Shipyard Galley

67 County Road

Route 6

Mattapoisett, MA 02739

(508) 758-9408

www.shipyardgalley.com

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL MENU

Mom has been on a kick lately. She's is always looking on the Internet for new restaurants for us to try, but she's made a new list of places that she wants to visit ASAP. One of the places on the list was called Shipyard Galley. Shipyard is a food shop that serves fresh sandwiches, soups, and baked goods, but what they're famous for is their large selection of gourmet take out platters, cold cuts, Hors D'Oeuvres, and catering. It sounded great, so we made sure to check it out on our Saturday errand extravaganza. Located on the side of a small plaza, we pulled into the parking lot at about 4 p.m.


At Shipyard, it's all about the food. There are a few dining tables both inside and out of the extremely clean establishment, but the majority of the space is taken up with deli counters, refrigerators, and bakery display cases. That's fine with us! We love looking at food almost as much as we love eating it.

Since we had just come from having lunch, Mom and I weren't interested in trying any of their food at the moment. Instead, we headed straight for the bakery counter. I would have taken a picture of the different breads and cookies on display, but there were too many people crowded around. When Mom finally got a chance to order, she chose six homemade cookies - two peanut butter kisses (peanut butter cookies with Hershey's Kisses inside), two snickerdoodles, and two molasses. When we got a chance to visit the refrigerated cases, I saw the most delicious looking brownie ever. It was called a Mississippi Mud brownie ($2.95), and it was dark, fudgy, and had what looked like a marshmallow top. We, of course, grabbed one of those along with a lemon square ($1.50). Our total came to $8.35. When we got back to the car, we put the goodies in our freezer bag and went on our way.

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When Mom and I go out on Saturdays, we have no idea where we'll end up or what we'll end up doing. Well, this Saturday took us to Newport, RI. We pulled into the beautiful Brenton Point State Park which is pretty much located right in the Atlantic ocean. Mom and I decided to attack the Mississippi Mud brownie first. Unfortunately, we almost ate the whole thing before I remembered that we hadn't taken a picture of it yet. Here's all that was left:

The brownie was very fudgy, moist, and had a deep chocolate flavor. It was very dense and huge, although you can't tell that from the tiny scrap that we left behind to photograph. It was definitely an excellent choice for any brownie or chocolate lover. Next, we decided to be pigs and wash down the brownie with the lemon square. Hey, at least we got a picture of the whole thing:

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This lemon square reminded us of the one we used to get at the now-closed Esler's American Bakery in Marlboro, MA. The square was nice and tart, which Mom and I both like, and had a cookie-like crust. It wasn't as big as the brownie, but perhaps that was a blessing because the tart taste may have been too overwhelming. If you like your lemon squares on the sweet side, you may not fall head-over-heels with this one. However, Mom and I thought it was excellent.

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Finally, when it was late at night and the actual errands (grocery shopping, etc.) had been completed, we were ready to chow down on the cookies. Who cares if we were still in the car ... and it was after 10 p.m. ... and we were in the parking lot of Stop & Shop? We pulled out the bag of cookies and tried the snickerdoodle first. When we got home, we had the peanut butter kiss and the molasses. You could definitely tell that the cookies were homemade by the smell, feel, size - just everything. Our favorite was the snickerdoodle, which you don't often see in bakeries. It had a nice texture and a great cinnamon flavor. They weren't soft cookies, and they had a nice snap to them without being too dry. The thick peanut butter cookie had a whole Hershey Kiss inside and the molasses one had a deep, rich flavor. They were all perfectly done. There were other flavors that we are looking forward to buying on our next visit to Shipyard Galley.

Cookies on my dashboard!

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The Shipyard Galley will make you drool. We peeked inside some of the refrigerated coolers that held the take-home food and started making plans to get certain things. I saw cucumber soup on their daily soup board ($3.25-7.95), and I haven't been able to get it off my mind. I'd love to try that, and I hope they have it when I go back. Specialty sandwiches range from $6.50-7.95, not including a peanut butter and jelly for $2.95. Now, judging by the price, I'm guessing that the calzones are for a family because the price is $16.95. Yikes! Their Hors D'Oeuvres list (from $8.95-16.95 per dozen) includes things like mini beef Wellington, baked stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, mini chicken Cordon Bleu, and strawberries dipped in chocolate. You can also order a platter of finger sandwiches ($15.95 per dozen), deli cold cut platters ($38-74), and a breakfast tray for $39.95 which includes assorted muffins, bear claws, and scones. According to their catering culinary take out menu, all of their entrees are in an oven ready 9x13" container and serves 8-12. Items include chicken Marbella ($39.95), apple-stuffed pork loin, Mediterranean chicken, and seafood lasagna ($59.95) which includes shrimp and scallops. Yes, the stuff sounds expensive, but when you are buying for a large group, you're saving money in the long run. Plus, the food is already prepared. Shipyard Galley also has a catering service available.

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Well, I'm hungry. Sometimes I can't stand it when I have to do reviews of restaurants that feature food that is so deliciously described. I can't take it! Perhaps Mom and I will stop into Shipyard Galley soon for a few sandwiches and, I hope, a cup of that cucumber soup. I can't wait!

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Shipyard Galley is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. They are closed on Monday.

Lickety Splits Ice Cream

719 State Road

Route 6

Westport, MA 02790

(508) 676-2163

New England Bites has been going to Lickety Splits for years, but has just now gotten around to officially reviewing them. They have, in our opinion, one of the best peanut butter soft serve ice creams in the area, and with a buy one get one coupon, we were in the mood to bring home a couple of pints of the stuff. We pulled into the newly-paved parking area at about 7:15 p.m.


Lickety Splits is a Westport staple, and it's unfortunate that the restaurant version on Route 177 didn't work out. However, we still have the original ice cream stand on Route 6. Now, the coupon that Mom had cut out of the paper was a buy one, get one free - but it didn't have a limit! When I asked the gentleman (who I think was the owner) if I could get two pints with the coupon, he said yes. As I stood in line waiting for my two pints of peanut butter ($4.59 each), I noticed a sign which informed customers that, due to hard economic times, the staff had to be shortened. In other words, please be patient while they get your order. How unfortunate! In our opinion, perhaps the coupons should be more specific. You can't be giving away the store, especially during a time like this. With tax, my total came to $4.82. The owner was training someone on how to use the soft serve machine, so I got to take a quick look at the various flavors and food items that Lickety Splits has. I didn't know this, but they have ice cream pies! You can order custom pies with three days notice. Sounds good to me!

Lickety Splits has actually gotten a lot better looking. It used to look like a run down white house with an ordering window and a handwritten sign with ice cream flavors on it. Now, the gravel parking lot has been paved, new picnic tables have been put out, white lines have been drawn to make actual parking spaces, and an adorable red and white striped awning has been placed over both windows. There is also a soda machine and several more trash receptacles than I remember. I can really see how Lickety Splits is trying to improve themselves, and it's definitely working. During the summer, you can't get near the place - no matter what the outside looks like. Their ice cream seems to have a lot more flavor than other local soft serves. I don't know what they're doing, but please - keep doing it! Their Oreo is another flavor that is to die for. It's not just flavoring. They actually use real Oreo cookies!

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The reason why we were getting two pints to take home was because Dad had never tried the peanut butter from Lickety Splits. Mom and I always rave about it, but he's never had a taste. Well, the verdict is in and he thought it was amazing. He's very picky about his ice cream being too sweet, even though ice cream is supposed to be sweet. Dad liked how the flavor was pure rather than manufactured, and of course, Mom and I agreed with him. This is by far one of our favorite ice creameries in the area.

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Lickety Splits also serves food. I've had a hot dog from there that was really good and Mom and I have also had some of their clam cakes. They were a little greasy (the paper bag was almost see-through) but we would try them again. After all, now is the time to support our local businesses! I think we should all get in our cars and drive to Westport right now and order a big bag of clam cakes and a cone of peanut butter. You won't be disappointed.

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Lickety Splits is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting.

Lobster Trap

290 Shore Road

Bourne, MA 02532

(508) 759-7600

www.lobstertrap.net

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL MENU

After having a meltdown at CVS over buying (or not buying) gift cards for my sister's birthday, Mom and I decided to de-stress by retreating to Bourne for some seafood. That's one of the plus sides to living in Southeastern Massachusetts - you're never too far from having dinner on the Cape. Since we've been on a Cape Cod kick these days, Mom decided to look up popular seafood joints in the area that we haven't yet visited. She came across Lobster Trap, located a few minutes off of that horrible rotary on the other side of the Bourne Bridge. Going out to dinner always cures any kind of misery, so we were more than happy when we finally pulled into the parking lot at 4 p.m.


When we stepped inside, we were facing the area where you place your order. Because we were one of only two couples in the restaurant, and they were already eating, we were alone in this particular area. On busy summer days, I can only imagine how cramped it must get. I already knew what I was going to get, and so did Mom. We stepped up to the counter to give our order to a very friendly waitress. I chose the clam strip plate ($10.99) and Mom chose the fish and chips ($13.99). We also got two bottles of Lobster Trap's signature root beer ($3.78). Our total came to:

Clam strip plate - $10.99

Fish and chips - 13.99

2 root beer - 3.78

Subtotal - $28.76

Tax - 1.44

TOTAL = $30.20

At first I thought the waitress said $20.30, which would have been fine, but when I realized what the price actually was, I was a little surprised. It just seemed a bit much for two dinners and a couple of sodas. However, this was Cape Cod. Everything is priced a little higher than it is back home. The waitress, who may or may not be named Jackie (according to the receipt), told us that she would bring our meals out to the dining area. I noticed that the receipt had an order number printed at the bottom, and I got the impression that on busy days, they call out your number and you pick up your food at the pickup window.


The dining room is huge and has a great sea-theme, from the thick wooden columns to the large ship's wheel at the center of the room. Green plastic table and chair sets are scattered throughout the dining area, while colorful buoys hang in the rafters. Beautiful windows that overlook Buzzards Bay surround the room (which actually extends out into the water), and there was a small bar located off to the side that had plenty of liquor to go around. Although it was quite fun, Mom and I were wondering where the advertised outdoor dining was. Perhaps they remove the large windows as I've seen some restaurants do, giving the appearance that the customers are dining "outside" on a deck. In all fairness, we did not go behind the restaurant to see if there was any seating available in the back.

View from our window.

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As we waited for our food, which didn't take long to arrive, Mom and I sipped our root beer. I don't know if it was the added sugar (since we're so used to diet soda), but it was delicious. Once our food was brought over in small red baskets, we were glad to see that both plates were served piping hot and with a side of tarter sauce and cole slaw (both sets came to me). Mom's piece of fish was quite large and sitting atop a mound of crispy, dry fries. The fish itself had a light crust and the inside was beautiful, flaky, and white. It was perfectly done and tasted absolutely delicious. Mom said that it joins the ranks of her best fish and chips dishes.

My clam strips were also excellent. The batter was nice and dry, and the strips inside were tasty and sweet. The fries were also very flavorful, and the cole slaw was cool and refreshing. These clams strips are some of the best that I've had, and the portion was just perfect.

Mom and I really enjoyed eating at Lobster Trap, but we have to be honest. We feel that the restaurant is a bit overpriced - even for the Cape. For example, they serve a jumbo lump crab cake for $8.99, and that's just ONE. For $8.99 at most places, you get two or three crab cakes. Also, you're going to pay $5.99 for a stuffed quahog at Lobster Trap when you can get them down here for as low as $2.25 (and that's with linguica). As you can see, the prices are quite different than what we're used to. Although the food is very good, you may want to bring a little extra money if you plan on eating here. Even Mom's fish and chip plate was about $3-4 dollars more than it would have been elsewhere. Oh, and get this! If you bring your kids, you're going to pay $5 for a hot dog and $5 for a grilled cheese sandwich. Ouch! And if you want dessert, plan on paying $4.59 for a milkshake. I'm sure it's good, but it's definitely on the expensive side.

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Before the long ride home, we visited the restroom which was very clean and organized. As we left Lobster Trap, we joked about how much better we felt than we did when we first set out for Bourne. Maybe seafood really does make you feel better! People should stop taking antidepressants and instead, go to Lobster Trap for some fish and clam strips. I'm telling you - it works miracles!

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Lobster Trap's summer hours are from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.

Bagel Express Cafe

938 Lee's River Avenue
Somerset, MA 02720
(508) 673-3513

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"I'm going off the rails on a crazy bagel train!" -- Laura channeling Ozzy Osbourne.

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Why did it take an article in The Herald News to get Mom and I to visit the Bagel Express Cafe? We had been meaning to go for ages, so when we saw that the local paper had reviewed the place before we did, Mom and I put our foot down and rushed right over. We pulled into the parking lot at around 11:30 a.m.

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What can I say? It's an actual train on actual train tracks. Adorable! There is a separate "caboose" which either contains more dining space or storage, and the restaurant even has a drive-thru in the back. Since we were dining in, Mom and I went up the wooden staircase and shoved open the small door (those old train doors are heavy). There is a cute railroad crossing sign just as you enter.

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Oh man, this place gets cuter by the second. Not only does it look like an old fashioned train, but it looks like a small cafe/bistro as well! It is beautifully decorated with lots of antique pictures and knickknacks all over. Above the seats in the dining area are several antique suitcases resting on the overhead compartments. Beautiful curtains dress the train windows, which are separated by lighted sconces. The wooden tables and chairs are quite comfortable, and the oldies station piping in through the speakers kind of makes you feel like you're sitting in someone's home rather than in a restaurant. It's a very relaxed atmosphere. They also have one of the smallest bathrooms I've ever seen, but what do you expect? It's a train!

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When we got to the front of the train, we checked out what they had to offer. There is a chalkboard that lists all of the cream cheeses and spreads offered, as well as a few boards that list the daily specials. Mom spotted a sign that read that the bagels come from Bristol Bagel Works - one of our FAVORITE places. They have the best bagels and muffins. We're still wondering if the muffins carried at the Bagel Express are by BBW as well. If they are, we already know that they're fantastic. There were other assorted goodies like cookies and brownies sitting out the counter, and inside the deli case were several drinks, fruit cups, Boar's Head deli meats, and wraps. When Mom and I finally decided what we wanted, we placed our order with two very pleasant women. Mom felt like having breakfast, so she chose a wheat bagel with bacon, egg, and cheese ($4). I felt like having lunch, so I went with a spinach bagel with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and Willow Tree chicken salad ($6.75). I was asked if I wanted a pickle with that, and of course, the answer was yes. One of the women told us that she would bring the food out to our table. We also ordered two of their featured iced coffees - Southern Pecan ($3.05 each). Our total came to $16.54, but we didn't pay until after we finished eating. Mom and I took a seat under two vintage suitcases and waited patiently for our bagels.

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One of the women brought out our sandwiches in small baskets. They both looked great. Mom said that her sandwich had a lot of flavor. Sometimes bagels don't really have that much taste, but this bagel was excellent. The inside of the bagel was moist while the outside had a nice chewy texture. The thick bacon, along with the egg and cheese, was cooked perfectly. Mom also mentioned that the sandwich was well put together, as she wasn't covered in bacon grease while she was eating it which unfortunately happens with a lot of breakfast sandwiches. It was the perfect way to start her day. Oh, and we both adored the Southern Pecan iced coffee. It really had a lot of flavor and tasted exactly like pecan!

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Like Mom's, my sandwich was excellent. At first I was bummed because I spotted an Asiago cheese bagel after I had already requested my sandwich be on a spinach one, but I was very glad that I stuck with my original choice. All of the ingredients, including the bagel, were extraordinarily fresh and tasty. It was a little harder to eat than Mom's sandwich, but I worked it out. I didn't leave a single drop in the little plastic tray. It was the perfect size and I was very happy to have ordered it.

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The Bagel Express Cafe does a fantastic thing. They put together gourmet bagel and fruit baskets - and then deliver them! Of course, you could probably pick it up yourself, but still. You could even get personalized catering and party platters. This is the perfect thing to bring to a party or an office shindig when the usual stale donuts aren't cutting it anymore. The prices at Bagel Express are average, and you can order bagels by the dozen and cream cheese and coffee by the pound. Sandwiches range from $6.25-6.75, and specialty salads range from $5.50-7.25.

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After paying, we bid farewell to the Bagel Express Cafe for the time being. We knew we would be back very soon. Cut to Monday morning when we went back for seconds! This time, Mom had a French toast bagel sandwich with bacon, egg, and cheese, and I had the most delicious breakfast sandwich ever - an Asiago bagel (I finally got one!) with sundried tomato cream cheese, roasted red pepper, egg, and cheddar cheese. There may or may not have been bacon in the sandwich, but I ate it so fast that I forgot. Either way, it was absolutely scrumptious. Cut to Friday morning, where I picked up a chocolate chip bagel with strawberry cream cheese for me (they had run out of banana - aw shucks!), and a French toast bagel with maple walnut cream cheese for Mom. All this while guzzling down big cups of Southern Pecan. The owner even threw in a brownie for good measure, and it was awesome. We absolutely ADORE the Bagel Express Cafe. What are you waiting for? You should go now. Wait in the parking lot. You'll probably see me there ... drooling.

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The Bagel Express Cafe is open from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

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PS - Hey, Bagel Express! If you want more vintage suitcases, visit Vinny's Antiques Center in Seekonk, MA. It's one of our favorite antique stores. We saw PLENTY of suitcases and they were priced very well!

Holiday Bite of the Week - Frank's Red Hot Wings

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

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What better way to honor our troops on this day than to eat a big box of microwaved buffalo wings. Mom decided that these wings ($6.99 on Stop & Shop) were the perfect addition to our Memorial Day feast of hot dogs, cole slaw, potato salad, and chocolate cupcakes. We had never purchased this product before, but were pretty confident that it was going to taste great.

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THE VERDICT: Fleshy. My sister and mother did not have any wings, but both my father and I thought that the wings could have been a little crispier. Mom followed the recommended directions when microwaving, but I think that because the wings were so coated with tasty buffalo sauce, there was no way for them to dry out. Perhaps if we had put them in the oven they wouldn't have been as slimey, but I will say that the wings were very flavorful. I just adore that tangy buffalo sauce.

Gelato House

720 South Main St.
Fall River, MA 02721

When I first noticed that the old Park Motor Sales at the corner of South Main and Park Streets was turning into a place called Gelato House, I flipped! Gelato within eyesight from our apartment sounded too good to be true. On a recent walk, I spotted a few people sitting at the various picnic tables on the property, so I knew that Gelato House had opened for business. Since we were all home celebrating Memorial Day, I figured this was a great time to try them out. I stopped by at 5:45 p.m.



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Now, because it is so close to home, I was originally going to walk. However, I reconsidered because I didn't want to be responsible for dropping someone's ice cream on the walk back home. I jumped in my car and drove for about two seconds. I loved it already. There was a small crowd gathered around the ordering window so I wasn't able to get any shots of the menu board. However, I saw that they had both ice cream and gelato. A very friendly gentleman came to the window right away to take my order. At first I was going to order small cups of gelato, but the man told me that "small" was their "kiddie" size. Being a pig, I was afraid that it wouldn't be enough, so I ordered regulars all around ($3.10 each). I chose a chocolate for Dad, a coffee for Mom, and a pistachio for me (my sister didn't want any). My total came to $10.04.
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While I was waiting, I saw several people standing around with large drink cups, which I assumed were milkshakes. I also noticed a board with the words cacoila and chourico, so I assume they also serve sandwiches or dinner plates at Gelato House. When my order was ready, I questioned the man as to what the little dark bits in the coffee ice cream was (I thought they were coffee beans). To my surprise, what I thought was the coffee cup was actually the chocolate. What shocked me even more was that the actual coffee ice cream was white. Oh well, I've had mint ice cream that was white on occasions. Perhaps this was the same deal. The gentleman offered me a box to put my ice cream cups in. As I drove home with the box, I realized that it probably would have been faster to walk. Oh well, now I know.
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When I got home, I frantically raced around the house trying to sop up the gelato that had melted out of the tiny cups. Thankfully it wasn't that messy. Mom gave my sister a few spoonfuls of her gelato to try as Dad and I took our own cups and dug in. Hmm ... I really don't know what to say. At first Mom had asked me what flavor I ordered for her. Dad said the same thing. The reason why they were asking this question was because the gelato had very little flavor. When we have had gelato in the past, it usually tasted exactly like the flavor that it was supposed to be. Mom, being a coffee expert, said that if she were blindfolded and fed this gelato, she absolutely wouldn't be able to tell what flavor it was. She actually thought that she had a cup of base without the flavoring! Because of the stark white color, Mallory thought that Mom's gelato might have been vanilla, but it didn't even taste like that. It didn't taste like anything! We were very surprised and disappointed. Dad also said that the flavor was very faint, and if he were to put a guess to his cup, he would have guessed coffee with a few chocolate pieces. When informed it was plain chocolate, he was surprised. My pistachio did actually taste like pistachio, but it had a very light flavor. The gelato wasn't necessarily bad, it just didn't give us the wow factor that we were looking for. It also wasn't as creamy as we remembered from our last gelato experience. The texture was much icier.
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Would we give this the New England Bites seal of approval? Sure. We love to see new businesses come into the area, and we hope that they are here for many years to come. It is still very new (their phone number isn't even registered with directory assistance yet) and they have the whole summer to work out any little kinks they may have. Plus, it is in the perfect location for all the Kennedy Park walkers and baseball players that are going to need some cooling down after basking in the summer sun. We will be trying them again, and hope that next time will be a better experience. We will keep you posted!

Bite of the Week - Healthy Choice Pumpkin Squash Ravioli

I love the television show Seinfeld, so when the woman who played the Elaine character was seen advertising Healthy Choice's new pumpkin squash ravioli, I just had to try it. After all, Elaine wouldn't lie to me. If she was behind this frozen meal, then it had to be good. Since it was on sale at Stop & Shop for $2.50, I decided that it was now or never. Also, we have been receiving requests for us to feature healthy frozen food options, so I figured that the ravioli would be a perfect candidate for our Bite of the Week.

THE VERDICT: Surprisingly good! You all know how frozen meals can be. They never look like they do on TV, and they taste more like the box they come in rather than what they were supposed to be. Fortunately, this meal had it goin' on. For only 300 calories, I got to have about five delicious pumpkin raviolis in a butter sage sauce (which was very tasty) and a small helping of asparagus and butternut squash. The vegetables were crunchy and fresher than I expected. The raviolis were nicely filled and had microwaved well (nothing was burnt). Made with extra virgin olive oil, this frozen meal would be a great choice for anyone who needs to eat on the go or in their office cubicle. I knew Elaine wouldn't steer me in the wrong direction!

Collucci's 4 Bros. Bistro

183 Route 28
West Yarmouth, MA 02673
(508) 771-0799
www.4brosbistro.com
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL MENU

Since we were supposed to try the new Collucci Brothers location last week - and ended up passing the place not once, but twice - Mom and I were determined to get there today. We've been obsessed with the place ever since we saw them win the meatloaf challenge on the Food Network's Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. They've also been featured on The Phantom Gourmet, but the Phantom hasn't visited the Collucci's since they moved from a diner to a spot in The Cove Resort at Yarmouth. Mom and I decided that we should be the first ones (that we know of) to review them in their new digs. We pulled into the resort parking lot at around 4:30 p.m.

Small, thin 4 Bros. sign seen from the street.

Main entrance.

At first we were a little confused as to how to get inside. However, after Mom suggested that we just go in through the main entrance (duh), we spotted an elevator with a 4 Bros. logo and a sign that instructed us to visit them on the second floor. The elevator let us off directly in the dimly lit dining room where we were soon greeted by our waitress, Kelly, who was awesome from start to finish. She asked us if we would like to be seated overlooking the pool. I said yes right away, but was confused because I had forgotten that we were dining in a resort. As soon as we got closer to our table (I believe we were the only people in the dining area), I knew what she meant. There were about six or seven tables that were on a balcony that overlooked the resort's large pool. Kelly joked that the pool - or rather the people swimming in it - provided a lot of entertainment for the diners. She left us with two large menus to look over while she retrieved our drinks - diet cola (I'm not sure whether it was Coke or Pepsi) - which arrived in real glasses. After giving us a few minutes to narrow down our choices, Kelly returned to take our order. Mom chose the "Throwdown" meatloaf Italia ($14.99), which was a necessity since meatloaf is what the Collucci's are famous for, and I chose Rocco's famous grilled steak tips ($14.99) cooked medium well. With our meals, Mom had a pasta option in which she chose spaghetti, and I had a potato and vegetable option in which I chose fries and cole slaw. Both Mom and I have been overdosing on seafood lately, so now was the perfect opportunity to have some good meat dishes. Kelly left Mom and I alone to check out the rest of the dining room, and to watch a bunch of little kids - and a guy with moobs (man boobs) - splash around in the pool.

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Our best shot of the dining room.

The awesome view of the pool.

Some other tables on the balcony.

The dining area was really pretty. Since the customers were still outside catching some rays, we were able to have the area to ourselves. It's a very simple setup - wooden booths and tables with hanging lights around the balcony area. What we saw of the bar consisted of a few flat screen TVs and several windows overlooking Route 28. There was a tea light candle on each table and because it was dimly lit, it gave the room a very cozy but elegant feel. The food is really the star at 4 Bros. Bistro. There is so much to choose from that it took Mom and I a while to narrow down what we wanted to try. Since the meatloaf is famous, you can have it several different ways: regular, Italian style, in a sandwich, and - believe it or not - on a pizza! There are also several other sandwiches, seafood choices (lobsters, etc.), meats, pizzas, and appetizers that were priced accordingly for the portion size and location of the restaurant.

When our food arrived, Mom noticed that her meatloaf Italia was a more than generous serving. Sitting on top of a good portion of spaghetti with delicious homemade sauce was four large slices of their famous meatloaf. This portion was definitely enough for two. The meal was also accompanied by two small slices of very tasty, buttery garlic bread. Mom couldn't wait to dig in, and when she did, she found that it was worth the double trip to West Yarmouth. The meatloaf was very nicely spiced, and you could see lots of chunks of different veggies disbursed throughout the meat. The texture was terrific. Some meatloaves absolutely fall apart when you slice into them. This one stayed firm enough to be sliced into wonderful sandwiches, and even though it was firm, it was still deliciously tender. It was really a wonderful dish. Because Mom couldn't finish all of the meatloaf, she brought two slices home to Dad (we keep a cooler in the car - what pigs), who kept asking for more. Sorry, Dad. Maybe next time!

My food was really delicious as well. Although my steak tips were cooked medium well, I found them to be a little on the chewy side. However, I don't think this was anyone's fault. I am really weird about my meat texture, which is why I rarely order steak even though it's sooooo good. If I get a piece of chewy meat in my mouth, the meal is over. Thankfully, I was able to thwart any sensation to gag by throwing in a fry every time my mouth found an unsavory piece. The tips had a great smokey flavor and I loved the darkened grill marks on each slice. The fries were plentiful and tasty, and the cole slaw was surprisingly delicious. It tasted like it was made with a yogurt base. It was definitely a great meal and I can see why it is a Collucci's Brothers favorite.

After Mom and I stuffed ourselves, Kelly came over to wrap Mom's meatloaf and clear away our plates. When she returned with the meatloaf safely in a Styrofoam container, she brought over the bill. The total came to:

1 Italian meatloaf - $14.99

1 steak tips - 14.99

2 soda - 3.80

Subtotal - $33.78

Tax - 1.69

TOTAL = $35.47

We left $43 on the table (including 20% tip) for Kelly, who was an excellent waitress. Before leaving, she tried to convince Mom and I to come back for the bistro's karaoke night. Mom told her that she should be thankful that we wouldn't be taking her up on that offer. I couldn't imagine Mom or I getting up there and screeching out songs like "Waterloo" by ABBA or "Dark Lady" by Cher. Yikes. On our way out, we paid a visit to the restroom which was spotless. As we headed toward the elevator that would take us back down to the resort's lobby, a gentleman wished us well. When Mom turned around, she realized that it was one of the Collucci Brothers. The whole ride down in the elevator I heard about how she talked to an actual Collucci. That's pretty cool because I'm sure they've definitely become local celebrities after kicking Bobby Flay's butt on national TV.

It's a shame that the 4 Bros. Bistro is so far away, but it gives us something to look forward to when Mom and I are tearing up Cape Cod. Full from our meal, and exhausted from having shopped at the Antique Center of Yarmouth before eating, we headed back to Fall River. Both Mom and I are very glad to have had lunch at the Collucci-owned restaurant, and we can see why their meatloaf episode is a fan favorite. The food is great, the bistro is beautiful, and it's great to see the good that comes from a family working together.

Collucci's 4 Bros. Bistro is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m., and at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for breakfast. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. and dinner is served at 4 p.m.

Bite of the Week - B&M Brown Bread

Mom has been eating brown bread since she was a child, but the brown bread she used to eat came from a bakery on Saturday mornings. It seemed that every bakery in the Fall River area used to serve take-out baked beans in little cardboard containers and loaves of brown bread. It was a Saturday tradition. Unfortunately, this pleasant tradition has gone the way of the dinosaurs. It just no longer exists. However, you can get the old traditional brown bread - believe it or not - in a can in the supermarket. The B&M company, famous for their baked beans, puts out two varieties of brown bread - the original, and the original with raisins. If you've never had brown bread, Mom will try and describe it for you:

THE VERDICT: The bread is very dense, moist, and has a rich molasses flavor. It's really delicious with a nice big pat of butter on it and eaten along with the traditional baked beans, or really just about anything. One of the best parts about this bread is that when you open the can, all you have to do next is slice and eat! The bread is really tasty, and when Mom was a kid, she used to have a couple of slices of brown bread with a bowl of tomato soup. Eating this really brings back memories for her! The next time you're in the supermarket, do yourself a favor and pick up a can. The cans are located next to the baked beans. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Oxford Creamery

98 County Road
Mattapoisett, MA 02739
(508) 758-3847

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The Bucket @ Apponagansett Park

77 Gulf Road

Dartmouth, MA 02748
(508) 992-3603

www.oxfordcreamery.com
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL MENU

How do you top off a great day in Cape Cod? By visiting one of the great ice creameries located on Route 6. On a previous trip back from the Cape, Mom and I spotted Oxford Creamery, a popular Mattapoisett summertime hangout. "We have to go back and try that," said Mom, who has spotted ice cream places along every road we've been on. I agreed, and when we drove into Mattapoisett, Oxford Creamery was the only thing on my mind (other than seeing that cool giant seahorse sign). We pulled into the parking area at 7 p.m.


I didn't know if Oxford was strictly an ice cream "shack" (i.e., just a window), or if you could actually go inside. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that, not only could you go inside, but there were several tables in the tiny dining area because Oxford Creamery serves a lot of different foods (there are also picnic tables outside). I saw a sign for lobster rolls, clam cakes, hamburgers, hot dogs, and lots of other "on the go" items. Since both Mom and I were only there for dessert, I ordered two small hot fudge sundaes ($3.80 each). The server's name was Andrew, and he was very polite. I explained that I wanted both sundaes made with vanilla ice cream, which - to us - is the best way to have them. Somehow you're just able to taste each item on your sundae (hot fudge, walnuts, whipped cream) if you have a good vanilla base. The total came to $9.03, which was odd because it was $1 more than it should have been. I didn't question it because I only really figured it out once I got to the car. Check out the receipt:

2 sundae, 1 scoop - $7.60 (3.80 each)

Subtotal - $8.60 (????)

Tax - .43

TOTAL = $9.03

Oh well. I'm not going to complain about a dollar. I'll just blog about it, ha, ha!


The service was quick and efficient. When they called my number, I saw one of the cherries from the sundaes take a flying leap off of the whipped cream. A server at the pickup window noticed this and made sure to get me another. There were several customers standing at both the pickup and the ordering windows. As I was looking around the small space, I notice some framed newspaper articles raving about how good the food was at Oxford Creamery. I couldn't wait to try my sundae!


Now, Oxford Creamery doesn't make it's own ice cream. They use Richardson's, which delivers to several local New England creameries including Oxford's other location - The Bucket at Apponagansett Park in Dartmouth. Before digging in to our sundaes, both Mom and I noticed what a nice size portion the small was. As for the taste, the vanilla ice cream and hot fudge were so thick and flavorful that Mom thought both were homemade, and was surprised to find out that they weren't. It really brought back memories of an old fashioned sundae from an ice cream parlor. They were both absolutely delicious. The size was perfect, and we ate them with glee. New England Bites loves our ice cream and we'll definitely be back to get more, and maybe have lunch at Oxford Creamery. I'm sure it will be great since I saw many happy faces leaving the parking lot, including our own.

Oxford Creamery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Captain Parker's Pub

668 Route 28

West Yarmouth, MA 02673

(508) 771-4266

www.captainparkers.com

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL MENU

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Best. Chowder. Ever.

Although I had never heard of Captain Parker's before, Mom was well aware that they were triple crown chowder champions of Cape Cod, Boston, and Newport. I found this out because she started yelling, "Wow! Captain Parker's! I always wondered where that was!" as we passed the restaurant during a botched visit to the new Collucci Brothers location (we couldn't find the place, and neither could the GPS). Frustrated and starving, we decided (actually my stomach decided for us) to visit the famous Captain Parker's. When we pulled into the already busy parking lot at 5 p.m., I cringed at the amount of space each car was given to pull into. I had a funny feeling that I was going to get blocked in later on.
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Wow. This place gets packed! Fortunately we arrived at a good time because we were able to be seated right away. The table we had was right in between two other tables which were quickly taken by other customers (unfortunately, due to the proximity, one of the waitress's posteriors got all up in my face when she was waiting the next table). Mom and I felt a bit stuck in place, but we were dying to eat, so we overlooked being surrounded by hungry people. Our waiter, who will remain nameless as he reminded us of an impatient gym teacher, greeted us and asked us what we would like to drink. Unfortunately, we lost him at Diet Cokes. To us, it seemed like as soon as he found out that we weren't ordering alcohol, his visits to our table were extremely short. So short that I thought he was just going to fling our orders to our table from the kitchen like Frisbees. Oh well, we're not drinkers. Sorry. After he brought out our non-alcoholic beverages and gave us a minute to peruse the lengthy menu, we placed our order. Mom chose the fried haddock dinner ($15.99), while I chose the cod fish cakes ($9.99) with a cup of their famous clam chowder ($4.99). I was informed by our waiter in a loud, booming voice that I had to order the chowder separately because none of the dinners come with a soup/salad option. Fine, but the prices were on the expensive side, so I had to alter my dinner choice so that I wouldn't be spending over $20 just on myself. I guess we'll have to return to Captain Parker's with more money. It's a sacrifice that we're willing to make.


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Before our meal arrived, our waiter brought over two small, warm rolls with butter and my cup of chowder. I couldn't wait to try it, so before either of us had a chance to butter our rolls (which were delicious, by the way), I grabbed my spoon and dug in. Holy crap. This was the BEST chowder I have ever had, and I'm not kidding. It was amazing. Everything (the potatoes and clams) were finely minced, I swear I recognized a hint of celery in the base, and the creamy white chowder had an excellent, savory taste. Oh my God. I could have taken home a gallon of the stuff. According to their Web site, which has the most obnoxiously loud commercial playing when you first view the page, you can have the chowder base shipped for the insanely expensive price of $43-87. Yikes! It's probably cheaper just to drive to the restaurant. With the taste being so amazing, it is no wonder why they've won so many chowder contests. It really is the best around.
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View from the bathroom.

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In the dining room.

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The dining room at Captain Parker's is really adorable. There are plenty of windows in which customers can check out West Yarmouth's quaint Parker River. There is a beautiful wooden bar at the beginning of the restaurant, a mixture of both tables and booths, and a wall of patches that seemed to go on for miles (I saw a lot of police and fireman badges). They also have a golf ball collection which I didn't see (it may have been in the bar area). The wooden walls were beautifully stained, and nautical pictures and decorations reiterated the fact that you were dining in a seafood restaurant. I would have taken more pictures, but there were too many people around to get a clear shot. Mom was just excited to be here because she had heard so many good things about Captain Parker's. She couldn't wait until her meal arrived.
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Well, she didn't have to wait long before our crazy waiter tossed our plates onto our table and took off. I'll admit, he was busy. However, he could have been a little less frazzled and a little more attentive. I'm telling you - we lost him at Diet Cokes. I'm sure of it. Or perhaps he wasn't too happy about wearing shorts as his uniform. Anyway, Mom's haddock plate looked delicious. There were two pieces - a large and small one - and a good amount of thick, crispy fries. It also included a little cup of tartar sauce and a cup of cole slaw, which she gladly gave to me (and I gladly accepted). The haddock had a nice, crisp coating that was thin and didn't overpower the fish, which was beautiful, white, flaky and tender. She said that it was absolutely delicious, and not at all greasy. It was so "dry" that you could have picked it up with your hands and eaten it, but we don't do this at restaurants. Our mamas taught us right! A surprise for Mom was that she really enjoyed the fries. Usually when fries come with a meal, she eats a few and is pretty much done with them. However, the fries were so tasty that she ate the whole lot. They were thick planks that almost had the same light crust on them as the fish. They were very dry, but when you bit inside, they were creamy like mashed potatoes. This was probably one of the best fish and chip meals that Mom has had in a while. It couldn't have been more perfect ... unless it was free.
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The two cod fish cakes that arrived on my plate were accompanied by a crock of baked beans, which Mom informed me was a New England tradition. Like Mom's dinner, it also came with tartar sauce and cole slaw. Each cake was deliciously crispy with a sort of mashed cod filling. In other words, there were no big pieces of fish. It had a great cod taste and reminded me of when Mom used to buy the now-extinct cod fish in a can to make homemade cakes. It was, like the chowder, absolutely excellent. You can really tell that Captain Parker's uses only the freshest ingredients. The beans and cole slaw were also very good. The beans had a very smokey taste to them, and they really did go well with the cod fish cakes. All in all, it was a perfect meal.

I have to say, for a busy restaurant, our food came out in no time. When our rough waiter returned to see if we wanted dessert, we declined. He quickly retrieved the bill and brought it to our table. The total came to:

1 cup chowder - $4.99

1 fried haddock - 15.99

1 cod fish cake - 9.99

2 Diet Coke - 5

Subtotal - $35.97

Tax - 1.80

TOTAL = $37.77

A little pricey, but we did get our money's worth and for a fish dinner on the Cape, it was probably right on target. We left $45 on the table, which included a 20% tip for the waiter. He wasn't a bad guy, but he seemed out of place waiting tables. Perhaps he is a cop or a prison warden during the week. Either way, he did his job, and we loved every second of our meal. A job well done.

Before embarking on the long ride home, Mom and I decided to visit the restroom. Now, the restroom was both clean and organized, but considering the size of Captain Parker's, it was a bit small. There were two stalls, which should have been fine. However, the ignorance of several patrons made a small room feel even smaller. Ladies, let me instruct you on a few etiquette tips when using a restroom with only one or two stalls:

1. When there is only one or two stalls, it is impolite to stand directly in front of the restroom door. It is even more impolite to peer through the cracks to see if someone is using the stall. Whatever happened to checking for feet?

2. If you come into a restroom and see someone waiting for the stall, stand behind them. Do not crowd the actual stall area, blocking the person inside the stall from actually getting to the sink to wash their hands.

3. When someone tells you that there is a person using the stall, give them the benefit of the doubt and take their word for it. Do not push by them and insist on forcing yourself into the bathroom to see if there is in fact someone on the toilet.

4. Get away from the sink when there is someone trying to wash their hands. There is nothing worse than darting around people who are just standing around looking stupid when all you want to do is get some soap.

5. If there is no choice but to stand directly up against a person's stall door, the least you could do is stand in the center. Don't hover around the edge so that the person inside can see exactly what you're wearing. It makes the person think that if they can see you, you can see them, and that's frightening. Just back off.

After our crowded bathroom experience, we headed out to the parking lot. Just as I predicted, I was stuck in a parking spot. As I was inching my way out, an elderly woman in a van stupidly tried to steal my spot - while I was still in it! I actually had to hold up my finger (no, not that one) to instruct her to wait until I was completely out of the spot. What an idiot! She could obviously see that I was having trouble getting out. Why crowd me? Ugh ... I was certainly glad to be out of that tight parking lot.

Visiting Captain Parker's today had its ups and downs: up being the tremendously delicious food and cute interior, and down being all the crowding (bathrooms, parking, dining room). Mom and I will absolutely visit Captain Parker's again, but we're going to try it on an off day. However, with summer right around the corner, we doubt that they'll be any more off days in the near future. Either way, the food was so delicious that, believe it or not, I'm willing to brave the crowds one more time to have another taste of that amazing chowder. I'll just bring some aspirin and make sure I get a good parking space.

Captain Parker's Pub is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday (10 p.m. in the summer), 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday (10 p.m. in the summer), and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday (11 p.m. in the summer). The bar closes at 1 a.m.