Something about the summer weather this year, the cool rainy days between the warm, bright ones, triggered a memory of picnics in England. I was 22 and living in Cambridge, […]
Food & Drink
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COOKING FOR COMPANY
Alchemy With Eggs
An adaptable breakfast dish for two or for a houseful
Having summer houseguests is one of the great pleasures of living on Cape Cod. But as anyone can tell you, the line between communing with old friends and feeling overscheduled […]
FLAVORS
America’s Culinary Revolution Was Certainly Queer
John Birdsall’s new book reveals the defiance and nurturing that changed American tastes
For John Birdsall, the confluence of cooking and queerness goes way back. Birdsall started his cooking career at Greens, the restaurant that originally opened as part of the San Francisco […]
THE WHOLE TABLE
There’s Meditation in Making Nori Rolls at Home
Colorful vegetable sushi made with playfulness and precision
My first experience of sushi was on a trip to San Francisco with my parents. We were at a sushi restaurant where would-be eaters watched the edible options go round […]
THE BERRIES
A Torte on the Wild Side
The cousin of the blackberry is the fruit to choose for a cornmeal cake
Ten years ago, when I was 12, a gaggle of friends gathered in a circle at summer camp in Vermont and organized ourselves into categories, each with its own implications […]
THE WHOLE KITCHEN
Crêpes for Bastille Day — or Any Day
An artist imagines a meal in Monet’s kitchen
I have never been to France, never eaten a true French crêpe or croissant, never walked over the “Japanese Bridge” painted in multiplicity by a man with a long beard […]
THE COCKTAIL
Raising a Glass to Revolution and Resistance
A blackberry-thyme version of the French 75 to stave off relocation
It’s weird how many drinks we consider classics were first mixed in France — a country that doesn’t really do cocktails. Admittedly, many of them were concocted largely for American […]
FOOD
The Edible Abundance of the Forest
In Feed Us With Trees, Elspeth Hay tells the story of food before farming
To Elspeth Hay, it has always seemed clear that, when it comes to food, we take more from this planet than we give. In her new book, Feed Us With […]
FOUND AT THE FARMERS MARKET
Early Heat Can Be Sweet
July 5, 2025 Orleans Garlic has come early to the market, a result of dry and hot weather. Many farmers have garlic on offer, but Benjamin Chung of Caroline’s Corner […]
I SCREAM
The Annual Outer Cape Ice Cream Report
Independent writers dare to share on dairy
At the Independent, many things change every year: the headlines, the bylines, the deadlines, and, for a few, the hairlines. But some things never change. Independent writers are back in […]
I SCREAM
The Annual Outer Cape Ice Cream Report
Independent writers dare to share on dairy
At the Independent, many things change every year: the headlines, the bylines, the deadlines, and, for a few, the hairlines. But some things never change. Independent writers are back in […]
FOOD MEMORIES
In Search of a Fourth of July Wattamelon
A DIY adventure recreates the inner goodness of Friendly’s famous dessert roll
I lived out in Oregon for more than a decade before moving home to the Cape in 2022. My husband and I often planned trips here around the Fourth of […]
FOUND AT THE FARMERS MARKET
Sunflowers Rising
June 28-29, 2025 Wellfleet and Truro If you’ve just missed the farmers market, try exploring some of the local farm stands. Sea and Soil Botanical Designs (Pole Dike Road, Wellfleet) […]
FROM THE LARDER
A Forgotten Jar of Sumac Brightens a Rainy-Day Dinner
Palestinian mussakhan marinated for the grill is just as good roasted indoors
In food, as in art, one never quite knows where inspiration will come from. Sometimes the fruits of the season demand attention, such as when the peas come in, or […]
THE WHOLE TABLE
Discovering the ‘Kapow!’ of a Homemade Smoothie
Favorite summer blends in a rainbow of colors
Each summer for a couple of weeks, my family trades our hometown tourist destination for another one: we make the short trip across Nantucket Sound to Martha’s Vineyard. Like all […]
