Finding Fish

Well, last day out in P-Town, back to work tomorrow.

It’s been a relaxing few days, and while the weather hasn’t been great, we’ve managed to take some walks on the beach with the labs, bike ride along the dunes, see the whales spout, watch a few movies, do a bit of shopping …and of course eat some excellent fish.

Surprisingly, however, finding fresh fish has a bit of a challenge.

I mean, finding restaurants to sample the chowda, a lobsta and oysta roll, the fisherman’s platter —no problem, but to actually buy locally fresh fish that can be quickly and simply prepared, well that’s an entirely different matter.

We started down this path on Monday afternoon, as the storm had moved in, and after an excellent lunch at the Bookstore Restaurant in Wellfleet, http://www.wellfleetoyster.com/, overlooking the oyster beds and the Wellfleet Harbor. (The chowder was arguably the best we ate on the Cape, and the fresh oysters and the Oyster Roll were delicious). We were tired, had rented Slumdog Millionaire (fantastic movie if you haven’t seen it), and were looking forward to a light dinner with a salad and fresh fish.

We stopped at the Catch of the Day Fish Market in Wellfleet (closed), and the Truro Fish Market (also closed). In Provincetown, the local fish market that used to be on the pier has permanently closed (although rumored to re-open in town soon), and every other local market visited (at least 4-5, including a natural foods market …) had no fish. As a last resort, we stopped in at the local Stop and Shop Supermarket, and although they had fish, it was neither local nor fresh!

What a joke! Here you are right on the ocean, near oyster beds, a bountiful ocean of local fish including cod, tuna, scrod, scallops, and lobsters, and no fresh fish!

No fish to be found! We had struck out on our fish quest!

Tuesday’s weather was equally uncooperative, so we decided to head to Harwich to see a movie—17 Again! Sounds like a great concept; of course what Zak learns is that rather than turning back the clock, look to make the most out of your personal relationships, family and friends today. It’s a sweet movie, not much thinking required, but a good rainy day flick.

Of course, before the movie we had a good lunch at Sir Cricket’s in Orleans—the the usual assortment of fried fish, chowder, and the lobster roll. (Yes, the diet does start tomorrow). The lightly battered cod was the best here, and while it was all good, overall Sir Cricket’s probably was 3rd on the places we sampled, with The Lobster Pot #1, and The Bookstore 2nd.

There was, however, an excellent side benefit of lunching at Sir Cricket’s; they have an excellent fish market right next door! We returned after the movie, and bought some fresh cod, scallops, and a homemade salmon cake (although the salmon was not local).

Got back to our beachfront condo, and heated the salmon cakes, baked the lightly seasoned scrod with a bit of salt, pepper, Old Bay Blackening Spice, and a squeeze of lemon, sautéed the scallops in some olive oil, spices, a bit of white wine and lemon, and ate the excellent fish alongside a delicious salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado, olives, cucumber, feta cheese, with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.

Clearly one of the best meals we ate over the last few days! And, light, healthy, and quick to prepare!

All for now, there could be a stop at Sally’s Apizza in New Haven on the return trip for a white clam and bacon pie, so check in tomorrow.