Box Lunch Clam Chowder Earns TheYearRounder's 'Best Bite' Award

The outstanding clam chowder at Box Lunch was my favorite of the five Provincetown chowders I tasted this past week, earning TheYearRounder's first Best Bite award of the 2019 season.  

I generally like my clam chowder medium thick, and though this one leaned a bit to the thicker side, it was somehow quite light, not overly heavy, with plenty of tender clams.

  

Fresh cream lent a luscious, silky consistency to this hearty pottage of chunky quahogs (say kwo•hogs) and potatoes, both cooked perfectly. Altogether, this fine soup is quite a worthy competitor in the ongoing debate over who serves PTown's best "chowdah.".

Box Lunch is at 355 Commercial Street, across from the library, tucked away a few feet off the road in the lovely brick courtyard leading to Angel's Landing. This unique little eatery is widely hailed for its Rollwiches, with a great selection of tasty, rolled-up sandwiches you ought to try.
We congratulate Box Lunch on earning our Best Bite award,

Serving Provincetown for about 40 years now, Box Lunch offers great soups, salads, mac n' cheese, gigantic cookies, breakfast (served all day,) and, as it turns out, a really good clam chowder. Give 'em a whirl!

The Kobe Beef Burger at Vorelli's Earns TheYearRounder's 'Best Bite' Award

Vorelli's burgers may be the best in PTown, totally deserving Best Bite recognition.

Not long ago I had the Kobe Beef burger at Vorelli’s, at 226 Commercial Street, and it was the best thing I ate in that entire week, which earns them TheYearRounder’s Best Bite award for exceptional value on this excellent meal. 

This mammoth hamburger starts with a half-pound of Kobe beef, an exclusive grade of meat that’s famous for its juicy tenderness and remarkable flavor. It’s served with leafy lettuce on a bun that’s been toasted on the grill, with a mound of wedge-cut steak fries, and dill pickle chips on the side,

The Kobe burger sells for $14.95, which Is a great PTown bargain for a burger of this size and quality. For an extra 50¢ each I added cheddar cheese, a big slice of onion, and a thick slice of beefsteak tomato. Bacon was just $1.25. At Vorelli’s, they go out of their way to offer a good value for your money.

I could barely hang onto this huge burger with one hand while I shot this picture.

I spread on a little Dijon mustard and just a touch of mayo and I was in business, although it was really pretty difficult to hold onto this huge, towering burger with one hand while I took its photo with the other hand. This was definitely a two-fisted meal.

Vorelli’s is widely known for its aged, Black Angus steaks, and a couple of my favorite seafood dishes are there as well. A few pastas and Italian favorites round out the menu, along with some great lunch and dinner specials and a terrific lobster roll, again, at a great price.

Service at Vorelli’s is friendly and thoughtful, and the staff makes you feel at home in this charming old building that was once the old Five & Ten Cents Store. Much of the artwork on the walls depicts this gracious building through the eyes of a variety of artists over the years,

Lovely panels of stained glass adorn each end of the comfy bar where you’ll find Connie most nights, one of the towns most affable bartenders, who makes the infused vodkas for a couple of their unique, specialty cocktails. A selection of great desserts and after-dinner drinks finishes a memorable meal.

There are plenty of great reasons to visit Vorelli’s, and we congratulate them on garnering Best Bite recognition.

Seafood Trio Puttanesca at Pepe's Wharf Earns TheYearRounder's Best Bite Award

Seafood Trio Puttanesca at Pepe's Wharf, full of local scallops, mussels and shrimp.

This beautiful Seafood Trio Puttanesca, served at Pepe's Wharf, was the best  thing I ate in PTown this week, and I think this might be my favorite new dish of the season.
I don't know if I'd call it a putanesca, though the menu lists some traditional ingredients like capers and olives in a spicy tomato sauce.
I didn't find the dish to be very spicy, with the usual long-simmered, thick sauce. Instead it was much more delicate, with an abundance of subtle flavors and a slight bit of sweetness that was perfect with the gorgeous seafood that went all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

Pepe's round, rustic loaf of crusty bread comes to your table warm from the oven.

Served over spaghetti noodles that were cooked perfectly al dente, this meal had very generous helpings of large shrimp, big, plump mussels, and succulent scallops, fresh from local waters.
All of the juices from the seafood added another depth of flavor to this rather unusual "puttanesca" and its light, luscious sauce that I've been craving ever since I tasted it. I soaked up every drop of it with some of the warm, crusty bread that Pepe's serves with their dinners.

The wonderful flavors, generous portion and very reasonable price of this splendid dish all combine to earn a Best Bite award from TheYearRounder, recognizing the quality and value of this great PTown meal.
Add to all of that the unparalleled views of Provincetown Harbor from Pepe's, with two outdoor decks, right at the edge of the water. You'll see why another meal here is a "must" for visitors returning  to Provincetown and for locals alike.

Granny's Butterscotch Bread Pudding is Pepe's elevated twist on a humble dessert

I had my eye on the chocolate cream pie, or maybe the coconut cake with ice cream for dessert, but when I was invited to sample Granny's Butterscotch Bread Pudding, even though I never have cared much for either bread pudding or for butterscotch, I had to taste it.
I know that Pepe's new owners, who bought the restaurant last spring, have a penchant for creating memorable desserts, so I knew they would make me like it.
Sure enough, it was a rectangle of tender, tasty bread pudding with just a bit of crustiness near the edges, perfectly baked. I smelled it from ten feet away, as my server carried it toward me. It was dusted with a bit of confectioners sugar and topped with a mound of lightly macerated,  thinly-sliced, fresh peaches, served in a pool of delicate, velvety sauce, a bit like a light crème anglaise. I will definitely want to order it again.
I'm eager to have more from Pepe's new menu, including the rustic lobster bisque. That has got me quite curious. I try to eat everywhere each summer, but I have the feeling I'll be eating again at Pepe's a time or two before I make it all the way around the rest of the town.

Pop + Dutch Earns a 'Best Bite' Award for Their Sensational Chef Salad Sandwich

TheYearRounder bestows a Best Bite award on the innovative
Chef Salad Sandwich, piled high at Pop + Dutch in PTown.

When I walked into Pop + Dutch (say Pop and Dutch) on a rare afternoon off a little while back, starving, I had no idea what I would order. Everything they offer in this eccentric little neighborhood market is top notch. with nearly everything made right there, fresh, from scratch.

They bake their own buttermilk biscuits, along with pies made from fresh, seasonal fruits, and whatever other pastry, goody or dessert that might strike them at any given moment. They roast their own veggies, turkey and beef, too, so all of this keeps the Pop + Dutch oven working at a pretty constant pace, cranking out something tasty all day long.

So they don’t bake all of their own bread, but they do make the focaccia for their Myrna Minkoff sandwich, named for an off-beat fictional character in John Kennedy Toole’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Confederacy of Dunces. The Agent Dale Cooper sandwich is 
house-made turkey breast, with cheddar, smashed avocado, mayo, pickled shallots, tomato and butter lettuce on 7-grain bread. It’s named after the quirky FBI agent who has a nefarious alter ego, and an inordinate fondness for cherry pie, in the outré 1989 TV series Twin Peaks. Beginning to see what I mean by “eccentric,” aren’t you? That's part of the fun of Pop + Dutch. A certain lightheartedness is likely to overtake you upon walking through the door.

Behold the radiant sandwich! (from Pop+Dutch Facebook page)

When I asked what I'd have for lunch that day, co-owner Rebecca first determined that there was, indeed, nothing I don't like. Vegan, vegetarian or whole hog, I'm in. After a moment's thought, she suggested I try the Chef Salad sandwich, and repaired to the kitchen to whip one up for me. Just like it sounds, it brings all of the elements of a chef's salad together in a sandwich.
Tender leaves of butter lettuce, slices of sweet, ripe tomato and hard-boiled egg are layered between Swiss cheese, cheddar, Black Forest ham, and turkey that tastes like Thanksgiving, because at Pop + Dutch, they roast it and carve it right in their own kitchen. Stack all of this on a big, fresh Iggy's brioche roll, add a little ranch mayo dressing, and you've got a dandy of a sandwich. A distinctive taste, along with the superb quality and the inventive use of the ingredients, earned this sandwich a Best Bite award from TheYearRounder, because it was easily the best thing I ate in PTown during that entire week.

Owners Sean and Rebecca refer lovingly to their little market as "a sandwich shop and pint-sized general store" in Provincetown's West End, at 147 Commercial Street, right at the foot of Conant Street. It's in the midst of a little cluster of charming galleries, gift shops and antiques.

As I mentioned, nearly everything in their deli section is made right in their own tiny kitchen, including an unusual, spicy pimento cheese, and jams made from whatever beautiful fresh fruits the seasons bring. Either one can go on a fresh biscuit, right out of the oven, for your breakfast. Get here early; the biscuits sell out.

Fresh produce, bread and dairy, coffee filters, specialty pastas,
olive oil, cookies, crackers, lube… All the basics are here for you.

They get beautiful produce from local farmers any time they can, and they use cage free eggs from farms where the hens are treated well. They treat their customers, and their employees, like treasured friends. In short, their ethics are intact. That's another reason why we love this little shop.
Besides their phenomenal sandwiches, salads, desserts, vegetarian and vegan choices, and gluten-free options, you'll also find basic groceries and a few sundries here as well. 
They stock a small but thoughtful assortment of fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies, treats from local farmers when available, and Iggy's Bread, in Cambridge, brings fresh breads, croissants and sticky buns daily. Milk, eggs and other staples are here, along with a few basic housewares, like retro style enamelware plates, cups and coffee pots, just in case you find your condo a little lacking. And don't forget the lube.
Whether it's a great cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich you need, or just the coffee filters, you'll find them here. Pick up the Sunday paper and some fresh strawberries, or a can of fine Italian tomatoes and a good olive oil, or an award-winning sandwich to take with you to the beach.
If you've not yet discovered this little jewel of a shop, it's worth the stroll to the West End. You'll be happy you found Pop + Dutch.

Liz's Cafe Earns TheYearRounder's 'Best Bite' Award in Their Opening Weeks

Throwback breakfasts at Liz's Cafe earn TheYeatRounder's Best Bite award
for quality and value. 2 eggs, and 2 pancakes, bacon, sausage or ham, $9.50.  

I visited Liz's Cafe, Anybody's Bar, the new restaurant at 31 Bradford Street, on the Fourth of July, which is a challenging day for any PTown restaurant, let alone for one just getting started on its first season.
The place was absolutely packed and the staff was bustling. Chefs from one of the town's best-known dinner hot spots were there that day, having breakfast with friends, which is always a good sign. It definitely pays to eat where chefs eat. They were having a scramble of eggs and veggies, which looked quite good.

Generations of Carreiros ran Tip For Tops'n from 1966 to 2013, but were they all
related to 1950s founder Ernest L. Carreiro, who had emigrated from the Azores?

Liz is Liz Lovati, of Angel Foods fame, so she knows something about good food.
Liz has a section on her breakfast menu paying tribute to the old Tip For Tops'n restaurant, which was handed down through the Carreiro family, who ran it on this spot from about 1966 to 2013.
The odd moniker stood for "Tip of the Cape for Tops in Service," and they were well-known for their breakfast specials.
Liz chose three of those for her new menu. The old #2 breakfast is shown at the top of the page, but with a new benefit: Liz serves real maple syrup from Vermont with her flippers (Portuguese fried dough,) pancakes, and French toast. This great, hearty breakfast of eggs, pancakes and bacon (choose ham or sausage, if you'd like) for $9.50, earns Liz's Cafe a Best Bite award from TheYearRounder.

This 1942 photo shows a truck making a milk delivery from Galeforce Farm, which
stood where Galeforce bikes stands today, just a few blocks down Bradford Street. 

By the way, the name Liz's Cafe, Anybody's Bar, reaches even farther back into PTown history, to Ernest L. Carreiro, an earlier émigré from the Azores, who ran Anybody's Market at 31 Commercial Street, dating back to at least 1942, when the photo on the left was taken.


In the 1950s, Ernest shifted to the restaurant business in the same building, according to David W. Dunlap, on his wonderful, historical blog Building Provincetown. Dunlap tells us that Edward C. "Babe" Carriero, hailing from New Bedford, took over the restaurant in about 1966, running it with his wife, Eva (Cook) Carreiro. From there the restaurant was passed on to sons Joseph C. and Gerald E. Carreiro. I'm not certain that the first Carreiro here was related to all the others that followed, but that clan was definitely related to one another, with kids growing up in the restaurant, and family all around.

The ships' wheels, the stuffed and mounted fish on the walls,
and the decorative tin ceiling are memorable features of the
old Tip For Tops'n. Photo by Yelp reviewer Stephen T.

Years ago I was told by Joyce Carreiro, who had married Gerald and who often greeted and seated me at Tip For Tops'n, that the old store had been a true neighborhood market, stocking a fairly wide variety of merchandise.
Apparently, at Anybody's Market, you could get anything from groceries to a new tire for your bicycle, or maybe even one for your car.
Devon's restaurant, here for four years, kept a bit of Tip's decor, but Liz's dining room has evolved with a new look, stylish and comfortable.

But let's get back to the food! Liz offers six omelets and scrambles. Try the linguiça (say leen•gwee•suh,) a Portuguese sausage, or the vegan scrambler, along with several versions of eggs Benedict. I can't wait to try the chicken and waffles.

My $10 Greek omelet was stuffed with Feta cheese, Kalamata olives, tomatoes,
spinach, and red onion, served with white or multigrain toast and home fries.

My Greek omelet was a generous size, full of Greek flavors like feta and Kalamata olives, with spinach, tomatoes and red onion. It was served with home fries and my choice of white or multigrain toast, with a pot of jam on the table.
The service was quite good. My waiter kept his composure when I sent back my too-dark toast, in the middle of the July 4th breakfast rush. God love him, and the kitchen staff as well. They made me happy with my meal.
Lunch offerings are homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and a signature burger, and I think we'll see favorites like Angel's Italian sandwich on the menu. There's talk of special chicken wings, and I'm holding out for a Jamaican dish or two, which this crew does so well, having run One Love restaurant near the pier, and in the Gifford House.
The menus are still evolving, even as I'm writing this, and there's likely to be a bar menu, too. The staff is tweaking and tuning up as they figure out the finer points of serving really good food all day long. Breakfast runs from 8 AM till 2 PM, lunch from 11 AM till 2 PM. Dinner is currently served from 6 PM till around 8 or 9 PM, subject to demand. Call 508•413•9131 to keep up with any changes that might be necessary as they settle into a groove and hit their stride.
Dinner is a three-course, prix fixe menu, changing daily, offering soup or salad, a choice of three entrées, and dessert, for $30. Recent selections have included a Chicken Française and a fillet of sole.
There's also a full service bar, and, unheard of in Provincetown, parking in a small lot right on the property. This new incarnation of a favorite restaurant is a great addition to the dining scene in Provincetown's quiet West End. Give 'em a whirl.

Another Best Bite Award for The Canteen, Now Open Year-round in Provincetown

Kristen brings my breakfast, warming the room
with her characteristic charm and genuine smile. 

It's been great to have The Canteen, at 225 Commercial Street, open all winter. This offbeat little spot (in the most joyous meaning of offbeat) brought our extremely varied native population and what seems like a growing number of winter visitors together for great food and good fun in their Holiday Market event these past two winters.
I was delighted to find them open this winter beyond the festivities of food and drink, music, theater, handmade crafts and gifts of their expanding winter celebration modeled on European holiday festivals.
These folks are actively working to build community in this little spot in the heart of Provincetown, and they are attracting many more year-round visitors as well. They're also providing year-round jobs, with 15 employees in the winter and some 60 workers from around the world in the summertime.
Kristen, seen above, lights up the room with her smile, and her friendly, thoughtful service contributes to the ambience of this homey little counter-service café. She is here with her boyfriend, up-and-coming writer Tom Macher, who is enjoying his second fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center, and is currently finishing a book which has already been sold to Scribner. Congratulations! The two will be here until May, with hopes of returning.

The Canteen wins TheYearRounder's Best Bite award for
this huge, wonderful Classic Breakfast Sandwich, just $5.50!

On a recent cold and stormy day I found The Canteen warm and cozy, and filled with a mix of visitors, Townies, and local people from neighboring towns who had sought out a welcoming spot for a good meal and a little atmosphere. As some were having lunch, I wanted to try the Classic Breakfast Sandwich, which turned out to be a big, tasty bargain, and I promptly bestowed upon it TheYearRounder's Best Bite award.
That designation goes to a meal or dish of outstanding taste or value, and often both, found in a PTown restaurant, clam shack, deli, pizza joint, gelato shop, or any other sort of eatery offering something quite exceptional. In fact, The Canteen won two Best Bite awards on my very first visit there, on their opening day in 2013.
On this blustery day I had ordered at the counter and settled in at a table, listening to Van Morrison's Into the Mystic, completing the perfect, mellow atmosphere for folks reading the newspaper or chatting with friends. Soon Kristen brought out my breakfast. It was a  huge, huge grilled ciabatta with cheddar cheese, slow-roasted tomatoes, 2 eggs over easy (or served omelet-style, if you'd like,) topped with two big, thick slices of applewood smoked bacon, for just $5.50. This is one of the greatest meal deals anywhere in town. That rustic, crusty bread and those slow-roasted tomatoes make this big, satisfying sandwich my new breakfast craving.
I love a nice, beefy cup of coffee, but I can only have it just once in a while, so when I do order a cup, it has to be great. The Stumptown coffee served at The Canteen hits the spot, with a robust flavor and body, yet it's exceptionally smooth, without a hint of bitterness.

Julia and Mary both love The Canteen's Matzo Ball Soup.

Julia and Mary were in town this day for lunch. These two PTown expatriates, each now living in Wellfleet, often come into Provincetown together for a meal at The Canteen. Today it's Matzo Ball soup, which they'll likely follow with the Crispy Brussels Sprouts, and maybe another favorite or two…

All of these folks appeared to be visitors, here to spend a winter day
or two shopping, eating and seeking out things to do in our off-season.

Even with snow on the ground this past winter, the warmer days found the front patio at The Canteen packed with people eager to enjoy a little al fresco dining. Plenty of sunshine, fresh air and good food rewarded those who were fearless enough to venture to Provincetown on a winter's day.
The more businesses that are open in the off-season, the more folks come to spend time here. We salute The Canteen for working so hard at becoming part of the solution in Provincetown's efforts to bolster our year-round community, and congratulate them on their third Best Bite award.

Connie's Bakery Earns TheYearRounder's 'Best Bite' Award

Connie's veggie omelet with ham and cheddar on a multigrain bun hits the spot.

I got up early the other morning so I could make it once more to Connie's Bakery for another great breakfast sandwich before they close for the season, in just about another week or so.
The old aquarium mall has no heat, so in the fall each year, PTown loses one of its great little eateries as the temperature begins to drop with the autumn leaves.
My choice for breakfast at Connie's is often "the works." It's a sort of veggie omelet with peppers, onions, spinach and tomato folded into the eggs, topped with your choice of cheese and/or meat, and served on your choice of fresh breads, a bagel or a croissant from Connie's oven, or rolled in a spinach-whole wheat wrap.

I believe this light, airy quiche is the best I've ever had.

The tough thing about having breakfast at Connie's is finding so many wonderful choices each time I walk in the door, so I seldom end up having whatever I had planned to order on my way there.
This gorgeous quiche was one of two varieties in the case this particular morning, among a large array of other beautiful pastries, sweets and savories, each one crying out for me to taste it.
This cheesy ham, onion and broccoli quiche won out this day, served warm in its tender crust, and it turned out to be the best I've ever had. That earns TheYearRounder's Best Bite award for Connie's Bakery, for this truly outstanding breakfast pastry at a reasonable price, enjoyed in the stunning ambiance of the deck at the Aquarium Marketplace, looking out over the sparkling water and the sun rising over magnificent Provincetown Harbor. The faint squawking of a couple of gulls up the beach added a buoyant touch that completed the harmonic mood that started my day.

I had this lovely blueberry-peach tart for my lunch.

Upon finishing off my breakfast I decided to grab one of Connie's legendary street pies to take along for my lunch later. These savory, hand-formed pies (kind of a free-form tart) make a great lunch that can be eaten on the go, munching on it while you're walking down Commercial Street.
If you can actually get time to sit down for your meal, you can order your street pie with a salad and a cookie, making a great brown bag lunch to take with you to the edge of the beach or to one of PTown's little neighborhood parks.
While I was trying to decide which variety of street pie to take for my lunch, my eye fell on this sort of tartlet, you might call it, stuffed with juicy, fresh peaches and blueberries, and I couldn't resist. I took it with me, but it didn't make it all the way to lunchtime. By 10 AM it was a fond memory, and I had resolved to get back to Connie's for another one before the season ends.
Be sure to visit Connie's Bakery, on the edge of Provincetown Harbor at 209 Commercial Street, before the doors close, soon after the coming Columbus Day weekend.

John Dough's Screamin' Scallop is a Surprising Provincetown Best Bite

J D's Screamin' Scallop, available at Saki, too, is a Best Bite.

The other night I stumbled onto one of Provincetown's greatest seafood treats, in quite an unexpected spot. I tried the Screamin' Scallop at John Dough's, upstairs at 258 Commercial Street. This $7 appetizer is a pretty, delicious, innovative seafood dish that I regret not finding much earlier in the season.
It's the creation of manager Johnny Chase, who's been associated here for about 20 of the last 21 years of this casual eatery overlooking the hustle and bustle of Commercial Street. He took a season off somewhere between the time it was the Euro Island Grill and its more recent incarnation as a bar, pizza and burger joint, frequently referred to simply as J D's. Who knew they had a great raw bar?
This dish gets its name through the way it is prepared. A big, plump sea scallop is freshly shucked and sliced horizontally into silver dollar sized "coins" lightly torched under a flame, drizzled with casino butter, and served in a giant scallop shell nestled in a bed of fresh salad greens. I found it so tasty I had to ask Johnny what gave it that very unusual flavor that I couldn't put my finger (or tastebuds) on.
It turns out Johnny's recipe for casino butter has a secret ingredient I wouldn't have thought of in a million years. Besides the melted butter, minced garlic, onion and finely chopped sweet bell peppers of mixed colors, it has a touch of Grand Marnier, the orange flavored, cognac-based liqueur that will go down in history as one of the greatest inventions of the French.
This was the best thing I tasted in Provincetown this week, earning TheYearRounder's Best Bite award. You can also order this dish at Saki, sharing the second floor here, and part of their kitchen, with JD. I've got to have another of these before the season is gone.

Best Dessert Ever? Taste this 'Best Bite' Before the Summer is Gone

The lemon curd cheesecake parfait with blueberry compote at
Devon's Food Bar is in stiff competition for Best Dessert Ever.

This creamy lemon curd cheesecake parfait, with a wild Maine blueberry compote, whipped cream and a toasted graham cracker crumble, is the best dessert I've had all summer, and that makes it a Best Bite. Find it at Devon's Food Bar, at 31 Bradford Street, in PTown's West End.
Chef Melissa Ettinger thought up this euphoric delight one afternoon as a dessert du jour at this little culinary hotspot at the corner of Bradford and Pleasant Streets, but everyone who tasted it insisted that it be given a permanent home on the nightly dessert menu, and I haven't been able to make myself order anything else since. That smooth, lemony tartness is perfectly accented by the fruity sweetness of those plump, wild blueberries.
I've been wanting to try the flan with fresh berries, but I'll have to order it to start my next meal there, because I already know I'll be unable to resist the parfait for dessert. There are also a few other things on the menu I want to get to before they wind down for the summer, in about three weeks.
This is the time of year when you get a last chance to squeeze in some of the things you've wanted to see, do or taste before they are gone with the season. I went out the other night to see two shows that I realized were ending in just a few more days, and had dinner with a friend at a restaurant I've been trying to get to all summer. Next on my list is an actual day off, spent at the beach.
Don't let the summer get away from you. Go for a swim at the breakwater, see a couple of shows, get out for a memorable meal or two, and taste this sublime dessert before this glorious summer is gone.

Provincetown Inn's Early Bird Dinner Special Garners a Best Bite Award

Provincetown Inn's Barbecue Braised Pork is one of their four great
Early Bird dinner specials, each one well prepared, and a terrific value.

One of the greatest dinner deals in PTown is the Early Bird special at the Provincetown Inn, at 1 Commercial Street. From Sunday through Thursday, 5 PM to 7 PM, they are serving your choice of four terrific three-course dinners for just $15.95.
Dinner starts with your choice of a hearty New England clam chowder or a small salad of mixed greens accented with cucumber, tomato and onion, along with a basket of warm dinner rolls.
The dinner pictured above is the Barbecue Braised Pork with Southern Comfort barbecue sauce. It's served over mashed potatoes, with mixed vegetables. Other choices include a Teriyaki Glazed Grilled Salmon, a Chicken Marsala, or a Baked Lasagna served with garlic bread. All four dishes are very good.
Dessert choices include the Chocolate Blackout Layer Cake, an authentic New York cheesecake, or a great bread pudding drizzled with the chef's secret sauce, which is a little different each time it's served. That one is my favorite.
Dinner is served in a large, airy dining room looking out over the beach and Provincetown Harbor, with the view taking on that pinkish sort of golden glow as the sun gets low in the sky. Most nights the windows are open for the breeze coming off the water. There are other menu choices available as well, with prices that are very reasonable, and your meal is served by a thoughtful waitstaff eager to please.
For the quality of the food and the outstanding price, along with that beachfront view, TheYearRounder names the Provincetown Inn's Early Bird Dinner as a Best Bite.
Order your dinner before 7 PM, have a leisurely meal looking out over the harbor, and then simply walk across the hall for great entertainment in the Mayflower Room. Forever Blonde is a concert style musical dance review updated for its third season on the Provincetown Inn stage, featuring a wonderful, high energy dance troupe and the live vocals of Darlene Van Alstyne.
That show is followed by Salcetera, a Latin dance review, at 9:30 PM, now in their second season here. It highlights eight very athletic, energetic dancers in numbers ranging from the tango to salsa to the classic paso doble. Both shows feature lively dancing in many styles, stunning acrobatics, lots of costume changes and great music. Stay for both great shows and get a discount on your admission. Enjoy the Provincetown Inn's free parking while dining or seeing the shows as well.

Ross' Grill Earns 'Best Bite' Award

The complex, delightful flavors of Executive Chef Omar Neil's
fennel bisque earn a Best Bite award for Ross' Grill, in the Whalers Wharf.

TheYearRounder's Best Bite award is given to recognize a really good dish or meal, or a restaurant that is consistently outstanding, or a genuine bargain in a Provincetown eatery. A Best Bite award goes this week to Ross' Grill for their phenomenal fennel bisque, drizzled with a little chive oil.
This velvety soup has a depth of flavors that defies description. It is simply the best thing I've tasted in PTown restaurants over the last couple of weeks. We hope to see this soup du jour appearing again on Ross' menu, soon.
It's the creation of Chef Omar Neil, in the kitchen at Ross' Grill for the past 8 years, now in his 2nd year as executive chef. Bravo!

Move Over, Pucci, There's a New Wing in Provincetown, and a Best Bite!

When chefs Tom Pucci and Rob Anderson opened their new kitchen at The Canteen a couple of summers ago, they brought back those legendary Pucci Wings of days gone by, and the town rejoiced. Those amazing wings won TheYearRounder's Best Bite award that summer because they are unique, and, quite simply, the best Buffalo style chicken wings on the planet.
Now, skip forward a couple of years to the seasonal reopening of The Central House at the Crown & Anchor, at 247 Commercial Street.

The smoky chicken wings served at The Central House earn TheYearRounder's
Best Bite award for the Crown & Anchor, and Executive Chef Michele Ragussis.

Coming on the heels of the snowiest winter in recent PTown memory, Chef Michele Ragussis creates a cozy culinary oasis on Commercial Street as the town begins to thaw out, and she brings us an entirely different sort of wing. And, once more, the town rejoices.


With a flavor and character that is, again, unique, these smoked chicken wings will give Pucci's a run for their money. These are very different from Buffalo wings. Personally, I'll be eating them both, because the two recipes are so diverse, but I know I'll be unable to resist stopping in at The Crown for a wing fix, often. There's no reason not to, since these lip-smacking, smoky wings aren't fried, so they're a bit healthier for us, too.
To get all of that audacious flavor into these splendid chicken wings, Michele seasons them up with her special, mildly spicy blend of seasonings, and slides them into the oven to brown. Then, she finishes her wings by smoking them, right on the grill. You can't get this kind of flavor any other way.
She serves them with her chipotle bleu cheese sauce, which gives this dish's piquant flavors that final little kick, making this plate one you'll want to order again on your next visit. In fact, it's that robust flavor that makes this dish the winner of TheYearRounder's first Best Bite award of the 2015 season, and it's all I can do not to order them every time I walk into the joint. It takes real discipline on my part, folks, to order something different every time, wherever I might eat, so I can really discover the best of Provincetown, and share it all with you.
Right now, the Central House at The Crown & Anchor is open Thursday through Sunday, with an "all day" menu, so you can order these Smoky Wings for lunch or dinner. Great chefs generally like to change up their menus with the seasons, or even more often, but I'm hoping the Smoky Wings will become a staple, remaining on the menu. In any case, you'll want to get yourself to The Central House and taste these glorious Smoky Wings, found on the "small Plates" section of the menu, while you have the chance.
These wings also make a great accompaniment to a drink at the bar. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'll find myself at The Crown again soon, for another plate of wings. I'll ask award winning sommelier Peter Miscikoski to recommend one of his unique wines to go with them, and next week, I'll tell you about the wine he chose for me.
As the saying goes, it just doesn't get much better than that.

PTown Winter Breakfast Spots?

Breakfast can be hard to find in Provincetown in the wintertime, especially mid-week, and parking has been quite a challenge during this unprecedented snowfall we've endured since 2015 began. At this time of the year, and with the consistently snowy weekends and bone-chilling winds and storms that have kept visitors at home rather than here this winter, you'll only find a real, full breakfast being served in just a handful of PTown restaurants, and mostly just on the weekends, when a few hardy travelers still make the frosty trek to the tip of the Cape.

Slow-cooked pork, green chilies and tomatillos, with cheese and sour cream,
make a great omelet choice on Chach's menu. I added a side of black beans.

But you can find yourself a tasty, hearty breakfast any day of the week, if you just know where to look, so here's the scoop. Let's start with spots offering a full meal...




 
   • Chach, at 73 Shank Painter Road, is making her famous breakfast, with eggs, hash browns, omelets, breakfast burritos, a killer French toast, muffins and, of course, her stellar blueberry pancakes, all from scratch, available Friday through Sunday. A Townie Favorite and a current Best Bite. Free parking, too, in their small lot.
   • Governor Bradford, at 312 Commercial Street, does breakfast Saturday and Sunday at this time of year, with their central location, at Commercial and Standish streets, being their primary appeal. Parking is free right now half a block away at the town's main parking lot, near MacMillan Pier, or sometimes found on Commercial Street.
   • Napi's, tucked away at 7 Freeman Street, does a couple of brunchy sort of egg dishes, like an eggs Benedict, but only on Sundays, and not till 11:30 AM when they open for lunch. The artwork and decor enhance the meal, and you'll find there's plenty of free parking in their lot.
   • Bayside Betsy's, at 177 Commercial Street, is open this winter Thursday through Monday, beginning at 9 AM for breakfast. Lots of selections, like steak and eggs, pancakes or choice of three french toasts; frittatas, omelets or seven Benedicts, including a veggie version with grilled Portabellos, roasted reds and sautéed baby spinach. On my last breakfast visit there, the homemade Hollandaise seemed not to be their forte, but that was before the new owners took over, so I will try them again. The splendid view out over Provincetown Harbor to Long Point, from any table in the dining room, is perhaps reason enough for a visit. Parking might be found on Commercial Street.
   • Fanizzi's, at 539 Commercial Street, offers their all-you-can-eat Sunday Brunch Buffet from 10 AM till 2 PM, with over a dozen dishes like French toast, scrambled eggs, frittata, Benedict, corned beef hash, bacon, sausage, chicken wings, steamed mussels, pasta of the day, assorted pastries, fresh fruit, green salad, yogurt and granola, with a full bar available. The panoramic view of Provincetown Harbor is superb. There is limited parking on-site, and perhaps on Commercial Street.

Angel Foods' generous, overstuffed breakfast sandwich
is probably the best in Provincetown.

If you can do with a breakfast sandwich, you'll find three spots that serve them every day, and one just on Sundays...





   • East End Market, at 212 Bradford Street, makes breakfast sandwiches on their grill from 8 AM daily (9 on Sundays) till 11:30 AM, despite what their website says.  Freshly baked muffins, too, and other pastries. They've recently reopened after remodeling, offer seating, limited parking is usually sufficient.
   • Far Land Provisions, at 150 Bradford Street, makes a great breakfast sandwich every day, with lots of choices, including the options of cage-free or organic eggs, and a lighter turkey sausage. Some days they offer a pancake special, with real Vermont maple syrup as an option, and fresh baked goods are always available. They open daily at 7 AM, 8 on Sundays, and serve breakfast only till 11:30 AM, when they switch into lunch mode. Homey seating, free wi-fi, great music, friendly service, ample parking make this spot another Townie Favorite.
   • Angel Foods, at 467 Commercial Street, serves a very generous breakfast sandwich, and probably the best in Provincetown. Eggs beaten with a little milk make a sort of big, fluffy omelet folded around lots of ham, bacon or homemade sausage, with a choice of 4 cheeses, on a Portuguese muffin. Open daily at 8 AM, with seating only on outdoor benches, or walk 40 feet down onto the beach on one of those warmer days we're starting to get. Limited on-site parking is usually enough, or park on Commercial Street at this time of year.
   • 141 Bradford Natural Market is doing a breakfast sandwich, but only on Sundays, from 9 AM till 1 PM. You can get 2 organic eggs with cheese, avocado and chipotle mayo on a fresh roll, for example, or have it with other ingredients that might be in the kitchen on any given Sunday. They're quite flexible. They also offer a sort of Sunday Brunch Buffet from their hot bar, ready by 11 AM, with varying choices, like last Sunday's brioche French toast bake, sweet potato hash, egg in a cup, maple vegan sausage, broccolini with shallot and dill, or roasted zucchini.  Choose what, and how much, you'd like, and pay for it by weight. Fresh baked goods daily. Seating, limited on-site parking.
 

Art is served in a cup at the Wired Puppy.  Photo from their website.

If you've got to eat and get moving early, or if all you need to get you going in the morning is a cup of coffee and a muffin, or if you want a designer latte or cappuccino made by a talented barista, there's a choice for you, too...



   • The Wired Puppy, at 369 Commercial Street, is open daily from 6:30 AM till 6:30 PM in the winter, with a wide variety of fancy coffees and teas, and depending on the day, perhaps a muffin or scone of one variety or another, baked in their oven. A favorite with early morning caffeine junkies as well as those who want a certain sophistication in their cup, and a light, continental breakfast. Free wi-fi, and even a couple of computers for the public to use. Seating, parking may be found on Commercial Street.

You'll also find early morning coffee, breakfast sandwiches, muffins or donuts, yogurt and so on, available all day, at three local convenience stores over the winter months...

   • Highland Farm (The Gulf Station) at 130 Bradford Street, open at 5:30 AM daily, usually till midnight, but occasionally closing about 15 minutes early, so don't push the clock. This is a small, local business, not a corporate chain. No seating, but friends gather in front to shoot the breeze and sip their coffee, even on a cold winter morning. Limited parking is usually adequate.
   • The Tedeschi Station, at 137 Bradford Street, 6 AM till 11 PM daily. Seating only on an outdoor bench, with parking sufficient for a grab-and-go.
   • Cumberland Farms, at 100 Shank Painter Road, open 24 hours every day. Read the label if you want to know about the long list of ingredients in their "egg patty" or other items inside that pre-assembled muffin or croissant. No seating, plenty of parking.

So there you have it. As always, there are more choices in the off-season than you might think of right away. Call a friend, get out of the house, and go try someplace you might not have visited before, or return to an old favorite. Support these local businesses that have stayed open for us during a very lean, tough winter.

TheYearRounder Names Front Street's Caramelized Key Lime Pie as a 'Best Bite'

The Caramelized Key Lime Pie at Front Street is the best thing I tasted in Provincetown all week long.

During the average week in a Provincetown summer I'll taste somewhere between 20 and 60 dishes served in restaurants, takeout joints, bakeries, neighborhood markets and delis. Out for dinner with friends the other night, as usual, we all tasted around the table with each course that came out of the kitchen, so I sampled 9 appetizers, soups, entrées and desserts that night. That brought my total number of tastes around the town to about 42 for the week.
This week I sampled everything from breakfast sandwiches to late night-night menu items served after 10 PM. I tasted things ranging from a chilled gazpacho to a hot apple crisp. I had striped bass, stuffed clams, three different lobster rolls, and the ubiquitous clam chowder. I ate Portuguese kale soup, Jamaican jerk chicken, Mexican chile rellenos and Chinese dumplings. I tasted everything from pizza to roasted duckling.
Without a doubt, the best thing I ate during the entire week was the Caramelized Key Lime Pie served at Front Street restaurant, at 230 Commercial Street. We all tasted it, and the next day we were all still talking about it. It had a thin, crisp, buttery graham cracker crust filled with a firm, sumptuous, custardy mixture that perfectly balanced the sweetness with the vibrant tartness of Key limes. A bit of sugar had been sprinkled on the top of the pie, and then it had been torched to caramelize it, à la crème brûlée. It was topped with a thick dollop of whipped cream and a couple of slivers of candied Key lime peel.
A generous slice of this splendid pie was surrounded by a velvety pool of mango coulis, adding another stratum to the flavors in this flawless dessert. It was perfection on a plate. That’s what earns it TheYearRounder’s Best Bite award. I hope to find it appearing frequently on Front Street’s ever-changing menu of Chef Donna Aliperti’s Mediterranian-American fusion delights, featuring the superb desserts created by Chef Kathy Cotter. This was, hands down, the best dish I tasted anywhere in Provincetown all week long.