It’s time to toast the winners of Cape Cod Magazine’s sixth annual online reader survey! Listed below are winners of nearly 150 categories, from dining and shopping to beauty and destinations. In addition, our editor’s picks spotlight 10 businesses and organizations deserving of special recognition.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Text by Lisa Leigh Connors | Photography by Julia Cumes
EDITOR’S PICKS
BEST PLACE FOR COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters
As soon as you walk into Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters, you feel at home. The open seating area, dark-wood interior, friendly baristas, onsite roaster and coffee aroma create the perfect blend to enjoy friends and java. An added bonus: Owner Manuel Ainzuain, originally from Peru, is there every day roasting coffee and serving customers. It’s this personal touch, comfortable atmosphere and passion for coffee that has turned Snowy Owl into a favorite hangout spot among both locals and visitors. Ainzuain and his wife, Shayna Ferullo, brewed up plans to open last September so they could concentrate on the local market and properly train staff. You might even see their two-year-old daughter, Naia, on occasion at Snowy Owl. Her mom says she loves carrying around coffee beans in her pocket.
“She is such the daughter of a coffee company,” laughs Ferullo. Snowy Owl’s blends are available in 10 oz. bags with creative names such as Jaws, Brewster and Captain Crosby. Specials include customer favorites, such as the Jasmine green matcha latte and honey cinnamon Colombia cold brew. Patrons can also enjoy croissants, scones, cookies and muffins from Pain D’Avignon.
2624 Main St., Brewster, 415-640-1912
Snowy Owl owners Manuel Ainzuain and Shayna Ferullo, with daughter, Naia.
BEST REASON TO PUT DOWN IPODS AND IPHONES
College Light Opera Company
The company’s tagline, America’s premier training ground for young artists, lives up to its name. College-age students selected from around the country refine their craft in musical theater for nine weeks in a beautiful seaside setting. Celebrating its 48th season in Falmouth, the independent company consists of 32 singers and an 18-piece orchestra that produces nine operettas and musicals in the town’s historic Highfield Theatre. Among this summer’s performances are “Guys and Dolls” (July 19-23), “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Aug. 2-6) and “Beauty and the Beast” (Aug. 16-20). “We include a balanced mix of operettas and musicals and of well-known pieces and lesser-known gems,” says artistic director Mark Pearson. Make the most of the experience by arriving early to enjoy pre-show refreshments and conversation on the patio. New this season: “Off the Cloc,” a free lecture series held at 7 p.m. every Friday night in the summer. Join members and the artistic staff to discuss the history and synopsis of that week’s show. The season runs through Aug. 27.
Highfield Theatre, 58 Highfield Dr., Falmouth, 508-548-0668
Students from around the country refine their craft in musical theater at College Light Opera Company.
BEST LOCALLY MADE COOKIES
Kayak Cookies
“If it’s not perfect, I’m not going to put it out,” says Terri Horn, founder of Kayak Cookies. “I’d rather do fewer things and do them well.” The former pastry chef’s philosophy explains why you’ll find only five flavors in the Salty Oats line: Original oatmeal raisin, chocolate, chunky chocolate pecan, peanut butter, and peanut butter and chocolate. Horn says her original flavor and most popular one—oatmeal raisin—is something she created at a bakery after college and later revamped it when she moved to Washington, D.C. Developing new flavors takes years, she says, because she doesn’t want to compromise quality. “I know too many bakeries that have exploded and the quality goes down.” It’s a treat just walking into the Hyannis bakery, located in a historic warehouse, where you’ll be greeted by heavenly scents. In the height of the summer, the small staff scoops as many as 10,000 cookies per week. Kayak Cookies is distributed throughout New England, including 31 Whole Foods stores, and local markets such as Hatch’s Produce in Wellfleet. They are also available in three restaurants in Washington, D.C., a place Horn visits three times a year to monitor production and quality. You can also order the cookies online at kayakcookies.com.
239 Main St. (around the corner on Pleasant Street), Hyannis, 508-827-7358
BEST ADDITION TO THE COOLER THIS SUMMER
Farmer Willie’s Ginger Beer
When I tell people how much I love Farmer Willie’s Ginger Beer, I get interesting reactions. Some people tell me they love it, while others scrunch up their nose and say, “Not so much!” The alcoholic ginger beer, created by Truro goat farmer Willie Fenichel, has a light, crisp citrus and soft ginger taste. With the help of Brown University students Nico Enriquez and Max Easton, Fenichel began to market and distribute his ginger beer to liquor stores and bars across the Cape last summer. Crafted from a recipe of fresh, hand-ground ginger, ginger juice, lemon juice, molasses and nutmeg, this refreshing beverage deliverers a distinctly real and natural flavor. The tagline, “Ginger with Soul,” printed on the label of every can, embodies the personal touch characteristic of the product.
Farmer Willie’s is available in select bars, restaurants and liquor stores throughout Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, the South Shore, Metro Boston, Providence and Newport, R.I.
BEST PLACE TO SPREAD YOUR ART WINGS
Cultural Center of Cape Cod
The cultural center’s motto: “All the arts for all of us.” With the addition of the cultural center’s new education wing, there’s even more classes and workshops to choose from, including cooking, painting, photography, pottery and creative writing. Where else can you find a recording studio and a commercial kitchen in one building? The upper level is divided into five brightly lit studios for resident artists who pay monthly rent and teach classes in their studio spaces. Off the main level, wander outside to the Owl Café, where you can enjoy coffee and pastries while sitting at one of nine tables near a water fountain made out of driftwood and copper, created by Sandwich sculptor Stephen Lynch. “Artists are happy here,” says Amy Neill, director of education at the center. “It’s hard peeling myself out of here. The vibe is just fun all the time.”
307 Old Main St., South Yarmouth, 508-394-7100
Amy Neill, director of education at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod
BEST PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT MARINE LIFE
Center for Coastal Studies
Stormy Mayo, one of the founders of the Center for Coastal Studies, can’t believe the center is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. “I remember when it was just me, in a tiny house on the waterfront,” jokes Mayo. Today, the organization has grown from a $1,000 annual operating budget to $3 million. In 1984, the Center for Coastal Studies was one of the first organizations to form a disentanglement team. Since then, they have freed more than 200 large whales and other marine animals from life-threatening entanglements. The research at the center ranges from right whales and humpbacks to seals and water quality. There is also a strong emphasis on its educational programs within the community and at local schools, including whale camps and seal walks in the summer. Check out its Sea Space Marine Discovery on Commercial Street, where kids can learn about marine life in Provincetown Harbor. This summer, 40th anniversary events include sunset whale watches at MacMillan Pier.
115 Bradford St., Provincetown, 508-487-3622
BEST PLACE TO EXCITE YOUR PALATE
Lola’s Local Food Lab
Lola’s Local Food Lab is a wonderful alliteration that rolls off the tongue, says owner Kim Shkapich, whose kitchen is located under the Lighthouse Restaurant, on Main Street, in Wellfleet. “Even my friends and husband call me Lola now,” laughs Shkapich. While the name is fictitious, she uses her mother’s portrait on her products to honor the woman who taught her to cook with her senses. Inside her kitchen/retail shop, colorful bottles of shrub vinegars line the shelves, including flavors such as blueberry basil, blueberry lemon, cucumber dill, rhubarb shrub and black cherry. Shkapich allows visitors to sample all of the available flavors when they visit her shop, where she also sells rubs, jams and other locally made products. The shrubs are all natural, made with vinegar, fruit or vegetables, and sweetened with organic evaporated cane sugar. The flavors change with the season, depending upon what is available locally. Shkapich, who regularly wears a red-and-white polka-dot apron, explains that people use the shrubs as salad dressings or drizzle them on fruits and cheeses. You can also mix them with sparkling water or prosecco to make a really great cocktail. Her addictive fountain soda and cold brew iced coffee are definitely worth the visit! The products are only available at her food lab in Wellfleet.
317B Main St., Wellfleet, 508-349-1700
BEST STATE-OF-THE-ART LOCAL MEDIA RESOURCE
Cape Cod Community Media Center
Residents of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich and Chatham: Do you know you have access to a state-of-the-art media center? Formerly located on White’s Path in Yarmouth, the media center moved to its current Shad Hole Road location in 2011. For only a $30 membership fee, residents can sign up for training courses in studio and field production, analog and digital editing and graphics. Learn how to plan and produce a talk show or how to capture audio and video and export into SD and HD file formats! Membership in the media center is not only open to residents, but to organizations and businesses as well in the five towns listed above (membership costs vary). The programs aren’t limited to adults, either. During the first two weeks in August, video production camps will be offered for sixth to 12th graders. Paula Hersey, host of five different shows and director of outreach and special projects, says the center’s mission is to give a voice to the public. “We are a production piece of the community,” she says. “People who can’t get to specific events will have a chance to see it on TV or on our website.” The center’s public-access station can be found on Channel 99 for Comcast customers.
17 Shad Hole Road, Dennisport, 508-394-2388
BEST PLACE TO CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS
Dunbar House Restaurant & Tea Room
If it’s been a couple of years since you’ve visited the Dunbar House Restaurant & Tea Room, you might not recognize it when you first walk through the front door. The gift shop once overflowing with teapots has been replaced with a beautiful wine bar and tavern, featuring a tapas menu Fridays and Saturdays. “It’s amazing how many people like wine better than tea,” says Jim Hegarty, who has owned the Dunbar with his wife, Paula, since 1999. In some instances, says Jim, when customers discover we serve wine, they say, “Hold that tea. I’m going to have a Chardonnay.” But the charming restaurant, which has been renovated and expanded over the years, still very much caters to people who want to enjoy leisure afternoon tea time with traditional sandwiches and scones. Patrons not only come for the top-quality food, but they also enjoy stocking up on their favorite loose tea—Dunbar has nearly 200 varieties to choose from.
1 Water St., Sandwich, 508-833-2485
BEST FAMILY RUN GELATO SHOP
Caffé Gelato Bertini
“Everything in the shop is Italian except for us!” jokes Cindy Duby, who owns and operates Caffé Gelato Bertini with her husband, Tom. The charming yellow building with a porch out front, tucked down Pearl Street in Hyannis, is worth seeking out. With a rotating lineup of 100 flavors made from scratch, the daily offerings include 24 flavors, which vary with the seasons and customer requests. When I visited recently, I loved digging into the sea salted caramel (the perfect blend of sweet and salty) and the hot chocolate chipotle (sweet at first, then the spice kicks in). You can choose to enjoy your gelato in a cup or a cone, or grab a hand-packed pint or quart to go. More options include frappes and affogato (three scoops of gelato doused with espresso and whipped cream), as well as cappuccinos and lattes. “It’s really a happy business,” says Cindy. “We don’t get a lot of cranky customers. It’s a magical place.” Indeed, it is.
Caffé Gelato Bertini, 20R Pearl St., Hyannis, 508-778-0244
READERS’ PICKS
FOOD & DRINK
Family Restaurant
Hearth & Kettle
Various locations
Date Spot
C Salt
Falmouth
Lunch Spot
Café Chew
Sandwich
Deli
Lambert’s Rainbow Fruit
Centerville
Sandwich Shop
Café Chew
Sandwich
Sunday Brunch
Old Yarmouth Inn
Yarmouthport
Coffee Shop
Nirvana
Barnstable Village
Italian
Buca’s Tuscan Roadhouse
Harwich
Thai
Bangkok Cuisine
Dennis, Orleans, Hyannis and Mashpee
Chinese – TIE
Tiki Port
Hyannis
Peking Palace
Falmouth
Sushi
Bluefins Sushi & Saki Bar
Chatham
Outdoor Dining
Sesuit Harbor Café
Dennis
Late Night Hangout
Chatham Squire
Chatham
Steak
Pate’s
Chatham
Chowder
Captain Parker’s
Yarmouth
Wine List
Harvest Gallery Wine Bar
Dennis
Bakery
Cottage St. Bakery
Orleans
Burgers
Flynn’s Irish Pub
Sagamore
Pizza
Crisp
Osterville
Ice Cream
Sundae School
Harwichport, Dennisport
Sports Bar – TIE
Kelly’s on Main
Hyannis
Portside Tavern
Hyannis
Irish pub
O’Shea’s Olde Inne
West Dennis
Mexican
Añejo
Falmouth
Seafood
Brewster Fish House
Brewster
Lobster Roll
Sesuit Harbor Café
Dennis
Fried Clams
Kream ‘N Kone
West Dennis
Dessert
Colombo’s Cafe
Hyannis
Cocktail Bar
Wequassett Outer Bar
Harwich
Appetizers
C Salt
Falmouth
Soup
Lambert’s Rainbow Fruit
Centerville
Ribs
Big Dogs BBQ at Orleans Bowling Center
Orleans
Hot Wings
DJ’s Family Sports Pub
Hyannis, Falmouth
Raw Bar
Naked Oyster
Hyannis
Margaritas
Añejo
Falmouth
Martinis
Bluefins Sushi & Saki Bar
Chatham
Fish & Chips
Kream ‘N Cone
Chatham
Tapas
Embargo
Hyannis
Bagels
Cape Cod Bagel Café
Falmouth
Breakfast
Jack’s Outback Restaurant
Yarmouthport
Donuts
Hole in One
Orleans, Eastham
Wait Staff
Mahoney’s
Orleans
Chef
Jeremiah Reardon
Brewster Fish House
Bartenders
Kelly’s on Main
Hyannis
Scenic View While Dining
Ocean House
Dennis
Beer Selection (Restaurant)
Tap City Grille
Hyannis
Beer (Store)
Luke’s
Various locations
Juice Bar
Ring Bros.
Dennis
Restaurant for Kids
Friendly’s
Hyannis
Ladies Night Out
Embargo
Hyannis
Men’s Night Out
Kelly’s on Main
Hyannis
Ambience
Ocean House
Dennis
DESTINATIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS
Reception Venue (large)
Wychmere Beach Club
Harwichport
Reception Venue (intimate)
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
Harwich
Invitations
M. Smith & Co.
Chatham
Concert Venue
Melody Tent
Hyannis
Theater
Cape Playhouse
Dennis
Place for Kids’ Parties
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Mashpee
Radio Station (FM)
Newsradio 95 WXTK
Hyannis
Radio Personality
Dan & Stephanie in the Morning
106.1 WCOD
Resort
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
Harwich
Hotel
Chatham Inn at 359 Main
Chatham
Motel
Anchor In
Hyannis
Bed & Breakfast
Chatham Inn at 359 Main
Chatham
Golf Course (public)
The Captains Golf Course
Brewster
Golf Course (private)
Eastward Ho! Country Club
Chatham
Zumba Studio
YMCA Cape Cod
Hyannis
Dance/Ballet Studio – TIE
Beth Walsh Dance Studio
Osterville
Dance Designs
Centerville
Fitness Center/Gym
BodyStrong Fitness
Chatham
Martial Arts Studio
Hyannis Mixed Martial Arts
Hyannis
Yoga
Power Yoga of Cape Cod
Harwich
Pilates Studio
Joe’s Place True Pilates
Harwich
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Day Spa
Solstice Day Spa
Hyannis
Facial
Solstice Day Spa
Hyannis
Wax
Salon 700 & Day Spa
Hyannis
Manicure
Mia’s Nail Design
Brewster
Pedicure
Lovely Nails
Harwich
Massage
Hands-on-Health
Harwich
Eyebrow Shaping
Salon 700 & Day Spa
Hyannis
Hair Color
Salon Justine
West Dennis
Haircut (women)
Salon 151
Mashpee
Haircut (men)
Monument Barbershop
Provincetown
Makeup Selection
Macy’s
Hyannis
Chiropractor
Dr. Kevin Lowey
Orleans
Orthodontist
Dr. Warren Woods
Sandwich,
South Yarmouth
Cosmetic surgery
Cape & Islands Plastic Surgery
Hyannis
SHOPPING & SERVICES
Gift Shop
Oyster Bay
Provincetown
Gourmet Food Shop
The Brown Jug
Sandwich
Wine Shop
Luke’s Super Liquors
Multiple locations
Produce
Whole Foods Market
Hyannis
Jewelry Store
Hannoush Jewelers
Falmouth, Hyannis
Shopping Center
Mashpee Commons
Mashpee
Bookstore
Titcomb’s Bookshop
East Sandwich
Women’s Clothing
Puritan Cape Cod
Hyannis, Mashpee, Chatham, Falmouth
Lingerie
Bedroom I’s Boutique
Osterville
Baubles and Beads
Heart of Stone
Sandwich
Women’s Specialty Store
SeaBreezes Clothing
Hyannis
Men’s Clothing
Puritan Cape Cod
Hyannis, Mashpee, Chatham, Falmouth
Consignment Shop
Consigning Women
Harwich, Brewster
Fitness Wear – TIE
Marathon Sports
Yarmouth, Mashpee
Innerglow Yoga
Mashpee
Framer
Marjon Print & Frame Shop
Hyannis
Art Gallery
Left Bank Gallery
Wellfleet
Children’s Clothing
Kid & Kaboodle
Orleans
Music Store
Charlie’s Music
Hyannis
Candy Store
Chatham Candy Manor
Chatham
Toy Store
The Red Balloon Toy Shop
Orleans
Pet Specialty Store
Hot Diggity
Mashpee, Dennisport
Dry Cleaner
Centerville Cleaners
Centerville, Osterville, Hyannis, Sandwich
Sporting Goods
Butler Sporting Goods
Hyannis
Department Store
Snow’s Home & Garden
Orleans
Winter Gear
Eastern Mountain Sports
Hyannis, Bourne
Stationery Shop
Jules Besch Stationers
Truro
Cookware Shop
The Cook Shop
Brewster
Golf Store
Golf Fore Less
Hyannis
Bike Store
Bike Zone
Hyannis
Bath and Body Shop
Sativa
Harwichport
Outdoor Adventure
Heritage Museums & Gardens
Sandwich
Organic Grocer
Organic Market
Chatham, Dennisport, Mashpee
Prepared Meals-to-Go
Ring Bros.
Dennis
Fish Market
Chatham Fish & Lobster
Chatham
Nutrition Store – TIE
Cape Cod Nutrition Corner
Hyannis
Organic Market
Chatham, Dennisport, Mashpee
Cleaning Services
CleanGreen
Barnstable
Marine Supplies
West Marine
Falmouth, Hyannis
Daycare
The Learning Garden
Orleans
Limo Service
Kon Limousine Service
Cotuit
Builder
Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders
East Harwich
Real Estate Agency
Kinlin Grover
Multiple locations
Architect
Patrick Ahearn
Edgartown
Interior Design
Siemasko + Verbridge
Chatham
Kitchen Designer
Classic Kitchens & Interiors
Hyannis
Landscape Services
Joyce Landscaping
Marstons Mills
Tile Store
Cloutier Supply Company
Hyannis, Harwich
Antique Shop
Antiques Center of Cape Cod
Dennis
Garden Shop
Mahoney’s
East Falmouth, Osterville
Hardware Store
Ace Hardware
Multiple locations
Lighting Shop
Granite City Electric
Yarmouth
Rug Store
RPM Carpets & Floor Coverings
East Harwich
Kitchen Accessories
Snow’s Home & Garden
Orleans
Furniture Store
Barbo’s Furniture
Dennisport, Falmouth
Home Accessories
Diesel & Lulu’s
Sandwich
Outdoor Grills
Breakaway
Centerville, Mashpee and South Dennis
Outdoor Furnishings
Paine’s Patio
Pocasset
Appliance Store
KAM
Hyannis
Pool & Hot Tub Store
Cape Cod Aquatics
Harwich
Wedding Dress Shop
Sposabella Bridal
Hyannis
Tux Shop
Mr. Tux
Hyannis
Occasion Cakes
Cottage St. Bakery
Orleans
Florist – TIE
East Sandwich Floral and Gift
Sandwich
Flowers by Mary
Orleans
Caterer
The Casual Gourmet
Centerville
The post Best of Cape Cod 2016 appeared first on Cape Cod Magazine.