J.T. Farnham’s 88 Eastern Ave. (Rte. 133) Essex, MA 978-768-6643 The “clam highway” on Boston’s North Shore and Cape Ann boasts at least five fabulous shacks, including Woodman’s, said to be the inventor of fried clams. Our preference is Farnham’s: light, not greasy, no rubbery clam strips, just sweet-and-tender bellies and necks.
The Commons Lunch 48 Commons Way Little Compton, RI 401-635-4388; quahog.org/cuisine Most Rhode Islanders don’t want their chowder sullied with milk. A base of straight clam-juice broth, plus a few onions and potatoes, maybe some diced salt pork, and plenty of shucked quahogs — that’s chowder. Typical accompaniments are clam cakes or jonnycakes, both in […]
The West Deck 1 Waites Wharf Newport, RI 401-847-3610 The “Bermuda” in The West Deck’s fish chowder is Gosling’s rum and a sherry-pepper sauce. But the clam-stock base and chunks of salmon, swordfish, and sometimes striped bass or sole, depending on what’s available, are what make it hearty and no longer a “best-kept secret.”
Appleland Orchard 135 Smith Ave. (Rte. 116) Greenville, RI 401-949-3690 Since unpasteurized cider can legally be sold only at the orchard that presses it (a handful in New England still do this), it’s a 40-year-old tradition to trek to Appleland in the fall. The cider is an unbeatable blend of Macs, Empires, and Delicious apples, […]
Jigger’s Diner 145 Main St. East Greenwich, RI 401-884-5388; quahog.org/cuisine The jonnycake wars between East Bay and West Bay/South County are all about style: thin and made with cold milk, or thick and made with hot water. Jigger’s (in West Bay) are dense and chewy, made by pouring boiling water over stone-ground white-flint cornmeal. Savory […]
Just Like Mom’s Pastries 353 Riverdale Rd. Weare, NH 603-529-6667; justlikemomspastries.com Although Maine lays claim to this confection (as do other regions of the country), Just Like Mom’s whoopie pie is true to its name: a large cakelike cookie, dense with chocolate flavor; slightly crispy on the edges; cut in half and slathered with a […]
Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks 1168 County Rd. Montpelier, VT 800-242-2740; morsefarm.com Local lore has it that the more e’s in the word creemie (or creemee), the better the soft-serve ice cream is. Many places offer maple-flavored ice cream, but Morse has a lock on true maple flavor: a gallon of syrup per container of creemie […]
Butler’s Colonial Donut House 459 Sanford Rd. Westport, MA 508-672-4600 Doughnuts are to New Englanders what bagels are to New Yorkers: a daily necessity. At Butler’s, they’ve taken this yeasty pastry to a new level by filling round and rectangular doughnuts with real whipped cream. The latter are called “Long Johns,” and under the cream […]
Omni Parker House 60 School St. Boston, MA 617-227-8600; omnihotels.com In addition to its famous Boston scrod and Parker House rolls, this hotel’s kitchen is said to have invented this custard-filled, chocolate-glazed sponge cake (see the recipe, right). Sometimes nothing but the original (in these elegant surroundings) will do. Massachusetts’ legislators agreed, making Boston cream […]
Moody’s Diner 1885 Atlantic Highway (Rte. 1) Waldoboro, ME 207-832-7785; moodysdiner.com Moody’s concession to Grape-Nuts purists is to make both a custard version and a pudding version, served on different days of the week. The custard is baked; the pudding is cooked double-boiler-style, with eggs separated. It’s the vanilla in the custard that’s always hooked […]
Wild Blueberry Land 1067 Rte. 1 Columbia Falls, ME 207-483-2583 This pie has that sweet crunch of small wild berries, that woodsy tang when the juice flows, plus a wisp of thickener and a delicate, delicious complementary crust (in this case, a Dutch crumb topping). And, the building’s shaped like a blueberry — all the […]
Cottage Street Bakery 5 Cottage St. Orleans, MA 508-255-2821; cottagestreetbakery.com Drive down Cape Cod to pick up Marc Launoy’s light-as-a-feather pie, its filling a mix of half-and-half, evaporated milk, canned pumpkin, and a homemade blend of spices. What makes this one a sure-fire winner is that the pumpkin’s earthiness isn’t overwhelmed by the spice or […]
