This weekend marked the first annual Choo-Chew Mother’s Day extravaganza! You guessed it – Jen and I treated our mums (Gerry and Deb) to lunch at Manchester-by-the Sea’s Cala’s in exchange for culinary opinions and always-entertaining pleasantries. Here’s the thing: we typically don’t have to treat to hear these ladies’ thoughts and opinions. That’s what we love about them! But seeing that it was Mother’s Day this weekend, it only seemed right to spoil our mums a bit for a change. Now, add in two of our nearest and dearest – Laura and Nicole – and Laura’s mother Ann, and we’re talking about a party of seven not to be reckoned with. Everyone was in true form!
We cozied into a booth in the front of the comfortable and casual restaurant. We started (rather quickly and in typical fashion) with drinks served up by Cala’s famed bartender, Scotty – an area celebrity. A couple of Moscow Mules, Sangria Margaritas, and glasses of Kim Crawford and we were off!
The lunch menu offered good diversity and the salads – perfect lunch portions – were a big hit.
I opted for the Grilled Calamari Salad. Mixed greens, roasted tomatoes, grilled onions, kalamata olives, and feta cheese topped with delicious grilled calamari. The salad was drizzled with a light lemon vinaigrette and polenta croutons which were a creative touch. To die for. I was so happy with my choice. No meal envy – that’s right, you heard me.
Gerry and Jen tried the Arugula Salad, which was arugula topped with sunflower seeds, chevre goat cheese, and grilled sweet potatoes. The dressing was a maple cider vinaigrette that the table loved. The potatoes were a nice texture against the arugula and this salad produced smiles all around.
Ann ordered the Spinach Salad and loved the different combination of tastes making this salad different from your typical spinach salad – it even gave her the urge to break into song and dance, or maybe those were synchronized swimming moves?! The salad included “naked” walnuts, blue cheese crostini and tomato confit served with a warm applewood smoked bacon balsamic dressing. Delish.
Laura’s West Coast Spring Rolls – stuffed with mango, pickled cilantro, and veggies – made their way around the table and got a unanimous “thumbs-up” on taste and presentation. The spring rolls were served with a mango dipping sauce which was thought to be a little too sweet for most, but a beautiful orange color.
An interesting addition to the menu was the option for a BAKED fish sandwich. Nicole and Deb opted for this take on a good old standby. We were a little skeptical at first, but truly satisfied with the outcome, as the baked fish sandwich got great reviews and proved to be a fabulous alternative. The sandwich was served with a mound of hand-cut fries and some good “slaw.”
No room for dessert, but we all finished our meal with hot coffees to help digest and re-collect ourselves after a session of tear-producing laughter. When the coffees arrived, the smell was overwhelming – a fabulous end to a relaxing afternoon at Cala’s. Good food, good laughs, good company. Cala’s was the perfect selection for our first Choo-Chew Mother’s Day outing.
Manchester-by-the-Sea is a quick ride from Salem/Beverly and on the Rockport line. If you’re from the North Shore, you probably know your way around. If you're itching to get out of city, especially as the weather starts warming up, head to Manchester – it makes for a great day out. Make sure to stop by the small boutiques, the Stock Exchange, and of course Singing Beach – an easy walk or bike ride from the station.
-Jaime
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