We found a charming Italian cafe called "Piattini"- Italian for "small plate". After 2 long days, we both decided it was precisely the occasion for a glass of wine - I with my red and Lindsay with her white. We ordered one of the best meals we've had since moving to New York. To begin, we enjoyed a crisp green salad with tart granny smith apples, candied walnuts, blue cheese, and a herbaceous tarragon vinaigrette. We then selected 2 small plates for our entree. The first was a sweet butternut squash ravioli with an apple cider reduction, hinting of cinnamon and fall and the decadence of nights aside a fireplace. Our second dish was an enormous sauteed shrimp and tomato bruschetta. The deep red of the tomatoes, the slight green of basil and other herbs, topped by lightly browned, pink shrimp was the perfect combination for an Italian bruschetta. Lindsay and I were thoroughly satisfied with the start of our trip to Boston...
We rode the commuter train to Hamilton, where the Lamberth's family friends live. They graciously hosted us for the entire weekend! Mrs. Rossi welcomed us with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and then sent us to bed for a restful nights sleep.
Saturday, we had a quick breakfast and went on a tour of the New England north shore - Hamilton, Beverly, Ipswich, Salem, etc. Our first stop was Crane's Estate, a private portion of the coastline that has been preserved for its authenticity and natural beauty. With the wind whipping our hair, we gazed out over the sparkling ocean and watched as seagulls dipped in and out of the water. It was amazing!
After spending some time at the beach, we continued our tour at Russel's Orchard.
Russels Orchard is a rustic farm off one of the winding roads of Massachusetts' North shore. At the present moment, they are harvesting apples and so of course we had to sample the freshly made apple donuts with hot apple cider to dip them in!
We sat on a bench, surrounded by pumpkins, eating our donuts and listening to a couple of guys strum their banjos and guitars to entertain the apple pickers and other farm visitors. Another perfect New England fall...
Lindsay went to her audition that afternoon and I found a coffee shop and journalled. It's amazing the rejuvenation one feels from a few days out of the city... a change of pace and scenery makes a huge difference.
Saturday night the Rossi's cooked us a New England feast - fresh baked cod and scallops, acorn squash, sauteed broccolini, and wine. Lindsay and I felt like princesses the whole weekend! Later that night, we went to visit Salem to experience the spookiness of the town. We went to an historic hotel in the middle of the downtown and then walked around to a few other famous spots.
After Sunday brunch of wholewheat pancakes, strawberries, and local maple syrup, we took a drive around the coast of northern Massachusetts - to see the rocky shore and lighthouses. I think we were both in heaven for the next few hours. We walked around a few of the small towns, ate clam chowder, and then headed back to Boston on the train.
This is Rockport, lots of movies are filmed here!
Once back to Boston, we caught the bus back to NYC, back to life in the city!
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