Aqua Grill, and B&B Friday (5/28/10)!

Good evening, everybody
♥
Today, I'll share with you one of the lovely
restaurants I'll be dining in on Cape Cod:

Aqua Grille
in Sandwich

"Aqua Grille is a cozy waterfront bistro and bar with dining on an all weather, open air deck overlooking both the Sandwich Marina and the Cape Cod Canal, a favorite eating and drinking spot for locals as well as visitors for its colorful location with fantastic views."

"Much of the seafood served at Aqua Grille comes right off the fishing boats that dock within steps to the Aqua Grille along the Cape Cod Canal and the affordable new American menu is well rounded and delivers with local freshness and worldly flavors."

I'm so looking forward to eating here! Not only does it have
great reviews, it has amazing views as well (I love anything
waterfront!) Rest assured, I'll be the only doofus in the
restaurant snapping away with their camera the entire time!

Now, if your stomach has begun to growl (like mine has),
get yourself a snack, come back, and feast your eyes
on this week's gorgeous B&B's!:

1.

Concord's Colonial Inn
(Concord, MA)

"Concord's Colonial Inn is an enduring landmark of gracious hospitality in historic Concord, Massachusetts. The Inn was originally built in 1716 and has operated as a hotel since 1889. Nestled in a quaint New England village famed for its revolutionary and literary history, Concord's Colonial Inn is the picture perfect destination for your next vacation."

 The inn might also be... haunted!

"I have always prided myself on being a fairly sane individual, but on the night of June 14, I began to have my doubts. On that night, I saw a ghost in your Inn. The next morning I felt too foolish to mention it to the management, so my husband and I continued on our honeymoon. I wondered whether or not any sightings of a ghost had been reported or if any history of one was involved in the history of the Inn.
The incident sounds very melodramatic. I was awakened in the middle of the night by a presence in the room - a feeling that some unknown being was in the midst. As I opened my eyes, I saw a grayish figure at the side of my bed, to the left, about four feet away. It was not a distinct person, but a shadowy mass in the shape of a standing figure. It remained still for a moment, then slowly floated to the foot of the bed, in front of the fireplace. After pausing a few seconds, the apparition slowly melted away. It was a terrifying experience. I was so frightened I could not scream. I was frozen to the spot...
For the remainder of the night, I could not fall asleep. It was spent trying to conjure a logical explanation for the apparition. It was not a reflection of the moon as all the curtains were completely closed. Upon relating the incident to my husband, he said the ghost was included in the price of the room."

Rates: $135-325

2.

Elm Cottage
(Searsport, ME)

"Welcome to Elm Cottage B&B, Searsport's only vegan/vegetarian bed and breakfast. Elm Cottage Bed & Breakfast is located within sight of Penobscot Bay in the historic district of Searsport. Retreat into the warmth and charm of this beautiful 1840 home, only steps away from the town park and beach, Penobscot Marine Museum, antique stores, art galleries, restaurants, Left Bank Books, and more."

Rates: $75-90

3.

White Rocks Inn
(South Wallingford, VT)

"Welcome to White Rocks Inn Bed & Breakfast, where you will experience the warmth and charm of Old Vermont on a historic dairy farm. This is a Vermont bed and breakfast at its best, the way you always dreamed it would be. Located on the historic Ethan Allen Highway, the farm beckons with the architecture of its elegant Greek Revival farmhouse and landmark Gothic barn. This idyllic pastoral scene in the heart of the Otter Creek Valley, nestled between two mountain ranges, has offered escape to travelers since 1983. 
The house is surrounded by ancient trees—sugar maples, white pine and black walnut. It offers spectacular views of the Green Mountains—the bleached boulders of the White Rocks Recreation Area cascading down the hillside.
In whatever season your travels bring you to Vermont, you will find a haven of peace and tranquility at White Rocks Inn. Whether you come for New England fall foliage, a romantic getaway, a country wedding, or for all-season outdoor activities and beautiful scenery, you are sure to find the best that Vermont has to offer waiting just outside your door."

Rates: $150-240

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Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

♥

Eden Hand Arts

Good afternoon, all

(Wow, I'm finally writing in the

day time, as opposed to 10 o'clock at night)!

It's a beautiful Spring day with a hint of summertime,

and I can think of nothing other than my trip

to Cape Cod and Nantucket in two weeks!

Due to that, I've come up with the idea of sharing with

you some of my plans (places I'll visit, restaurants

I'll eat in) over the next couple of weeks 

leading up to my departure...

Sound good to you?

Good! ♥

Today, I'm going to show you an extremely
renowned business on the Cape that I'll be visiting-- 

the creators of the famous (and frequently knocked off)

Cape Cod Screwball Bracelet:

Eden Hand Arts

Eden Hand Arts is a very small shop located in 

the town of Dennis, hidden on a quiet back road

off Route 6A. Generally unfamiliar with the tourist
crowd, this business attracts mostly locals (some who

continue to return for years) and Cape-Codder-wannabes,

like myself, who do too much web-browsing! :p

What adds to the intrigue of Eden is its particular

unwritten set of rules, most of them passed on 

via word-of-mouth from experienced customers.

Some rules are as follows:

1. Their parking is extremely limited (only offering

a small driveway next to the shop.) They are also very

strict on parking elsewhere; if you decide to park on the
side of the road, your car will be in danger of getting towed.

2.  There are two lines: one longer line reserved for 

those who wish to browse, and another for those
who already know what they'd like to purchase.

3. You can't enter the store unless you're asked to come in

(no stepping your foot into this store uninvited!)

4. They only allow two groups of shoppers in at a time

5.  And they only accept cash or checks. No credit or debit cards.

 ♥

With all of these rules, some shoppers might be turned off.

But for others (like myself), it simply adds to the appeal of

almost being in on some kind of local secret, owning such a
special piece of jewelry that many aren't even aware of.

Here is a sample of some of the pieces that they offer

(taken from www.rachelleb.com):

Personally, for myself, I'd like the traditional, 

single screwball bracelet in silver and gold:

Beautiful!

 So on Saturday, June 12th, I'll be one of the many vying

desperately for a parking spot, then standing humbly

on line to obtain my very own relic of Cape Cod...

I have a feeling it'll be an experience
I'll not soon forget
♥

Winner of the Cape Cod Summer Giveaway, and B&B Friday (5/21/10)!

Happy Friday, everyone...

I hope everyone enjoyed their week! ♥

I will now announce the winner of my

Cape Cod Summer Giveaway;

the prize, a $25 gift certificate to 

The Mews Restaurant & Cafe

in Provincetown.

Drum roll please...

♥

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♥

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The winner is--

Cape Cod Rambling Rose!

Congratulations!

Please e-mail me (erinxtreme77@aol.com)

your address so I can send you your prize ♥

Now... on to this week's B&B's!:

1.

October Country Inn

(Bridgewater Corners, VT)

"Our Vermont inn is a unique and beautiful country bed and breakfast inn, featuring antique quilts, lace curtains, fresh flowers, and a wonderful potbellied stove. The living room is country living at its best with its comfortable overstuffed furniture, a fireplace at one end, and a piano at the other. It's elegant in a 'farmhouse charm' sort of way.
Our rates - which include hearty country breakfasts  - are excellent, as is our reputation. As Sandra Soule, Editor of America's Favorite Inns, says, people, indeed, love the October Country Inn.
While you are in New England enjoy the area attractions, such as Killington Resort - including skiing/snowboarding in winter; and golf, hiking and biking in the summer, Billings Farm, Green Mountain Railroad, and much more!"

Rates: $165-195

2.

The Captain Jefferds Inn

(Kennebunkport, ME)

"The Captain Jefferds Inn Bed & Breakfast in Kennebunkport, Maine is a warm and inviting 1805 sea captain’s home. From the time you enter through this Maine inn's red front door you will experience the charm, comfort and exceptional hospitality provided by these Kennebunkport innkeepers and their dedicated staff.
Located in the quiet historic residential district, this Kennebunkport inn is surrounded by beautifully manicured lawns and gardens and is a quick stroll to ‘Dock Square,’ the village center of Kennebunkport. There you’ll enjoy specialty boutiques, art galleries, antique shops and a full range of restaurants from casual to five diamond rated."

Rates: $179-369

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And finally, I share with you Gary Polochko 

(a new follower of mine)'s  beautiful inn;

one of the many fine examples of why

Provincetown is so exquisite!:

3.

The Revere Guest House

(Provincetown, MA)

"The Revere House is a beautifully restored sea captain's house located in the heart of Provincetown on Cape Cod.
Our guests always fall in love with our common room where one can soak up the sun and relax in comfort, listen to music, or maybe read a new book. It is a great place to socialize and meet others, or to just sit by the fire and keep warm on those cold fall days.
Take a step outside to the patio in the private garden and spend the morning enjoying our complimentary continental breakfast including Starbuck's coffee, Tazo tea, orange juice, home baked goodies served with various jams, fresh bagels, english muffins, breads, yogurts, and of course, fresh fruit depending upon the season.
See for yourself what makes the Revere House the perfect place to stay while visiting Provincetown."

Rates: $155-375

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Have a nice weekend, everybody!

♥

New England Inn Dinner Menu

Good evening! ♥

Tonight I felt like menu-composing,

so I decided on a simple dinner menu
featuring recipes exclusively from inns
around the New England region...

I hope you'll all see something that makes your stomach growl!

First Course:

Roasted Pear, Arugula, and 

Maytag Blue Cheese Salad

from the Three Stallion Inn in Vermont

Ingredients:
4 firm-ripe pears (Bartlett or Anjou is the best choice here)
2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 bunches arugula
1/4 pound (115 g) Maytag or other firm blue cheese, crumbled

 Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C, gas mark 4).
Peel the pears, nip off the stem, split lengthwise, and remove the core with a melon bailer. Toss the pears with half of the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Put the pears on a baking sheet and roast until browned and easily pierced with a knife, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.

Remove the stems from the arugula, then wash and spin-dry. In a large bowl, toss the arugula with the rest of the olive oil and salt and pepper.
Mold the cheese into the core of the pears, divide among 4 plates, and mound the arugula over them.

Makes 4 servings

ADD IT! Drizzle a little balsamic vinegar over each salad. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over them for extra crunch.

Second Course:

Pan Seared Scallops & Mussels

from the Sebasco Harbor Resort in Maine

Ingredients:

8 jumbo scallops
4 ounces smoked mussels
2 tsp olive oil
2 T. butter
2 T. fine diced shallots
6 ounces cleaned spinach
6 T. dry white wine
2 T. lemon juice
6 T. heavy cream
2 cups cooked rice pilaf

 Directions:
Add olive oil to sauté pan.  Heat pan on medium-high heat, and when hot add scallops.  Cook scallops 3 minutes on first side, until dark brown.  Turn and cook on the other side for 2 minutes.  Remove scallops from pan and set aside.  Add butter and shallots to sauté pan and cook thirty seconds.  Add spinach, white wine and lemon juice.  Add mussels and cream.  Let reduce about 1 minute.  Add scallops to warm and serve immediately with rice.

Makes 2 servings

Third Course:

Fresh Blueberry Pie

from the 1785 Inn in New Hampshire

Ingredients:

Filling

8 oz Cream Cheese (soften by bringing to room temperature)

3 Cups of Fresh Blueberries

Pie Crust (yields 3)

 4 cups flour

 2 tsp salt

 ¾ cup butter (softened by bringing to room temperature)

 ½ cup water

 1 T vinegar

 1 large egg

Blueberry Sauce for Blueberry Pie

 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

 1 cup sugar

  ¾ cup of water

Whipped Cream

 1 pint of heavy cream

 ½ cup of confectioners' sugar

 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Mix flour, salt and butter in one bowl, and water, vinegar and egg in another. Add mixture from the second bowl into the first and mix; divide into 3 equal parts. Roll out flat and add to greased (with butter) pie plate.

Bake at 425 F for 10 minutes or until done, then let cool.

Spread thin layer of cream cheese over bottom of cooked pie crust; spread half the blueberries over the cream cheese. 

For blueberry sauce, cook ingredients until boiling and blueberries pop open. Mix together ¼ cup flour and ¼ cup water and add to mixture to thicken; cook and stir for 2 or 3 minutes until sauce thickens. Pour a third to a half of the blueberry sauce over the blueberries; add the rest of the blueberries; top with the rest of the sauce

Refrigerate for at least an hour and cut into 8 pieces. Garnish each piece with a dollop of whipped cream. 

For whipped cream beat ingredients together until firm.

Makes 8 servings

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Mmm, mmm... !

P.S.- A friendly little reminder that I 
will be announcing the winner of my
Cape Cod Summer Giveaway
this Friday-- so if you'd still like to participate,
please hurry! Time's running out!

♥

Cape Cod Summer Giveaway!

Welcome to my very first Giveaway, everyone!

I wish this prize included airfare for those of you that

don't live near the Cape. Unfortunately, it does not...

But! Those of you that do live close by, or are ever 

planning to visit, this prize will be quite a treat for you!

Want to know what it is now?

♥

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♥

A $25 gift certificate to 
The Mews Restaurant & Cafe 
in Provincetown!

The Mews is an extremely fashionable restaurant
overlooking Provincetown harbor that serves eclectic,
contemporary cuisine. It also offers the largest vodka
selection in the entire region of New England...

Quite a stylish way to kick off the Summer season, huh?


How to enter:
1. Begin following this blog, if you aren't already
2. Leave me a comment, telling me your favorite New England hot spot

I'll be accepting entries up until Thursday night,
and will announce the winner during this week's B&B Friday...

Good luck!

♥

B&B Friday (5/14/10) (P.S.- I'm back!)

Long time no see, everyone...

I'm back again!

Finals are finally over, my skin isn't breaking out

into rashes, nor do I feel like my head is imploding anymore--

Summer has begun!

I can't believe my trip is coming up in exactly four weeks, either!

I don't even think I'm emotionally prepared enough yet 

to face my equivalence to paradise!

And speaking of which, in a couple of days I'll be having a
wonderful Cape Cod Summer Giveaway here,

so those of you who live in the Massachusetts area

could be in for a delicious (hint-hint) treat! ;)

Now, without further ado, I give you this week's B&B's:

1.

Dutch Iris Inn

(Granby, CT)

"Magnificent sugar maple trees lead your way to the Dutch Iris Inn, a beautiful 1812 home located in the historic district of Granby, Connecticut, in the heart of the Farmington River Valley. We are open year-round, in an idyllic location near Hartford CT and Springfield MA, and an easy drive to the Litchfield Hills and Berkshire Mountains. Only three hours from New York City, two hours from Boston, and a short hop to many New England attractions, our central location makes day tripping easy.
From the moment you arrive at our Inn, you will discover gracious hospitality, relaxation and comfort. Stroll our grounds and gardens, sit on the porch swing and sip a cup of tea or glass of wine, curl up in front of the living room fireplace with a good book, or settle into your beautifully designed guest room. Our Inn offers modern conveniences, and each of our six guest rooms has a private bath, with jet tubs and fireplaces in select rooms. After a peaceful night’s sleep, you will awaken to the aroma of a scrumptious breakfast, prepared with you in mind."

Rates: $109-159

2.

Federal House Inn

(Plymouth, NH)

"Escape to the warmth, hospitality and good cheer of the Federal House Inn of New Hampshire. We are centrally located between the Lakes and White Mountains Regions in Plymouth, New Hampshire and just minutes from Plymouth State University, Holderness School and over a dozen Summer Camps.
Built in 1835, our 4 star inn offers luxury guest rooms with queen size beds, private baths and air conditioning as well as featuring 300 thread count linens, plush towels and robes, Bose radio alarm clocks, chocolates on your pillow (!) and a basket of eco-friendly toiletries.
In the Gathering Room, we offer our renowned Gourmet Breakfasts and you can even enjoy Dinners by Request, warmed by the ambiance of our antique coal/wood-burning stove. The Library is a relaxing place to chat with fellow travelers, play a game, watch television or DVD’s. And, by the way, the whole house has Wireless Internet (WiFi)!
An outdoor heated spa, two landscaped acres, charming brick patio, complimentary hospitality bar, and afternoon/evening snacks complete the experience. The Federal House Inn is truly that special place you've been looking for in New Hampshire."

Rates: $109-189

3.

Applegate Inn

(Lee, MA)

"The inn is situated on a park-like 6-acre Massachusetts estate close to the historic town of Lee. It is near Stockbridge (2 miles), Lenox (Lee is 10 minutes to Tanglewood using our no traffic short cut) and Great Barrington. Applegate has a unique location - a country estate, beset with horse farms, with only a half mile walk to downtown Lee. We pride ourselves in creating a tranquil atmosphere that allows all guests to create memories that will be treasured for years to come. The inn's elegant rooms, magnificent gardens, heated swimming pool and friendly staff promote true relaxation at our bed and breakfast."

Rate: $150-395

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So glad to be back!

Talk to you all soon

♥