Mahon About Town Nantucket Blog

The Atlantic Cafe has reopened after a short hiatus: Tues - Sun from 11:30 - midnight with a new menu and look. Thursday is till Prime Rib Night.

Even Keel is reopening on Valentine’s Day for their winter season schedule -seven days and five nights, closed Sunday and Monday nights. Look for a new menu from their new chef Bruce Yancy.

Here are the restaurants doing something different for Valentines Day. Thank you to David Sharpe of Nantucket Visitor Services for compiling this information:
A.K. Diamonds: $35 fixed price dinner
Centre Street Bistro: special menu
Fifty-Six Union: same menue but two seatings: between 6 and 7, then between 8 and 9.
Kitty Murtaugh’s: fixed price menu
Queequeg’s: romantic apps ad entrees
SeaGrille: romantic specials
Tutto Sfoglia: Valentine’s cookies and desserts

Received this note from Tracy Root today:
Karen and I got married in Megans Bay, St. Thomas on December 31st, just the two of us on the beach, passing up an offer from Jimmy Buffett to get married on his yacht or plane by himself personnaly. Karen is working at Mangrove Cafe, and I’m am working at Prestons Steak House, which has the finest meats I have ever served. Very small, quaint, and limited to 50 dinners or so a night. Cioppino’s will open around May 6th ish.

If you get to Naples this winter, look them up.

Mobil Travel Guide 50th Annual Star Awards are out. The Wauwinet has won 4 stars, the same also awarded to the Charlotte Inn in Edgartown, as well as the Taj Boston, The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common, and XV Beacon, all in Boston. Some of the highlights of the review:

“Sense of New England and its history is all around, including sprawling silver-shingled cottages and inn, and sea gulls overhead. Inn’s restaurant, Toppers, prepares creative New England cuisine. Perfect spot for the outdoorsy set, with biking, kayaking, sailing, beachcombing, and more. Romance abounds, with massages by the sea and wonderful water views.”

Here’s a list of restaurants open for next week. Click anywhere on the list below to download a printable pdf version. Thank you to Nantucket Visitor Services, especially David Sharpe, for providing the most current weekly restaurant list. For last minute guest room availability, call Visitor Services at 228-0925.

The Cellar has been approved by the Selectmen for a seasonal all alcoholic license, an upgrade from their wines and beer license.

The manager of the Jared Coffin House, Jim Storey, has pledged to the Board of Selectmen that the restaurant will be open in April 2008 and will serve dinner 7 nights a week.

Bartlett’s Farm will be selling about 25 bulk items from B.J.’s Wholesale Club at prices slightly higher than B.J.’s, (but expected to be less expensive than other island prices), when they reopen on January 8. If the response is good, the inventory will be expanded. The full story at the Independent.

Following is a list of all restaurants open over New Year’s. Thank you to Nantucket Visitor Services, and especially David Sharpe, for providing the restaurant list, updated weekly. And don’t forget for guest room availability for your friends showing up at the last minute, call Visitor Services at 228-0925.

After the lack of any open restaurants last Christmas, there are at least a few to choose from this season. I know some people worked hard on this over the past year, and lest I leave anyone out who did, thank you for your work, and thank you to the establishments who have risen to the occasion. It is the visitors to the island who will appreciate all of you the most.

Thank you to Nantucket Visitor Services, and especially David Sharpe, for providing the restaurant list, updated weekly. And don’t forget for guest room availability for your friends showing up at the last minute, call Visitor Services at 228-0925.

The Poetry of Del Wynn will be featured at this Sunday’s Nantucket Poetry Slam, Sunday the 18th, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Umass Boston Field Station, 180 Polpis Road. Readings will be from “Ack Poetically”, published posthumously this past year. Friends will be encouraged to reminiscence and read a poem from his book. Copies of Del’s book will be available and all proceeds will go toward an educational fund for Del’s sons, Patrick and Riley Wynn. Look for the intorduction to Del’s book, written by John Shea, later in this newsletter. (Also at this Slam will be an open mic and featured poet David R. Surette.)

Something different at the Box this weekend. Yes, Maxxtone is playing, and they’ve been here before, but this time they’ll be doing Rockstar Karaoke - karaoke with a live band instead of CD’s.

BENEFITS:
The “Once in a Blue Moon,” Harvest Bash annual fall dinner and auction is this Saturday night, beginning at 6:00 pm. The Bash includes an art exhibit featuring Margaret Fox, Christine Sanford, Daniel Sutherland, David Lazarus, Terry Pommett, Jan Pawlowski, Katie Trinkle Legge, and Illya Kagan. The exhibition runs Monday - Friday, November 11 - 20, 8 am - 5 pm. Sale of the art will benefit the Nantucket New School. Dinner by Jim Perelman, and dancing to The Shingles (Andy Bullington, Cary Hazlegrove, Michael Kopko, Ben Champoux, Chris Westerlund, Jake Vohs, and NNS’s own Dave Provost). Also games, prizes, and live auction. Hosted by the Nantucket New School. Tickets: $100 at 508-228-8569.

The Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum Yard Sale is this Sunday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, at the Jared Coffin House. Merchandise from estates, Nantucket retail stores, and relocation projects. Furnishings for every room in your home and garden. Gifts for the holidays for men, women, and children. Early bird special: come in at 9 am for only $10.

The Festival of Wreaths Preview Party is Tuesday the 20th, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. It’s the annual kick off party with a silent auction of wreaths made by island artists, merchants, and children. Show is open from 10 am to 5 pm on the 21st, 23rd, 24th, and 25th. Peter Foulger Gallery, 13 Broad Street. Here are some wreaths from last year’s show.

Immediately following the Festival of Wreaths is the Sustainable Nantucket Dinner Benefit at Water Street, celebrating local food and business. Cocktails at 7:00, dinner at 7:30. Multiple courses by island chefs: Mark Yelle of Nantucket Catering, Scott Osif of the Galley, Chris Freemen of Oran Mor, and Robert Nelson and Jason Carroll of Water Street. Space is limited: 508-228-7080. $125 pp. Tuesday, November 20, 7:00 pm.

The Nantucket Lighthouse School Yard Sale is this Saturday from 8:00 to 10:00 am. The Wayne Pratt store has donated their remaining inventory for this auction. All items 75% off marked price. Christmas items, home accessories, boats models, prints, Easter decorations and more.Nantucket Lighthouse School, 1 Rugged Road.

FOOD
The White Elephant Chef Series presents Bob Iacovone, Saturday, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Bob Iacovone comes to Nantucket from Cuvée in New Orleans, where he is the Executive Chef, though he has been a summer resident in years past. After Katrina, Cuvée was one of the first restaurants to re-open. Iacovone graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1991, and holds a first-level sommelier’s certificate from the Court of Sommeliers in London. Before Cuvée, he cooked at the Windsor Court Hotel’s New Orleans Grill. Under Chef Iacovone, Cuvée has been named by the Times-Picayune as a Top Ten Restaurant Pick for the past few years. Bob calls his food ‘Creole/Continental,’ and he has been named ‘Best New Chef’ by Esquire and ‘Top Six New Orleans Restaurants’ by Bon Appétit.

MUSIC

NCMC presents Music to Lift the Spirits, Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm at the Coffin School - folk hymns, spirituals, and a Stephen Foster medley. NHS Honors Chorus joins for ‘There is a Balm in Gilead’ and ‘Turn the World Around.’ Suggested admission $10 adults; $5 seniors; free for students.

The Bob Lehman Trio at the Brant Point Grill at the White Elephant, Friday and Saturday night, 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm.

Jeff Ross at the Starlight, Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm - 12:00 am

DJ’s Tonic, Devlin and/or Billy Desmond, Friday night at the Rose & Crown, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am. Saturday it’s DJ Bri Guy.

Maxxtone at the Box, Friday and Saturday night starting about 10.

Sandy MacDonald, who has sung for years with the Nantucket School of Music’s chorus and studies with local legend Paulette Allemand, has joined New York’s Collegiate Chorale (founded by Robert Shaw in 1941). The group will perform Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” — starring Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel — at Carnegie Hall November 19 at 8:00 P.M., and the concert will be broadcast live over WQXR.

Go to the N Magazine/Mahon About Town Arts & Social Calendar for additional listings.

Food and drink prices at Water Street have been lowered for the fall - most expensive item on the menu now priced at $28.

The Rose & Crown will serve $2 drafts of Cisco beer all winter. Sunday through Thursday is “Buy one and get one free Entrees”, and children eat free with each adult entree.

Tuesdays is all you can eat all day Sirloin Tips for $12.95 at A.K. Diamonds. Wednesdays are all you can eat BBQ Ribs (while they last) for $14.95.

The Company of the Cauldron reopens Thanksgiving day. All proceeds from Thanksgiving Day will be donated to the Nantucket Food Pantry.

Here’s the complete list of restaurants open for Thanksgiving weekend.

Here are the details for the White Elephant Chef Series, which begins this weekend at the Brant Point Grill. Cooking demonstrations run from 3 to 4 pm for the next four Saturdays. Tickets are $35 each, which includes admission to the demonstration and food tasting with paired wines. These do sell out, and with this all star line up, I would reserve early.

October 27:
Alexandra Guarnaschelli is the Executive Chef of Butter in Manhattan. She began her career at An American Place under chef Larry Forgione. She next earned a Grande Diplôme from La Varenne Culinary School in Burgundy, followed by a position as Sous Chef under Guy Savoy in his Parisian Bistro La Butte Chaillot, also working at Guy Savoy. Then to New York where she took the position of Fish Sous Chef at Daniel Boulud’s Daniel, to Los Angeles at Patina under Joachim Splichal, and back to New York as Chef at Nick and Stef’s Steakhouse. Chef Guarnachelli was recently named “Most Influential Young Chef” by New York magazine and has appeared on the Food Network and “Iron Chef America.”

November 3:
Dan Silverman is currently Executive Chef at New York City’s Lever House, where he has received a Michelin Star for his menu. After graduating from The French Culinary Institute in 1988, Dan cooked at Bouley for 6 years, working his way up to sous chef. During that time, he also worked a few stints at several Michelin starred restaurants. Dan cooked at San Francisco’s Zuni Café, Chez Panisse, and Postrio, and as Executive Sous Chef at The Markham, and Executive Chef at Alison on Dominick Street, both in New York. While at Alison, he won Food and Wine Magazine’s “Best New Chef” award and Gourmet Magazine’s prestigious “20 Top Table” award. In his 4 years as Executive Chef at Union Square Caf&eacute, the restaurant was the most popular restaurant in the Zagat Guide. Now to Lever House, which the James Beard Foundation nominated as one of the Best New Restaurants in 2004.

November 10
Geoff Gardner is Executive Chef of and partner in Sel de la Terre in Boston, which opened in the spring of 2000. Geoff is partners with Frank McClelland, chef and owner of L’Espalier, where Goeff worked for nine years as sous chef before opening Sel de la Terre. While travelling in France, Geoff became fascinated with French breadmaking, and has developed a way to make bread using organic grapes in place of natural yeast, one reason the breads at L’Espalier are so well known. Sel de la Terre houses a boulangerie to sell their daily breads, and has won “Best Bakery, Bread” in Boston Magazine’s 2005 “Best of Boston” awards. The restaurant is one of the “Top 100 New Restaurants in the World” according to Condé Nast Traveler, and one of the “Top 22 New Restaurants in the Nation” according to Esquire Magazine. StarChefs.com has awarded the restaurant “Rising Star” Award. Geoff has appeared several times on the Food Network.

November 17
Bob Iacovone comes to Nantucket from Cuvée in New Orleans, where he is the Executive Chef, though he has been a summer resident in years past. After Katrina, Cuvée was one of the first restaurants to re-open. Iacovone graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1991, and holds a first-level sommelier’s certificate from the Court of Sommeliers in London. Before Cuvée, he cooked at the Windsor Court Hotel’s New Orleans Grill. Under Chef Iacovone, Cuvée has been named by the Times-Picayune as a Top Ten Restaurant Pick for the past few years. Bob calls his food “Creole/Continental,” and he has been named “Best New Chef” by Esquire and “Top Six New Orleans Restaurants” by Bon Appétit.

For information and reservations: 508-325-1320, or www.WhiteElephantHotel.com.

Two-for-one dinners have started up again at the Even Keel Cafe.

Wednesday is $12.95 Prime Rib Night at Kitty’s. Beef Wellington for $20 on Thursday, and 3 course roast beef for $14.95 on Sundays.

Below is a comprehensive list of open restaurants, provided to us by David Sharpe at Nantucket Visitor Services. If you have difficulty reading the list, click on it to download a printable pdf version.

Queequeg’s serves up a 4 course prix fixe seafood menu on Wednesday nights for $35, and a 3 course Eastern European menu on Thursdays for $28. That’s a new one.