Toast on Nantasket Beach

Saturday morning calls for a special breakfast. A celebration that you survived another work week and that two days off has begun!

We headed down to Hull to cash in a Groupon I bought a while back- time for some Toast!


Toast is tucked away on Nantasket Avenue right on the beach.


Look for the blue Ocean Place sign and take a left. There's parking across the street in a municipal lot, too.

Though you might encounter a bit of a wait, there's plenty of knick-knacks to see.


A bookshelf of cookbooks in the bathroom!

Soap shaped like buttered toast!

The owner, Audrey, did the hair and makeup for this photoshoot!

We probably waited about 15-20 minutes to be seated- we scored prime spots at the counter. I love sitting at the counter- all the hustle and bustle is right there and it feels just like an old fashioned diner full of locals and families. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. Our coffee cups were kept full and warm.

We started with an order of grilled banana bread. It was served with a side of salty butter and it was divine. Soft sweet cake was encased in a crisp, warm exterior. Pretty sure we were lucky enough to get the last batch- so delicious.

There's only a chef and a sous chef in the back so it does take some time to get your food, but the main event is worth the wait.

Oh my stars, these were tasty. Sugared pecans and fresh blueberries topped three hearty, multigrain pancakes. Served with real maple syrup, these were the perfect breakfast treat. I got a side of fluffy scrambled eggs for a bit of protein.


The husband ordered the Cape Cod home fries. Shredded and diced potatoes were grilled to perfection with peppers, onions, and sausage. A sprinkling of cheese on top and a side of over easy eggs rounded out the plate.


As you can see, we both left very full and very happy. Our total meal was only $28- a definite bargain for the quality we received. The rest of the menu looked as good as the food we ordered, so we'll definitely be going back for more weekend eats.

Three cheers for Toast!

Whole Grain Pancakes

The whole grain movement gets some real traction in this recipe. I've always been into whole grains- love the crunch and texture they provide to breads, cookies, and pastry.

These pancakes are easy like Sunday morning. From start to nosh, it takes about 30 minutes. This makes a small batch, enough for two normal people or me. My high school boyfriend's dad noted that I have a "healthy appetite". That's a Texas-sized euphemism for "girl who eats too much".

Some things never change. Gimme pancakes or give me death!

Combine all your grains, leavening, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Try mixing up the grains- I'm sure buckwheat, cooked quinoa or brown rice, or spelt flour would be awesome in these pancakes.
Stir 'em all up. Quick note about the cornmeal- it may sound a bit kooky, but it adds an awesome crunch to these. Really crisps up on the outside. Yurm!

Drop your wet ingredients into a measuring cup. Whisk 'til thoroughly combined.

Add wet to dry. No curve balls here.

Stir it up real nice. Let stand for about 10-15 minutes. This lets it thicken up a bit- you'll see a few bubbles on top from the baking soda reaction.

Heat up about one tablespoon of oil in a 10 inch stainless steel skillet. Non-stick need not apply. If the oil is hot enough, these pancakes will not stick. I put the heat about 1 or 2 under medium and let it heat up while the batter sets- 8 to 10 minutes or so.

Cook about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. I make monster-sized pancakes so they take an extra minute or two. Smaller ones would need less time. Duh.

Top with butter and maple syrup.


Or serve them up, Betty-style, smeared with jam.


Whole Grain Pancakes
Serves 2 (or one really hungry lady)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
small pinch salt
3/4 buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk + 1/4 cup plain yogurt)
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 tblsp agave nectar (or honey), optional
Canola oil for frying

Measure out flour, oats, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and pinch salt into a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. In a large measuring cup, add buttermilk, vanilla, eggs, and agave nectar, if using. Whisk thoroughly to combine.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients in the medium bowl. Stir gently to combine and let stand, 10-15 minutes.

Heat about 1 tblsp canola oil in a stainless steel skillet over just under medium heat. Wait for oil to shimmer slightly and add roughly half of the mixture, if you like big pancakes, or less if you'd like them small. Cook about 4 minutes each side.

If cooking for a crowd, turn on oven to about 200 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with a cooling rack and stack pancakes on top of cooling rack to keep warm and crisp.

Serve with jam or maple syrup.