Mark and Lynn take in "A Clean Well Lighted Place" at Sand City Brewing Company...

Lynn and I aren't big beer enthusiasts but we always are curious about educating ourselves and developing our palette.  To this end, Lynn and I met our good friends and "beer nerds" (only way to put it) at one of Long Island's newest (about a month old) brewing companies, Sand City Brewing Co. in Northport, Long Island.  We met there in the early afternoon and had a nice sampler of their offerings of which our faves were "Ryes and Tide" (my fave) and the Breakfast Stout (Lynn's fave).  The Ryes and Tide had low alcohol and a sweet flavor complemented with some bite.  The Breakfast Stout was, to our mind, very complex and dark with chocolate notes along with some coffee flavors intermingled; would be a great pairing with chocolate or beef.

The interior of the place was very cheerful, the Jets game was on, people were in a good mood.  I couldn't help but think that Sand City reminded me of Hemingway's "A Clean Well Lighted Place."

M&L

Lynn has a particularly memorable meal at the Cafe ant The Wadsworth Antheneum Museum of Art in Hartford...

Lynn and I had some time to kill returning from Boston so we took in the exhibits at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford. We were there around lunch time so we ducked into the Museum Cafe which was understated and cozy.  We had a nice, low key experience at the Cafe and Lynn had a memorable melt in your mouth meal of short ribs braised in apple cider with parsnips puree and roasted carrots that she is still talking about....

Mark and Lynn (plus Jackson and Sloane) unwind at the Marina in Revere....

Lynn and I had our grandchildren and we were staying in Revere where we happened upon a charming, seemingly family oriented restaraunt called The Marina at the Wharf.  For our taste, the fare very Italian oriented which is not something we traditionally gravitate towards.  Having said that, we really enjoyed our meal.  I particullarly enjoyed the Fried Calamari which had nice heat and flavor.  Lynn's grilled Salmon had nice texture and had a rich taste due in part to the dill butter.
They also whipped up a nice Negroni for me which was doubly impressive since there was some question about what that drink consisted of.

The atmosphere was great with our seating having a great view of the Marina.  The staff was very warm and attentive.

M&L

Mark and Lynn spend an afternoon with Jackson and Sloane at Russell Orchards....

Lynn and I took our grandkids Jackson and Sloane apple picking at historic Russell Orchards in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  We all loved the pictureques setting, folksy atmosphere, tractor rides andlivestock.  Of course the apples were divine, pearly, rich, with amazing color and texture....

The Water Cafe at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston is a pleasant surprise for Mark and Lynn...

Lynn and I (and our grandchildren Jackson and Sloane) took in the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.  We had long wanted to check this innovative and interestingly curated museum out and finally the opportunity presented itself on a recent cold and overcast weekend in October.

To our surprise, the Museum had a first rate cafe, called The Water Cafe, where we had a really spectacular lunch overlooking the Harbor.  I had a succulent Atlantic Salmon crudo with jalapeno mint and sea salt.  Lynn had a fall-centric dish of local butternut squash, baby greens, apple and pomegranate which had a nice combination of flavor and texture.  I had a bracing French rose which warmed me up on this dank afternoon. .

Our grandchildren really loved their go to dish; chicken fingers and chips.  Truth be told, it was the best chicken fingers I have ever eaten...

M&L

Salt Kitchen & Rum Bar in Ipswich warms Mark and Lynn up on a dreary fall day....

Lynn and I happened upon Salt Kitchen & Rum Bar in Ipswich about 45 minutes north of Boston.  The place considers itself a "relative of the Gastro Pub" (from the SALT website) and this is highly accurate as it combines the coziness of a comfortable Northeastern Pub with the mindfullness and curatorial insticts of a forward thinking restaraunt.

We were considerably impressed with the offerings there such as the juicy and smoky grilled oysters;  Lynn had the "catch of the day" which was a flavorful, nicely plated piece of grouper.

I had a great autumnal cocktail with whiskey, aporel, sweet vermouth and orange bitters.  Lynn had a nice Saison from Allagash Brewing in Portland Maine which was balanced a bite and a kind of orange sweetness.  Despite the somewhat dreary weather the patrons and staff were mostly in a good mood and that, along with the food and drink helped elevate our spirits as well...

M&L