A Great Week On an Awesome Island

We did all of our “must do’ s” and had a great week. We are very lucky to be able to share my parents house with them for a week every July. The kids behaved great. For all you parents of young kids who think vacationing with kids is like a root canal. IT WILL GET BETTER.

Beaches: were limited this year to Children’s Beach. The kids made some great friends and love the playground and the Gelato so we stayed close to home. I missed Surfside very much but the last time I checked it is not going anywhere. So maybe we will catch it next year.

Restaurants:
Sea Grille: Mom and Dad went there for their night and had enjoyed it very much. Dad had the swordfish and Mom had the Filet with a mushroom cap. This is one of those restaurants that is a can’t miss.

Dune: Jeff and I tried out this new restaurant. I actually sent out a Tweet on Twitter and @zophiaphoto replied and suggested it. We arrived to see that it is owned by Michael Getter the former executive chef at 21 Federal. and American Season (another personal fav) I immediately felt at ease he was amazing in his years at those 2 great restaurants.

I of course started with a refreshing cocktail “Best of Summer” all I know is that it had Absolute Citron, and Lemoncello and sparkling water, very refreshing. Jeff had a corn chowder that was great and I had the Beef Carpaccio. I only trust eating raw meat to nicer restaurants and this was no exception.

Main Course:

• Jeff: Berkshire Pork Chop & Crispy Cheek, mascarpone grits, white peach, sweet onions & basil.
  
• Lisa: Painted Hills Farms Beef Sirloin, crispy fingerlings, great hill blue cheese, pickled shallots & baby green beans.

I am sharing the exact explanation of what we had because it was so yummy. Nantucket is one of those places that I do not mind paying a little (ok a lot) more money for a great meal. You get some really great combinations created by world class chefs.

Dessert: we both had the Marcapone Cheesecake: delicious but I would say the least exciting part of the meal. However having a glass of Belle de Brillet a peach cognac liquor. Yum.

We also tried a new old restaurant. Cys which was formerly the Atlantic Café just opened this spring. They have brought back the original name of the restaurant from the late 1930’s. Their menu was week although the waitress did say that they are working on the menu having just recently opened. The kids loved the fish shaped pasta that was brightly colored. They also love the very nice Barnaby Bear coloring book. I had clams casino (average) and steamers good but not as good as Woodmans in Essex. I would give these guys another try next year. The waitress was great and it was a no hassle dinner out with the kids. That has to be worth something.

The highlight of the trip for me was getting together with Pax and his wife Pam who were great friends of mine back in the early 90’s. They own a winery in California “Windgap Wines” which I am sure to write about later. Mark the manager at Company of the Cauldron joined us and we had an awesome time.

We did a little shopping but on Nantucket you can find so many one of a kind items that you must have only to choke when you see the price tag. I am not quite in the tax bracket of those that can afford a pair of casual sandals for $260. With the kids it is also hard to go into some of the stores. You can quite often hear me saying “you can go in kids but if you touch anything you die!!!”

Overall it was an awesome vacation I learned that I could live a week without the Wii and that my parents and kids love to play games together. Thanks to Claire and Roland (Mom and Dad for a great week.)