Chatham Candy Manor is not wierd.  It has character, and that’s what this is about.  It’s weirder than CVS’s candy, and more interesting than the latest real estate acquisition by Buffy and Muffy.  So there you go…Candy Manor is loved by EVERYBODY.  You know how sometimes a friend will say to you, “Oh, I can’t wait until you meet such-and-such, you will LOVE him,” and then that such-and-such turns out to be slicky and smarmy and too cultivating of everyone’s approval?  like, because “everyone loves them”, it makes them totally icky?

Not so with Can/Man.  They ARE love.  Everyone loves them and whomever doesn’t, is sick.  And not sick in the hip way that youngsters say nowadays.  Sick.  Like we in our 40′s say when you’re not right.  Okay.  Candy Manor has THE best chocolate in Chatham, on the Cape, in the state (I’ve tried the so-called competitors in the land, including a very good one in Lenox, MA), and maybe on the East Coast.  I tried Jacques Torres, have had Teuscher and Vahlrona and others, blah blah blah, and Candy Manor ROCKS.

And you know how the French are about their chocolate.  Well, I had a VERY French, lives in Paris, food critic boyfriend (or man-friend, considering his age) scoff when I brought him a pink and brown box of dark chocolate truffles to his home in Strasbourg, France.  “Oh, ha ha Cheryl, that is very sweet of you, but you know we French, ha ha ha, we are the creme de la creme of all things chocolate.  But that is very sweet of you, ha ha ha.”   Mmmm hmmmm.  Then I saw him sneaking truffles between lunch and dinner, and OFFERING the Candy Manor treats to his French friends.  They all agreed, they couldn’t believe how great the American chocolates were!  SCORE ANOTHER for CANDY MANOR!  Enough about me…

The dark chocolate is high, highest quality, always fresh, and just the perfect amount of sweetness.  Not too much, not bitter.  Always fresh.  Handmade.  I know the ladies who make these day in and day out and they have integrity and humor and they LOVE chocolate.  The store itself is a charmer.  Kids and adults are always swooning when they come in.  It’s an old-time shoppe with everything you could ever want.  People from Germany and Switzerland (more Euro “we are the best” type shoppers) rave about Can/Man’s fudge.  Candy Manor truly has to be experienced to be appreciated.  They have terrific customer service, and genuinely cheerful staff.

It’s the ultimate place for gifts.  Matter of fact, every time I go to a Yankee Swap, the Candy Manor box gets stolen many times since folks covet it….It’s owned by Naomi Turner and David Veach, creative souls themselves, and run by Susan and Kim who are the best people.  It matters the peeps who make the candy.  You can almost taste the love in the candy.  Just like Chocolat, or Like Water For Chocolate (did you see these movies?), the energy of the place and the cooks infuses the food, which infuses our happy tummies and souls.  Candy Manor gets five stars in my book, and shame on you if you haven’t tried them yet.  Oh, and the homemade candy canes during the holidays are just a must-see.  If you need to score points with your kids, or with your spouse, a treasure from Candy Manor will get you your get-outa-jail-free card.

Now, go!

I would not call Ned Sonntag weird, in the cringey way.  If wierd is outside the norm, status quo, then good.  Ned is a wildly creative, irreverently unique artist living on our lil’ peninsula.  You won’t find Mahtha’s Vineyard porchy-type watercolors in Ned’s studio.  You may find a series of zaftig mermaids, smoking underwater or playing oyster shell/pearl golf….or as the honored licensee of Betty Boop, plenty o’ Betty’s ’round the house in various dresses, poses, oil and ink, beloved by serious collectors.  Or look at his inspiring, satirical drawing of the 17 pregnant lasses of Gloucester, all muddled together under The Sea God, Daegon and newspaper coverage of the true scandal…

This youthful spirited (and looking) Sonntag can be found riding his bicycle through the streets of Chatham, hurriedly copying yet another assignment at the library, on its FedEx way to the big Powers That Be of Comics in NYC.  Ned’s dry wit and disarmingly shy demeanor dare you to pigeon-hole him.  I wouldn’t.  He’s smarter than you and while you may not share the same taste in Zoot Suits or paisley vests, you gotta admit, he’s a refreshingly colorful character amidst the earth tones and propriety in Chatham.  Ned has a radio show coming up in Feb. on WOMR, and he enjoys showing his work at The Studio On Slough Road, among other galleries.  Oh, and he’s a great music agent, too.  If you don’t love him right away, because you’re too lazy to delve, or too narrow-minded to appreciate his charms, then let him grow on you.  With a big heart and a healthy sense of doom, Ned is an acquired taste, like escargot or absinthe or yoga.  By the time you “get” him, you’re under his spell…

Places that serve food are about so much more than the food. A great eatery is also a great meetery. It’s where you go to see friends, make new friends, be seen. I love Cape Cup. I get a sustenance there that far exceeds the nutritional components of a sandwich. I almost always see someone I know and we have a chance to catch up. Owners Elise, Bill and Ellen and their staff are always welcoming. They obviously put a lot of positive energy into the place. It’s unpretentious, doesn’t try to be hip or trendy, and the dog in the car always gets a visit and a cookie.

Elise is a die-hard Red Sox fan. During baseball season there are regular soups not just named after players, but also somehow connected to the player’s roots. Big Papi Black Bean soup (one of my favorites) pays homage to David Ortiz’ Dominican Republic homeland. How does Elise do it? From the swath of baked goods made fresh daily to the little signs posted all around the cafe, she imparts a creative flair matched with the discipline of a world class athlete.

Ellen is the quiet one (relatively speaking) but keeps the kitchen moving and is responsible for the amazing paninis that have expanded my girth over the years. Everything comes out just right. When I am away from Orleans, I will order a sandwich in another shop just as I would from Cape Cup. No-one makes the grade.

Bill is the face of Cape Cup, always with a “hey buddy” from behind the counter. Bill has compassionate touch with all of his customers that is mirrored by all the counter staff: Sandy, Ana… Plus, Bill makes a hell of a machiato.

Come hungry, bring a friend or be prepared to meet them and Cape Cup. And bring your dog, he/she will want that cookie.

Cape Cup
www.capecup.com

My pals and I are in the process of getting this new blog off the ground. Our goal is to provide a place where you can read about and share the things that make Cape Cod weird, in a good way. Cape Cod has always attracted the weirdos. I know. It takes one to know one. So as the world becomes more homogenized, including the Cape, we think it’s time to remember the people and places that have made Cape Cod the eclectic community we have come to know and love. Subscribe or check in often. Or make a contribution.