head chef. This year’s menu will have reduced prices “on absolutely everything considering the current state of things” says owner/manager Trish ‘the Dish’ Gallen, along with appetizer deals and discounted entrees. Look for all new paintings on the wall from former island resident Hannah Stone, now back home in Canada.
The Boarding House is officially opening for the season on Thursday April 2 with Spring Cellar specials and handcrafted cocktails. Chef-de-Cuisine Erin Zircher will create a $20.09 three-course menu (changing nightly based upon the spring harvest) showcasing the flavors of spring in addition to the full dinner menu. The BH will be serving brunch on Easter Sunday and Daffodil Weekend.
The night before the official opening, Wednesday, April 1, will be a wine dinner with Cakebread Cellars with winemaker Dennis Cakebread in attendance. $55 per person includes wines.
American Seasons opens Thursday, April 2, this year with a new American Bistro Menu available in both the bar and dining room Sunday through Thursday, with $5 small plates and $20 entrees. Also serving dinner Easter Sunday from 4 pm on.
Michael Getter’s new restaurant Dune opens Friday, Apr 3.
The Dancing Pickle presents their first Wine Tasting on Saturday, March 28, from 3 to 5 pm, and they’ll take 20% off any cases of wine you special order on that day.
AK Diamond’s is now offering 25% off all food all day for the rest of March.
Even Keel offers $15 entrees Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and $4.50 breakfast specials from 8 to 11 daily.
The James Beard Foundation has announced the 2009 Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists, and Gabriel Frasca and Amanda Lydon of Straight Wharf Restaurant, and Michael LaScola of American Seasons have been nominated for Best Chef in the Northeast.
Marc Orfaly was nominated for Best Chef, Northeast for Pigalle in Boston. Mark was the executive chef at the Summer House and 29 Fair this past summer, and recently cooked dinner at the prestigious James Beard House in New York, with Summer House owners Danielle deBenedictis and Peter Karlson in attendance. Mark is pictured at left with Bruce Percelay at the 2008 Nantucket Restaurant Week Gala.
Two Nantucket alumni (and alumnae) are also nominees: Kinkead’s in Washington, D.C. for Outstanding Restaurant, and Anne Quatrano of Bacchanalia in Atlanta for Outstanding Chef.
Bob Kinkead was the first chef at 21 Federal, and Annie Quatrano the chef at the Atlantic Cafe.
And lest there be any doubt of the pedigree of the Nantucket Wine Festival, here’s a list of the nominees who generally partipate in the Festival:
Tony Maws, Craigie On Main, Cambridge, MA (Best Chef, Northeast)
Roger Berkowitz, Legal Sea Foods, Boston (Outstanding Restaurateur)
Barbara Lynch, No. 9 Park, Boston (Outstanding Chef)
Ana Sortun, Oleana, Cambridge, MA (Outstanding Chef)
Hamersley’s Bistro, Boston (Outstanding Restaurant)
Meritage, Boston (Outstanding Wine Service)
Pigalle, Boston (outstanding Service)
John Shafer and Doug Shafer, Shafer Vineyards, Napa, CA (Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional)
Winners will be announced in March.
Sfoglia special: Book a table for 4 or more and choose from their Family Style menu, and get three courses for $20 per person, wine, tax and tip not included.
At Queequeg’s, where Neil Hudson is the Executive Chef, you can get the 5 course tasting menu for $25 Monday through Thursday.
Add comment March 29, 2009
