They say time flies when you’re having fun, but I’d rather say that time flies when you’re eating good food. This marks the 100th piece I’ve written for The Martha’s Vineyard Times, and oh, what a delicious trip it has been. It all started Oct. 8, 2014, with a local twist on a food trend (pumpkin pie spice), and became a whirlwind of tastes and flavors unlike anything I’ve ever imagined. And let’s be real, I consumed more than 100 eats in this time, some quite tasty, while others didn’t even merit putting pen to paper.
Let’s talk about those tasty bites, because man oh man, were they delicious. I tasted my fair share of cocktails. Those who know me know I barely drink, so if you were lucky enough to be sitting at the bar while I photographed drinks, you were probably my second taste tester. Pink & Green Weekend cocktails launched my love for fruity, colorful cocktails, and enhanced my respect for Island bartenders. During these 100 articles, I also had the opportunity to meet line cooks, chefs, bakers, and local makers who had a thing or two to share. Sitting down to talk to the sous-chefs, a.k.a. the men behind the line at some of the best Edgartown restaurants, was incredibly eye-opening; their passion was immeasurable.
Not only did I talk to restaurant cooks, but dove into the world of Island cookbook authors such as Steven Raichlen, Chris Fischer, Susie Middleton, Cathy Walthers, and Sarah Waldman. The Island kitchens and farms that inspired these cookbooks should be on your list to visit.
Come summer, I was juggling my own schedule of working a full-time job in a restaurant kitchen while running to events on my time off. Whether it was sampling the new juice offerings at Remedy MV or Smooth Moves, or stumbling upon menus I had no idea existed (like the dinner menu at Right Fork Diner or the waterfront dining at Blue Canoe), my days were packed to the brim. Along with my friends, I tasted my way through the Island this first year, with many more places to explore in 2016.
Still, I dream about a couple of exceptional bites I’ve had in the past 100 articles:
- A foie gras torchon slider at a Frog’s Leap wine dinner at Atria
- The housemade pappardelle pasta in a lusciously creamy lobster sauce at La Soffita
- Freshly fried funnel cake at the 154th annual Agricultural Fair
- Perfectly cooked scallops in Chesca’s paella
- The simplest and probably the best clam chowder on the Island at the Ritz
- A sip of locally crafted M.V. Cider
- Stuffed quahogs at the Wharf
- The ever-so-popular green tomato BLT at Slice of Life
- Sublime strawberry shortcakes during the Morning Glory Farm Strawberry Festival
- Decadent cheesecake brownies at Rosewater Market
- A lobster roll on homemade challah bread at Rockfish
- Fish tacos at Little House Cafe
A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has read my column for the past 100 articles; to everyone who has stopped me in the middle of the street to tell me they cooked one of my recipes; and to everyone at the MVTimes, especially to Jamie, Kelsey, and Angela for believing in me and my love of food. I can’t wait to explore more of what this Island has to offer to food lovers this year — bring it on, 2016!