katyelliott.com » eating out

The Market Restaurant in Annisquam

Katy Elliott — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:28:39 +0000

Last Friday we had dinner at The Market Restaurant. It was so good, I cried. Dinner was perfect—simple, uncomplicated, and fresh. The restaurant run by Nico Monday and Amelia O’Reilly; two former Chez Panise (snapshots from our visit in 2007, yum!) alums. The vibe is an updated summer seafood shack overlooking a Lobster Cove in Annisquam; a small resort community within the town of Gloucester.

We we sat at the bar before dinner for a glass of wine; bread from local bakery A&J King and butter was served. Oh Yoko! from The Rushmore soundtrack was playing—I knew I was going to like this place.

For dinner Greg had Local Line-Caught Tuna A La Nicoise with Tomato Confit Aioli and I had Chicken Breast Paillard with Onion Rings, Sweet Peppers and Roasted Tomatillos. I’m the kinda girl who doesn’t like a lot of drama at dinner or really anywhere. To me if your using the best ingredients you shouldn’t have fuss it with too much. This dinner was exactly that. Beautiful flavors that mixed together to heighten and compliment not overpower.

On Sunday we headed back up for the last Brunch of the season—the restaurant is seasonal and only open till October. We sat on the deck sipping coffee overlooking the Cove watching sailboats and paddleboarders float by. For breakfast, I had Croque Madame with this really yummy cucumber, tomato, fennel, green salad and Greg had Huevos Rancheros, both delicious. We talked how bummed we were to discover such a great restaurant at the end of their season. What will I do till next Spring? Below snapshots from our two visits.

The Market Restaurant
33 River Road
Gloucester, MA
themarketrestaurant.com

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Menu for September 9th, 2011

Local Line-Caught Tuna A La Nicoise with Tomato Confit Aioli

Chicken Breast Paillard with Onion Rings, Sweet Peppers and Roasted Tomatillos

Russell Orchard Peach Tart with Creme Fraiche. I had a Apple/Peach version at Chez Panisse in Berkely.

Lobster Dinner at the Cod End in Tenants Harbor

Katy Elliott — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:07:35 +0000

Tenants Harbor, Maine.

We spent the weekend up in Maine eating lobsters, paddleboarding and hanging out at the beach. Our first night we had lobster dinner at the Cod End in Tenants Harbor. The view from the deck can’t get any better; looking out at a scenic harbor dotted with working lobster boats and a pine tree horizon in the distance. At the Cod End all the fish, lobster and clams are local. Greg ordered the Shore Dinner (a mix of lobster, clams and mussels) and I got a lobster roll. A fog bank rolled into the harbor while we were eating filling the air with a cold, dewy, salty mist.

Inside the Cod End market.

Lobsters arranged by size in the market.

You should always boil your lobsters in sea water or use sea salt.

Dinner!

Greg enjoying clams. Check out the biscuit that came with dinner, delicious!

View of Cod End from the dock.

Beautiful boats tied up at the docks.

Lobster traps.

Harraseeket Lobster Roll

Katy Elliott — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:16:09 +0000

It was an unusually warm weekend in Maine—I think it hit 85 degrees? My mom and I decided to enjoy the last glimpses of summer with sunset lobster rolls at Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster in South Freeport, Maine. Freeport sound familiar to you? It’s the headquarters of L.L. Bean (scored these boots) and outlet heaven. South Freeport is just 3 miles south.

It was a perfect night. The restaurant has outdoor picnic benches that look out over the harbor. The sun set on the water highlighting the changing leaves in the distance. My lobster roll was amazing with big chunks in a top-split roll with fries and cole slaw. I have to say though the best sides I had this summer were at Owls Head General Store—damn good red bliss potato salad. That point doesn’t really matter Harraseeket is a pretty amazing spot but I thought I would include because I keep dreaming about it. Harraseeket has awesome homemade pie, go for the chocolate cream. Above and below photos from the night.

Harraseeket Lobster & Lunch
36 Main Street
South Freeport, ME
207-865-4888
harraseeketlunchandlobster.com

Inspired By Eggs & Sofra

Katy Elliott — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:23:01 +0000

I picked up a pack of fresh beautiful eggs from Siena Farms at Sofra in Cambridge this afternoon. I now know what color I really want to paint my walls, Araucana. The Araucana is a breed of chickens that lay beautiful blue/green eggs.

I know Martha Stewart carries a paint color called, Araucana but it looks a little too teal.
When I held the Araucana egg up to my paint samples it was really close in color to Verte De Terre from Farrow & Ball. The egg was just a few shades lighter.

Below my super yum lunch I shared with fellow blogger, Kate Flaim at Sofra. We had a blast trying out different flatbreads and sweets. My falafel style flatbread had a really interesting beet spread. Above and below photos of my eggs and lunch.

Sofra Bakery & Cafe
1 Belmont Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-3161
sofrabakery.com

Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

Katy Elliott — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:38:54 +0000

Sorry for the lack of posting this week, I’m in New York. I’ve been a busy bee working and visiting with friends and family. This morning my sister brought me over to the new Ace Hotel on 29th street in Manhattan. Design group Roman and Williams transformed the space into a hipster Brit infused oasis. Check out the plaid wing chair in the above photo. The back of the chair was upholstered in navy wool decorated with brass tacking. So freakin’ cute.

Attached to the Ace is The Breslin a British style pub run by Peter Cho and the Spotted Pig (my fav place to grab a burger) crew. I walked through pretty quickly but I was struck by the green molding. In the sunlight the wood appears limey in the shadows it becomes a dark olive gloss. Tufted benches, thonet style chairs, and brass accents give the space a cozy feel. Need a little pick me up? Hit Stumptown coffee just off from the hotel’s lobby. I had a latte and croissant—super yum with a nutty quality. Above and below photos from Roman and William’s website.

Ace Hotel
20 W 29th Street
New York, NY
212.679.2222
acehotel.com

The Breslin
16 W 29th Street
New York, NY
212.679.1939
thebreslin.com

Farmer’s Diner & Antique Mall

Katy Elliott — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:42:17 +0000

One last post about my Vermont weekend. Sunday morning it was still freezing cold. I had planned for us to go snowshoeing but I was being a baby—8 degrees at 10 am is just too cold to be outside. We headed over to The Farmer’s Diner for breakfast. I was totally impressed with their homemade english muffins. I would love to try making my own.

Next to the diner is a Cabot cheese store and Antique mall. I sampled a few cheeses but it was hard to get them down because I was so stuffed from breakfast. Greg kept telling how disgusting I was for even trying to fit anything else in my belly. But it was cheese and I love cheese. We poked through the hundreds of booths admiring all the treasures. I was amazed how patient Greg was being. I didn’t really find anything I needed but I did snap a few photos. So many perfect still-life compositions.

The Farmer’s Diner
Quechee Gorge Village
5573 Woodstock Rd. RT 4
Quechee, VT

The Vermont Antique Mall
Quechee Gorge Village
5573 Woodstock Rd. RT 4
Quechee, VT

Vermont Cheese Trail

Katy Elliott — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:02:24 +0000

Consider Bardwell Farm

I dying to go to Vermont to check out their Cheese Trail. Vermont’s artisanal cheese industry has seen a big boom as more consumers become interested in handmade cheeses. I began my love affair with cheese back when I worked in new york. Every Friday I would pass through Grand Central Station to treat myself to a new selection of cheeses from Murray’s Cheese Shop. Murray’s selection is amazing and their staff is incredibly knowledgeable. Thinking back about all the wonderful cheeses I have tasted makes me salivate. God, I love cheese…maybe even more then chocolate. Well maybe not dark chocolate but it’s close.

The last few days it seems everywhere I turn I’m hearing about Vermont’s cheese movement. In the Novemeber 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Living is a lovely story about five Vermont cheesemakers. The cheesemakers were featured on her tv show today, click here for clips. On twitter, I found an articles on nationalgeographic.com and bostonmagazine.com about the cheese trail. I’m sensing a roadtrip. Have you ever gone cheese hunting in Vermont? Check out the cheese trail map here.

cheesemakers featured on martha
Blue Ledge Farm
Consider Bardwell Farm
Saxelby Cheesemongers
Thistle Hill Farm
Willow Hill Farm

p.s. I was checking out the farms and it looks like april-october is the best time to go.

Inspiration From The Village Tearoom

Katy Elliott — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:28:58 +0000

On our quick trip to New Paltz we stopped for lunch at my favorite restaurant in town, The Village Tearoom. The styling of the restaurant is perfectly homey without feeling dated or granny—a look I’m trying to achieve in our home. We sat in the upstairs dining room where I became pretty enamored with the wall color and curtains. The orange/peachy walls glowed in the room. I want the scrolling floral fabric for curtains in my dining room…maybe it’s Lee Jofa? Greg was eyeing a newly hung ceiling decorated with worn beams. So cute. Below our lovely rainy day fall lunch. I had Potato Toussaint Cheese Tart & Salad (foreground); Greg had the Turkey Pot Pie. The sage leaf on top of Greg’s biscuit was a sweet touch I’m totally stealing.

The Village Tearoom
10 Plattekill Ave
New Paltz, NY
thevillagetearoom.com

Penang: Malaysian Food

Katy Elliott — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:13:30 +0000

Last night was our first date anniversary. We meet in 2002 at a coffee shop in New Paltz, New York. I won his heart by making him a spectacular latte. Actually, it was the worst I ever made. I was so nervous because he was so cute. We celebrated by going into Boston for a night of walking around (love September weather) and testing out the new Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

Kinda randomly we stumbled upon Penang in Chinatown. The food was amazing and super affordable. Greg and I are big curry fans and many of the items on the menu had Indian influences. We started with Roti Cania an Indian style pancake that was served with a curry side. A-mazing. We were spooning the curry side into our mouths it was so delicious. For dinner I had Green Curry Chicken with Eggplant and Beans in a Hot Pot. Greg had Thai Chicken and Rice. My soup was incredibly delicious. The perfect amount of spicyness, sweet, and tang.

The photos from above and below were taken with the Canon Rebel Ti1 with no flash or tripod. Impressive. I can’t believe how sharp my images were with such low light. Today the Nikon comes in the mail. I can’t wait to check out the competition.

Want to see more nice shots with the Canon? Check out on flickr.

Penang
685 Washington Street
Boston, MA
(617) 451-6372
penangusa.com

Red’s Eats Wiscasset, Maine

Katy Elliott — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:29:00 +0000

As you make your way through Wiscasset you can’t miss Red’s Eats. A fish shack made famous for it’s lobster rolls and fried fish. New England is on a fried fish overload. I know I should love it because I grew up in New England but frankly I don’t. Do we really need to fry everything??

If your not in the mood for fried fish (my boyfriend swears by the fried haddock) go for the lobster roll. Red’s gets awards again and again for being the best. Great big chunks with butter or mayo on the side. I thought it was ok. The chunks were so big they were hard to chew. I like my roll with slightly smaller chunks mixed with a just little mayo. The mayo keeps the meat moist and totally yummy. Red’s is a fun stop nonetheless and the staff is super nice and helpful. I hate to be negative but I hate posts that fluff the truth especially when it comes to food. Maybe mayo on the side is your thing?

Red’s Eats
Rt 1 & Water Street
Wiscasset, Maine
207-882-6128