07.1.2011 Cape Cod hospitality.... good food in New England (part one)
After dropping my son off at camp in Maine, my husband, daughter and I drove our rental car, the Cube, down to visit our long time friends, Rob and Kathleen and their four children at their beautiful yet comfortable summer home situated out on a spit of land on Cape Cod. "Picture perfect" are the only words to describe this little slice of heaven.
Imagine this... after a grueling long drive from Maine, we arrive at dinner time. Rob pours me a crisp white and makes Mike a "Dark and Stormy," dark rum and Gosling ginger beer. Kathleen serves us a delicious summer meal of Caprese salad, steamed clams and mussels in a rich broth. I could taste the nearby sea. The adults and kids all around their long farmhouse table on the screened porch sharing a meal and lots of laughter. The best.
Their family has a special tradition before dinner... after grace is said, they go around the table and each person asks God for a special blessing on someone or thanks Him for what they are grateful for. Although I didn't say it at the time, I'm very thankful for our time spent with their family and their long time friendship.
Tilly, their family dog was the icing on the cake for my daughter. Four fun kids, bikes, scooters, ice cream and Tilly, what more could a little girl ask for in a vacation.
Every morning the children went off to sailing camp...
While poor Rob was off working, (someone has to pay for all this fun) Kathleen took Mike and I to their favorite little shack on the water for the worlds best lobster rolls.
They were fabulously simple... loads of lobster, very little mayonnaise, and not junked up with anything else. A very memorable lunch.
After scarfing down our stellar lobster rolls, we watched a fishing boat dock and unload several bins of enormous conch. I thought to myself this all must be staged. No way could my lobster roll dining experience be any more complete.
Their open front door says it all ... what wonderful hospitality we experienced on Cape Cod!
(So as not to sound too saccharin sweet about our idealistic vacation I thought I'd mention our lost luggage and the very bland lunch we ate at an Irish pub in Boston.)
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Reader Comments (25)
Sounds like the perfect vacation! Have a safe and Happy 4th!
Oh Lisa, you did it again! Great pics. It's so fun to watch collage friends still have such a great connection years later. Hurry up to Michigan , the black cherries will be waiting for you , xx
Although I grew up going to New England for summer vacations to visit my paternal grandparents, I wish I could have a re-do of that time. My sister and I wouldn't eat any seafood, so subsisted on hot dogs while everyone enjoyed clams, lobster, and more. Not only do I miss the simplicity of that era and the family that's no longer with us, but I sure wish that as the foodie I am now I could try again!
This sounds like an ideal place to enjoy the vacation!
Lovely - I wish I were there!
Lisa Dear, Thanks for sharing your lovely trip with us. Your pics bring it all alive. Beautiful, Dad
Lisa! Thank you for the free summer soujourn! There is nothing more opposite of this in (beautiful though...) landlocked Colorado. I feel transported. Is there anything more charming than their dining table? And the food....What a fun excursion. Can't wait for Part 2 and beyond. Happy holiday weekend!
What an idyllic vacation place! I felt relaxed just looking at the pictures! :D
Looks like a wonderful vacation!!! I love all of your photos. So vibrant and beautiful and the food looks amazing. I especially love how the farmhouse table was decorated, it's gorgeous!
Michele- My sister and I were eating peanut butter sandwiches as children while my parents ate freshly caught lobsters and homemade blueberry pie in Maine. I recommend you do try again! The lobster and blueberry pie were so much better than PBJ!!
Wow, wish I were there right now. Sounds marvelous!
Picture Perfect indeed :D That caprese salad and the beautiful setting on that white table looks like it's straight from a magazine!!
And what a wonderful tradition before each meal...it's great that they teach their kids to be grateful for things in their lives DAILY! :)
Lookng fwd to Part 2 now Lisa!
All I want to do now is run off to Cape Cod, simply beautiful!
The caprese salad is gorgeous! I love the dinner set up, looks perfect for summer. And that table is to die for!
The pictures tell me that you are having a fantastic vacation! Enjoy every bit of time! Hope you don't lose your luggage on the way back :)
Spectacular photos! It looks like you had a lovely visit :)
Hi Lisa,
thanks for sharing these wonderful photos from your vacation. Looks like the perfect place on Earth to relax and enjoy good food.
These photos are beautiful. The fully set table....someday I'm going to set aside some cash and time so I can set a table like that.
Your pictures are gorgeous! well, so is the food and the scenery, but you've caught it perfectly. I live in Mass, but won't be spending any time on the Cape this summer, boo hoo!
Carolyn, I didn't know you were located in Mass. Well you learn something every day about fellow food bloggers!
Lisa, I adored this post and love that you shared it with us - including the taste of the sea. Just beautiful and not saccharin sweet, as you say! Lost luggage, though? Hm. All the photos are just so stunning, you make us feel we're there with you. That table set looks like something from a magazine set! Fabulous break for us reading this, too.
LOL, I was just thinking what a dreamy experience you were describing until I got to the part about losing your luggage! I guess nothing is ever totally perfect!
What a lovely holiday! Cape Cod is one of Adam's favorite places, he used to go down there all the time when he was in coleg in Boston but never had the idyllic experience you did! Caprese, mussels, lobster, the food sounds every bit worthy of the location!
I love your blog. I've made a few of your tart recipes, and they have all come out wonderfully. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Cape Cod is one of my favorite places! My family has a summer house in Hyannis, it used to be the best part of my vacations. Unfortunately I won't be up there this year, but your photos have captured the true essence of Cape Cod summers and what I love and miss most about it.
Thanks, Christina! You are fortunate to have Cape Cod as a family summer place... I love it too!