Exploring the North of Boston Seafood Trail in Salem

There's a new trail to explore north of Boston, and you won't need for fat tires or hiking boots to get from point A to point B.  This fabulous trail is all about fresh seafood, so bring your appetite and a taste for culinary adventure!

The Escapes North Seafood Trail features the best in fresh fish in 54 restaurants in 18 communities north of Boston, including nine restaurants in Salem.  Travel writer Andree Lebel from La Presse in Montreal recently visited Salem to explore the Seafood Trail, and I got to tag along and sample sumptuous seafood at four of the featured restaurants, and I'm here today to tempt your palate!

Victoria Station

The first stop on our tour was Victoria Station on Pickering Wharf.  Known as more of a prime-rib-and-salad-bar joint, it's time to challenge your assumptions about Victoria Station!  Executive Chef John Andrews blew us away with his Sweet Chili Shrimp Martini with Asian Pears and Plums.  The chili was very subtle, adding a gentle kick to the sweetness of the fruit.  Also worth noting was Chef Andrews' interesting twist on a lobster roll slider - serving it on a soft pretzel.

Capt's

Just up the Wharf a bit is Capt.'s, where more lobster awaited.  Capt.'s served creamy, never-too-heavy Clam Chowder, followed by Fish & Chips, traditional lobster rolls, and their signature, and perfectly cooked, Grilled Lobster. In addition to fantastic fish, Capt.'s has one of the best views in Salem, overlooking Salem Harbor, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and the tall ship Friendship.  Sitting on Capt.'s deck overlooking the harbor with a lobster roll and cold beverage is one of the finest places to be on a warm summer day,

Finz

Any Seafood Trail stop in Salem should include Finz, with its hip blue fish out front, and its waterfront deck.  Owner George Carey joined us to talk about the seafood on the menu at Finz, especially the Oysters.  As we ate fantastic Wasabi Stoli Oysters, George explained that horseradish and cocktail sauce is traditionally served with oysters on the half-shell to mask the gamy taste that old oysters acquire.  As you can imagine, oysters at Finz are fresh and plump, so I ate mine with just a squeeze of lemon.
 

Lobster Shanty

On to The Lobster Shanty in Artist's Row.  Chef Diane Wolf makes a fantastic lobster roll, and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives made the Shanty's Lobster Martini famous, but this year there are two notable additions to the Shanty's menu: Pan-seared  Scallops and their new Seafood Stew.  The scallops were a lovely appetizer, with an Asian flair, and the Seafood Stew had a lovely tomato-bouillabaisse.

Other Salem restaurants on the Seafood Trail include The Lyceum (the chowder is fantastic!), Dube's, and the Black Lobster at Stromberg's Cove.  Navigating the trail will be particularly easy for iPhone users when an App for iPhone is released later this spring.  I'll let you know when that App comes out, and in the meantime, happy eating!


Here's a summary of what the four restaurants featured today served during our La Presse Seafood Trail excursion:

Capt.'s

• Lobster Rolls 
• Grilled Lobster 
• Traditional Fish & Chips
• Clam Chowder

Finz Seafood 

• Wasabi-Stoli Oysters
• Shucked Oysters with Saki, Ginger & Cucumber
• Furikake Seared "Rare" Tuna with Green Soba Noods & Ginger SEsame Vinaigrette
• Grilled Swordfish

Lobster Shanty

• Pan-seared Scallops
• Seafood Stew

Victoria Station

• Fish Tacos
• Sweet Chili Shrimp Martini with Asian Pears & Plums
• Notch Ale Steamed Mussels with Bacon, Apples and Carmelized Shallots 
• Lobster Salad Sliders 

For more information on the Escapes North Seafood Trail, and their other trails, which include architecture, art, literature, and festivals, visit EscapesNorth.com.

A Festival where Roman dress is encouraged!

On Saturday, April 2^nd from 6 – 9pm , Salem Massachusetts will host the fourth annual SALEM SPRING FLING: A GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS presented by Pamplemousse at Old Town Hall. The Festival, which is fashioned after the Bacchanalia - a religious festival in honor of the god of wine, Bacchus - will kick New Englanders out of a long hibernation and jumpstart Spring by celebrating the Arts and indulging in craft beer, fine wine, and mouth watering food from North Shore restaurateurs.

Historically, the Bacchanalia was held in the Spring and priests and priestesses adorned with garlands of ivy would carry wine, honey, and cakes throughout Rome, celebrating and expressing themselves freely through music and pleasure.

This modern day version - Spring Fling - will feature a tasting of craft beers and beautiful wines from around the world. Truly a party fit for Bacchus! Guests will sample fine wines from Pamplemousse and Market Wine & Spirits and craft beer from Magic Hat, Harpoon, Cape Ann, Mayflower, Cody, Narragansett, Ipswich, Stone Cat, Clown Shoes, Notch Session Brewing and Left Hand Brewing.

Spring Fling will kick off Salem’s Restaurant Week with tastings from Sixty2 on Wharf, Gulu-Gulu Café, Café Polonia, Greenland Café, Tavern In the Square, Victoria Station, The Lobster Shanty, Upper Crust Pizzeria, Comida, Lakay Island and Rockafellas. Enjoy coffee and ice cream from Café Valverde and Ben & Jerry’s. Salem Arts Association members will be on hand with fabulous hand crafted works and Art Throb will be launching their new art magazine!   Groove to the Beantown funk of Big Ol' Dirty Bucket and their unique blend of Funk, Rock, R&B, Soul, Jam Grooves, Trip Hop, Latin Step, and Blues.

Meet familiar characters from myth and legend and enjoy the goddesses and nymphs that wander the "Garden of Earthly Delights." Seek out The Oracle of Delphi to hear your fortune. Roman attire is encouraged! Experience the intoxicating power of this celebration on April 2nd from 6 - 9pm at Old Town Hall on the Pedestrian Mall in Salem, MA.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and are available at salemspringfling.com, in person at Pamplemousse, Salem Cycle, Roost and The Picklepot or by calling 978-745-2900.

Salem Spring Fling is presented by Pamplemousse (Purveyor of Fine Wines, Beer, Kitchen and Homegoods) in association with Magic Hat Brewing, Salem Chamber of Commerce, the Salem Arts Association and Art Throb.

Woops! I was a week off...

My apologies - we need to set our DVRs and VCRs and make plans to head to CinemaSalem to see The Lobster Shanty on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives NEXT Monday, September 27th at 10pm. Sorry for the error!

Don't forget to watch Triple D on Monday!

Salem is having another brush with fame next week, and we have The Lobster Shanty to thank this time. The Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives will stop in Salem on Monday night's episode, which will feature host Guy Fieri at The Lobster Shanty.

You can watch at home (10pm Eastern, but check local listings to confirm) or join in the party at Cinema Salem, where the show will air on the big screen, and admission will be free!


Correction... and my apologies - the Lobster Shanty Triple D will air on Monday, September 27.

The Lobster Shanty and Triple D

I talked to Diane at The Lobster Shanty after snapping this shot, and she said I could put it on the blog - so I'm putting it on the blog, because when Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives swings through with his crew, you've got to crow about it!

We were walking by as the Triple D crew was finishing their shoot, and Guy posed for this picture with the Shanty crew.
Diane didn't know when the show will air, but you know we'll be shouting it from the rooftops as soon as it is known.

Congrats to the Shanty. This is very cool.

A lovely lunch at the Shanty

I wish I could say no lobsters were harmed in the writing of this blog post. But I can't. A mighty tender lobster gave itself to be my lunch.

There were twenty more just like it in the tank, too. Plenty for all of us.

It's school vacation week in Massachusetts, so while I had to work today, I did get to enjoy a lovely, relaxing lunch at The Lobster Shanty with my kids. The Shanty opened for the season on April 1st, and this was our first meal back... so now it really feels like spring.

The Shanty has a new menu that is quite awesome, laminated, and crisp - and they have a new menu for dogs, so feel free to bring your four-legged friend to dine adjacent to you on the patio.

We left the dog at home, it was just me and the boys today. While there are not any children's selections on the menu, per se, my youngest ordered the Macaroni & Cheese ("Careful! The casserole is really hot!") and when we got the check, I noticed it was priced as a "Kid's Portion," which was a nice surprise.

My eldest ordered the Pulled Pork Sandwich and devoured it. The fries that arrived with the Mac & Cheese and sandwiches are some of the best fries I've had in Salem, or anywhere else.

Enough about them, though. Let's talk about me. I contemplated the lobster roll, because it's a personal favorite, and I oggled the fried clams, but ultimately I went healthy and ordered a green salad topped with lobster meat. And,well, let me tell you, the greens were covered with lobster. And I don't think it was because Chef Diane saw me sitting on the patio. I think she puts that much lobster on all the salads. It was so good. And I didn't have to crack a claw.

The Shanty has live music, weather permitting, at night, and if the weather is inclement, there is seating inside - complete with a bar scene and televisions showing the latest news, sports, and whatever.

Welcome back, Lobster Shanty! It's been a long, cold (and rainy) winter. It's good to have you back.

Lobster Shanty is shifting gears

The Lobster Shanty is shifting its gears for fall and winter. Note the new hours and the awesome Thanksgiving dinner.

The Shanty will now open at 4:00PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and will remain open until Last Call.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday they will continue to open at Noon.

The Kitchen will stay open until 10:00PM every night.

Monday November 2nd and Tuesday November 3rd the kitchen will be closed for cleaning and winter menu planning.

On Thanksgiving Day, they open at 9AM! They will be serving Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, family style - all you can eat, fixed price. (Wear your stretchy pants) Please sign up so that they "know how many turkeys to kill."

You can always call to confirm that the Shanty is open at 978 745 5449

The Lobster Shanty Opens on Wednesday!

I just love April 1st.

Here's another seasonal opening for you to celebrate: The Lobster Shanty will kick off the new season at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 1st.

Here's an update on their menu for the new year...

New, Old Menu

Last year we did some experimenting with the menu at the Shanty. As a result we've taken all of your favorites from every menu and put them on one awesome summer menu.

Our great burgers, including the Clyde and the Millionaire, are back. We've kept the wings, and improved our chicken tenders.

The lobster mac & cheese? You know it!

We've added some funky new Black & Tan onion rings and a 16oz hand-cut rib eye steak!

Come on now, you want more? Ok, we're diving in and making our own fresh mozzarella cheese - curds, whey, the whole shebang. We love our cheese at the Shanty, oh yes we do.

Oh, and we're bringing back the clambake. Chowder, corn on the cob, sausage, steamers and buttery lobster! Get your feast-on New England Style.

Yummm. And yet again, I find myself hungry after writing a blog post. You'll find The Lobster Shanty on Artist Row, at 25 Front Street, Salem, MA 01970.

Happy Holidays from Destination Salem

Diane at The Lobster Shanty sent me this picture, and I just love it! Salem is beautiful in the snow. If you have a great picture to share (it can be snow, sun, rain, whatever!) email it to me, and I just may post it on the blog.

If it's really great, I may ask you for permission to use it in the 2009 visitor guide, or on Salem.org. There's no cash involved, but the fame your would discover through being featured in a Salem tourism publication is quite priceless.

More snow is expected this week - so if you're coming into town, make sure to check Salem.com for snow emergency/parking ban information.