Going northeast up Old Harbor Road for just about a half a mile is the Captain’s House Inn. The most distinctive Cape Cod bed and breakfast, the Captain’s House Inn is regarded by many respected lodging reviewers as “The Cape’s” finest smal inn. This four-diamond sea captina’s estate on two acres in Chatham, Massachusetts is the perfect choice for an affordable romantic getaway. There are four distinct facilities – the Main House, an 1839 Greek-Revival style mansion, the attached Carriage House, the luxurious Stables and the 200-year-old “bow roof cape” called the Captain’s Cottage. Find the right accommodation and check out their specials and packages to make your romantic getaway weekend perfectly fit for you.

Chatham Railroad Museum

May 1, 2, 3, 2009

An exciting Cape Cod town festival, Brewster in Bloom, organized by The Brewster Chamber of Commerce Board of Trade and The Brewster in Bloom Committee is coming just around the corner for you and your family to enjoy. There will be plenty of events to attend such as: golf contests, antique exhibits, art and craft shops, historical tours, clothes sales, raffles, anniversary celebrations, beer and wine tastings, band concerts, Kidsfest, and plenty more! The fun will run for three days from 10am until 5pm and end with the Brewster in Bloom Parade starting at 1pm on May 3rd. Each day features several different activities for all ages so make a whole weekend vacation out of Brewster in Bloom. To accommodate your stay, the Captain’s House Inn lies just 20 minutes away with spectacular views of the south coast of Cape Cod. Before you begin your days of festival fun, Chef Kevin and Claude will prepare an absolutely delectable breakfast to start your day right. With the Captain’s House Inn’s luxurious amenities and comfortable atmosphere, you won’t want to go back to reality after your weekend getaway vacation.

MAINE LOBSTER

Any New Englander can testify a lobster is worth that big mess and fuss. Dipped in a little butter, the Maine lobster meat tastes fresher than anything in the markets. Don’t forget your bib, the ultimate cracking tool, and the smallest fork for optimal Maine lobster eating experience. Try the Maine Lobster Bisque or look around at other great recipes for meal ideas.

CAPE COD CRANBERRIES

It’s been 120 years and Cape Cod is still making the finest cranberries. That spring Sandhill crane blossom is now harvested nearly 40,000 acres per year. So there’s plenty of those vitamin-C rich berries to go around. For the next two months (October and November) cranberries will be in their prime harvesting season. They’ll last in your fridge up to four weeks or just grab extra and tuck them away in your freezer for splendid Cape Cod Cranberries anytime of year. Change up the Thanksgiving desserts this year with a Cranberry Pineapple Cheesecake Tart.

VERMONT MAPLE SYRUP

From the tree, to the bucket, then boil, then to the jar and sap is now Vermont’s renowned Maple Syrup. Today we’ve figured out how to make more products still using purely organic maple such as Maple Cream, Maple Fudge, Maple Granulated Sugar, Maple Sugar Cakes, and Hard Maple Sugar. With the abundance of maple trees, you can’t turn a corner without seeing Maple Syrup in Vermont. From Mom and Pops Maple Syrup to the supermarket specials. Check out our previous blog for some other things to do while your in Vermont!

BOSTON BAKED BEANS

What might possibly have been forgotten in further parts of New England are Boston Baked Beans. Before you go to bed, soak some dried navy beans so the next day you can slowly bake them with molasses and salt pork to experience a perfect flavor. The process may be timely but it is well worth the wait. Bake off some cornbread or biscuits, top with honey, and serve with some of those Boston Baked Beans and you have a fabulous meal. Or try bringing some to a party next time and see how fast it’ll disappear. Here’s a great and easy recipe for Boston Baked Beans.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

The list could go on for New England Foods but the last one for this list had to be New England Clam Chowder. There’s a possibility your “chowdah” may taste different from Maine to Connecticut but one rule remains that New England Clam Chowder should always be eaten in New England. Herman Melville, a 19th century American novelist, noted in Moby Dick, “Chowder for breakfast, and chowder for dinner, and chowder for supper, till you begin to look for fish-bones coming through your clothes.” An almost 250-year old building, Ye Olde Union Oyster House, in Boston goes to prove how long the infamous “chowdah” has been around. Emeril Lagasee, a culinary enthusiast and a pure New Englander, has an outstanding Fall River Clam Chowder provided below.

FALL RIVER CLAM CHOWDER

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 pound bacon, chopped
• 2 cups chopped leeks (white part only, well washed)
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 6 Bay leaves
• 3/4 cup bleached all-purpose flour
• 8 cups clam juice
• 1 1/2 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 1 cup fresh sweet corn kernels (from 1 medium-size ear)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 4 pounds littleneck clams, shucked with liquor reserved
• Oyster crackers

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large stockpot, over medium heat, fry the bacon until crisp.
2. Stir in the leeks, celery, and carrots, season with salt and pepper, and add bay leaves. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft and tender, about 10 minutes
3. Stir in the flour and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the clam juice, potatoes, and corn, season with salt and pepper, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, about 15 minutes.
5. Add the cream, parsley, and clams and their liquor and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.
6. Ladle into soup bowls and serve hot with oyster crackers and enjoy!

Yields: 10 serving

Stay at the Captain’s House Inn for an experience as concilitating as Sol Spa. Back in 1839, Captain Hiram Harding built a home with a charming Greek ambiance for his wife of one year. What now is the Captain’s House Inn, provides 16 quarters and two acres of scenery and garden with outbuildings and swimming pools. 

“The Captain’s House Inn is the consummate romantic getaway. It makes you dream of coming back.”

— Jill Rigby, Travel Editor, Toronto Sun

With many special packages from a Babymoon to a three-night New Year’s Eve premium, The Captain’s House Inn endues the perfect elopement accommodations. Avoid stress and enjoy you and your partner’s quite memorable day while The Captain’s House Inn will do all the work to ensure a graceful ceremony. 

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Located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Chatham is a beautiful town that is perfect for a summer vacation. Chatham is home to the Chatham Lighthouse, which was established in 1808 by Thomas Jefferson to protect the ships circling the Cape. Main Street Chatham has a provincial feel with its numerous family owned and operated shops and restaurants, including the Captain’s House Inn – great for a gourmet breakfast before you start your busy day.

Chatham is also home to the Cape’s second oldest theatre, Monomoy Theatre. Open for fifty-one years, the theatre offers a summer theatre program for college students. Each summer the students perform eight plays with the mentoring help of seasoned visiting artists, actors and directors.

Since dating in high school in New Jersey, Jill and James vacationed with James’ family in Chatham on Cape Cod, where the idea of becoming innkeepers took hold. But first there was college, with James majoring in hospitality management and Jill entrepreneurial studies and marketing.

James went to work for the prestigious Boston Harbor Hotel, becoming the manager of three departments. Jill held corporate positions, sharpening her skills in Internet marketing, a key to today’s innkeeping.

Four years ago, when James was only 27 and Jill only 25, they bought a small inn. Jill says, “We worried that guests would be apprehensive about booking because of our ages, but luckily that wasn’t the case.” Last year, they were able to sell their first inn and buy the four-diamond Captain’s House Inn, located in their beloved Chatham.

Although they are young, they know the age-old key to good innkeeping — great hospitality. Says James, “Customer service is what the Captain’s House Inn is built on. We provide twice daily housekeeping, gourmet breakfasts, and afternoon cream tea. Our concierge services include booking day trips and dinner reservations. Our rooms are well-appointed and include everything we can think of to make our guests’ stays as comfortable as possible.”

The previous owners of the Captain’s House had joined DINE, and the young couple continued the membership. “When we went to our first meeting,” Jill says, “we saw that it was a good network of innkeepers to be a part of.”