Rosie's Mexican Cantina Livens Up PTown's Ethnic Food Landscape

I cut Rosie's burrito in half so you can see all the good things that fill it to bursting,

I visited Rosie's Mexican Cantina the other day to try one of their burritos, which I had heard only good things about, and folks were right... This was a really good burrito.

Each one (and there are six choices) starts with a large, fresh, flour tortilla, which will be rolled and wrapped around a mountain of quality ingredients. Mexican rice, refried beans, cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream are all stuffed in, making a wonderful, satisfying, vegetarian choice, selling for $10. You can also add any of five meats to your burrito for just a dollar more.

Most of Rosie's menu items offer a great vegetarian version, and you can add meat if you choose. I ordered my burrito, shown above, with carne asaada.
This proved to be a generous portion of delicious strips of seasoned beef steak for just a buck, and well worth it. Both red and green hot sauces were served on the side.

The Burrito Bowl, also $10, is a little bit larger serving of all those great stuffings, served in a bowl, sans tortilla, in case you're skipping carbs or gluten these days. Again, add meat for $1.

You may never have had truly fresh tortilla chips. They're amazing!

On this trip I also got the chance to taste Rosie's fantastic, light, fresh tortilla chips, right out of the fryer, and without a hint of grease.
They taste so fresh! Now I might be spoiled for any other tortilla chips, and I want to try their nachos.
Of course, they also make their own fresh guacamole, whipped up daily in their tiny kitchen, from scratch.

The menu at Rosie's Cantina brings Mexican favorites like tacos, flautas, and tostados to Commercial Street every day of the summer season, with a rotating daily special that might be a mole, maybe pulled pork, their spicy

Look for Rosie's spicy burritos, sometimes a daily special.

tamale, shown here, or any number of other daily offerings.

You'll find this little walk-up, counter service joint in the former Burger Queen spot, at 331 Commercial Street. There's covered outdoor seating at picnic tables, or you can take your meal to go.
Oddly, there's no phone at Rosie's, so you can't call in your order. You'll have to wait a bit while they cook your food, but they're actually pretty quick.

You may want to carry your to-go order around the corner and head down toward the pier, about a block away, to one of PTown's great little pocket parks.
Right at the edge of the harbor, just beyond the municipal parking lot, you'll find a narrow strip of land, about eight feet wide, full of park benches and trees.
It runs the entire width of the waterfront between MacMillan Pier and Fishermen's Wharf. It's a great place to relax, have a picnic lunch, and to see the whale watch boats and ferries sailing in and out of the harbor.
Rosie's is open daily, currently till 9 PM, and will likely extend their hours as the summer gets into full swing. I'm not sure what time they open, and there's no way to call and check while I'm writing this, but I know breakfast is served all day long. That suggests opening hours earlier than the typical 11:30 AM, when most restaurants begin serving lunch.
The food is good, it's not expensive, and this expansion of ethnic flavors on Commercial Street is most welcome, so stop by and give Rosie's Traditional Mexican Cantina a try.

Spiritus Pizza Opens PTown's 2019 Season Today With Their Annual Free Slice for All

Get a steaming-hot, free, opening day slice at Spiritus today, beginning at 1 PM.

If you look closely, you can see the steam rising from this hot pepperoni pizza, fresh out of the oven at Spiritus,
At this time of year, with the door open almost constantly, it's always a little chilly inside, hence the steaming pizzas lining up in the front window as each one waits just a moment to be sliced and handed across the counter.
There will be dozens of folks at a time queuing up for their first Spiritus slice of the season. Today's the day, so get to Spiritus for a free slice of that legendary thin-crust pizza. Starting at 1 PM, Spiritus will offer a free slice to everyone who comes by, ushering in the new season as they do every year on March 28th.

Thick slices of pepperoni are a Spiritus hallmark.

Spiritus got it's start in 1971 at 193 Commercial, a little building across the road from the joint we've all known and loved since 1978. That's when Jingles and his merry band decided to buy the old optometrist's office at 190 Commercial Street, moving their pizza operation (and by then, ice cream, too) across the street.
This spot has been the home of Spiritus ever since, with their unique pizzas, strong coffee, premium ice creams, and a "gallery" that gives a variety of local artists a chance to display and sell their work.
Spiritus is widely known as a late-night gathering spot. At one time crowds there late on a summer night could number around a thousand people, with the street closed to cars, and police officers milling through the enormous crowd, which often resembles the after-Carnival crush of wall-to-wall revelers caught up in the party.
A lot of folks call these pies their favorite PTown pizza. There's something about that nice, thin crust, with a good bit of whole wheat flour mixed into the dough, along with the generous amount of toppings, all of which make a Spiritus pizza different from any other in Provincetown.
Be sure to get there this afternoon for a free slice of this iconic PTown treat, heralding the true arrival of spring at the tip of Cape Cod.

Japanese Snacks at Tanuki are My Favorite New Street Food in PTown

This Spicy Smoky Bluefish Onigiri is the perfect snack to take to the beach or street.

I didn't make my first visit to Tanuki, sort of a Japanese snack bar on Commercial Street, until mid-summer, but I've been a steady customer ever since.
I can't get enough of their Onigiri (say O•neeg•yeer•ee, or just ask for rice balls,) my favorite new food in PTown this summer.

Tanuki's version of the traditional Japanese rice ball is actually a very special rice, imported from Japan since it isn't readily available in the US, pressed into about a three-inch triangle to hold its shape, and stuffed with any number of savory fillings. The Spicy, Smoky Bluefish variety is pictured here, sprinkled with a bit of spice, a few black sesame seeds and sliced scallion, and it's my favorite new Commercial Street snack.

Taniko's rice balls are wrapped and ready to go, slipped into your pocket or beach bag.

Other Onigiri choices on any given day might be the Sansyo Pork, or Spicy Mackerel & Tobiko, the tasty, flying fish roe you may know if you/re a sushi fan.
A vegetarian variety is always available, too, like the Tare Tofu Onigiri, as long as it hasn't already sold out before you get there.

Selection will vary daily depending on which particular ingredients are the finest available that day. If beautiful Atlantic Salmon are swimming nearby, for example, you can bet that they'll become a featured Onigiri that afternoon. These great, triangular Rice Balls are made fresh throughout the day, so there are always several choices.

These excellent, savory snacks are best eaten at room temperature, so choose a couple of flavors from the cooler and take them with you. Let them warm up a bit, then splash on just a few drops of the ultra-premium soy sauce Tanuki provides, and munch down a delicious, healthy treat you may never have had before, all for about $4.

Healthy, vegan truffles are homemade by hand, and good for you.

Last Saturday, on a mad rush to be on time for the final performance of The Whining, I realized I needed to eat something before the show to tide me over, so I grabbed a rice ball from Tanuki, slipped it into my shirt pocket and headed across the street to the Art House.
By the time it was my turn in the box office line, my snack was the perfect temperature to maximize all of its great flavors, both bold and subtle.
I unwrapped it, dripped on a tiny bit of that special soy sauce, and gobbled up the snack I'd been craving all week. These Onigiri are  quick, nutritious, satisfying, very tasty, and inexpensive... You just can't beat a deal like that.
Tanuki makes treats for your sweet tooth as well, like their Bittersweet Red Bean Truffles, made with 70% dark chocolate and Matcha green tea, and chock-full of health and energy benefits for you. There are matcha cream puffs as well as goodies made with lemon and mascarpone, and others.They've been experimenting in the kitchen all summer, coming up with things like a "Japanese cheesecake" and other tasty innovations, each around $3.

I tried the Black Sesame flavor of Mochi Ice Cream.

Mochi Ice Cream (just $2.50 each) are small, unusual desserts made with premium ice cream in uncommon flavors. These are tasty discs of ice cream about two inches wide. Each one of these is encased in a thin, smooth coating of a confection that reminds me of the texture of a marshmallow.
You can eat them with your hands. or spear them on the end of a chopstick. They're the perfect size for when you just want a little ice cream, not a huge, expensive cone.

The full service coffee bar offers a wide variety of hot coffee drinks like espresso, caoouccino and lattes as well as hot tea specialties including Matcha and Genma Cha. Tanuki makes a variety of chilled coffee and tea beverages including a great cold brewed, iced coffee and a "Hangover Helper" that actually does seem to help. It's made with  your choice of iced Sencha or Oolong teas. There are Matcha smoothies, a Matcha Palmer (1/2 lemonade,) as well as bottled, cold drinks from Japan.

Blackboards out front list food and drink specialties, some evolving through the day.

Find Tanuki, named for a creature known in Japanese legend and mythology, at 227 Commercial Street. They're in the bright yellow building known for many years as The Little Store, in the days when it was bright red.

Tanuki made its first PTown appearance as a very popular pop-up restaurant during the annual holiday festival sponsored by The Canteen, right next door. That tremendous response in mid-winter led to launching Tanuki in a brand new space of its own this summer.
Try some of these excellent snacks, treats and beverages, bringing Commercial Street some unique new flavors and expanding the variety of international street foods found in PTown.

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.

Authentic Mexican Food Hits PTown, at Rosie's Traditional Mexican Cantina

It was love at first bite when I tasted Rosie's simple, traditional Mexican flavors.

I was so excited to find actual Mexican food on Commercial Street that I didn't even think of adding a squirt of hot sauce or asking for sour cream, or any of the other stuff that a typical Americanized taco needs to give it some personality.
I actually let out a rather audible sigh of contentment upon my first bite at Rosie's Traditional Mexican Cantina, at 331 Commercial Street. I started out, of course, with a couple of tacos. From the list of available fillings I selected pastor (marinated pork) for one, and chorizo (a mildly spicy Mexican sausage) for the other.
Each had my choice of meat, sprinkled liberally with chopped, fresh cilantro and onion, nestled into a double layer of thin, fresh, lightly fried tortillas. I just drizzled each taco with a little juice from the wedge of fresh lime that came with my order, and devoured them. The flavors were bright, and, well... authentic! The food at Rosie's is the real deal.

This spicy tamale sold out twice as the special this day.

From there I moved on to a good-sized tamale, the daily special, which had already sold out, but another batch was just being freshly made from scratch, and just in time for me to get in on it.
I was surprised by this tamale on two counts (three if you count the fact that it was chicken instead of the more usual pork filling.) First, the masa harina (the corn dough) was a reddish color, fairly spicy, and, secondly, the filling wasn't just a little bit of shredded chicken, but a nice chunk of tender, juicy chicken breast rolled into the tamale's center.
I had never had a tamale like this one, and hope to find it as a special on the menu again sometime. There's a good reason why that menu is listed on a big chalkboard every day. I can't wait to see what else might pop up, for a day at a time.
Rosie's took over Burger Queen's former spot (a moment of silence, please, for the loss of some of the best burger bargains in town, not to mention those fine mac-and-cheese nuggets!) So this new little "cantina" is a walk-up, counter service joint with plenty of picnic tables, under a big awning in case of a little rain or too much sun
.

On Rosie's menu board, some items come and go all day.

 

Another PTown website erroneously reported table service here, but instead, you'll order at the window, and they'll holler your name in a few minutes when your food is ready, to eat there or to take out. I feel like they'll be hollering my name on a fairly regular basis.
Perhaps their hours are still evolving, as I couldn't find them listed anywhere, but they are open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I want to go again soon for Mexican style eggs or a breakfast burrito, or a dinner of flautas served with rice and beans. And I'll certainly need to taste the carne asada taco, and the carnitas variety, and the burritos, and enchiladas, tortas, tostadas, and with any luck, a few dishes I've never heard of.
I'm going to need more days in this short summer, so I can work my way through the menu at Rosie's Traditional Mexican Cantina. Bring on the homemade sangria!

The Coffee Pot Opens for 29th Season, Signaling Spring in Provincetown

The Coffee Pot's "Rescue Squad" breakfast sandwich is among the best in town.

One sure sign of spring in Provincetown is The Coffee Pot opening up for the new season. This will be their 29th summer serving breakfast, lunch, supper and fresh baked goods, right in the heart of PTown.
You'll find them at the edge of Lopes Square, just before MacMillan Pier, and right across from the Chamber of Commerce.
Even though their address is listed on Commercial Street, you'll find Coffee Pot by walking toward the pier and the harbor from the corner of Commercial and Standish streets. It's a Provincetown thing. They're in the center of a long, narrow building that once stretched all the way from Commercial Street to the beach, so the entire building still retains the old Commercial Street address.
Each year, as spring billows into Provincetown, The Coffee Pot is one of the first spots to open. I'm always eager to have my first breakfast sandwich after the long winter without one. I usually make my first order a Rescue Squad with cheddar. This may be the most satisfying breakfast sandwich on the cape. I'm pretty sure it's the biggest.
They take a really big sub roll and toast it on the grill while the eggs, sausage and bacon are cooking. In go three large eggs, two big sausage patties side by side, and 3 slices of bacon, cooked just right. Two slices of cheese complete the sandwich. I order mine with cheddar. I usually get the eggs cooked as a fluffy omelet, but this day I had 'em fried. I paired my breakfast with a nice, robust cup of coffee. For me, it's dark roast all the way.

Omelet-style egg, slices of grilled deli ham, cheese, of course - Breakfast # 5

Now I'm jonesing for a ham and egg and cheddar on a croissant. And a breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, cheese and salsa rolled in a tortilla. Add meat if you'd like, but I kind of like it without. You can also get your basic plate of eggs, home fries and toast for $5.99. That's a PTown bargain.
Breakfast sandwiches are a natural for takeout, and if you call ahead, Nelson and Linda and the gang can have your food ready when you get there to pick it up. Call 508•487•2580. Or make it a sit-down affair in their dining room with picture windows looking out onto Lopes Square, or you can have your meal in the sun and the breeze of their open air patio, which welcomes well behaved pets.
They also make a great lunch for after your whale watch, but we'll talk about that another day.
Enjoy your meal, and have a glorious day in Provincetown!

The Red Inn Kicks Of Their 2018 Season With Tonight's Opening Party

One of PTown's most charming spots is The Red Inn, officially opening tonight!

The party that officially opens The Red Inn for the new season is always one of the most anticipated events of springtime in Provincetown.
Tonight, the dining rooms, decks and grounds of this world-renowned restaurant and inn will be filled with people greeting old friends as they drink in the fabulous view of Provincetown Harbor from every corner of this charming waterfront venue.
Folks will be reveling in the music, dancing to the beat, perhaps having a beverage or two, and, of course, enjoying some of the wonderful food that brings such acclaim to this revered, beloved, PTown landmark.

The Red Inn's opening party marks the true season opening for many of us.

Tent tops are raised and a special outdoor dance floor has been assembled for the occasion. All are invited to enjoy the hospitality of The Red Inn as they kick off the 2018 season.
There will be music, hors d'oeuvre and dancing on the edge of Provincetown Harbor. There's simply no better way to spend your evening.

Remember to wear sensible shoes, not only for the dancing, but for the floors. Parts of The Red Inn are more than 200 years old, and spiked heels might be a little too cruel for some of the gorgeous, wide-plank flooring. The special dance floor installed over part of the lawn for this evening is also not meant for spiky shoes, so, please, no stilettos.
Beginning tomorrow, May 3rd, The Red Inn will be open daily for the 2018 season, with their Raw Bar Happy Hour from 4 to 5 PM, featuring those famous Wellfleet oysters. Dinner service will begin every night at 5:31 PM. Time to make a reservation for a memorable dinner in a spectacular setting, or an elegant getaway overlooking magnificent Provincetown Harbor.

PTown Chefs Have Made Me Like Foods I Had Always Hated

I love to visit a new restaurant I've never tried, and order the most unusual thing on the menu; whatever sounds the strangest. It started about 30 years ago when I wandered into a little Thai restaurant with a lengthy menu of things unfamiliar to me.
After about twenty minutes of reading descriptions and ingredients I settled on chicken with chilies and mint. I've never cared much for mint, and this was the weirdest sounding thing on the menu, so I ordered it, along with a couple of other dishes that were more familiar and sounded like safer bets.
To my delight, this dish was so tasty that I returned often and ordered the same thing each time, along with something else that sounded risky from the confusing menu descriptions written in broken English.
 

The Canteen's Brussels sprouts in an Asian fish sauce are amazing, and a best-seller.

These days I'm more familiar with the world's cuisines, but I still scour every menu for something unusual, or I'll order something I don't like, as long as it comes from a chef or a restaurant I trust. 
In fact, many a Provincetown chef has made me adore foods I had never before enjoyed.

Case in point: the lowly Brussels sprout. My mother was an excellent cook, but the way she made these, boiling them into oblivion, they were so terrible that even my dad, who had learned to eat anything while surviving the Great Depression as a young man, had trouble choking them down, and they made the house smell funny for days, so we hardly ever had them. Of course, I never "learned to like them."
Fast-forward a few decades, and 2,300 miles to the east, to Provincetown, where a little restaurant called The Canteen is serving a very popular dish called "Crispy Brussel Sprouts in Fish Sauce." I ordered them on one of my first visits there, right after they opened, confident that these chefs would make me love their sprouts, and I was right. I now order them on nearly every visit, unless I go for breakfast, which won The Canteen its third Best Bite award from TheYearRounder. Read my post from this spring, on Friday, April 7th.
Another food I've always hated is Coleslaw. Those thick, tasteless, mayo-based sauces and bitter cabbage always made me gag, but Fanizzi's changed all of that with their delicious slaw marinated in a light, slightly sweet vinaigrette, with no gloppy mayonnaise. It is so good, I now look forward to having it with my Friday fish fry or a burger. It's made me brave enough to try other coleslaws around town, and I've now found a few that I like almost as well.
So next time you go out to eat, take a chance. Consider trying something unusual, or ordering something you may not think you'll like. Broaden your horizons, taste something new, try something a little risky... With the great chefs and restaurants we have in Provincetown, you just might find an unexpected treat somewhere, like some of the unusual choices on The Canteen's menu. How about Fries With Eyes - fried smelts with a choice of sauces. Sounds risky, doesn't it? They're next on my list to try. Bon appétit!

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.

After PTown's Memorial Weekend Fire at Lopes Square, The Coffee Pot is Back!

It's so nice to see Linda's friendly face behind the counter at The Coffee Pot
once again. That smile is real, and all of her customers feel it. Welcome back!

Yippeee! The Coffee Pot is open once again, following the fire that ripped through the Red Shack, next door, and damaged several other adjacent businesses over Memorial Day weekend.
The three-alarm fire devastated two restaurants, leaving questions about their ability to rebuild before the summer season is over, and damaged two others. It shut down every restaurant on the eastern strip at Lopes Square.
Through the amazing efforts of the Provincetown Fire Department, and firefighters who rushed here with extra equipment from other towns, the fire was kept from spreading beyond the center of the long, narrow building that housed all four of these popular restaurants and takeouts.
The Coffee Pot sustained heavy water and smoke damage, and the roof was singed a little, but they're scrubbed, repaired and restocked, and they're up and running again in full summer mode. They open daily from 5:30 AM till about 10:30 or 11:00 at night.

Slices of ham are grilled, giving extra flavor to this Coffee Pot breakfast sandwich,
one of several choices. The roll is split and grilled as well. These little touches, and
generous servings, make for great flavor and extra value in everything they make.

Linda and Nelson opened The Coffee Pot in 1989 in Small's Court, just around the corner from the Lopes Square location they moved into the following season, where they've expanded their business and menu offerings a bit in every summer since.
One of the secrets to their success is that they simply give you more value for your money. They seem to charge a little less for most items than many other restaurants do, but at the same time their servings are often more generous than most.

The Coffee Pot's hot lobster roll is 6 ounces of lobster meat drizzled with melted
butter, served on a big, grilled sub roll with a bit of  lettuce;  great bargain at $17.99.

Case in Point: The Coffee Pot sells lobster rolls made with 6 ounces of lobster meat, served hot or cold, for $17.99.
With the cost of lobster on the East Coast taking a serious jump this year, this is not only a good price, but you get about 50% more lobster meat than offered by most other restaurants.
Fish & chips, fried clams, scallops and shrimp are all available, along with several daily soups on a rotating basis. Today's soups just happen to be all of the local favorites: clam chowder, of course, along with lobster bisque, and kale soup, which hails from Provincetown's rich Portuguese heritage. Each served by the cup or bowl, they start at just $4.85. There are also 7 great salads on the menu, too.

I love the Gyro at The Coffee Po, made with the classic Greek tzatziki .
I order mine with the traditional lamb, but it can also be ordered with chicken.,

The Gyro (say yeer•oh) is a Greek sandwich which starts with the traditional lamb, or you can choose chicken, on a grilled pita. It's stuffed with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and topped with tzatziki, the classic Greek yogurt sauce. Excellent!
They make about 30 different rolls, wraps, sandwiches,  and paninis, not to mention burritos and burgers. And their fries are among the very best in Provincetown.
Also the absolute best in town are their real fruit smoothies, in eight different flavors, or make up your own. I like mine a little less sweet, so I combine raspberries and blueberries with pineapple, for just $5.65. Add protein or Red Bull, if you'd like, for $1.50.

Real fruit, not flavorings, go into these
smoothies. This is strawberry/raspberry.

I haven't yet mentioned the muffins, bagels, brownies, scones, croissants, cinnamon rolls and giant cookies that come fresh from their ovens every day; perfect with a cup of great coffee. I'm partial to the dark roast, especially if I have it iced rather than hot.
I usually call ahead, at 508•487•2580 for any of 8 great breakfast sandwiches, starting at $4.10, ready to go by the time I get there for pickup. But I also like a sit-down meal in the dining room or out on the patio. Whether I want brioche French toast or one of 7 omelets for breakfast, or a traditional lox and bagel, there's some fine "people watching" to be done here, right at the edge of Lopes Square. By the way, a plate of eggs, toast and home fries is a real bargain at just $5.99.
OK, writing this and sorting through a couple of thousand photos of food I've eaten all over PTown has got me really hungry, so I know where I'm heading for something to eat. I've been jonesing for a sausage, egg and cheddar croissant ever since the fire. I'm gonna go help these folks make up a little of their lost income, and I hope you'll all get out and do the same. I'm sure the tip jar could use a little bump as well, since all the employees lost their usual income while they were closed down for three weeks.
We're so glad to have the restaurant running again, and we heartily welcome back Linda and Nelson and the gang, and wish them all the best!

Three PTown Events This Weekend Offer Great Food, Shopping and Entertainment

Get homemade baked goods today at the Methodist Church bake sale in PTown.

There's a bake sale today at the United Methodist Church in Provincetown, at 20 Shank Painter Road, from 10 AM to 2 PM. There's no telling what kinds of tasty baked goods will be offered.
You're bound to find homemade cookies, brownies and a variety of holiday treats and festive goodies made by parishioners, with proceeds going to the church's student education fund.

See the Outer Cape Chorale and Chamber Singers
free concerts in PTown and Orleans this weekend.

The annual holiday performance of the Outer Cape Chorale got underway last night with the first performance of this year's program "O Be Joyful" at Town Hall in Provincetown.
There will be another performance of this free concert (goodwill donations are gratefully accepted) tonight at 7 PM at Town Hall, with one last chance to see this highly anticipated event on Sunday afternoon at 3 PM in Orleans, at Nauset Middle School.
Traditional holiday tunes will also be featured. Go a bit early to either venue, as this event generally plays to a packed house.

The Canteen brings a European style holiday festival to
Provincetown with food, fun,  entertainment and shopping!

The Canteen's very popular Holiday Market returns for weekends through New Year's Day. Fridays through Sundays until January 1st, from 11 AM till at least 7PM each night, you'll find this winter festival both indoors and outdoors at The Canteen, at 227 Commercial Street.
You'll find hot food and drinks, live music, theater performances, exhibits, local vendors, booths filled with crafts and gifts made by skilled artisans, and the list goes on…
This wonderful event was inspired by traditional European Christmas and New Year's festivals, providing food, fun and entertainment for the community and its visitors.
This year, an ice skating rink has been added, and Cape Cod Beer will be on hand, presenting a new winter brew, available only at this event. The beach at The Canteen will be a great spot to watch the fireworks, and a free champagne toast for all will celebrate the New Year.