The roots of farm-to-table cuisine run deep on the outer Cape—after all, the first Thanksgiving took place in Provincetown over 400 years ago, bridging cultures and creating connections through locally grown food. That same spirit lives on today in the delicious offerings at various farmers’ markets and locally sourced ingredients on the menu at Cape Cod restaurants, a delight for the senses and easily accessible from our Provincetown bed and breakfast.
Provincetown Farmers Market – Celebrating Community Through Local Food on the Outer Cape
From mid-May through late October, the outdoor space at Provincetown Hall—just across the street from our front door—transforms into the lively Provincetown Farmers’ Market every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local farms bring their freshest harvests, with various fruits and vegetables, honey, flowers, and other delectable treats like seasonal loaves of bread (think pumpkin in the autumn) and pastries. The market offers a bounty of local flavors, constantly evolving with the current season. Because seafood is integral to Provincetown’s history and cuisine, you’ll also find scallops and lobster, unique from what you’d commonly see at other farmers’ markets. Sip on locally roasted coffee and bite into a buttery pastry or perfectly ripe piece of fruit while checking out the booths and meeting the farmers, who add their delicious twist to the market’s “spice of life” motto through affordable and healthy foods produced on the Cape.
Because it’s an “educational” market, you’ll also find tables staffed by local folks representing nonprofits and community causes, bringing Cape Codders together through action and awareness. The Provincetown Farmers’ Market is not just a place to buy fresh produce but a bustling hub of community-minded activity. Look out for the “budding entrepreneur” tables run by local children who set up a stand with the guidance and support of the market team, learning in a valuable, tangible way about local food and commerce. The market also supports SNAP and WIC card recipients and veterans, giving a free $10 weekly match to any food purchases, embodying their aim of making the market equitable and accessible to all.
After picking up some tasty nibbles at the market, take a stroll to check out gorgeous spring and summer blooms at local Cape Cod gardens or have a picnic on the picturesque dunes at Herring Cove or Race Point, two of the most scenic and family-friendly Provincetown destinations.
Sustainable Cape – Weekday Farmers’ Markets, Gardens in the Schools, and Monthly Educational Seminars
Although the Saturday market in Provincetown is the most convenient location during your stay, Sustainable Cape—a local group whose mission is to support Cape Cod farms and strengthen the community through sustainable agriculture—also puts on several other weekly markets nearby. On Mondays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., head just 10 miles south to Truro, where a farmers’ market similar to Provincetown’s happens all summer and into early autumn. Kids will love the educational displays at this market, such as one about “fabulous fungi,” detailing the remarkable characteristics of different mushrooms and art made by Truro students showcasing bee diversity and their importance to pollination. Just another 5 miles south of Truro, the Wellfleet Farmers’ Market happens every Wednesday from 8 am – 12 pm, ideal for taking a scenic drive along Highway 6 on a weekday, avoiding the summer weekend traffic. Make a full-day trip by spending a relaxing morning at the market, exploring the pristine salt marsh ponds at the Wellfleet Wildlife Sanctuary in the afternoon, and winding down the evening with a movie under the stars at the Wellfleet Drive-In, a classic dose of summertime nostalgia.
Throughout the year, Sustainable Cape also runs its farmer-in-the-school program in elementary schools in Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet. Young kids learn how to grow gardens under the stewardship of local farmers who visit the schools in person and impart their wisdom about working the land and eating mindfully. If you visit the Truro market, stop by the children’s garden at the Truro Library, where you can see the impressive fruits of their labor. Check the Sustainable Cape events calendar for special Harvest Highlights events, when chefs, nutritionists, and herbalists lead monthly free seminars focused on specific ingredients or cooking methods – recent ones have included Ukrainian borscht and the medicinal value of edible weeds, adding extra zest to salads and homemade dressings.
Cape Cod Cuisine – A Spotlight on Farm-to-Table and Sea-to-Table
Start your journey into our farm-to-table cuisine at the Crown Pointe restaurant, just a few blocks down Bradford St. Their dinner menu – served Wed-Sun 5:30-9:00 pm – features local, organic produce and merges “old-world elegance with contemporary flavors,” accentuated by fresh-caught fish and meat raised on Cape Cod farms. Start with appetizers like roasted Brussels topped with chili honey lemon sauce or sashimi tuna poke alongside scallions and avocado. Vegetarians will love their salads, appropriately labeled “from the garden,” prepared with in-season veggies. Entrees include the Pointe burger with a unique leek slaw, a 10 oz Coulotte steak served with tarragon aioli, pan-seared halibut with parmesan risotto, and a vegan cauliflower steak with roasted asparagus and honeyed carrots, all sourced from small farms. If you’re just in the mood for drinks, check out their classy wine bar, where you’ll find dozens of wines from around the world and cocktails made with locally grown ingredients like cucumber mint or ginger martinis.
On a different evening, stroll down the west end of Provincetown parallel to the water down Commercial St to the Joon Bar and Kitchen, another local restaurant serving some of the best farm-to-table style food. Small plates include tender braised beef short rib pupusas, made even more memorable when topped by their tomatillo salsa verde and pickled onions, both farm-sourced. Their harvest salad lives up to its name, with fava beans, peas, asparagus, and greens harvested in season and straight to your table. Entrees like duck leg confit with carmelized shallots or seared scallops topped with spring pea risotto and fresh basil take garden-grown herbs to a sophisticated level. During your meal, sip on one of twenty wines available by the glass, including a wide selection of reds and whites, several organic and biodynamic, a perfect complement to any of their dinner plates. Note that they open in late May every year, serving their Wed-Sun 5-9 pm dinner menu throughout the summer, and expect the menu to vary according to which ingredients are currently in season.
Much like the farm-to-table ethos, “sea-to-table” is one of the highlights of many Cape Cod eateries, with seafood right off the boats of Provincetown Marina featured at several of our favorite Provincetown restaurants. Whether you order fresh-caught oysters at Mac’s Fish House (their half-off daily happy hour is an incredible deal), lobster rolls with a stunning waterfront view at Fanizzi’s, or baked miso Atlantic cod at the Mews, you’ll find the freshest flavors from land and sea side-by-side on your plate, harvested and prepared to perfection.
Stay with us and explore the farm-to-table heritage of Provincetown, from charming farmers’ markets to world-class Cape Cod restaurants!