I mentioned how I stick to traditions. I like to do things a certain way. I have preferences.

One of those preferences is that I don’t like seafood. (I know, I know… an Island girl who doesn’t eat lobster.) But this year my tastes evolved and I enjoyed two delicious seafood meals at home. Maybe my tastebuds changed, maybe I was being stubborn before. But suddenly all of those things that tasted so “fishy” were suddenly very good. I still couldn’t eat that lobster or tuna everyday and I wasn’t able to eat a lot of it. But I enjoyed it, and I think that’s most important.

Night 1: Now, I’m a real Nantucket girl

Lobster dinner from Sayle’s with chowder, corn on the cob and potatoes. I’ll admit, I dunked my lobster meat in A LOT of butter. We also put some Saga Blue Cheese on our potatoes… mmm

Night 2: Fish so Fresh

Scallops, Tomato and Mozzarella Salad, grilled peppers and summer squash, Green Salad with dried cranberries and toasted pine nuts and Seared Tuna. My brother had grilled some chicken for me too, but again, to my surprise, I enjoyed the tuna. They were very large tuna steaks and so fresh. My brother grilled them for only a short time and I actually liked it.

Another new discovery on Nantucket was finding Cisco Brewers. Great beer and the atmosphere is even better! Stop by on your way to Bartlett’s Farm when you go get your fresh veggies. We had their Whale’s Tail with the meal but I think I prefer their lighter Sankaty Light.

And the best part of the meal… dessert. Which deserves its own post coming next!

Nantucket Island is my favorite vacation spot, the place I feel the most relaxed and calm. It’s a place full of memories, family and traditions. Most importantly: food traditions. My brothers and parents rag on me for always wanting to do the same things each vacation – staying in a particular house, going to a certain restaurant as soon as we get off the ferry, having a ChipWich at Jetties Beach – but these are the things that mean the most to me.

I have several posts coming of our meals and adventures on the island, but I’d like to begin with some of the tradtions that make Nantucket my favorite place.

Turkey Terrific Sandwich from Provisions

And it doesn’t even have to be the day after Thanksgiving. The perfect sandwich: Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing on Portuguese Bread. Grab one of these classic Nantucket sandwhiches on Straight Warf with a Nantucket Nectar Half & Half and you have an excellent meal. This sandwich, made on Nantucket’s famous Portuguese Bread, is one of my family’s favorites.

Sunset at Madaket Beach

On the Island’s West Coast, this is the best place to view the sunset every night. We celebrated (as always) with a bottle of champagne and some family photos.

Tacos Tacos

Tacos Tacos used to be a small shack with excellent tacos and burritos on Broad Street, but a couple years ago they closed their doors. We were so disappointed! But to our surprise and delight the Easy Street Cantina brought back the best tacos… something in the sauce.

Downyflake Doughnuts

A quick walk or bike ride from the house we rented and you’re at Downyflake… where you can find the perfect breakfast. Their cake doughnuts are simple and delicious. Of course, I prefer the chocolate frosted ones. I found the best cup of coffee at the Even Keel Cafe on Main so even though they’re in opposite directions I’d recommend grabbing one of those to enjoy with the gooey and sweet doughnut.

Juice Bar and Juice Guys are two different things

Both have ice cream, both have smoothies, but they’re sooo different and you have to know what to order at each one.

The line outside the Juice Bar every night stretches around the corner and the entire block smells of sweet cream and waffle cones. Juice Bar is by far the best ice cream on the Island. From simple Chocolate to their signature flavor Crantucket (vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered cranberries) you can’t go wrong with your choice… especially if you get your ice cream in a homemade waffle cone. Our favorite flavors this year were Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough, Coffee, Mint Oreo, Brownie a la Mode and Pumpkin Cheesecake.

You know Juice Guys as the makers of Nantucket Nectar juices. They used to have a signature smoothie store on the Island but like Tacos Tacos, a few years ago it closed and combined with their other store. Thankfully, they still make their fruit, juice and frozen yogurt smoothies. My favorite will always be the “Pink Cloud” which has Nectars Red Plum Juice , watermelon, strawberries, vanilla non-fat frozen yogurt… yum-o

… More to come soon on some new food experiences and the food we cooked on our vacation on Nantucket Island.