TA S T E
Island Life
While whalers of yore subsisted on salt cod and hardtack (a nearly indestructible biscuit
brought aboard ships because of its unlimited shelf life), the bill of fare on Nantucket today
is as far-reaching as the ocean waters that surround it.
imaginable. In addition, an impressive variety
of full-service event spaces and catering
options exist for those planning a wedding
reception, anniversary party, special birthday
celebration, or any significant event be it large
or small.
Each year, the island boasts not one, but
two Restaurant Weeks in Spring and Fall.
Participating restaurants offer special prix fixe
menus and Cisco Brewers hosts a popular Fall
Junior Chef competition for local culinary arts
students, presided over by Jenny Johnson of TV
Diner fame. In May, oenophiles venture to
Nantucket in droves for the annual Wine
Festival, showcasing prestigious vintners from
around the globe, and featuring grand
tastings, food and wine seminars, cooking
demos and a glittering Harbor Gala.
In mid-October, the splendid serenity of
autumn provides a perfect backdrop for the
eagerly-anticipated Cranberry Harvest
Weekend. The 195-acre Milestone Bog – one
of the few certified organic bogs in the country
– is flooded and a crimson tide of ripe
cranberries bobs to the surface. Not only is the
harvest interesting to watch, the festival also
features sheep-shearing demonstrations, hay
rides, live music, and hearty lunch fare under
the food tents. Native cranberries are available
for purchase as jam, or fresh from the bogs,
ready to add to your signature compote for the
upcoming Thanksgiving feast.
Nantucket may be acclaimed for its miles of
unspoiled beaches and historic downtown, but
the island’s homage to the fruit of both vine
and bog, a bi-annual salute to fine dining in
June and September, and the sheer variety
and number of sensational restaurants islandwide contrib