Eat First

Still savoring delicious memories of Cape Cod

We have so many excellent food memories from our trip to Cape Cod in October:

The Portuguese soup from the famous Lobster Pot restaurant in Provincetown. Tomatoes, linguica, potatoes, kale, spices. Mmmm, mmmm good!

The trutas (delicate pastries with sweet potato filling) and other beautiful baked goods from the Portuguese Bakery down the street. Unlike any we’ve ever had before.

The fully loaded cioppino at the Chatham Squire. And the lobsters from Dennisport Lobster Co. that Robert rolled up his sleeves and prepared in our borrowed kitchen.

But the most delicious take-away from this trip is the memory of our delightful weekday brunch at Hangar B Eatery, at the teeny-tiny Chatham Airport. If every airport had food this good, air travel would be much more enjoyable!

On a sunny and breezy autumn morning, we climbed on our bicycles in Harwich Port and rode five miles east on the Cape Cod Rail Trail to the popular breakfast and lunch destination, which occupies a small spot upstairs at the airport.

There, Chef Brian Erskine, a graduate of Johnson and Wales University, holds forth – solo – in a small kitchen with all the tools of his trade in easy reach. In peak season, he prepares and plates 300 meals a day, without benefit of a sous chef.

As for his food, it’s fresh, local and creative. The coffee is from Chatham Coffee Roasters, the juice is fresh squeezed, the jams, jellies and granola are homemade, as are the baked goods, like muffins and donuts. Made fresh each morning.

Robert ordered the omelet of the day, which was stuffed with roasted tomatoes, arugula and Vermont cheddar cheese and served with well-done home fries.

I feasted on Huevos Rancheros, a Mexican breakfast I am highly unlikely to make at home. It paired fried eggs, black beans, roasted tomatoes and avocado with toasted tortillas on the side for sopping things up – or slathering with jam.

Huevos Rancheros, Hangar B style

You’ll also find pancakes and waffles on the menu, as well as healthy fare like smoothies and oatmeal. Brunch for two, with juices, coffee, tax and tip, cost about $40.

We were so impressed with this place and its talented owner and so glad we visited in the off-season, when Chef Brian gets a breather and inquisitive diners like us get a chance to bend his ear.

From Hangar B, we pedaled to downtown Chatham, strolled its streets and park and browsed its shops, before hitting the rail trail again for the ride home – and to burn off some of that brunch.

Hangar B Eatery is at the Chatham Airport, 240 George Ryder Road, Chatham, MA. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch year-round, and has outdoor seating in season. In the off-season, Hangar B is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Information: 508-593-3655.

 

 

 

Food52 redux in CNY: An evening of exceptional food -- and fellowship

 Potluck: A communal meal to which people bring food to share.

 Food52 potluck: A communal meal to which people bring exceptional  food to share.

A group of Central New York food lovers, Food52 fans and friends held a potluck dinner last weekend to celebrate the publication of  "The Food52 Cookbook: 140 Winning Recipes from Exceptional Home Cooks.'' The book is an outgrowth of the popular Food52.com website, which draws a half-million visitors a month.

The website was launched last year by food writers and editors Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs. Their mission: Connect with and celebrate the best home cooks in the country and “create the first crowd-sourced cookbook in 52 weeks.’’

Each week, they ran recipe contests: Your best salad, your best ribs, your best chocolate cake, your best boozy drink – and so on. The  winning recipes -- everything from appetizers, soups and starters to sublime desserts -- make up the book.

For the potluck, our group of five prepared and shared seven different dishes, each from the Food52 website database.

Sara Errington made Fig and Blue Cheese Savouries (hello, Thanksgiving appetizer!) and a beautiful Apple and Endive Salad with Dates, Pomegranate, Sumac and Honey Walnut Labneh. Isn't it gorgeous?

Our host, Teri Weaver, has had several recipes featured on the Food52 website. She made Merrill’s Short Ribs With Beer and Buckwheat Honey. Savory, slightly sweet and falling-apart tender, the ribs are the epitome of winter comfort food.

Michelle Breidenbach tapped the bumper crop of winter squash in her CSA share to make Amanda's Roasted Butternut Squash. Do you find winter squash unwieldy? Watch a Food52 video, “How to Roast Any Winter Squash.’’ 

After an unfortunate incident involving squid caused her to shift gears, Maureen Green whipped up Merrill’s refreshing Radish and Escarole Salad with Anchovy Vinaigrette. 

I made an easy (aside from a lot of peeling!) Roasted Carrot Soup, plus a Chocolate Bundt Cake for dessert. The carrot soup calls for just seven ingredients and has wonderful depth of flavor.

The cake uses items you have in your pantry -- no special shopping or fancy ingredients required. 

The Food52 founders, traveling the country to promote their book and take part in potluck events many times larger than ours, surprised us by sending a signed cookbook for each participant. 

Even though our lives, increasingly, are migrating away from the printed page to apps, websites and online communities like Food52 -- there is no substitute for a good, old-fashioned cookbook. 

Or a good, old-fashioned get-together.

 

 

 

Syracuse resident wins ticket to the Pride of NY Harvest Festival!

Update to Tuesday's post: Tracy Tillapaugh, of Syracuse, is the winner of the ticket to this weekend's Pride of New York Harvest Festival at the state fairgrounds -- and not just because she is so excited to attend! There were just three entries. Thanks to Maureen and Ryan for entering as well.  And stay tuned. You never know when there might be another giveaway here!

It’s that time of year again: Time to be thankful for and celebrate the harvest. 

And time to celebrate New York’s farm, field and artisan food producer bounty at the Pride of New York Harvest Festival.

This year’s Harvest Festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (November 5) and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday (November 6) at the state fairgrounds, in Geddes.

There will be an array of homegrown and homemade NYS foods to tempt your taste buds: cheeses, spreads, toppings, sauces sweet and savory, cookies, mustards, muesli – you name it. There will also be wines from all corners of the state to sample.

I’m looking forward to trying/taking home and baking with locally produced, sweet cream Meadow Butter from Kriemhild Dairy Farms and picking up some of the “java-licious” dry rubs from Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters – to single out just two of the many food vendors who will be there.

Tickets to the Pride of NY Harvest Fest are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

I have in my possession one admission ticket to give away to a reader.

TO ENTER TO WIN: Leave a short and sweet comment below telling me why you’re looking forward to the fest OR how you like to eat/buy local. The giveaway is open to Central New York residents only and IMPORTANT NOTE you will need to pick up your ticket in person.

The deadline to enter is 9 a.m. Thursday and a winner will be selected at random. Good luck!