Here All Year: Kelley and Ezra of Hungry Native

While it is a well-known fact that the year-round population of Martha's Vineyard includes many fishermen and farmers, as well as restauranteurs and chefs, there's also a group dedicated to appreciating the fruits of these hard-working folks' labor.

The Hungry Native was established in March of 2011 by two folks who like to be known only as Ezra and Kelley. In an effort to review restaurants as honestly as possible, they are trying to remain as anonymous as possible (a tough task on a small Island) and we've chosen to respect their effort. The Hungry Native is a website featuring restaurant reviews, recipes and culinary adventures, from the perspective of two year-round island residents. The goal is simple: inform and engage others about food, through insightful writing and illustrative photography. Whether purchased at an Edgartown shop, spotting it on a menu in Oak Bluffs, or simply harvesting them by hand - Hungry Native pays close and special attention to locally sourced ingredients. Their weekly posts have inspired dietary delight and continue to cover a variety of food-centric topics, including looking for crustaceans on South Beach, New England specialty foods and much more.

Kelley and Ezra took time out of their afternoon to share a little bit about their delicious and educational edible exploits.

Martha's Vineyard Patch: How long have you lived on-island?

Ezra has been here since he was about 2 years old, and Kelley was born and raised here - she's one of those people that is related to practically everyone on the Island. We both went to elementary and high school here.

Martha's Vineyard Patch: What are some of your favorite off-season pastimes?

Trying new recipes, ingredients and products as well as brewing beer and making sauerkraut.

Martha's Vineyard Patch: How do you know when the off-season has officially begun?

When the Striped Bass derby ends and Ezra finally stops spending all his spare time fishing, and Kelley starts getting the urge to bake cookies and braise meats.

Martha's Vineyard Patch: What do you personally find to be the most difficult thing about living here year-round?

The amount of restaurants that close up in the winter, although it is a great time for dinner parties. Also, it can be hard to find certain ingredients in local markets. 

Martha's Vineyard Patch: What's your favorite thing about staying here all year?

The Island offers so much variety. Each season brings a different feel to the people, the weather, the restaurants and bars, as well as time spent at home. We get to enjoy the Island when the crowds are gone and a parking spot is an attainable goal. Plus, we are kind of used to it.

About this column: “Here All Year” is a series where we catch up with a living, breathing, working Islander and talk about what year-round living is like. If you know someone you'd like to see profiled, send us an email.