A Tasty Collaboration

Two of our favorite purveyors of tasty tipple on the north shore have come together in a creative collaboration. This Friday, April 22^nd, Cape Ann Brewing Company along with Ryan & Wood Distillery will be tapping their new project; Whiskey Barrel Aged Fisherman’s Rock-Porter. Oak barrels used by Ryan & Wood to age their rye whiskey for 2 years were re-used by Cape Ann Brewing to age our Fisherman’s Rock-Porter for another 2 months.

This event marks the first of many future collaborations between the two companies. Head down to The Pub at Cape Ann Brewing on Friday at 6:00 pm for a chance to taste the new brew and to chat up brewer extraordinaire Dylan Lindquist and the terrific Bob Ryan of Ryan & Wood. We’ve had the opportunity to talk with each of them at length and you’d be hard put to find a couple of guys more passionate about what they do.

And be sure to congratulate Bob on his first bottling of rye whiskey!

Wenham’s Grassy Roots Feeds Body and Soul

Let’s face it, healthy food is not always delicious. But we’re happy to report that at a lovely new spot in Wenham, we found a lunch you can feel good about. We stopped into Grassy Roots last weekend and were delighted by the airy space and the fresh selections.

We started with one of their juice combinations, which are made on the spot from whole fruits and vegetables. The Get Up and Go is a tasty combination of pineapple, lime, and cucumber ($7) that was made on the less-sweet side at our request. (It would be fabulous with a touch of gin in it, but that’s another story.)

The store carries a great selection of smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and panini, along with fresh baked goods. We tried the Lovely Viola, which featured large chunks of moist poached salmon, arugula, onion, and dill tartar ($10). Definitely worth returning for. We felt the same way about the Barstool, a combination of roasted eggplant, hummus, roasted red peppers and watercress that tasted incredibly fresh and more decadent than most vegetarian sandwiches ($8).

Of course, since we wanted to report on all of the shop’s offerings, we had to try a few of the goodies on display. Honestly, the things we won’t do for you people. The triple chocolate brownie was dense and fudgy, though we’re not sure the small size was worth $1.50; the muffins were moist and flavorful; and the cheddar chive bacon scone was one of the best savory scones we’ve ever had—cheesy and smoky with a wonderful light texture.

If you’re traveling on Route 1A, definitely stop into this high quality breakfast and lunch spot, and if you try the mocha morning smoothie, let us know how it was because we already regret not trying it.

Grassy Roots
152 Main St, Wenham
(978) 468-5200
grassyroots.squarespace.com

Gloucester’s Latitude 43 Unveils New Sibling: Minglewood Tavern

We were a bit confused when we started hearing mention of Minglewood Tavern. We knew the bar at Latitude 43 in Gloucester was undergoing renovation, but this sounded like a whole new entity. We decided to investigate and gave Brian Eastman, the bar manager, a call.

It turns out that Minglewood Tavern, which takes it’s name from the Grateful Dead song New Minglewood Blues, is still attached to Lat 43 but has been given a separate identity and a complete makeover. This isn’t surprising given the fact that both establishments are owned by Mark McDonough’s Serenitee Restaurant Group (previously North Shore Restaurant Group). McDonough is well known for his creativity and fearlessness in retooling eateries to better serve local neighborhoods.

Eastman told us the team essentially gutted the entire tavern and outfitted it with features that make it even more funky and comfortable. The centerpiece is a large bar custom built by Walker Creek Furniture of Essex and finished with salvaged 205-year-old barn boards. Another new feature is a beautiful stone hearth built with local granite that serves as inspiration for the new menu, which Eastman describes as creative pub fare. Flatbread pizzas and other oven-baked items like enchiladas and lasagna will be on offer. Other menu items, like the sushi that Lat 43 is known for, will still be available.

There is a full roster of weekly specials and events planned, and Eastman is especially excited about Thursdays, when various brewers will be on hand to meet and talk beer. And speaking of beer, Minglewood is serious about it; they’ll offer twenty brews on tap.

Minglewood opens tomorrow night, and they’ll have a grand opening celebration starting at 6:00 pm with tastes from the new menu and live music from the local band Phat Maxx. We heard a rumour that Good Morning Gloucester’s infamous Joey C will be on hand mixing up his signature drink, the Hop Skip and Go Naked, which is served in a mason jar. How can you pass that up?

Minglewood Tavern
www.minglewoodtavern.com
25 Rogers Street, Gloucester
(978) 281-0223

Weekend Picks, November 4-7

The weekend is almost upon us, and we’re back with some ideas to keep you busy.

First off, tonight the Trustees of the Reservations hold the first of their 3rd Annual Celebrity Chef Dinner Series at Castle Hill hosted by the Trustees of the Reservations. Tonight’s dinner features Chef Robert Grant of The Butcher Shop in Boston, and the Dec. 2 dinner will feature Chef Sam Hunt of 15 Walnut in Hamilton.

On Sunday, there are fun things happening all over the North Shore. In Peabody, you’ll find the North Shore Bazaar 2010. While it’s not limited to food and drink, there will be more than 25 vendors offering organic, fair trade, locally resourced, or locally produced gifts and services. Lunch will be available as well.

Rockport Music is hosting a wine tasting at 4:00 on Sunday, offering attendees the opportunity to sample nine of the best French, German, and Californian wines, accompanied by a culinary creation, and then evaluate and vote on the best overall pairing of wine and food. California’s Benchmark Wine Group will lead the tasting, and Chef Ron Weisheit and Pastry Chef Rhonda Weisheit of Newburyport’s Pralines & Pepper will provide the food and some insight into the pairings.

Also on Sunday evening, the 17th Annual Taste of Lynnfield will be held at the Peabody Marriott, hosted by Lynnfield Educational Trust (LET), a non-profit that provides financial support to enhance the educational experience for all children in the Lynnfield Public schools.

This year, attendees will have the opportunity to sample the culinary talents of some outstanding area restaurants, including The Blue Ox (Lynn), 15 Walnut (Hamilton), Masa (Woburn), Jalapeno’s Mexican Restaurant (Gloucester), Turbine Wine Bar (Lynn), The Red Rooster (Lynnfield), T&L Wine Cellar (Lynnfield and Peabody), Cafe Jag’s (Wakefield), FINZ (Salem), New England Beverage (North Reading), Focaccia (Wilmington), Guilio’s Bakery (Wakefield), Mount Vernon at the Ship (Lynnfield), and Carrabba’s Italian Grill (Peabody).

Last but far from least, don’t forget that Sunday marks the first night of Salem Restaurant Week. Salem has had an unprecedented number of restaurants open this year, and if you’ve been itching to get out and try some of the new kids on the block, this is your chance. The deals are good enough that after you try something new, you can go back to an old favorite as well.

And here, as always, are the weekend picks from our pals in the North Shore Bloggers Consortium.

Abby shares her picks, including an apples and wine fest in Ipswich, over at 5th Joy.

The wonderful Jane Ward tells us what’s up in Newburyport and Amesbury in Food and Fiction.

Choices from all over New England from The Two Palaverers.

Media giant Seth gives up the best of Lynn at Lynn Happens.

Joey’s got all that’s going on in Gloucester over at Good Morning Gloucester

Our Weekend Picks

It looks like we’ll get the fall weather back this weekend, just in time for Halloween. The biggest Halloween party in the nation happens right here on the North Shore, and if you’re the partying kind and have never been to Salem for the big day, get thee hence; it really is a scene like no other. Just take heed when deciding how to get there.

Whether you have little ones looking forward to trick or treating, or you’re stocking up on candy to hand out to the neighbors, here is a list of the official trick or treat hours in North Shore communities.

For those of you who prefer smaller crowds and fine wines, on Saturday October 30, Shubie’s is holding their Corks and Forks Annual Fall Wine & Food Festival. From noon to 4:00, they will be pouring with over 50 wines, featuring The BZ Collection, MS Walker, European Cellars, Old Bridge Cellars, Wildman Imports, Grange Fine Wines, and Classic Wine Imports.

There will also be tastes to try along with the wine. Among others, Chef Lynn Aronson will be debuting her new cheese fondue, Fantastic Fortunes will be on hand with samples of the giant fortune cookies, and Tea Forte will be demonstrating their innovative teas and delicious blends.

The event is free to the public and special discounts on wines will be available that day. We’ve really enjoyed these tastings in the past, and you can read about our experience here.

While not happening on the weekend, next Tuesday’s Take a Bite out of Trafficking is an important event everyone should be aware of. Restaurants, chefs, and businesses located north of Boston will join together in support of Anuradha Koirala, one of CNN’s Top Ten Heroes of 2010 nominees. Her Maiti Nepal is a non-profit organization that combats the sex trafficking of Nepali women and children.

Held at the Ipswich Country Club, the event will kick off at 5:45 with a special chef’s tasting featuring samplings from various restaurants, including 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar, Tryst, The Blue Ox, Pellana, 15 Walnut, Shea’s, Ipswich Country Club, Salem Waterfront Hotel, 9 Elm, American BBQ, Mr. India, Ithaki, Bradford Tavern, and The Green Land Cafe.

In addition to culinary samplings from some of the area’s most recognized chefs, the evening includes an exclusive movie screening and an auction featuring a variety of fabulous items. Tickets are $45 presale, $50 at the door. Cash bar. All proceeds of the event go directly to Maiti Nepal.

For more things to do this weekend, checkout these choice picks from our North Shore Bloggers Consortium pals:

Seth’s rundown of what’s up in Lynn this Halloween Weekend at Lynn Happens.

Joey C’s Halloween edition of his weekend picks at Good Morning Gloucester.

Jane’s got some spooky cool events listed in her  picks over at Food & Fiction.

Rob and Laura have scouted out hauntings all over New England at The Two Plaverers.

Weekend Picks: the Short Version

Wow, what a whirlwind week. Things have been crazy busy, but we wanted to let you know about a few things going on this weekend.

First off, you still have today and tomorrow to take advantage of Cape Ann Restaurant Week and get a terrific three course meal for only $25 per person.

On Saturday, The Wine ConneXtion in North Andover will be hosting a grand tasting event to celebrate their first year in business. They will be pouring more than 50 hand-selected wines from all over the world  with some great one-day special pricing on selected wines. The Food Network’s Tommy Grella, now director of restaurants for Salvatore’s, will be serving up culinary treats for a fun-fillled afternoon of food and wine. The tastings run throughout the afternoon, but if you want a spot for the food demos, RSVP to press@wineconnextion.com.

Also on Saturday is an event we are looking forward to, the 28th Annual Essex Clam Festival, which runs from 11:00 to 4:00 at Memorial Park in Essex. (Rain date is Sunday.)

The highlight of the day will be the Clam Chowder Tasting, a competition that pits area restaurants against one another to determine who serves the best chowder on Cape Ann. Several local restaurants are expected to serve up their favorite chowder recipes starting at 12:00 and ending at 2:00.

The chowder will be judged by Legal Seafoods President & CEO Roger Berkowitz, Senator Bruce Tarr, Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Essex Town Selectman Jeff Jones, Chamber President Kathy Low, Amy Harnois of TD Bank, and local personality Ed Collard. The public will also have the opportunity to sample and vote on their favorite chowder. In addition to the chowder competition, there will be live entertainment, arts and craft tables, and children’s activities.

Lastly, we wanted to remind you that sign up for the Cape Ann Fresh Catch November season is underway. They’ve enhanced the weekly options, so you might be interested in taking a look.

Here are a few more weekend picks from a couple of our North Shore Bloggers Consortium pals:

The unstoppable Joey C has his picks here on Good Morning Gloucester.

The wonderful Jane Ward has some great ideas, including Flying Pumpkins over at Food and Fiction.

Choices from all over New England at The Two Palaverers.

Fabulous Abby shares her picks at 5th Joy.

Seth, our man in Lynn tells us what’s rockin’ there this weekend on Lynn Happens.

Tastings and Fests: Our Weekend Picks

There are some terrific tasting events coming up this weekend, and even a few tonight. Shubie’s Marketplace in Marblehead has a special Graham Port and cheese tasting from 4:00 to 7:00 this evening.

If you’d rather check out offerings from local restaurants for a good cause, head on over to the Danversport Yacht Club where the Danvers Educational Enrichment Partnership holds its 12th annual Wine & Food Tasting from 6:00 to 9:30.

For more offerings from local eateries, Marblehead Chamber of Commerce hosts its Octoberfest on Friday evening, with a food and spirit tasting at the Corinthian Yacht Club from 7:00 to 9:00.

Saturday is a day of dueling festivals. First, Rockport will hold its HarvestFest which features a full day of activities, staring around 11:00 am. There will be a Local Fare Fair with all sorts of local foods, a cooking demonstration, a harvest lunch from Market Restaurant, and a seafood throwdown. Cape Ann Brewing company will be on hand offering tastes of some of their unique brews from 12:00 to 5:00. Sarah Kelly gives more insights into the festival in this video.

If you’d rather spend the afternoon navigating craft brews and fine wines, Salem HarvestFest is the place for you. Sponsored by Magic Hat and held at the Knights of Columbus in Salem, you can taste samples from participants like Cody Brewing, Classic Wine Imports, M.S. Walker, Mayflower Brewing, Turtle Creek Winery, Select Beverages, Still River Winery, Bay State Wines, Charles River Winery, Cape Ann Brewing, Wachusett Brewing Company, Ipswich/Mercury Brewing, Harpoon, Berkshire Brewing, Oskar Blues, Naragansett and Arborway, and Clown Shoes. There will be two sessions, the first from 2:00 to 4:30 and the second from 5:30 to 8:00.

Last but not least, don’t forget that Sunday marks the beginning of Cape Ann Restaurant Week. For six days, participating Cape Ann restaurants will offer a three-course dinner for $25.00 per person (not including beverage, tax, or gratuity). It’s a great opportunity to get out and try places that you’ve been meaning to or visit old favorites. Follow the link to their website for a list of participating eateries.

Up next, as usual, are additional weekend picks from some of our pals in the North Shore Bloggers Consortium.

Good Morning Gloucester brings you the best of Gloucester MA and surrounding communities. From the docks to the restaurants, the sporting fields to the art scene and anything in between, if it’s happening in Gloucester it’s generally covered on GMG.

Click here for Joey’s weekend picks

Jane Ward writes fiction and is the author of Hunger (Forge, 2001) and The Mosaic Artist (to be released).  She is currently at work on her third novel, The Welcome Home.  She also writes about food – in a weekly blog called Food and Fiction, and as a contributing writer to the online regional food magazine, Local In Season – because she loves to cook and eat.  And so does everyone she knows.

Click Here for Author Jane Ward’s Weekend Picks

5thjoy is a blog about the things that make life shimmer: Food, Fashion, Feathering the Nest and whatever glinting Flotsam floats our way.

Click Here For Abby Cahill O’Brien’s Fifth Joy Weekend Picks

The Two Palaverers are the husband and wife team of Rob and Laura Ciampa, two passionate New Englanders who have spent decades exploring the highways and byways of New England in search of regional character, culture and cuisine. Their goal is to recognize the people, places and things that exemplify the character of New England. Join them as they palaver about New England.

Click Here For The Weekend Picks From The Two Palaverers

At its core, LynnHappens.com is a place to find out what’s happening in Lynn. It features an events calendar, local weather, arts and events coverage, photo galleries, complete City Council videos, letters to the editor and more.

Click here are for LynnHappens.com editor Seth Albaum’s picks for the weekend

Food For Thought- Heather Atwood

As a painter and writer, Heather Atwood spent a lot of time waiting on tables in great restaurants. While struggling with color and line, she was also learning how to roast a great chicken, and what it means to balance textures in a dish. She’s been interested in good food ever since. Married, the mother of two daughters, Heather now lives in Rockport, Mass. and is the food columnist for the Gloucester Daily Times. She is featured regularly in Taste of the Times videos and her writing can also be seen in the Wednesday food section of the Times.

Click here for Heather Atwood’s Weekend Picks

Earn a Free Entrée While Discovering New Flavors

You may not have realized it, but several of the terrific restaurants we enjoy here on the North Shore are the result of the hard working folks at Serenitee Restaurant Group. The group (previously known as North Shore Restaurant Group) has just unveiled a fun promotion aimed at encouraging diners to discover restaurants they may not have tried and, of course, to get out to old favorites as well.

At any of the six eateries, all with unique atmospheres and cuisines, you can pick up a “Discovery Card” that gets stamped with the purchase of a meal. Whether from six different restaurants or the same one, after you accumulate six stamps, you are rewarded with a free entrée at any of the locations.

The restaurants included in the promotion are:

15 Walnut, Hamilton (read about our experience here)

Cala’s, Manchester (read about our experience here)

Hale St. Tavern, Sushi and Oyster Bar, Beverly Farms

Latitude 43, Gloucester

Backstage Bistro, at the North Shore Music Theater, Beverly

Alchemy Tapas & Bistro, Gloucester

You know us, we’ll use any excuse to get out and try different restaurants, and a free meal is a great one. The offer expires December 31, so there’s plenty of time to explore these North Shore eateries.

NSBC Weekend Picks

It’s Thursday again, and we’ve got some great picks for things to do this weekend—not only from us, but from our pals in the North Shore Bloggers Consortium as well.

Friday evening, the Wenham Village Improvement Society will host an Oktoberfest Fundraiser on the lawn at the Exchange at the Wenham Teahouse. Live music, drinks, passed hors d’oeuvres, several dinner stations, and desserts will be on tap from 6:30 until 11:00. $75.00 per person or $100.00 at the door (tax and 18% gratuity additional). RSVPs are necessary. Please call (978) 468-1398 to reserve your table

Also Friday evening  from 4:00 to 7:00, Nadia Zenato of Italy’s Zenato Estate will be at Shubie’s in Marblehead, accompanied by the infamous BZ Zohn to feature their entire portfolio of wines. The Zenato Estate is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and as part of the celebration, Nadia is touring the Northeast. This will be her only retail stop in New England, and it’s your chance to taste some great wines and meet the owner of the estate.

On Saturday, October 2 from noon to 3:00, don’t forget the 3rd annual Chili Con-Carnival Cook-Off hosted by the Grog in their parking lot in Newburyport. Many restaurants and individual families will be competing for top spot, and you can enjoy live music, door prizes, and great chili, voting for your favorite.

Saturday evening in Salem, you’ll find Witchtoberfest at the Old Town Hall in Salem, a beer tasting fundraiser with 50% of the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem. They promise “Good Beer, Good Music and Good Times.” There will be light hors d’oeuvres provided by local restaurants, a live band, a raffle, and a silent auction. The confirmed breweries so far include Shipyard Brewing, Mayflower Brewing, Blue Hills Brewery, Narragansett, Beerworks, and Cody Brewery.

And although not specifically food oriented, don’t forget that October 1st means the beginning of the Topsfield Fair and Salem’s Haunted Happenings!

Here are some great ideas from the other members of NSBC:

Jane Ward writes fiction and is the author of Hunger (Forge, 2001) and The Mosaic Artist (to be released).  She is currently at work on her third novel, The Welcome Home.  She also writes about food – in a weekly blog called Food and Fiction, and as a contributing writer to the online regional food magazine, Local In Season – because she loves to cook and eat.  And so does everyone she knows.

Click Here for Author Jane Ward’s Weekend Picks

Food For Thought- Heather Atwood

As a painter and writer, Heather Atwood spent a lot of time waiting on tables in great restaurants. While struggling with color and line, she was also learning how to roast a great chicken, and what it means to balance textures in a dish. She’s been interested in good food ever since. Married, the mother of two daughters, Heather now lives in Rockport, Mass. and is the food columnist for the Gloucester Daily Times. She is featured regularly in Taste of the Times videos and her writing can also be seen in the Wednesday food section of the Times.

Click here for Heather Atwood’s Weekend Picks

Good Morning Gloucester brings you the best of Gloucester MA and surrounding communities. From the docks to the restaurants, the sporting fields to the art scene and anything in between, if it’s happening in Gloucester it’s generally covered on GMG.

Click here for Joey’s weekend picks

At its core, LynnHappens.com is a place to find out what’s happening in Lynn. It features an events calendar, local weather, arts and events coverage, photo galleries, complete City Council videos, letters to the editor and more.

Click here are for LynnHappens.com editor Seth Albaum’s picks for the weekend

The Two Palaverers are the husband and wife team of Rob and Laura Ciampa, two passionate New Englanders who have spent decades exploring the highways and byways of New England in search of regional character, culture and cuisine. Their goal is to recognize the people, places and things that exemplify the character of New England. Join them as they palaver about New England.

Click Here For The Weekend Picks From The Two Palaverers

Greater Newburyport Today is your online guide to the wide range of activities and events occurring within the Greater Newburyport region of coastal Massachusetts, including the surrounding New Hampshire seacoast and the Ipswich/Essex and Cape Ann regions of the North Shore.

Click here for Greater Newburyport today’s weekend picks

Weekend Picks

This post marks the beginning of something new here at the Dish. We have joined with a group of fellow local bloggers to form the North Shore Blogger Consortium. We will be bringing you the best of Boston’s North Shore each Thursday morning in a series of posts titled North Shore Blogger Consortium Weekend Picks. These picks will feature each blog’s very top picks of things to do for the upcoming weekend, whether it be culture, food or activities.

This first week is a bit of a soft opening, if you will, with just a few participants. We will be featuring many more bloggers in the upcoming weeks.

North Shore Dish Weekend Picks:

Tonight, Thursday 23rd, Shubie’s Market Place will be hosting a wine tasting  at the Lee Mansion in Marblehead to benefit the Marblehead Museum and Historic Society.

Saturday the 25th is a huge day for beer; it marks the beginning of North Shore Beer Week, and, man, is there a lot to choose from. Henry’s Market in Beverly is having an Oktoberfest celebration; they’ll have tents set up for a huge beer tasting, including samples from both local and national brewers, plus lots of great food and the judging of the Home Brew Competition. Further north, you’ll find the 5th Annual Riverfront Brewfest, hosted by the Haverhill Brewery and the 4th Annual Brew Fest at the Amesbury Sports Park, which promises “Beers Bands and BBQ.”

And if you’re looking for something to do with younger kids that day, you might want to check out the Ipswich Chowder Fest, which takes place from 12:00 to 3:00 on the Ipswich River Walk and features family-friendly activities as well as chowder tastings from area restaurants.

And on both Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th, Marblehead will be holding its annual Fall Festival, which for the first time this year includes a Restaurant Rivalry. You can purchase a ticket for $5 and as you walk through town enjoying the special events and sidewalk sales that will garner you tastings at a group of the local restaurants. You get to vote on your favorite, and you could win a $50 restaurant gift certificate.

Here are the picks from some other members of the Consortium:

Click here are for LynnHappens.com editor Seth Albaum’s picks for the weekend

Good Morning Gloucester brings you the best of Gloucester MA and surrounding communities. From the docks to the restaurants, the sporting fields to the art scene and anything in between, if it’s happening in Gloucester it’s generally covered on GMG.

Click here for Joey’s weekend picks

Greater Newburyport Today is your online guide to the wide range of activities and events occurring within the Greater Newburyport region of coastal Massachusetts, including the surrounding New Hampshire seacoast and the Ipswich/Essex and Cape Ann regions of the North Shore.

Click here for Greater Newburyport today’s weekend picks

In addition to these fine folks, next week we will have suggestions from The Two Palaverers, Heather Atwood, Abby Cahill O’Brien and Author Jane Ward. Stay tuned!