Notes from the Nautical Rooster July 25, 2008
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Now, let me tell you what we've been up to all winter! We have shopped and shopped and shopped, all for you, well that's not exactly true, we bought some shoes, but mostly we stocked all sorts of great new things for the summer season in our Boothbay Harbor shop. We've been planting ceramic mushrooms in the garden (now available in 19 vibrant colors!) and filling the shelves with great hand painted pottery, lovely Amy Kahn Russell jewelry and all kinds of nautical stuff. Last summer you loved our new yellow lobster apron, so we ordered it again, rooster aprons too, and more of those gifty kitchen towels that were so popular in nautical themes. We haven't forgotten the etched fish glasses, either, available in nine sizes and now for sale on the website.
New things to look for in the shop are lots of little hostess gifts for those casual occasions when you need something but a bottle of wine isn't quite right. Also new is lighthouse bedding and matching handbags, so you can make a fashion statement without ever leaving your bedroom. But when you do venture forth, you can do so in our new line of needlepoint shoes, mules, and ballet flats, in many designs, including nautical patterns.
We went wild for rings last winter, buying them from all our designers, some for fun and some for really serious bejeweling. My favorite ring is a cast brass sailboat with gemstones by Echo of the Dreamer, perfect for all the sailors among you. Take a look at our new Echo of the Dreamer website page for other rings, lots of earrings and some truly magnificent bracelets.
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY: a fabulous navy and red lobster rug, in two sizes, that we can't put online (but if you ask nicely, we can email you a picture of it and sell it by phone. AND, you can see it in the July and August issues of Downeast Magazine!) For fans of the red and white lobster rug that is on the website, act now, there are only a few left, as of July 25, and then it is gone for good. JULY SPECIAL! THE LOBSTER RUG, NORMALLY $98, IS ON SALE FOR $68 DURING JULY ONLY!
ANOTHER GREAT NEW RUG is the seafoam green shell rug, available in three sizes and with matching chair pads. We can't show it online, but we can email you a picture if you ask us!
New on the website this summer are recipes for seafood dishes that you can bake in our wonderful seashell stoneware baking dishes by Mussels and More. We are adding recipes to the website all this week. One of our favorites is Seafood Ragout, which can be baked in the large mussel shell:
Seafood Ragout
Ingredients:
2 cups baby shrimp
1 cup mussels (no shell)
1 cup scallops (no shell)
1/2 cup Manilla clams (no shell)
1 white onion, diced
3 large carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 cup flour
4 cups fish stock
1/2 lb butter
4 cups heavy cream
Salt and pepper
Fiddleheads sauteed in brandy (for garnish)
1. Sautee the celery, carrot, and onion in the butter. Add flour to form a roux. At this point, make sure you cook the flour with the vegetables until it starts to lightly change into a golden color.
2. Slowly add the fish stock. Remember with roux, if it's hot, then the liquid must be cool. Do not add hot liquid to a hot roux; you will get lumps.
3. Add the seafood, garlic, and Dijon mustard. Cook for about 30 minutes at 300 degrees in the large mussel shell.
4. Add any other seasonings, and the heavy cream.
5. Serve the ragout in small mussel shells. Garnish with a few fiddleheads sauteed in brandy.
Doesn't that sound wonderful? Look for more recipes on our Mussels and More web page.
Windjammer Days rocked in Boothbay Harbor recently, and this beautiful tall ship was docked right outside The Nautical Rooster all during the event. In fact, this was our view from the rooftop deck of the Rooster during Windjammer. Have a look around our new and improved website and drop us a line. Talk soon, Carol
Summer Hours:
Monday-Saturday 9:30 - 5:00 Sunday 10:00 - 4:00
Garden Decor
Ceramic Mushrooms are back in the garden at The Nautical Rooster!
Our garden overlooking the harbor in Boothbay Harbor, Maine is one of our customers' favorite spots. Peeking from the climbing roses, iris, and phlox, you will find dancing copper butterflies, stately hand made
weathervanes, and, of course, a plentiful selection of ceramic mushrooms.
Our customers have been known to spend half an hour or more in the garden choosing just the right color-coordinated combination of ceramic mushrooms!
Hand Painted Seafood Pottery
Our pottery is made on the East Coast by a professional potter, who paints each piece herself in her studio. All pieces are intended to be functional tableware. They are made of white earthenware clay, and are thrown, pressed, or slab-built. Before being fired, each piece is hand painted with an underglaze and covered in a clear glaze by the artist. Both underglaze and glaze are non-toxic. They are suitable for oven, microwave, and dishwasher.
Seashell Stoneware by Mussels and More Pottery
Our seashell stoneware is made on the west coast by Jan and Mike Sell, in their studio overlooking the water, which gives inspiration to their incredible designs. The shells are made out of high-fire stoneware clay. They are food and oven safe so that wonderful foods can be baked and presented right in the shell. The shells are also microwave and dishwasher safe. The interesting, hand done detail work on both top and bottom of the shells make them powerful art pieces to be enjoyed and viewed from either side.
Amy Kahn Russell Jewelry
A fine arts graduate of Tulane, the artist's personal studies and experience often influence her designs, reflecting on visions from museums or images seen during her extensive travels. Amy painstakingly designs every piece herself, often using rare and unusual materials which make duplication impossible. Amy Kahn Russell was the forerunner in the naturalistic trend in jewelry design.
Her distinctive pieces incorporate fossils, natural minerals, pearls, and semi-precious stones with sterling silver. Many of the rocks and minerals she uses are not only mined just for her, but also cut for her specific design requirements. Amy's designer pieces are exhibited in many museums, among them the Smithsonian, the Museum of Natural History, and the Asia Society. Collectors of Amy Kahn Russell include Madonna, Halle Berry, and Mary McFadden.
Echo of the Dreamer Jewelry
Margaret Thurman and her daughter Myoshin formed Echo of the Dreamer in Manhattan in 1993. Margaret's bold, dramatic style and Myoshin's delicate and refined color sense combine to create an intriguing collection of stunning wearable art.
Myoshin has branched out with her own line, Mars and Valentine, in which she adapts vintage pieces in fresh, new designs.
Swarovski Crystal and Venetian Glass Jewelry
Handcrafted Rialto Venetian Glass Set Venetian glass beads and Swarovski crystals are among the most coveted materials in necklaces, bracelets, and earrings on display at The Nautical Rooster in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. All jewelry featured here is hypo-allergenic. Only sterling silver or 24k gold-plated sterling silver is used. All pieces are completely nickel-free.
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