RECIPES FOR
SURFCASTING AND SUNSETS
Grilled Littleneck Clams with Cilantro-Lime Butter
Burrata with Fig and Olive Tapenade
Harissa Grilled Tuna with Leeks Vinaigrette
Summer Bean Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Bacon, and Cider Vinaigrette
Vanilla-and-Rum Grilled Plums with Orange-Scented Pound Cake
Ah, September on Nantucket. The air is still warm and so is the water. The tomatoes and corn and green beans—all the locally grown produce—are at their peak. The crowds of summer visitors are thinning. It’s a lovely time on the island but the days are getting a bit shorter. It’s time to acknowledge that summer is ending and savor every last bit of the fleeting, shimmering season we anticipate with longing all year.
For some, that will mean early-morning surfcasting for bluefish and striped bass, prolific along Nantucket’s shores in September. The beaches are largely empty at that time of day; you’ll have the place to yourself. The sound of the surf, the soft warm air, the repetitive motions of casting—is this meditation disguised as a sport?
This is also the month when the island’s farm stands resemble the plant world’s version of late-summer’s fireworks. Bursting with flavor, the almost overwhelming selections are as good as it gets for farm-to-table aficionados, including all of us at CRU, where our menu reflects that local bounty.
In September, even though the days are getting shorter, the sunsets seem to linger longer on the island. You can catch a spectacular view of it from virtually any site but as the air cools, it’s wonderful to enjoy it from indoors.
At this time of year, the setting sun casts a light that saturates the CRU dining rooms, enchanting all who experience it. Faces glow, wine and cocktails shimmer, and the unmistakable wistful end of summer is embodied in the shifting reflections on the water just beyond the windows.
Wherever you are, you can celebrate summer’s end with the recipes in this chapter and raise a glass of CRU’s favorite rosé while you make plans to return to Nantucket next September, for a much longer stay.