Cheap Eats

Wednesday is fish 'n chips day!

By Maggie Kulbokas

Let's face it, the current economy is quite unnerving. Everybody is pinching pennies and many folks are cutting back on eating out.  But many area restaurants are feeling the pinch too and offering great deals for folks who really need a night out and away from the kitchen.

Early birds, two for ones and coupon savings are a great way to treat yourself to a little something special and support local businesses. After all, we are all in the same boat!

In addition to restaurants, many local markets offer inexpensive, quick and tasty premade meals for working families, couples and singles. 

What would you say to a delicious, inexpensive, take-out dinner?  

Peterson's Fish Market in Yarmouth Port is offering just that.  Every Wednesday, between 11am and 5:30pm, you can call up (or go in) and place an order for fish and chips.  Your meal comes complete with lightly battered fish, spicy french fries, cole slaw, a wedge of lemon and tartar sauce--all for just $6.99!

The fish was tasty and piping-hot and the portion was surprisingly large for the price.  Aside from the taste, the best part was we didn't have to buy the ingredients, schlepp them home, prep the fish, fry the fish and clean up.   In fact, it quite possibly would have cost more if we made it at home!

Peterson's Fish Market is owned and operated by the same folks who own Peterson's Supermarket, right next door. If you are in the mood for something other than fish, the supermarket offers a wide selection of premade meals and soups and deli sandwiches and subs. 

If it's pizza you are pining for, you are in luck. RC's Pizza, located in the food market, dishes up a tasty pizza pie in three sizes, 12", 18" and the huge 25" (just make sure you'll be able to fit it in your car first!). 

If you find yourself in the area or you live close by, make Wednesday Fish 'n Chips night!

Peterson's Supermarket and Fish Market are located at 918 Route 6A in Yarmouth Port.  508-362-2147.  Peterson's is a farm stand, butcher, deli, liquor store, coffee shop and bakery all in one.  The staff is pleasant and helpful and the prices are comparable to those of larger supermarkets.

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It's the Talk of the Town with great food and low prices

The alluring smell of syrupy pancakes, sizzling bacon, and oozing eggs made my breakfast decision, well, pretty straightforward.

The ultimate diner experience awaits you in Falmouth at the Talk of the Town.

Ya Ya’s Special gave me all that and more.

Imagine starting your day with this in your belly.

A warm, woody, friendly atmosphere.

In an simple setting, see the map below.

Story and Photos by Samantha Pearsall

I’ve gone out to some great breakfast spots, but the menus are not at all flexible and neither is the wait staff. You can only get chocolate chip pancakes on weekends, you can’t customize your veggie omelet, and no substitutions on any specials.

Talk of the Town Diner in North Falmouth is the place to go if you’re looking for “quality food, service with a smile, and a touch of nostalgia.”

The family-owned diner on Route 28A certainly showcases its retro flare with the likes of Marilyn Monroe, The Rat Pack, and James Dean on the pale blue walls.

Our young waitress was friendly and patient (despite the packed dining room), the table settings were tidy and clean, and everything was full (ketchup, salt, pepper, etc.). But most importantly, I could order what I wanted and exactly how I wanted it.

Mix & match to your belly's content

I was able to order strawberry pancakes instead of plain buttermilk with Ya Ya's Special, and instead of ham or sausage, I could have bacon. My eggs did not have to be scrambled either if I preferred them differently.

Open daily 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. and offering great eats at reasonable prices, it’s no wonder why this is such a hot spot for both breakfast and lunch.

Back in a flash with the hash

The food came within about 5 minutes of ordering, and when I saw the multiple plates I knew my eyes were bigger than my belly.

My strawberry pancakes were at least 8 inches in diameter, my home fries were overflowing my plate, my eggs were cooked just the way I like them—over-hard, and my bacon was perfectly crispy.

All this great grub for just $8.95—cheap and huge portions. It was the first time in my life I’ve actually had breakfast leftovers to take home with me!

The sizeable menu also offers daily specials, French toast on Italian Scali bread, Belgian waffles, pancakes from blueberry to banana, fruit smoothies, any kind of eggs or omelets you can conjure up, TOTT Favorites like Big’s Monte Cristo Sandwich, and other sandwiches and wraps. For those health-conscious patrons, choices include cholesterol-free egg whites and omelets, various salads, Lissa’s Special fruit platter, and a number of club sandwiches. Just about every item on the menu is under $10, with most breakfast plates being anywhere from $5 to $9, and most sandwiches about $5 or $6.

The Keuchkarian family also owns Talk of the Town Restaurant located just minutes from their diner off Route 28A, as well as another Talk of the Town Diner in Watertown, Ma. And don’t forget to pick up one of their catering menus that offers a number of popular entrees, salads, and desserts serving up to 10 or up 20.

Talk of the Town Diner, 326 North Falmouth Highway, Rte. 28A • North Falmouth. (508) 563-3041. Menu.

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Get ready for the T.G.I. Inauguration Day party

T.G.I.F. to celebrate Tuesday with "World's Largest Inauguration Party"
And the Hyannis spot is low cost conscious for the recession-minded

"We look for any excuse to have a great time, and the inauguration was the perfect way to get a party going on a Tuesday." says TGIF's Senior VP Andrew Jordan, and having the biggest bar in Hyannis makes that easy.

Prices at the Hyannis location are a bargain any day, like a Petite Sirloin with 5-Cheese Mac for $9.95, a Full Rack of Jack Daniel's slathered Ribs (above) with fies for $16.95 or this Half Rack with Fries for only $9.95.

By Walter & Patricia Brooks

T.G.I. Friday's restaurants, including the one on Route 132 in Hyannis, have completed their final plans for the "World's Largest Inauguration Party" which they will host at more than 920 restaurants in 62 countries around the world all day on Tuesday, January 20.

"We look for any excuse to have a great time, and the inauguration was the perfect way to get a party going on a Tuesday," said Andrew Jordan, Senior VP at TGIF.

"Like we say, 'In Here It's Always Friday'!" he added.

At 9 p.m. local time, the famous T.G.I. Friday's bartenders will lead guests in a "Toast Heard 'Round the World," which will honor the to-be-named All-American Drink.

• All guests will enjoy special drink prices at participating restaurants. "In other words, in those restaurants where we can legally do it," said Jordan.
• All guests in the USA will be treated to half-price appetizers with the purchase of an entree during the month of January. Now that's cool!
• All guests at the party will receive a commemorative Friday's-style button to show that they were at the World's Largest Inauguration Party.

Meat Lover's Nirvana
We ran a test run on the TGIF' at the mall in Hyannis last night, and discovered a meat lover's recession paradise. The menu is full of mouth-watering delights at very affordable prices.

My wife and I chomped down on their famous Jack Daniel's glazed ribs and steaks, and if your cholesterol needs a mega boost, be sure to try the Mac with Five Cheeses.

Fish folks catered to as well
TGIF may be famous for steaks and ribs, but the selection of seafood will more than satisfy those with a different taste, try the Honey Pecan Salmon or the Spicy Southern Shrimp,  and they offer low carb and low fat selections as well.

Be aware that TGIF at Cape Cod Mall is open long after the mall itself closes, and you enter from the parking lot on Route 132.

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The Coffee Table Cafe--a friendly place to grab a bite on the harbor

Enjoy a tasty breakfast or lunch and a hot cup of joe down at the harbor

Story and Photo by Peter Robbins

Even in the winter months there is something magical about a harbor view as you watch the boats glide in and out of port.  The Coffee Table Cafe at the Hy-Line Landing at 230 Ocean Street in Hyannis is a wonderful spot for breakfast, lunch or a quick cup of coffee. 

The Breakfast

Breakfast sandwiches are served on homemade breads and bagels and are beyond compare.  The self-serve coffee bar offers a selection of fresh brews to compliment the  baked goods.  Cinnamon rolls, coffee cakes, muffins, turnovers, danish, cakes, scones, and croissants are baked fresh daily.

The cafe atmosphere is pleasing and friendly and it is one of the cleanest establishments I have ever visited.  Relax and surf the net with their free Wi-Fi service. 

The Coffee

Don't miss out on the cafe's a "save-a-tree" coffee special.  Bring in a mug (any size) and  fill it with one of their coffees for only 99 cents.  Now that got my attention!  Make sure you pick up their coffee club card.  After purchasing nine hot or cold coffees, you receive one large hot or cold coffee and a pastry of your choice--free.

The Lunch & Bakery

As you enter, the aroma of fresh baked goods fills the air and that certainly doesn't hurt your appetite! The bakery & pastry shop in the cafe is taking orders daily for your holiday pies and baked goods needs. The luncheon menu boasts a selection of gourmet sandwiches featuring Boar's Head meats and cheeses, salads, and even box lunches to go.  For you vegetarians they serve the "Martha's Vineyard", a veggie wrap with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, roasted red peppers, feta cheese, black olives, artichoke hearts and your choice of dressing. 

The Coffee Table Cafe is a casual but elegant place to grab a bite whether or not you are heading to the islands.  Stop in and check it out, I guarantee you will return!

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Howard Mitcham must be spinning in his grave

 Ptown has lost it's Kale Soup reputation
Two strikes and you're out Ptown

If American cookin' makes you think of Mom and Apple Pie, then Provincetown should make you think of the late Howard Mitcham (on right in artist rendering) and Kale Soup.  If Howard were alive today he would be mounting a protest movement in his Cape Tip home over the sorry deterioration of one of his favorite local dishes, Portuguese Kale Soup. 

I took a sail Sunday on the maiden voyage of the Hindu, and after three hours on the briny I headed for the Foot-long Hot Dog stand on the wharf for a hot bowl of kale soup.

It was HORRIBLE - tasted like vinegar. When we returned it to the counter they threw our money at us and we headed for the Portuguese Bakery around the corner for respite.

Their kale soup tasted like dish water - UGH !

There was a time a generation ago when Cape Codder from the Lower Fourteen (Truro through Sandwich) would drive all the way to Ptown for a bowl of kale soup at Cookie's Tap in the West End, sadly long gone.

John Murphy to the rescue

John Sr. is also an established artist who had had one-man shows in Paris.Thank God for the Land Ho! in Orleans and its artist-owner-chef John Murphy.  He has preserved this Iberian blessing know as Caldo Verde in Portugal, and preserved it in a manner which would give Howard Mitcham envy. 

Not only is Murphy's Kale Soup the best on Cape Cod, it may also be the least expensive at $3.75 a cup and $5 a bowl.

And face it, dear readers, the Land Ho! is what a local Cape fisherman's tap is supposed to look like.  It's simply a  wonderful add-on that the food is both excellent and inexpensive.

Howard Mitcham: artist, poet, writer, chef 

James Howard Mitcham was born 1917 in Winona, Mississippi and died on August 22, 1996 in Hyannis. He was a lot of things; an artist, poet, and cook best known for his books on Louisiana's Creole and Cajun cuisines and that of New England, with an emphasis on seafood.

The strength and honesty of a correctly concocted kale soup is beyond compare.

Deaf from spinal meningitis as a teenager, Mitcham attended Louisiana State University and moved to Greenwich Village where he owned an art gallery. He acquired a reputation as a bohemian, raconteur, and "Renaissance man", spending much of his life in Provincetown, Massachusetts and New Orleans. He contributed a column to the Provincetown Advocate, since absorbed by the Banner.

Many of his books combined personal memoir and recipes with his own woodcuts and drawings. Anthony Bourdain has described Mitcham's Provincetown Seafood Cookbook as "a witty, informative ode to local seafood, sprinkled with anecdotes".

 His opening chapter in the Provincetown Cookbook about Provincetown when it was Helltown is nearly unique in our local literature.

• Read Howard's Obit in The Banner here.
  
• Buy his cookbook here.
• See Mike Stine's Kale Soup recipe here.
• Caldo Verde recipe here.
  

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How to quell those Chinese cravings

Today is the first day of my no carb diet.   I've really packed it on and we've got family shindigs coming up so it's time for action.  According to my better half that is. So, like a death row convict, I requested my last meal: Chinese take-out and Tequila.  That would explain why I'm still suffering from a double hangover--liquor and lo mein.

Now, everybody knows the Cape is not known for great Chinese.  But I actually crave the food at one place at least once a week.  I'm going to have to suspend that craving for a bit, at least until they invent no carb crab rangoon.

We always go to Quan's Kitchen in the Harney's Plaza on Route 134 in Dennis.  It shares the strip with some other good shops, well, that is if you want over-priced groceries, a cheap hair cut and a 20 minute workout.

Upon entering, Quan's isn't anything to look at. Just your usual Chinese take-away (as the Brits say) with back-lit photos of Kung Pao Beef and a cooler stocked with sodas including Coke Zero, a new favorite.

But the food is really good.  Like most folks, we typically order the same thing or at least a variation on the same thing: lo mein, crab rangoon, egg rolls, chicken fingers, wonton soup and sometimes pork fried rice.  I've tried other things too--chop suey, beef and peppers, General Tso's chicken, beef and chicken teriyaki and the list goes on.

Often times Chinese food, especially take-out, can be greasy and globby, but we've never found that to be the case at Quan's.  Fried foods like the rangoon and chicken fingers are always crispy and light. In the entrees, they always use white meat chicken and lean beef.  Both meet the high standards of my better half who won't get within a half a mile of a piece of fat or grizzle. 

The vegetables in the wonton soup and the lo mein are always fresh and crisp.  The wonton soup is my absolute favorite.  It has a tasty broth with savory wonton and crisp vegetables that have never seen a can.  Peapods, bok choy, carrots and mushrooms take the front seat to the tasteless (and small in number) water chestnuts that typically make up the bulk of Chinese food vegetables.

And considering the quality of the ingredients and the quantity, the price is very reasonable.  Dinner for two, only $14 with food left over. Who knew Chihuahuas ate Chinese?

No dishes, good food, courteous, fast service and an unbelievable aroma that makes you want to crawl into the back seat and tear open the bag on your way home, what more could you want for dinner?

Oh, and the fortune cookies. How could I forget the fortune cookies? Always crunchy and tasty, just remember, no matter how embarrassing, you must read your fortune out loud and you must add "in bed" to the end.  It's even funnier than figuring out your drag name by combining the name of your first pet and the street you lived on. By the way, mine's Cookie Tinker.   

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Recession relief at Sam Diego's in Hyannis

Lunch from $6.95, dinner from BBQ baby back beef ribs $10.99

   Sam Diego's is on Route 132 opposite the Cape Cod Mall, near Border's Bookstore.

Sam Diego's - Casual Dining with an Affordable Price  Tag

Story & Photographs by Peter Robbins

Ever feel like an easy lunch or dinner without a hassle? Sam Diego's is the place to go. Located at 950 Route 132 in Hyannis, it truly has something for everyone. Lunch, Monday through Friday, features a chili, soup and taco bar all you can eat for $6.95.

This is one of the best Mexican Cookery and bars that I have found anywhere. There are luncheon favorites and combos from $6.95 to $8.95 and the portions are more than generous. The selection of starters, salads, sandwiches, burritos, enchiladas, tacos, chimichangas, quesadillas, fajitas, and combos will make your mouth water just reading them. If you are on the run, everything is available for take-out from 11:30am until midnight. The service is fast and courteous from the friendliest staff that always have a smile on their faces. Whether you are eating light or just having drinks, a generous basket of warm nachos with salsa is on the table as soon as you sit down.

Did somebody say "Barbeque?"

Did somebody say "Barbeque?"  Every Tuesday and Wednesday, from 4pm until midnight, you are in for a real dining treat. For $10.99 you get BBQ baby back ribs, with either BBQ beef tips or asada chicken kabob, served with Memphis mashed potatoes, creamy coleslaw, onion rings and fresh corn bread. Bring your appetite for this one, it's one of my favorites.

The friendly atmosphere and the unique southwestern decor really makes Sam Diego's a fun place for the entire family. For more information go to www.SamDiegos.com .  It's a really enjoyable and affordable place to eat.

Sam Diego's,  950 Iyanough Road Rte. 132, Hyannis, (508) 771-8816 Hyannis and  51 Main St., Plymouth, (508) 747-0048, website.

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The Gourmet Brunch, Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Gourmet Brunch - "Where Everybody Knows Your Name"

   ^{Owner Joe Cotellessa greets you at the door of the Original Gourmet Brunch in Hyannis.}

Photographs and story by Peter Robbins

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in business this June, when you speak of Hyannis and breakfast, the next words are "The Gourmet Brunch" at 517 Main Street in Hyannis.  Open year-round from 7am until mid-day, or at least until everyone is served, it is a downtown icon for breakfast and brunch.  You are always greeted by the owner, Joe Cotellessa, and he generally joins you at your table at some point with a colorful tale or some local news.

The walls are covered with celebrity photographs, and they have all eaten there. Well know for an endless choice of gourmet omelets, there is something on the menu for everyone. The price will surprise you for the quality of food served.

The Belgian Waffles are a specialty to die for.  Topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream, they appear to be popular with the regulars.  The Gourmet sampler is a treat for the hearty breakfast lover. It includes quiche, brunch mix, rolled stuffed ham and a selection of cheeses and fresh fruit all for $8.25.  My favorite is the Eggs Benedict "Brunch Style".  Two golden buttered English Muffins capped with lean ham, fresh poached eggs, topped with "Gourmet's" special cheese sauce on a bed of asparagus for $5.75.

Once you visit you'll be sure to return, saying that, ask for the free "Brunch Bunch Club" membership card.  After six entrees, the seventh is free!

The luncheon menu is equally as good and interesting.  They have a dieter's lunch, burgers and fixins and specialty sandwiches with very generous portions.  They offer selected wines and malts and nothing on the menu is over $8.50.

If you plan to visit on the weekend, get there early! Seating is for 70 people and it fills up quickly. The Gourmet is a nice place to meet, eat and greet, and you never know who you will see there, I'm continuously surprised. You will be too!

Visit them at www.theoriginalgourmetbrunch.com.

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Where the Locals Meet, Greet and Eat!

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The Ultimate Cheapest Eats on Cape Cod

The Recession may be here, but Christy's is prepared
This may be the shortest Cheap Eats we will ever offer

Went to get gas & a gallon of milk at Christy's today and noticed a sign on the door offering:

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