The End in Sight & Flirting with the Sandpiper Cocktail / 6-3-2020

   When and how did this all begin, as I can count somewhere between the summer of 1997 and 1998, that would be either the year, that the founder of CapeCodToday.com Walter Brooks (RIP) started or the summer after. If you take the time to read my little blip, Walter posted a want or need to bloggers, blog posters, aka free writers and I was a sucker and bought in. I wrote in and did not have an idea what I was doing all he did was sent it back and said ok, so start blogging. 21 or 22 years later, who would have thought a little mid-west guy would have so much fun. We went through some very high times and some very low times. But for the most part I have fulfilled my promise to post every week at least if nothing else a recipe. We started vacationing here, my folks and I back in 1065 and by 1970ish knew I wanted to make this my home. In 2012 that dream came true and I have bless with a nice house,, a great neighborhood, even better church, and friends I can not count. I loved the Cape and still do. I will on one part doing this thing and sharing. Over the years it has evolved from a basic story telling, to travel tips, to small business reports. I added the recipes many years ago to add another twist as I love to cook and love sharing my cooking finds. But there comes a time that one needs to see the hand writing on the wall and all good things, ok most good things have got to come to an end. So as I try to remember a few of this past 22 year and share I hope you bare with me. Then on 6-24-2020 I will post my last blog as we have known it for the past years.  I need a break, a rest and too much going on in life that I need to figure out. At nearly 60 (by the end of this year) I need to a little time for myself, I hope you understand. Well enjoy below and I hope you have a great June 2020 in spite of all that is going on and have a great and wonderful especially if you can do it right here on old Cape Cod.

      This month I am going to feature businesses that have been a favorite of mine over the years. Some will open as soon as they can, others will take their time. So as these darn repressions continue, check their web-sites for on line business or for ideas to when they will be open. Hope you enjoy and please go support out local biz whenever possible.

Yellow Umbrella Books covers both the new & and the used, they are located at 501 Main Street. The folks there are fun to talk to and great to work with. If you can't find what you are looking for ask one of them and I am sure they will either find it for you or make some suggestions. Yellow Umbrella has been there for as long as I can remember and has been a staple on Main Street for a long time. If you are a reader, looking for cookbooks, something new, something old check them out and just see all the good reads that come under the Yellow Umbrella. 

   Struna Galleries of Chatham located at 458 Main Street. Timothy J Struna is the main artist of the gallery. I guess I have a soft spot for him as he comes out of Ohio where he went to school and taught for several years. Then in 1988 came to the Cape and made it his permanent home over on Rt 6A. In 1998 his daughter opened the shop in Chatham, featuring her Dad's work. Today it is now a family affair as Heather is producing herself works of art that are in the same quality that her Dad has been known for. She has taken the time to learn under him and applying her own inspiration to create wonderful works of art. Struna gallery is now truly a family offering of great and reasonable art work that would bring joy and brightness to any room in your house or office. 

      And this list is of breakfast places,, And yes over the past several years have eaten at each one with the exception of 2 but these come under high recommendations. Breakfast/Lunch Shops. Hope you can find one or two of these to your liking and add more to the list of your own. 

      Grumpy's - in East Dennis on 6A (been there, and will do that again and again)

      Hole in One -  two locations, one in Orleans and there other in Eastham (only been to the Orleans but love it)

      Hanger B - Serving Side B coffee a local coffee roaster at the Chatham Airport, Great reviews

      Red Cottage - in South Dennis on Old Bass Road (used to be cash only not sure if they have updated yet)

      Keltic Kitchen - West Yarmouth ( been there love it)

      Daily Paper - tow locations, one in downtown Hyannis, and second in West Main, Hyannis, Both great food.
      Wee Packet - Lower County Rd,  Dennis Port
      Ruggies - Harwich
      Maison Villatte - Falmouth

      The Mills Restaurant - Marston Mills (Good Reviews here)

      Piccadilly Deli & Café - South Yarmouth (excellent food, been there)

      Good Friends Cafe - West Dennis, Warning Cash Only but good review on food. 

      Laura & Tony's Kitchen - Eastham, great Sunday brunch (been there like it lots)

      Optimast's Cafe - Yarmouth Port - nice place good food, (been while since I have been there)  

       

      If you did not read last weeks, letter, the old lighthouse guy has retired and is no longer doing interviews or sending us updates. He appreciates all the love and interests he is getting but insistes it time to pass on the tradition to someone else or whatever comes next. Thank you again for all your support. Have a great and wonderful from the lighthouse guy.

       Well you talk about strange names and you wonder where in the world did they come up with that name cocktail. But like a lot of paintings, you don't want to ask, and let's just say a lot of libations flowing freely at the time. Actually had a professor who used to tell us that is how most of his paintings got named. Well I am not so sure that most of the wild cocktail names happened the same way, which most of them we could not put in this blog. We do not look to make grandma blush. So before this fly's away let's get this show on the road. Please remember to be a responsible host and a responsible consumer. Now time to go, go, go

      This week's recipe: Flirting with the Sandpiper Cocktail
   1 1/2      oz          light rum
      1/2      oz          cherry brandy
         3      oz          orange juice
         2      dashes  orange bitters

      Pour all of the ingredients into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well.