Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/60293
ne Food Best Dishes: Clockwise from top left, the pulled-pork sandwich; chocolate cupcakes; the Big BLT. to detail: "The croutons floating on the soup were the wrong color," she declared, "so I changed them." Come for breakfast and the Frittata of the Day, the Breakfast Burrito, the Morn- ing Sandwich, or the impressive three-egg omelet, overstuffed with tasty fresh veggies and top-quality ham or bacon. Come for lunch or early dinner and feast on signa- ture sandwiches like the Dogtown, Rte 127, Annisquam Delight, or the criminally addictive Big BLT, comprising crunchy cherrywood-smoked bacon, mixed field greens, sliced tomato, and mayo on grilled ciabatta. And then there's their novel riff on the classic Cuban sandwich: Pork shoulder is braised overnight in a secret BBQ sauce, then piled onto a Saint Joseph's roll (from the famous Virgilio's Bakery of Gloucester), 20 nshoremag.com May/June 2012 along with Black Forest ham (no hormones, no antibiotics), Swiss cheese, garlicky dill pickles, and spicy mayo. And do not miss the focaccia, made from thin, herb-crusted dough. Options range from a modest sliced tomato- mozzarella-and-fresh basil version to some near-psychedelic combos, like sliced, marinated sirloin steak, hot cherry peppers, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and gorgonzola. Or, there's the roasted yellow and red peppers, Kalamata olives, chopped tomato, roasted garlic, moz- zarella, and feta. After sampling Willow Rest's focaccia, you might, like us, swear off ordinary pizza forever. Donati's bakery turns out all manner of breads, pies, and cakes, including a velvety moist chocolate cupcake with a swath of buttercream frosting that will take you to heaven and back. There's lots of fresh in-season produce from local farms— including Donati's own mother's—as well as artisanal cheeses and meats, and a selection of interesting grocery items that are, like everything else about Willow Rest, both different and delightful. The Menu Chef: Melissa Donati. Sandwiches: The Big BLT ($5.99), Cuban ($7.99). Focaccia: Roasted Yellow & Red Peppers, Kalamata Olives, Chopped Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic, Mozzarella & Topped with Feta Cheese ($10.99). Dessert: Chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting ($2.75). Location: 1 Holly Street, Gloucester, 978-283-2417, willowrest.com. photographs by anthony tieuli