Wellfleet Oyster Fest

Nothing could possibly spoil the festivities of consumption – not even a cold, rainy forecast or hours of late night travel. Crowds packed the tents of Main Street Wellfleet to enjoy live music, local vendors, games and the featured attraction for the annual Oyster Fest. Fresh shucked oysters, fried oysters, grilled oysters with garlic butter, oyster stew, bloody marys with a floating raw oyster– you would think that you’d overdose but you really don’t. There is a separate compartment in the belly for slurping ice cold, raw, ocean essenced shellfish.

And there is just something about watching  scruffy, burly men shucking oysters a mile a minute – it makes the reputation and mystery of the oyster all the more alluring and delicious. There is no doubt that The Fest will be an annual excursion in the Hagopian household from this point on. No doubt.

Roadside Farm Stands

I break for farm stands and farmers’ markets. Cape Cod is one of the best places for fresh, local, slow food. Fresh tomatoes, corn, squash, cucumbers, berries and wild flowers in the summer; apples, pumpkins and cranberries in the fall. Keep your eyes out off Route 6, 6A and 28 for signs off the road. Favorite stands include: Rich’s Farm Stand in Wellfleet, Log Cabin stand in Orleans, Hemeon’s Farm in Harwich, and Cape Cod Organic Farm in Barnstable. View a complete list of stands.

Nature Inspires

Chatham Light in Autumn. The overlook is one of my favorite spots to walk, wade, feel the wind and make a wish. The sand bars shift by the hour. The sky moves and reflects the light and clouds. The colors here inspire creative ideas. If I could bottle the earth and sky tones of the sea grass, grey blue skies and icy water, it would be my most perfect design combo. I’m saving these hex values for a day when I need a magic bag of design tricks.

Best New England Clam Chowder

I judge a chowder on many quantifiable qualities: clam to potato ratio, creaminess vs. brothiness, favor and freshness, seasoning and spices, etc. But my ultimate measure for a good chowder is how long I dream about it on a rainy or chilly day. Many will claim to be the best in the state or #1 winners, but I have my own top favorites places to get your chowder on:

1. Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar

2. Captain Parker’s

3. Cooke’s Seafood

4. Clancy’s

5. Kreme n’ Kone

Old Cape Cod

If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air
Quaint little villages here and there
You’re sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod.

If you like the taste of a lobster stew
Served by a window with an ocean view
You’re sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod.

Winding roads that seem to beckon you
Miles of green beneath the skies of blue
Church bell chiming on a Sunday morn
Remind you of the town where you were born.

If you spend an evening you’d want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay
You’re sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod.

-Patti Page (song on YouTube)