Explore: Quissett Harbor

As I mentioned on Wednesday, I recently spent a weekend in Falmouth on Cape Cod for a friend's bachelorette party. After a gluttonous breakfast, we headed to the spot where her soon-to-be husband proposed.

Normally when a friend gets engaged you receive the excited phone call, you get the full run down, which is typically followed by a text or email with a photo of the ring. I have never had the privilege of actually visiting the place where someone said "yes."

The proposal happened last summer at Quissett Harbor in Falmouth. Our caravan of girls arrived, parked and immediately started ooooo-ing and ahhhh-ing over the color of the water in the harbor. It looked like the Caribbean!

We walked along the clear blue water to a trail that leads to "the spot."

At one point, the trail opens up and it's all water on the right side. Holy gorgeous.

A few steps in I stopped walking and turned around to get the whole view. Look at this!

The trail eventually becomes a narrow path over the water and up to "the spot."

That day the sun was shining so brightly it made the water feels like a sea of glittering gemstones.

Once you reach the top of the trail, you have this view of the entire beach:

On the other side, you see nothing but water.

It's incredibly easy to see why this spot would inspire a proposal. Heck, any new guy I am even remotely interested in, I am going to bring him here and see what he does. I bet you I get a declaration of some kind. You can't help it! The place is just . . . moving.

Of course we made the bride sit in the exact spot and re-enact the entire thing.

After listening to her retell the tale, we all felt warm and fuzzy. And not just because the sun was in full glorious effect that day.

After this visit to Quissett Harbor, I am completely and totally in love.  My family has always been Outer Cape people. We do Welfleet, Truro and Provincetown. To us, anything else doesn't feel like "the real Cape."

Now that I've been to Quissett Harbor, I am totally hooked on Falmouth. I've been converted to a Lower Cape person!

It's fun to think that at this age I can rediscover parts of Massachusetts I thought I already knew.

Have you ever been to Quissett Harbor? Were you as enamored as I was?

Dining Out: Moonakis Cafe

I spent the first weekend in May in Falmouth on Cape Cod for a friend's bachelorette party. Fifteen girls piled into her childhood summer home for a slumber party of epic proportions.

On Saturday morning we woke up and headed to the bride's favorite local brunch spot, Moonakis Cafe.  It was a gorgeous spring day. The sun was shining and the flowers were in full bloom.

Moonakis Cafe takes their moon theme very seriously, starting with the front door.

Inside there is a long diner-style counter (notice the word "Eat" above the kitchen window) and plenty of tables for larger groups in the main section of the dining room.

A waitress popped over to deliver us our moon menus. I learned that the regulars never actually look at the standard menu, they are only interested in the two giant specials boards that hang on the back wall. Apparently that's where the superior options lie.

The specials boards had everything from omelettes to eggs benedict to French toast to pancakes. It was tough to narrow it down!

After placing our orders, the food came out very quickly.

Next to me a friend picked the roasted tomato, spinach and goat cheese omelette.

It was packed with goodies. Look at those roasted tomatoes!

Across the table,  a friend selected the lobster eggs benedict (Hollandaise on the side). When I asked her to pass her plate over so I could photograph it, I smelled the lobster right away. Now that is fresh!

I went with the vegetarian eggs benedict. Instead of ham or bacon, the eggs sit on top of slices of tomato and small piles of spinach.

While the eggs, Hollandaise sauce, tomatoes and English muffin were delicious, the spinach tasted like it came out of a freezer bag. It tasted that way in every single bite. A real bummer.

I will say, Moonakis refills coffee like it's their job. Without ever being asked, they just appear with a fresh pot. Additionally, anything that is listed as coming with toast gives you the choice of a few kinds of bread or an English muffin!

The highlight of the whole Moonakis experience was watching the waitress, who has served the bride-to-be for most of her life, gush with her about the wedding details.

Post-brunch we changed and headed to the spot where the bride's fiancé proposed. More on that in the next post!

Coming Soon: Memorial Day Community Weekend At The Museum Of Fine Arts

I can't believe I am saying this, but Memorial Day weekend is this weekend! That snuck up.

If you are planning to stay in Boston over the holiday, be sure to take advantage of the Museum of Fine Arts' Community Weekend (May 25th - 27th) during which they are providing free admission.

Earlier this month the museum announced, "Bostonians - and Bostonians at heart - join us for Memorial Day weekend when we open our doors for free in celebration of our city."

There is a robust calendar of events for all three days, any of which you can participate in when you visit.

Be sure to check out the "To Boston With Love" quilting exhibit. According to the museum's Facebook page, "Quilters from around the world have created hundreds of hand-sewn squares in tribute to Boston. Each mini quilt delivers a message of peace and hope and is signed on the back by the artist, with his or her country. The project was a grass-roots effort conceived by Berene Campbell of Vancouver, Canada and organized locally by Amy Friend of West Newbury."

Pretty amazing, right?

All the information you'll need to enjoy this incredible gift from the Museum of Fine Arts is right here.

*Images courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts. 

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Happy Friday!

As you are reading this, I am on my way to Israel. I will be there for 10 days on vacation, splitting my time between one of my oldest, nearest and dearest friends and my aunt, uncle and cousins.

Over the 10 days I will get the chance to spend time in three of Israel's best cities: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva. I could not be more excited.

My last trip to Israel was three years ago and I have been wanting to go back since last summer. Let's take a trip down memory lane together, shall we?

On my last trip, I watched the sun set over the beach in Tel Aviv.

I discovered plants, flowers and fruit that grow in the most magical formations.

I shopped in the shuk (market), smelling spices and tasting olives that we simply don't have here in the States.

I sampled the freshest feta cheese.

I dined on the water in Herzliya.

I was reminded that in Israel, coffee is its own food group.

I am bursting at the seams with excitement to see what adventures this trip brings.

While I am gone, don't you worry, the blog will continue to update. I have spent weeks planning ahead so that you will have plenty to read while I'm away.

I'm off! Have a great weekend.

Grey's Anatomy: The Perfect Storm

I can't believe we are already at the season finale of Grey's! Now the terrible summer TV begins. Ugh.

I think show creator Shonda Rhimes has a thing for dark and twisted story lines. She likes us to be in agony.

I spent the back 30 minutes of tonight's episode on the edge of the couch, with my hands over my mouth, muttering, "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god." Shonda! Why do you do this to me?

The hour begins with Meredith narrating and saying that doctors talk about medical scenarios where absolutely everything goes wrong as "the perfect storm." She then continues, "I never thought it would happen to me."

The doctors of Grey-Sloan are scrambling as the storm rages outside and the power is out in the hospital. Bailey is asked to scrub in with the Chief and she falls apart. Meanwhile, upstairs Arizona realizes that most of her NICU equipment has a red light flashing indicating low battery. But there are no batteries.

Arizona says to Jo and Karev, "Keep the tiny human makers happy, otherwise there will be mutiny and we are out numbered." That scene reminded me of when Arizona first arrived at that hospital. Remember her wheely sneakers?

Down the hall Meredith needs a C-section. To calm her down Cristina says, "It's just a C, a moron could do it." The OBGYN didn't seem to like that comment!

Once Meredith is on the table Derek whispers to the OB, "Don't mess this up." To which she coldly replies, "Sit. Down."

The baby arrives and doesn't cry at first. But when he does and Derek holds him, he's perfect. Major sigh of relief from the couch!

Back in the ER the doctors witness a bus fly by the windows and burst into flames. They all run toward it (which I would never do. I would be running the other way).

Karev and Arizona are in the supply closet together when Arizona blurts out, "I cheated on my wife." Karev tries to make her feel better by sharing, "Everyone I love turns out to be crazy or mean or cancery or leaves. The one thing all those women have in common is me. They were all fine until they met me." Awwww, Alex.

Back at the NICU, one of the parents notices the red light and figures out it means low battery. He's about to organize the mutiny when Jo steps up and teaches all of the parents how to manually ventilate their babies.

In the OR, the Chief has a teaching moment with Cristina. Though they are operating in the dark, he tells her to listen for the bleed, not look for it. She does and feels triumphant when she saves the patient.

Meredith should be done with her C-section, but Shane finds a bleed in her abdomen. They discover it's her spleen. While on the table, she instructs Shane what to do. She also says to him, "After nine minutes, do not revive me. I don't want to be a vegetable. Also, I know the baby's name." Then they put the mask over her face and we have no idea what she wants to name the baby!

Worried about Meredith, Brooks runs to get Dr. Bailey who is busy smashing the hell out of a medicine cabinet. That was scary.

Meanwhile, Jackson and Hunt are in the flaming bus, searching for a little girl. Jackson finds her and tries to save her as the bus ignites and explodes. Horrified, Kepner runs toward the flames and Matthew (her EMT fiancé) has to restrain her. Awkward.

Jackson eventually emerges with the daughter. Phew! Kepner then shoves Jackson and screams, "You could have died!"

Cristina and Derek are waiting outside of Meredith's OR and Cristina assures a worried Derek, "She has survived a bomb, a drowning, a gun man and a plane crash and she's still here." I forgot about the drowning!

Now we get to the tough moments of the episode.

Callie discovers Dr. Boswell wearing Arizona's scrub top with her wedding ring pinned to it. You can tell Callie knows immediately what that means. It's all over her face. This leads to a heated fight between Callie and Arizona where Arizona finally admits she still blames Callie for the loss of her leg. She shouts, "You weren't there! You weren't on the freaking plane! I trusted you more than anyone and you chose to cut my leg off." This is not good.

Another heated conversation is happening in the ER when Kepner busts into Jackson's room, "I want you, Jackson. I want you. I haven't been fair to you, I know. When that bus exploded and I thought you were gone . . ." He then interrupts her, "April, you're getting married." She suggests, "Unless you can give me a reason not to . . ." Oh, this is so good!

Owen and Cristina are also at a crossroads. She asks him, "Do you know how much I love you? Do you feel pure joy with just me? Am I enough? Do you really believe I'll be enough?" Owen hesitates. She walks out.

Alex finally tells Jo he loves her. Commence passionate make out!

Meredith and Derek decide to name their baby boy Bailey. Cute! Just like when Bailey named her son after George.

The final moments of the episode show the Chief laying on the floor of the electrical room, presumably shocked by the switch. Then I felt like crying.

Now we wait until September to find out what happens! What did you think of tonight's episode? Will Arizona and Callie call it quits? Will Kepner leave Matthew for Jackson? Will Karev and Jo be good for each other or turn toxic? Let's hear it!

*Image courtesy of TV Fanatic.

Dining Out: Il Casale

Last week I went with a friend to Il Casale in Belmont. She babysits for a family that lives up the road and every time she drives by, it's full. She decided she wanted to check it out for herself and now that I live one town over in Watertown, I got to be the lucky co-pilot.

Il Casale is in the heart of Belmont Center in a building that looks like a fire house.

Their sign is a bit hard to spot while driving because it blends into the brick, but up close, it's actually lovely.

We arrived just after 7:00pm and the whole place - dining room and bar - was completely packed.

The prime seats are clearly the tables in the front windows, which look like they could roll up in the nice weather.

We didn't have a reservation, so the host told us we could wait at the bar until a table became available. We were able to snag two seats on the very end as a couple was leaving.

We were agonizing over which cocktails to order when our bartender suggested we try the Orange Line cocktail. It's Il Casale's special drink for which 100% of the proceeds are being donated to The One Fund.

Of course we decided to each have one. The drink is orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, strawberry syrup, vodka, ginger beer and a blood orange for garnish.

I really hate orange juice, but this drink was delicious! Highly recommend.

After about a 15 minute wait our name was called and we were ushered to a high top table in the bar area (we relocated about 10 feet). From my seat I could see into the dining room which had the most magnificent floral arrangements.

We had a bit of time at the bar to look over the menu, so we were ready to order right when we sat down. Unfortunately, after our waiter brought us two glasses of water, he disappeared for a solid 15 minutes.

We decided to share two appetizers, beginning with the burrata. It was served with oregano and pistachios.

The burrata on its own was good, but it was even better spread over a piece of doughy bread, which our waiter brought once we were already most of the way through the dish.

Next we shared the arancini. These were excellent and the tomato sauce reminded me of the sauce on Papa Gino's pizza, my favorite as a kid.

For her entree, my friend selected the spaghetti carbonara. She said, "The pasta is definitely al dente, which I wasn't expecting. The sauce is very tasty, clean flavors and not too heavy."

I chose the squash pillows which was basically an Italian twist on butternut squash ravioli. I took two bites and I immediately regretted ordering it. It was way too sweet.

Because Il Casale offers small or full portions and we both ordered smalls, we had plenty of room for dessert. We ordered the piccolini, fancy Italian for "cookie plate."

It came with a florentine, a coconut macaroon, a biscotti, a cannoli and an almond tuile cookie.

Look at how the tuile cookie defies gravity!

My favorites were, in order: the florentine, the coconut macaroon, the biscotti, the almond tuile and then the cannoli. This was a great dessert to share, because when you cut each cookie in half, you are only taking one or two bites yourself.

For me, Il Casale was a mixed bag. I'd like to come back, sit on the patio, have some cocktails and maybe a few more arancini.

While on this outing, I discovered how cute Belmont Center is. I jotted down a few stores and restaurants I'd like to return to. Of course I'll report back to you on my findings.

Have you tried anywhere new lately that you loved?