Bon Appetit – with Martha’s Vineyard Live Music!
“Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.”
― Orson Welles
Let’s talk food. Why? Because no summertime on Martha’s Vineyard (or anywhere else, for that matter) would be quite as enjoyable without all the delicious food the island has to offer.
Whether you prefer casual food and ambience (think Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day picnics and cookouts), or a more elegant dining experience; whether it’s alfresco on a shady patio, under the starry sky, or indoors, Martha’s Vineyard won’t disappoint. You can have one of the best culinary experiences in New England right here on the island.
A bit(e) of history…
Martha’s Vineyard culinary history goes back many centuries, when Wampanoag Indians planted crops, fished, and hunted for their own food.
Their daily diet may not sound appetizing by today’s standards, but according to historical accounts, these early settlers ate deer, moose, beaver, rabbit, skunk, and raccoon. They also fished in the ocean for pollock, bluefish, flatfish, bass, sea eels, mackerel, as well as shellfish such as oysters, soft-shelled clams, quahogs, mussels, razor clams, lobsters, crabs, and conch. And from the woods, they gathered all kinds of nuts, berries, herbs, and mushrooms.
True, beaver, skunk and raccoon are not exactly considered to be delicacies these days, but other kinds of meat, as well as seafood and various plant and fruit-based dishes are still tickling our taste buds today.
Martha’s Vineyard summer visitors and all-year residents are very lucky indeed because the island boasts dozens of farms and fish markets, as well as venerable institutions like The Farm Institute in Katama and the Agricultural Society in Vineyard Haven which actively promote sustainable food growing methods and nutritional awareness – practices that have positively influenced the island’s culinary culture.
Abundance of choices
Whatever kind of food and ambiance you like – with or without band music or another kind of live entertainment events, wedding venues, etc., chances are you’ll find your perfect match on the island.
Here are some of our favorite eateries:
State Road restaurant, 688 State Road West Tisbury . A contemporary American tavern offering seasonally inspired food, with the menu highlighting ingredients from nearby farms, as well as local seafood.
Would you like to have your dinner while watching the magnificent sunset on Menemsha beach? You can do that (and have a delicious meal to boot) at either The Meneshma Galley, which offers delicious lobster rolls and chowder, fresh swordfish sandwiches, and angus burgers, along with vegetarian specials. Other sunset watching possibilities include The Bite, with its mouth-watering whole belly clams, oysters, squid, shrimp, scallops, and fish and chips made from local flounder. There’s also Larsen’s Fish Market, where you can enjoy locally caught seafood.
The above are all great options for casual, flip-flop friendly beach dining. But if you prefer a fancier sunset-watching experience, The Beach Plum Inn, which overlooks the old fishing village of Menemsha, fits the bill perfectly.
Do you crave French cuisine? Just because you happen to be in New England, doesn’t mean you should miss out on wonderful French specialities, especially since the chef at Edgartown’s L’Etoile uses locally-grown ingredients from the Morning Glory Farm just up the road.
Are you a fan of aviation? Go to Right Fork diner at the Katama Airfield. Enjoy your meal while watching planes land and take off right before your eyes.
Desert anyone? Backdoor Donuts in Oak Bluffs offer succulent baked goods like glazed donuts, apple fritters, and other sweet treats. And, don’t ever feel guilty about indulging your sweet tooth – as Mark Twain so eloquently put it, “Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.”
So here’s our wish for a fun Martha’s Vineyard summer: eat, drink (moderately), and be merry!
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