On Friday afternoon, we were just getting to the house that we were renting for the weekend, and couldn't make our dinner reservation. I called to cancel and we quickly changed our plans, heading down to a local spot right near the beach; Flo's Clam Shack. Pitchers of beer and platters of seafood were in order. We had cold platters that had oysters, lobster, clams, peel & eat shrimp, etc., and fried platters with scallops, shrimp, calamari, fish, and who knows what else! I also ordered everyone spicy fried quahogs. They were large shells (intact), filled with a cornbready mixture, held together with large elastic bands, and presumably deep-fried (described by Flo's as being an ancient Portuguese tradition). They were alright (I probably wouldn't order them again), but on top of all the other fried delights, we had our fill of deep-fry that day!
Saturday morning, we had the pleasure of heading out on a beautiful schooner for a sail around the bay. The ride was kicked off with pomegranate mimosas, scones, muffins, & coffee. The first sail was for family, and then there was a second sail for friends of the bride & groom. I went along on both sails, as I was the Maid of Honour, and the bride needed me (it was a tough job but I was up for the challenge!). I was quite happy to let my family go off for lunch without me while I headed back out onto the water for another sail. On the second sail, we had champagne, sandwiches, kettle chips, and delicious cookies.
While I was gone on the second sail, my family (including my parents, Alan & the kids, my sister Lori, her husband Jake, and little Hugh) decided they would go to The Mooring restaurant, which had been highlighted on a Giada De Laurentiis show. They enjoyed clam chowder and lobster fritters with chipotle aioli. I was very jealous, as they knew I would be, so they took pictures for me. Thanks. My Mom ordered fresh tuna for lunch, medium rare. Well, she's definitely a convert. Next thing we know, she will be eating sushi!For dinner on Saturday night, my parents went to a very nice restaurant called "22 Bowen". They had a lovely evening. The rest of us ended up back at Flo's Clam Shack. The cafeteria-style restaurant wasn't our first choice but when you are taking a 10 month old out for dinner, sometimes it helps if the restaurant is loud and slightly chaotic (before we get there!). This time, we each ordered what we wanted and I had "Clams Casino" and "Oystas Rockafella". I especially enjoyed the "Oystas"! Alan ordered the pint (2 cups) of fried scallops and lived to regret that decision. Just a bad case of indigestion, not helped by shots of tequila later on that evening.
The wedding was held at at a magical place called Castle Hill, on Sunday evening. The food was fantastic, and I have decided my biggest regret from the wedding was not eating more hors d'eurves! I did manage to try a goat cheese and caramelized onion tart, a miniature beef Wellington, and a thin slice of potato topped with creme fraiche and caviar.
For the wedding dinner, we had a velvety smooth spring pea and mint soup, served warm. It was so smooth and delicious, I could have licked the bowl (but I didn't!). The majority of the guests were served a fancy version of a clambake for their main entree. This consisted of all the usual elements of an East coast clam bake, just in a smaller, more elegant presentation. A perfectly cooked lobster tail, two clams, two small pieces of sausage, one baby red skin potato sliced in half, corn already sliced off the cob, and a delicious butter sauce ladled over at your request. It was beautiful to look at and scrumptious as well. (picture is Castle Hill from the water)
The day after the wedding, my family decided that we should splurge and go to Castle Hill again, this time for lunch. As we sat watching world-class sailing vessels zip by us, we enjoyed an unforgettable lunch. I started with local oysters, served with a mignonette, and a saffron sorbet. There were only four small oysters, which was very disappointing, only because they were so darn good! For my main, I went with the scallops which were pan-seared and served with a Yukon gold potato and spring pea sauce. They were cooked to perfection, but again, they were not all that plentiful. What I wish I would have had is what my Mom ordered, the lamb gyro. My Mom was in the bathroom when the lamb gyro was served and Lori and I both tried small pieces of lamb before she got back to the table. It was so good! The kids started with clam chowder, and then had a turkey and applewood-smoked bacon sandwich. Everything was excellent, including the behaviour of the kids, which let's face it, can make or break any meal!
Later that afternoon, I stayed behind with the kids while everyone went into town again. They happened to see a fisherman coming in off his boat with lobster and crab for sale. They bought a dozen or so crabs and six large lobsters, all for around $50. Back at the house, Jake & Lori cooked the creatures in mixtures of beer and onions. The whole house smelled yeasty; like a bread bakery in the very early hours of the morning. The dinner was a little messy, but that was fine as we were eating outside. The bride & groom joined us for the impromptu dinner and we all enjoyed recounting stories from the wedding weekend extravaganza!On our way out of Newport on Tuesday morning, we went down to the docks and found a little coffee shop that had also been highlighted on Giada's show. "The Coffee Grinder" was a tiny spot, perfectly situated at the foot of the docks. We had coffees, cinnamon buns, muffins, and a really moist banana bread with chunks of Hershey's chocolate. The perfect ending to a delicious weekend.
