Nantucket Vacation Bliss
After walking around town, shopping and taking in Nantucket’s natural beauty we took a 15-minute cab ride over to the Summer House Inn. It was still raining, but romantically warm. Finian and I sat outside on the covered veranda, indulging in Crab Cakes with tomato confit, avocado and béarnaise aioli and a Roasted Beet and Frisee Salad, with horseradish dressing. For our entrees we opted for the Halibut en Croute, with creamed artichokes, curry coconut jasmine rice and the Crispy Half Duckling, with wild rice, swiss chard, honey glazed onions, and sweet & sour kumquats. Enjoying the roaring thunder and lightening while sipping on a dry sauvignon blanc, the evening ended with a fresh peach crumble to share.
Waking from my catnap refreshed, Finian and I made our way to Nantucket’s very own Cisco Brewery. Reminiscent of both an outdoor beer hall and hippy commune, we opted for a flight of their local beers on tap. Trying out a variety of their famous flavors, we got buzzed pretty fast. They were all so different, delicious and refreshing, Personally my favorite was the Grey Lady…. light and summery with a hint of lemon.
Suddenly it was 3pm and my empty stomach was telling me it was time to eat. Luckily Bartlett’s Farm and market was right around the corner. A three-minute bike ride to the market, Bartlett’s farm grows fresh flowers and seasonal produce year round. Their home made deli salads were the perfect remedy to satiate our drunken hunger. After a rigorous ride back to our hotel and a refreshing shower, I was ready to dine. American Seasons is one of the best farm-to-table restaurants on the island and one of the hardest to get into. We made a reservation 3 weeks ahead of time, just to be sure that we were able to get in. Walking under a beautiful vine covered trellis, and through a dimly lit cottage, Finian and I were comfortably seated in corner booth by the front window.
To start we shared a Warm Puree of Squash soup and Seared Day Boat Scallops with Bartlett’s Farm fried green tomatoes and smoky crayfish butter. For our entrees we ordered the Tobacco Rubbed Duck with quinoa, roasted carrots, gingered rhubarb vinaigrette and the Cod Fish with white beans, chorizo vinaigrette and squid ink aioli. We finished off the night with a Crushed Pineapple Carrot Cake with cream cheese & black pepper ice cream, delish!
Day 3:Picking up the Jeep Cherokee at 8am, we were determined to get out to the furthest point of Nantucket as early as possible....being on vacation, of course.
Grabbing veggie, avocado and hummus sandwiches from the local hippy sandwich shop, Something Natural, we ventured thirty minutes outside of the city to Great Point. A $35 permit will allow any four-wheel drive vehicle entrance to Nantucket’s own natural wildlife preserve. Sprawling sand dunes, crystal clear beaches and a larger than life lighthouse creates the backdrop to a perfect carefree sunny day.
Wandering down the white sandy beach, we came across 10 elephant seals, frolicking close to shore, drove past thousands of hermit crabs burrowing out of a small pond, and watched a variety of seabirds uninterrupted in their natural element. After a little off-roading, swimming in temperate waters and a bit of beach hiking we made our way back to the “city”. A must for any Nantucket tourist, we concluded our memorable vacation with a 50 minute boat ride from the White Elephant docks to it’s sister hotel, The Wauwinet. …just as impressive. Watching the sunset, with a glass of sparkling rose in hand, we crossed the serene harbor via taxi boat. It was truly a dream come true!
Once we reached our seaside destination, award winning, Toppers, Finian and I decided to dine alfresco. Before even glancing at the menu, we ordered a bottle of pinot grigio and a dozen of the most delicious local oysters I’ve ever had. For our appetizers, we chose, the Diver Scallop Ceviche with seaweed salsa verde, and poached asian pear, and Marinated Crab with hearts of palm, red mango, avocado, and trout roe. After much deliberation over our entrees, we ordered the Pineland Farm's Beef Short Rib with creamed swiss chard, king trumpet mushrooms, smoked potatoes, with a sauce bordelaise and the Butter Poached Lobster on top of coconut rice, black garlic, and peanuts with madras curry. It was the first time I’ve eaten meat in 2 months, and it was totally worth it! Even though I could barely ingest one more morsel of food, I went for the goal and ordered the Bread Pudding with candied pecans, maple ice cream, and brandy sauce. With a full belly, a nice buzz and sleepy eyes, we stepped off The Wauwinet dock and back onto the boat for a brisk and beautiful boat ride back to our hotel.
