Family, food and fun, Abatemarco style....one more fond memory

Our family gathered this weekend for some late summer sun and fun on Treasure Island Drive in Amagansett.  The weather was picture perfect on Friday and Saturday so plans for fishing, clamming, crabbing, shopping, yard-saleing and beach-napping were all systems go.  Of course, all of these activities needed to coordinate with our favorite time of day -- dinner time.  Here's how it goes Abatemarco style.  There's always an "alternative" meal planned in the event of a no-fish/no-clam/no-crab afternoon.  Dinner on Friday was at Chez Fred and Natalie.  Due to the success of our great fishermen, brothers Fred and Frank and my husband Phil, http://fishtales.abatemarco.com/?p=821 the "alternative" was not necessary.  "Bluefish a la Fred" would be the main course for tonight.  But first, some calamari salad by Aunt Natalie, followed by a wonderful lobster bisque by Aunt Toni, also known as the "goddess of the greens."   Fred's bluefish was melt-in-your-mouth perfect and Aunt Natalie's Apulian potato-tomato casserole and roasted vegetable medly was the best.  Gina made a nappa cabbage and tomato salad with a super refreshing rice vinegar dressing.  Then, my favorite part of the meal, dessert by Aunt Natalie -- a rustic peach tart that tasted as great as it looked.  There were ten of us at the table -- Fred and Natalie, Frank and Toni, Dan and Natalie (our newly-weds celebrating one year on Sunday, September 12), Gina, Uncle Tono, Phil and me.  We talked about everything from militant vegans, community supported agriculture to, ahem, bed-bugs.

Saturday morning at Chez Frank and Toni began with breakfast on their lovely deck.  Fred and Natalie joined us and we planned the events for the day.  Frank put on his ClamManiac hat and clam holsters and Phil knew he was going clamming.

Our favorite "clam warden"

Fred decided to save his energy for some late afternoon fishing.  But first, we headed out to some interesting yard sales.  The first one on Bluff Road scored Fred and Natalie a little carved Chinese end table and some pretty vintage silver-plated flatware.  Toni found a Copco salad spinner for $1 and I resisted many urges for things I could really do without. 

Yard Sale on Bluff Road

We dropped Fred and Gina off and die-hard yard salers, Natalie, Toni and I drove to Montauk where Toni found a very charming pottery lamp with a pierced shade.  I couldn't resist the cute little gravy boat with the painted rose for $2.  We picked up an anniversary carrot cake at Montauk Bakery for Dan and Natalie, some odds and ends for tonight's dinner and then headed back to T.I. Drive.  When we arrived, Gina had prepared some sauteed veggies and quinoa for lunch, which was delicious.

We planned on having linguini with white clam sauce for dinner, if our hunters Frank and Phil were successful, followed by eggplant parmesan. Clamming conditions were not good, so Frank and Phil switched gears and went crabbing.  Toni and I were headed for the beach when the call came in from Frank and Phil.  "We're loaded with crabs -- put the sauce on!!"   Our dynamic duo became line man and net man and managed to get 10 good sized crabs.  The story was that these critters were begging to get caught and were practically jumping out of the water.   Off to the beach to enjoy a lovely late afternoon, while our great hunters, Fred, Frank and Phil headed out to Montauk again for more fishing.

crabs a plenty

Now the task at hand was to get the crabs "ready" to go into the sauce.  This means cutting off their claws so they can't bite you and so you can clean them.  Here, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Yes, those are garden shears in that bucket!!

Tonight's dinner started with a champagne and cassis anniversary toast to Dan and Natalie.  First course, linguini with sweet crab sauce, topped with some fresh basil.  Next, the crabs.  Now the only sound heard is the cracking of claws and an occasional slurp as the sweet crab meat gets sucked out of those tasty knuckles and claws.  Delicious with a nice chilled white Trebbiano D'Abruzzo.  My eggplant parmesan was next, which my family lovingly raved about.  Frank held a raffle for the last piece which we donated to Diane, who arrived later that evening from Northampton Mass.  We topped off this delicious meal with Aunt Toni's fabulous salad of tender romaine, fresh green beans and sweet red tomatoes.  Dessert was the wonderful carrot cake from Montauk Bakery and another delicious dessert from Aunt Natalie -- peach cobbler with granola and almond butter topping.  After this delicious meal and lots of talk and laughter we said goodnight with the promise of a good-bye breakfast in the morning of Frank's famous blueberry muffins.

Aunt Toni -- "Goddess of the Greens"

Fred and Natalie (Toni's yard sale lamp in the background)

Happy First Anniversary Dan and Natalie

Diane arrives

The eggplant raffle

And the winner is.....Natalie!!

Clam warden turned muffin-man with drac-a-drac muffins

As always, we were sorry to say so long to everyone after this wonderful weekend. Aside from another very fond memory being made, we leave knowing that we are blessed with having a loving, caring and generous family.