Summertime Summertime!

Summertime and the bees are buzzin—pollinating everything in sight. Southeastern Mass is also buzzin’ with news on the locavore scene. Our re­gion, especially in the summer, kicks ass, and this summer is no exception. Here’s The Buzz:

Expanding the Hive

Mrs. Mekler, of Cohasset’s Sugar Shack fame, has expanded her business. opening Sea Salted! in Pembroke. The shop is filled with sweets of all kinds, as well as seeds, coffee, Bloody Mary Mix (and other hand-made mixers), and sweatshirts too. Stop by 50 Corporate Drive and check out the expanded mercantile selections. Mrs. M, putting the M in Mercantile.

How sweet it is. POP Culture Cake POPS has moved from downtown Fall River to a larger space in Freetown. While Cake POPs (cake batter, frosting, rolled into shapes on a stick, baked, dipped in chocolate, and sprinkled with other confections) are the star attraction, POP Culture also offers cupcakes, cookies and a variety of other mouth-watering sweets.

South Shore’s original taco guy has added a 16-seat restaurant to his roster. Offering the same authentic Mexican cuisine from its scratch kitchen that has made South Shore Taco Guy’s food trucks and pop-up catering grills so successful, the restaurant located at 165B Nantasket Avenue in Hull, gets its inspiration from the owner’s SoCal roots and all the meals mothers of his childhood friends bestowed upon him. The result is fresh tasty Mexican food that is the real deal.

Also in Hull, Nantasket Flats is reopening for the summer. Closed and for sale since January 2023, this new iteration will be laid-back and beachy. Burgers, hots dogs, lobster rolls highlight the menu created to serve the throngs of people that flock every summer to Nantasket Beach. And with a location on Nantasket Avenue, the taste of summer seaside-style makes for a memorable experience.

New Bees on the Block

The wait is over. Shikku Hot Pot, self-dubbed “South Shore’s first hot pot restaurant” is now open on Court Street in Plymouth. Featuring traditional East Asian hot pot cuisine, Shikku serves up a variety of meats, vegetables, noodles, sauces, and, of course, broths. In addition, combo pots, small plates, and large plates are available, ensuring there is something to suit every-one’s palate—a communal dining experience enjoyed by all.

The long-awaited opening of New Beige, by Cultivator Shoals owners is finally a reality. Operating in The New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park Visitor Center, New Beige pays homage to the city’s Portuguese roots both in its name and its food. Led by head chef Joe Rego, a 2012 Chopped winner, the restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner and boasts a grab- and-go market as well. Wander on down for a drink or a meal while taking in New Bedford’s history, once hailed as the most diverse and the wealthiest city in the country.

New(z) 2 Us!

Wedged between the Dunkin Donuts and TJ Maxx in Taunton sits a little gem of a restaurant, the Mediterranean Bar & Grill. Family-owned, the Med wows its diners with traditional Greek dishes whose recipes have been passed down through generations. They boast great food and service at reasonable prices. Operating since 2011, the Med is a well-kept secret that deserves exploration. Get me to the Greek!

While the building dates to 1799 and has seen a unique set of uses, the Inn on Shipyard Point in Mattapoisett has been a mainstay for local diners for decades. During winter, the ownership of the restaurant changed hands with its general manager Chrissy Soares and executive chef Jon Cameron taking over the reins from owners Nils Johnson and Andrea Perry. The latter still own the building. The former have been busy making improvements like an updated deck and a menu refresh of classic New England-fused cuisine, while keeping and improving on some of the fan favorites. Located on the water, the Inn itself is the oldest seaside inn in the country.

If I Had a Hammer Frogfoot Farm and the Marion Institute have now issued a community request for “gently used” farm tools/equipment needed to start farming a 6-acre parcel in Wareham that will provide food for the Neighbors Feeding Neighbors farm-to-food relief program. Donations in the form of shovels, pitchforks, steel rakes, hoses, hand tools, wheelbarrows, and garden carts. Once up and running, the food relief program will serve Plymouth, Bristol, and Norfolk counties providing nutritious produce to the food insecure across southeastern Massachusetts.

Winner, Winner, Mexican Chicken Dinner!

Looking for the best Mexican restaurant in Massachusetts? Love Food has picked a winner in every state, and El Sarape in Weymouth Landing is #1 for Bay Staters. A quiet, sometimes under-the radar dining establishment, El Sarape has been satisfying its loyal followers and new converts since 1988. Three cheers to all, though selfishly we’d still like to keep the restaurant a South Shore secret, in a more-for-us kind of way—the best kind of compliment.


Please feel free to email info@edibleSEMA.com with any ideas or suggestions for The Buzz.