Last Bite- Caramelized Apple Grilled Cheese at The Canteen
The Canteen in Provincetown is one of those spots in town perfect for those on the go, or for those with no particular place to be who want to linger over a lunch featuring creative menu options and beautiful harbor views. Chef and General Manager Katie Dufault changes the menu seasonally and, while grilled cheese sandwiches are ever-present, the most recent rotation brings back an updated version of the Caramelized Apple Grilled Cheese which has quickly become a top seller across the entire menu.
Alongside the more traditional grilled cheese (featuring four cheeses) and a vegan version, the Caramelized Apple Grilled Cheese has a lot more going on than most sandwiches of its kind. Starting out three years ago as a flatbread, it has now returned as a sandwich. Cheddar cheese is the headliner, but it plays its role in the ensemble perfectly. A tangy Boursin cheese spread amplifies the sharpness. The caramelized cranberry and apple spread, along with the fig preserves, add just the right counterbalance of sweetness; but it’s the herbs that raise the taste experience. Fresh thyme and sage are sprinkled into the combination just before the sourdough bread is griddled to crunchy perfection.
Dufault explains about this seasonal sandwich, “It used to be goat cheese, but then we used Brie on a cranberry walnut bread last year,” she said. “But this year we added the fig and fresh cranberries. Personally, this is my favorite year of it.” Served alongside the grilled cheese is a pickled vegetable giardiniera that provides a nice vinegary punch to reset the taste buds between bites of the sandwich. Cauliflower, carrots, celery, assorted peppers, and olives make for a wonderfully (slightly) spicy interlude.
Guests can enjoy a grilled cheese, or any of the other inventive menu options, from sandwiches and salads to entrées, grain bowls, poutine and even “Fries with Eyes” (fried smelts) street side on the always bustling Commercial Street, or with toes in the sand and a beautiful view of Provincetown harbor out back…even in winter for, as Dufault says, “those diehard backyard guests.”
The Canteen in Provincetown is just the place for a bracer against the chill of winter. Really, who couldn’t use a warm gooey grilled cheese? An accompanying cup of soup never hurts, either.
The Canteen
225 Commercial Street, Provincetown
thecanteenptown.com
CORI EGAN PHOTO
The Canteen Holiday Market
It’s always great to see an eatery with menus that change with the seasons, but what about a restaurant that reinvents itself every holiday season? The Canteen closes in the tented area out back to provide a warmed dining room called “The Shack”. The pop-up restaurant offers a more traditional dinner setting (and menu) served weekend nights during the holiday season. The transformation doesn’t end there, as the entire back outdoor dining area gives way to The Canteen Holiday Market.
From “Black Friday” through the last weekend in December, The Canteen in Provincetown replaces the tables and chairs normally offering beach-side dining with twenty-five small booths for local makers and artisans to sell their wares. The air is charged with festivity as shoppers and diners (locals and visitors alike) mingle around the fire pits while they sip seasonal cocktails, enjoy offerings from the regular Canteen menu along with European-style fare, and find that perfect little something. Open weekends from 11am-5pm, time it right and you can stay for dinner at The Shack. Those who have experienced The Canteen’s Holiday Market (this will be the tenth year) make it a point to return to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, purchase unique holiday gifts, or merely take in the special scene.
For schedule and more information, visit: canteenholidaymarket.com
