Category Archives: Rants & Raves

Because sometimes I am not sure what will come out of my mouth- so Rants & Raves us my melting pot of commentary

Sundays the way they should be..oh wait it’s only Saturday.

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imageEnjoying a summer memory

From sweet to savory.. much like it’s staff, my morning visit at Joe’s Coffee is how I start my days in ptown. With the everchanging, yet consistant range of people watching, parade of “walk of shamers” to the local dishen up “care” with the daily menu of  “did ya hear about”, I can say I wouldnt have it any other way.

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On the Saturdays when the Farmers Market is in; you never know what specialty awaits. Today it was fresh local  jared tomato sauce from Foss Farms.  My order, which will be arriving in San Francisco by mail soon after my return

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Relish isn’t just a summer goto place – here comes “santa”

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Let’s face it  – every so often, you just need a good cupcake. Sometimes you want to get creative with the fancy flavors and icing – but more often than not, I want plain, good, deep dark chocolate with a slightly gooey, sweet chocolate frosting.image

While it Ptown of the summer, one rainy day I knew just where to go! Relish. Down in the west end, this little but highly fast and efficient sandwich, snack & bakery shop not only puts out some great sandwich and sides – they do some incredible desserts. I would say I eat three several times eat stay.image

A new feature I noticed this year was that your an order xmas cookies!! A pretty great idea – what better way to treat friends and family than with food products you already love. they have an entire holiday menu of options to choose from.image

Over on the website – I notes posting from the past that indicates; they do Thanksgiving Pies and Cupcakes and kick off  a workshop for Christmas cookies.  Orders for Christmas need to be placed by December 1st.

imageFor more information, give them  a call at 508-487-8077.

you can find them at:

93 Commercial Street (at Cottage)  Provincetown  MA  02657

p: 508-487-8077

e: [email protected]

 

Date Night is about the food and the man

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Traveling so often for work, having our four-legged third, wanting attention along with both of us having demanding work and social time – –  getting time out with just the two of us alone isn’t always easy. So when we can do it, we take it. Last week we wanted to go see the new Meryl Streep’s new film, Florence Foster Jenkins at the CineArts at the Empire and had time to eat at one of my  favorite West Portal resturant; Trattoria da Vittorio. 

I really can’t say much more about them except “just go already”. If you want authentic italian foud with a Calabrian influence you can’t go wrong. 

http://trattoriadavittorio.com/

150 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127

Some Home Cooking to get me back in practice (Part 1)

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IMG_2946 IMG_2951 IMG_2952After several weeks of vacation and a lot of work travel I haven’t been able to cook as much as I tend too. So when Paul got word about his promotion, it was a good reason to try out a few new recipes I have been waiting on.

First off was the Pineapple Upside-down cake; for some reason I had a craving for its sweet and gooey texture when I got back from Provincetown. I cheated some and used a Duncan Hines box as the starter (and they were recently on sale) along with canned Pineapple. The recipe I started with is below and my changes are in red.

  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar [I prefer dark but light will do]
  • 1 can (20 oz.) pineapple slices, drained and lightly patted dry
  • 4 Maraschino cherries, halved [I forgot to buy them..]
  • 1 package Duncan Hines®  Signature Pineapple Cake Mix
  • 1 package (3.4 oz.) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling [I actually use coconut instant pudding – it adds a different yet subtle taste.]
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup oil
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • pitch of salt

Intructions:

Now the cast Iron pan I use is larger than the one they recommend by an inch or two.. but that just means it won’t be a high

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Melt butter in 12-inch skillet with oven-proof handle or cast iron skillet. [Because I use a cast iron skillet, I actually put the pan in the oven while it heat up, then once hot, put in on the burner while I add the butter to melt]
  • Remove from heat. Evenly sprinkle with brown sugar.
  • Arrange pineapple slices on top of mixture and place cherries in center of each pineapple; set aside.
  • Combine cake mix, eggs, water, oil, salt, vanilla and instant pudding in large bowl.
  • Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. [Mixing by hand works perfectly fine as well]
  • Pour batter evenly over fruit in skillet.
  • Bake 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. [My oven had the cake perfect at 42 minutes – but had I wanted a more well cooked top, I could have left it in longer.]
  • Cool cake completely on wire rack in the pan. While it cools the dome in the middle will sink down and flatten out.
  • Invert onto serving plate.

Now to kick this up a few notches – you could drizzle in rum over the cake while it is still warm.. I am just saying..

 

Angel Mornings @ Gifford House

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I have been lucky to have the generous tasting of these folks from the different locations in Ptown over the last few years – so was excited to check them out at the Gifford House in a traditional dinning room setting.

I am so glad we did. A great menu – actually pretty large by Ptown standards for breakfast fare. It’s not going to rock your socks off  “ambiance” wise – the room is basic to what it needs to be – but the flavor and food quality is where it is at. They make basic ingredients, taste the way they are supposed too and they invite you to “kick it up a notch” with the graceful punch of seasoning and combinations. From the egg scramble with sausage to the omelettes.. I could eat here every morning.imageCheck out the full image

menu. They are open 8am to 2pm and the entire Menu Served All Day

508-487-8600

 

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Jimmy’s HideAway simply can’t be beat

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Really is no way to get creative when place is simply “always good”. Jimmy’s Hideaway  is that for us. No matter when we go – it is consistently working at the top levels of quality. From the subtle flavors of the Avocado & Cucumber soup or the Watermelon, Tomato and Feta appetizer to the equally as filling and rich entrees. For our last visit, we ended up ordering the same two app’s we did in previous year – but did realize we did until we tasted them and the memories flooded back. For our Entree, we went with the Organic Statler Chicken Breast, dressed in herbed lemon and sage with a roasted shallot au jus, piled high over a sinfully good smoked gouda corn bread pudding and grilled broccolini. Like with the apps, I ordered for the nights specials menu and selected the Lobster Fra Diavolo. Rich and spicy this plate is not for those with sensitive tummy’s with i’s complex spices, sauce and cooked lobster.

Jimmy’s HideAway

179 Commercial  St. Provincetown, MA. 02657

Reservations recommended 508 487-1011

on Facebook, or visit them on the web: www.jimmyshideaway.com

 

 

It’s happening again! #Ptown24

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I got a chance to participate in this last year and I have to say it was really a lot of fun. Seeing other folks images that had been in similar places over the course of day, taken over different times and angles.

It really resonates with the diversity and history that Provincetown offers and how we all saw things differently, but when packaged together for those 24 hours create a cohesive story.

Any of you local peeps or those of you planning to be on vacation in town August 24th think about taking part #PTown24 . It’s really easy to participate and you help build a part of local history as well as capture moments in time.
Share the word

Sponsored by Provincetown Community Television and LIPTV, special thanks to the #Ptown24 folks whose contributions appear in this video!