Tag Archives: Summer

Wanderlust Wednesday

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fork

Happy Wednesday! I hope you enjoyed last week’s post on our getaway to Shelter Island. As promised, I wanted to share a few spots located to the north and south of the island that should not be missed.

The North Fork

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Shelter Island is nestled between the North and South Forks of Long Island. And the two couldn’t be more different, which we realized the moment we got off the Cross Town Ferry in Orient Point. Driving along Route 25 to Greenport to catch the 7 minute ferry to Shelter Island, we felt like we were in a place where time stops. Farm lands, vineyards, a lavender farm. It was just so peaceful. Between Orient Point and Greenport is East Marion, where we decided to stop at Fork & Anchor, a delightful general store, to grab a sandwich before heading to the island. I ordered the green goddess chicken salad and instantly regretted not getting the crispy chicken with sriracha mayo. Oh well. In addition to pastries, sandwiches, coffee and provisions, F&A offers adorable picnic boxes that you can order ahead to bring to the vineyards or the beach. While waiting for our sandwiches, several customers were picking up their orders. What a great idea!

Greenport seems to be where much of the activity is on the North Fork. They have a wonderful carousel on the water, a traditional NY style bakery, and a delicious coffee shop.

Our favorite find on the North Fork was The North Fork Table & Inn in Southold. We have our waiter at Vine Street Cafe to thank for the recommendation. Our meal was delicious and the setting, just beautiful to toast our last night of vacation.

For more ideas on places to visit in North Fork, make sure to check out GoNorthFork and check out their Instagram feed as well.

The South Fork (aka The Hamptons)

farm

Our last day on Shelter Island was a bit overcast so we decided to hop on The South Ferry to go explore the South Fork. After our 5 minutes boat ride, we arrived in North Haven, a short 10 minute drive to Sag Harbor, the first destination on our itinerary. Sag Harbor has a super cute downtown with great shops, restaurants and a retro cinema. A few favorites include: The Styleliner by Joey Wolffer {she also opened up a small shop on Nantucket this summer} featuring some of the best boho dresses and jackets and sylvester & co. , MONC XIII and Jayson Home for some incredible finds for your home. We also stopped by the recently opened Grindstone Coffee and Donuts. The coffee was delicious but the brioche style donuts a bit too greasy for my taste. The one spot we wanted to try was Wölffer Kitchen but sadly we had to catch our ferry back to reality that night.

After walking around Sag Harbor, we got in the car and headed east to Amagansett, which may just be my favorite town in The Hamptons. From lunch at The Lobster Roll to shopping at The Line, to exploring the farm lands at Amber Waves, this little town has everything.

Sadly, we had to cut our visit short to catch our ferry in Orient Point back to New London so we couldn’t head into Montauk to visit The Surf Lodge and Navy Beach. However, we were able to squeeze in a quick stop at the Bhumi Farms farm stand in East Hampton to load up on some fresh produce to take home. The blueberries were out of this world delicious. And the photo opps, plentiful. I swear, I see this place in nearly every editorial spread these days!

So there you have you it. A little bit about both forks at the end of Long Island. So close yet so vastly different in terms of people watching, shops and real estate prices. I think that Shelter Island, though, may just be the perfect mix of both.

 

Tuesday Travel

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Shelter Island

How can it be that we only have two weeks left of summer?!?!? I hope you’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far. I know we have! This week, I wanted to share the highlights of one of our favorite weekend getaways to date… Shelter Island, which many refer to as the “Un-Hamptons.” Located about 150 south of Boston, Shelter Island is nestled between the North and South forks of Long Island, accessible only by boat. As an island girl, I was quite excited for this little adventure. And let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint.

We planned this getaway with our dear friends R + T and you can check out all our pics on Instagram #MRKTShelter.

Stay

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When planning a weekend getaway, the hotel options really guide my decision-making process. When I heard that David Bowd of Provincetown’s Salt Hotels was opening The Chequit last May, I knew it would be a place I needed to check-out. Fast forward to finding a summer getaway in-between Boston and NYC, Shelter Island rose to the top of the list. We booked this past April, right before the hotel received its acclaim on the Conde Nast Hot List. And well deserved honor indeed.

The restored hotel, built as a religious retreat in 1872, features 31 bedrooms, designed in a soothing palate of grey, pale pink and a splash of yellow {a favorite color combo}. The fixtures are brass, the floors adorned with beautiful Turkish throw rugs and they even provide you with a sun hat and blue Turkish towel for the beach.

After our stay at Salt House Inn last year, I knew we were in for a treat with the daily breakfast. Each morning, from 8 am to 10:30 am, the staff sets out an impressive breakfast buffet, including granola, yogurt, tea cakes, juices, coffee and a savory egg dish. It’s all so good.

Even better, the hotel offers a delicious restaurant {might I suggest the tuna tartare bites}, coffee shop, should you need a latte fix and a delightfully curated shop. I purchased the cutest tote {featured below #saltstyle}, a paddle board set for the beach and some new hair ties.

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SunsetBeach

I have a firm belief: If you’re on island time, you go to the beach! Luckily, we were able to purchase a beach parking pass at the hotel that allowed us to explore several. $40 for the week… what a deal.

We spent our afternoons lounging in the sun at Shell Beach and Hay Beach {our favorite} and checked out the Sunday scene at Sunset Beach, hotelier Andre Balazs’s St.Tropez-style hangout. For as chill as Shelter Island is, if you want the scene, go here.

Should you not love to hang at the beach for hours, make sure to check out the Mashomack Preserve for some great walking trails. But remember your bug spray. We sadly had to cut our walk short. Looking for a way to stay hydrated? Head over to Shelter Island Craft Brewing. My beer of choice was their Nude Beach, a plum ale featuring local beach plums, honey, lemon verbena and hops.

Eat

eat

The food on Shelter Island did not disappoint. Some of our favorite spots included:

Marie Eiffel Market – From the breakfast treats to the fish tacos, to the view on their back porch, Marie Eiffel is not to be missed. Jonathan Adler and Jerry Seinfeld are fans too! The perfect place to grab lunch before hitting the beach.

Vine Street Cafe – Shelter Island’s fine dining destination. Order the fried chicken. It’s amazing. Skip on dessert from the restaurant and go around the corner to their market for a brownie and coconut sorbet to go. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Maria’s Kitchen – Located next to the Shelter Island Craft Brewing, this little spot had some delicious tacos. The corn tortillas are amazing and so fresh.

Shop

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Sylvester Manor Farm Stand – Our favorite little farm stand on the island with beautiful views.

Dabney Lee – Across the street from Marie Eiffel, Dabney Lee has a beautiful collection of goods for the home and got you. Loved the Parrot Design Studio Shelter Island print.

Black Cat Books  – The best used book store ever. Don’t miss it!

Check back next Tuesday as I’ll be sharing some favorite spots we hit along the North Fork and throughout The Hamptons.

In the Kitchen

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Kitchen

Happy Friday, sweet readers. We’ve made it through another week! And in anticipation of another beautiful weekend ahead of us, I thought I’d share another easy and delicious dish to highlight one of my favorite summer vegetables… tomatoes.

Have a last-minute BBQ to attend? I suggest you make this. I made it for my book club ladies a few weeks back and they all begged for the recipe before they left. I promise, everyone will love it!

Tomato and Cheese Tartlett

Ingredients

  • Frozen pie shell
  • 1 Tbs. whole grain mustard
  • 1 quart cherry tomatoes (quartered)
  • 1 1/4 cups Fontina cheese (shredded)
  • Handful of parsley
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Olive oil/salt + pepper
  • 1 egg/water {for egg wash}

Directions

Preheat over to 375 degrees. Remove frozen pie shell from freezer and brush with 1-2 tablespoons of whole grain mustard. Place a layer of the shredded Fontina cheese over the mustard, followed by a layer of the quartered tomatoes. Repeat this twice and finish with another layer of cheese.

Make an egg wash by whisking together 1 egg with about a tablespoon of water and brush the pie edges with a pastry brush. Place in over and bake for 45 minutes till cheese is bubbly and crust is golden brown.

While the tart is baking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and one peeled clove of garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Transfer the garlic infused olive oil to your mini food processor and add in a handful of parsley and salt/pepper. Pulse until it forms a paste.

As the tart cools, spread this parsley/garlic paste on top.

A special thanks to my Mom for this recipe. As the Office Administrator for Sustainable Nantucket, she works alongside farmers and growers who are working to build  a more locally based, self-reliant food economy on the island. This recipe was shared at one of her events a few years back. I know it will be in my recipe collection for years to come!

Island Time

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ACK

Happy Monday, sweet readers! Did you all do something fun this past weekend? We escaped to the island for a few days. Walking around Saturday morning, I was struck by how much has changed on my little island. Shops moving, new businesses opening their doors, and delicious new places to grab a bite. To help ease us back into the work week, I thought I’d share all the new places you need to know about as you plan your next trip on #islandtime.

atlantic

One of my favorites, Atlantic has moved up-town to Federal Street in the former C.Wonder space. With this larger space, Atlantic has expanded their offering of boho-chic pieces (I picked up the best summer dress seen here) as well as their collection of antiques and housewares. I am told that they will be opened longer into the off-season now too. Good news, indeed!

table1

The delightful Sarah Powers has opened Table No. 1 in the former Dupree & Co. space on Old South Wharf. Sarah continues to operate this space as a wine and cheese shop but has expanded offerings to include beautiful wooden cheese boards, colorful french cheese knives and even flowers from Flowers on Chestnut. Even better, she has wine barrels set-up outside the shop on the shell path along the wharf so you can sit back with a glass of rose and enjoy the terrific people watching. If you stop by, you must try the Pufrock cheese from Grey Barn on Martha’s Vineyard. Not only is the packaging superb but the smell and flavors of this cheese are to die for.

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It seems to be all about the juice these days and I am pleased to report that a bright and cheery juice bar has opened in the former Bean location on Centre Street. Lemon Press offers a wonderful selection of cold-pressed juices {my favorite is the sweet green}, smoothies, raw bowls, open-faced sandwiches and frozen yogurt. In-town and need to grab a healthy lunch to take to the beach. Lemon Press is the spot. Oh and stop in to see their living wall too. It’s pretty great!

barcos

For those of you who have been coming to the island for some time, you know that it would take a lot to replace Tacos Tacos. I am pleased to report that the offerings at Barcos y Tacos do just that. My whole family went and the fish tacos were the crowd favorite. I opted to make my own tacos with sweet potatoes, black beans and Barcos signature chicken, which was cooked in tomatoes and had a wonderful flavor and texture. Located out of town behind The Sea Grille, I highly recommend Barcos y Tacos for an easy and affordable dine-in or take-out meal.

sevenseas

The art scene on Nantucket is thriving and although I haven’t been just yet, I hear Samuel Owen Gallery is the gallery of the summer. Housed in the historic Seven Seas building on Centre Street, this iconic spot was once home to Captain George Pollard of The Essex. This is the second gallery for owners Lee and Cindy Milazzo, who opened their first in Greenwich in 2004. These two are committed to exhibiting the work of emerging to mid-career artists. I am obsessed with the Antoine Rose beach photos. Breathtaking!

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A few more things to note: The Bean has moved into an expanded location at 4 India Street.  Grey Lady {with outposts in NYC and Aspen} has opened their third location in the former Bamboo Super Club near Stop & Shop. I hear the food is quite good. Nantucket Patsy Co. has rebranded to Nativ Made and continues to offer delicious juices {I like the Sconset loop} and baked goods. Atlas has opened in the former Pazzo space and Station 21 {sister restaurant to Lola 41} just opened in the former Corazon del Mar space. From what I’ve gathered on Instagram, the renovations are pretty incredible. And we have one more option for pizza on the island. Oath Craft Pizza,  at 44 Straight Wharf, is getting quite the buzz for their inventive toppings and ability to order half a pie.

For shops, Scrub Oak has moved to 10 Straight Wharf. Shift has moved from behind Lily Pulitzer to a prime spot on Main Street next to Vis-a-Vis. And Salt, a sweet little shop has opened at 19 Old South Wharf. There is a sign hanging in the shop that perfectly explains my love affair with this island of mine — it is just in me.

“All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.” John F. Kennedy

Found

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I have always found finding a classic pair of sandals to be quite a challenge. That was until I discovered Matt Bernson. Since our introduction, I have indulged and purchased two pairs including his love sandal {how fitting a name} and this week’s found item. Your search for the perfect refined flip-flop is over!

Turns out, this is Matt’s first and favorite summer design. As you can see, he has updated the classic thong sandal with a distinctive cross band that adds incredible comfort. The craftsmanship is perfection and the leather I can tell will only get better with time.

A welcome addition to my summer wardrobe indeed. Enjoy this beautiful day {and weekend}, dear readers!

365 Days

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photo

Wow, it seems like just yesterday I was enjoying those strawberry crostini as I checked the first item off my Summer 2014 Bucket List. How the time does fly! A lot has certainly changed over this past year. I moved off the island, started a new job, fell in-love, traveled near and {not so} far and while my life has been filled with so much joy, the one thing I have certainly missed is this little blog of mine. So, a year later I start again. I look forward to you joining me for the ride. And, should you want to see the snapshots of this past year, check out my Instagram feed. As you will see, I have been quite busy #inthekitchenwithmay, which means lots of yummy recipe posts to come. I’ll see you back here tomorrow!

In the Kitchen

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In the Kitchen
Yesterday after a long day at the catering kitchen, I decided to do a little something for me. I made my way over to Bartlett’s Farm, purchased a little blue quart container and walked through the strawberry fields. Item #1 on Summer Bucket List… done!

I had originally planned to make strawberry jam but when I read all the fine print about canning sterilization, I thought to myself, not tonight. So instead, I braved the grocery store at 5:30 pm (to my surprise, the parking lot wasn’t complete chaos) and got myself a baguette, some goat cheese and organic baby spinach. My thought was this: a simple spinach salad with fresh strawberries, cottage cheese and a little balsamic vinaigrette for dinner followed by a sweet crostini with goat cheese and balsamic macerated strawberries. So easy, so delicious.

Crostini

Strawberry Crostini
Here is what you will need:
– 4 1/4 inch slices of a baguette
– 2 Tbs. goat cheese (or more if you like)
– 1/2 cup thinly sliced strawberries (about 6 strawberries)
– 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar (I recommend Ariston Balsamic. This stuff is amazing)

*Note: I made a very small batch. These measurements can certainly be doubled/tripled should you want to use the entire baguette.

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with tin foil.
2. Cut 1/4 inch slices of your baguette on an angel, which allows for more surface space.
3. Place bread slices on sheet pan and lightly brush with extra virgin olive oil.
4. Cook in the over for about 10 minutes, until lightly brown and crunchy.
5. While the bread is cooking, thinly slice strawberries and place in bowl with 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar and stir occasionally.
6. Remove the bread from the over, spread on a little goat cheese and arrange strawberries on top.
7. Enjoy!

And the good news, checked #2 off the Summer Bucket List as well. I’m on a roll!

Weekend

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Weekend
It’s Friday. Thank goodness. I’m not sure about you, but wow this was one long week. And since it will most likely be my last weekend of “freedom” before the craziness of summer catering kicks in, I have made sure to take advantage of every minute (always helps when a special someone is coming to visit too). Dinner tonight at American Seasons. I am torn between the salmon and the risotto. Hmmmmm. Hopefully crossing off #1 on the summer bucket list tomorrow morning, which also means getting #2 checked off as well. Taking in a little BBQ at B-ACK Yard BBQ tomorrow night. The reviews have been phenomenal. So excited. And finally a Nantucket Film Festival film. Oh and of course church and Sunday brunch.

What are your plans this weekend? Whatever they may be, I hope you have a great one!

Summer Bucket List

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Summer Bucket List
Truth be told, I completed very few things on last year’s summer bucket list. So I have added a few new ones and hoping that me and my girl(s) visiting this summer will be all the incentive I need to complete!

1. Pick strawberries at Bartlett’s Farm and/or Moors End Farm.
2. Experiment with a new recipe incorporating freshly picked strawberries. A few contenders include: this jam, this salad, and perhaps this dessert.
3. Go deep-sea fishing.
4. Finally, finally take a dip in the phosphorescence.
5. Rent a jeep and spend the day out at Great Point, which also means driving on the beach for the first time!
6. Surf lesson with ACK Surf.
7. Head over to Wellfleet Drive-in one Sunday night.
8. Get in a bike ride at least once a week.
9. Sleep on the beach (keep this one quiet… I believe it’s against the law).
10. Greet the sunrise.

Island Time

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Nantucket
Driving around my little island yesterday one thing was quite clear… summer is officially here! For all of you planning a getaway 30 miles out to sea, I wanted to provide a few updates to my Island Living guides.

First, a few things to note. Sadly, Trillium on Washington Street has closed up shop. But, you can find some of their product offerings, including my absolute favorite John Robshaw textiles at Bodega. And Sweet Little has moved from the wharf up to 40 Centre Street.

Now onto the new. Whenever planning a trip I always start with where I’m going to eat so let’s begin there.

B-ACKyard BBQ
Bourbon, beers and BBQ near the water… sounds too good to be true! Lucky for us, B-ACKyard BBQ opened their doors last week in the former Captain Toby’s space. I haven’t had a moment to try the food yet but have plans to do so on Saturday night. Just look at their sides… ranchero baked beans, cole slaw, a mason jar of pickled vegetables, and Vermont cheddar cornbread. Counting down the hours till Saturday night!

The Nautilus
Every year there seems to be that one new restaurant that captures all the buzz. A venture between 3 alums of the Boarding House/Pearl empire, The Nauitlus on Cambridge Street is “the place” this summer. The concept is a mix of classic and modern, small plates and feast selections all focused around the joy of sharing a meal and libations together. While The Nautilus prides itself on being a New England restaurant with a coastal/seafood base, their menu inspiration is rooted in Asian flavors and ingredients of the haute street food variety, with a major nod to the tapas style of Spanish cuisine. Tempura east coast oyster tacos. Why yes! Clinton Terry is the mastermind behind the bar and I must say, seeing this man make a cocktail is something else.

Meursault
One thing that is a constant in the summer is meeting friends visiting my little island for a cocktail. This little gem will be my new spot for just that. A charming wine bar in the former Cordillera Imports space on Broad Street, brothers Ethan and Jed Dupree have created an intimate place to grab a delicious class of vino and indulge in a few light bits of delicious cheeses and charcuterie. If you haven’t been to their wine and cheese shop on the wharf, it’s a must. Their toffee covered almonds tossed in powdered sugar are to-die for.

Handlebar Cafe
Since moving back to the island two years ago, there is one thing I have missed greatly… a wonderful coffee shop. When I heard that Jason Bridges and Courtney Nemeth of Nantucket Bike Tours were moving into the former Trillium space on Washington Street, right next to The Lovely and Parchment, I jumped for joy (literally). Although they aren’t open just yet, rumor has it that it will be any day now. My fingers (and toes) are crossed.

I think I have said this time and time again but I really believe that Nantucket has some of the best shopping around. From housewares, to clothing, to vintage to beauty… our little downtown certainly does pack quite a bit in. And lucky for all of us, a few new shops have made island roots this year.

Follain
I stopped into this beauty shop last week as I have been desperate for a new face moisturizer and in a brief 5 minutes, the owner Tara taught me oh so much. I left with an amazing face oil by Shamanuti, a petite jar of simple butter, which I have been using religiously on my cuticles, and a bottle of Follain liquid soap. And the best part, I made a 1-time deposit on this beautiful bottle that once I finish, I can just pop in and refill for less than $10. And even better, their flagship store is in Boston on Dartmouth Street, blocks away from my new apartment. What a great idea. Love a company that makes it easy to be green! And her makeup selection is spot-on. I am obsessed with my RMS un-cover cover-up.

CJ Laing
Truth be told, I’m not really a Palm Beach girl but when I drove by the window of CJ Laing, based in Palm Beach,and saw their beautiful ikat jackets, I instantly fell in-love. This beautiful little shop has a wonderful collection of jackets, embroidered tops, shorts, dresses, Stubbs & Wootton shoes and a killer jewelry selection. Looking for that perfect top to go with your white jeans, this is the place to find it!

Grey Clothing
While technically not a shop, you must check out Grey Clothing’s online store. Her products are all designed and hand printed on island. Love. And the tried and true tee… I can guarantee this is what I’ll be wearing on the 4th.

Sconset Gallery
I have been collecting Nantucket art since 2006 so when I hear a new gallery is opening, I get very excited. When I heard that Chandra and her husband Carlin, who have impeccable taste, were opening a gallery in Sconset, I was even more excited. A crisp white backdrop in an old Sconset cottage at 1 New Street… breathtaking. Art openings will take place every Thursday night from 6-8 pm and the gallery will be open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Just one more thing to add to your list while you are exploring Sconset.

So there you have it. The places to add to your summer list. Do let me know if you are planning a trip to the island. Would love to see you and answer any questions you may have!