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.)

Eating your way around Nantucket

I am sitting here watching the traffic build up outside my Union St. house, on a rainy day in Nantucket thinking how lucky I am. This is one of my favorite places to go in the summer. I have spent more than nine summers living here in college and after and have many “must do’s” on my list when I return each summer for a vacation. Now my children are also starting their own “must do” list.

The island has many amazing restaurants so there are a lot of places I love. Jeff and I usually go out one night (sans kids). Here are a few that we love.

• American Seasons
  
• Le Languedoc
  
• Ships Inn

We also have a few family traditions that have been developed through the years.

• Lobster take-out from Sayles Seafood . They cook and do everything for you and you eat at home. (Always the night before the trash gets picked up so we do not have lobster smell all week.)
  
• Sushi by Yoshi – Try a Dynamite Roll. I usually sneak this in for a quick lunch. My oldest daughter is now starting to crave them.
  
• Sea Grill when we have time we like to take the whole family out. The girls think that they are going to a fancy restaurant, the food is great, and they deal with the kids better than me.

Finally here is my kids must do list: (growing each year)

• Juice Bar: every night possible for ice cream. Yumm!! Force Five Water Sports – your typical cool surf shop however in the back of the store is the mother lode. It has candy store to die for. It is also located next door to our house so it is a quick stop.
  
• Nucci’s Italian Ice and Gelato - http://www.nuccisnantucket.com/ this is located at Children’s Beach so if the kids eat lunch they can get some gelato. The only problem is by the end of the day the kids have a posse of friends and this can cost you if you are not careful.

The final “must do” when on Nantucket is to visit John and Kathy at Sweet Inspirations on Centre St. They have the most amazing chocolate treats. I recommend the truffles or chocolate covered cranberries. Their chocolate almond butter crunch was the favor for our guests at my wedding. Well I hope you enjoy my list please share any of your island favorites with me.