It's All About ME (conclusion)

Our last Thursday at the cottage just didn't start the way we wanted it to.  We wanted to leave early for our final trip to Acadia, but didn't get out of the house until later.  Then, we realized that our photo card was filled--yeah, we took a lot of pics--so we had to stop at a Radio Shack (the 3rd store we tried--the others were sold out of them) to buy one.  All they had was a huge one for $30-some.  On our way out of the parking lot, we were rear-ended by some guy anticipating the green light.  No damage, but you know how it is.  Just not what you want to deal with. 

The plan was to hike the South Face of Cadillac Mountain--the highest mountain on Mt. Desert Island.  It's a rather easy hike that we'd done before, but it's relatively long (3.7 miles one way).  We weren't sure if it would be too much for Jake. 

On the way up Cadillac.

The day was beautiful--sunny, warm, breezy.  It looked like things would be turning around for us.  Alas, the photo card didn't work for some reason.  So not as many pics of the trip up the mountain as we wanted.  I only had a little bit of film left in my non-digital camera.

But that, as it turned out, was the last of the problems for the day.  The hike was great--beautiful views, nice weather.  And Jake did great.  I may have carried him on my shoulders for a half-mile--probably less.  The rest he did on his own two little legs.  The apples and homemade trail mix helped give him energy.

The good day continued with our second trip to Cafe This Way.  Our server was Tony, who we've gotten to know over the years--Jake always looks forward to seeing him.  We found out, unfortunately, that it was Tony's last season in Bar Harbor before moving to Chicago.  Good luck, Tony!

Now some of the food that the 6 of us ate: The Brie-Wild Mushroom Fondue again, Maine Seafood Spring Roll, Shrimp with 4 Sauces, the Littlebit (olive tapenade, melted cheese, roasted peppers, roasted garlic on a sizzling platter with fresh bread), Pecan-Crusted Halibut, Grilled Scallops with a Citrus-Fennel Salad, Asian Pecan-Crusted Chicken, Duck with a Blueberry Sauce and more.  Exquisite food, as usual.  Oh, desserts--MB & I shared Chocolate Pots de Creme and Jake devoured Blueberry-Basil Sorbet.  I forget what the others had for dessert.  I can't tell you enough how good the food is there. 

Friday was a rainy, lazy day.  Just hung out at the cottage for a while.  Walked the beach a little bit.  Got lobsters for one last truly Maine dinner at night.

After cleaning up, it was time to leave the cottage.  MB, Jake & I stopped at The Fish Net in Blue Hill again for our lunch.  MB got a fish burger and both Jake and I had one last helping of fried Maine shrimp.  (I should have counted how many of those things he ate on this trip.) 


MB & Jake in York Beach



One last night in Maine lay ahead of us--in York Beach--not far from the border.  We had stayed at the Candleship Inn one time in the past and decided to stay again.  It's a very nice place--one of those places some go to for a total relaxation stay--massage, yoga, etc.  While we didn't do those things, we did have a nice stay.  For a nice change of pace, we at dinner at Guac-n-Roll--a burrito bar.  It was very good and reasonably priced.  MB had a Mexican Pulled Pork Burrito, I had one with Chorizo/Guacamole/Rice/Salsa.  Jake had a deconstructed steak taco (he basically just ate the meat). 

Our last nice meal was breakfast at the Candleshop Inn.  Barbara (the innkeeper) and her cook (a Jamaican woman who's name I'm forgetting) presented a wonderful vegetarian spread: scrambled eggs (or tofu if you wished), fried plantains, apple cobbler, granola (you make it yourself), bagels, muffins, smoked salmon with red onion, capers and cream cheese, fresh fruit salad, etc.  The food is great, the people are friendly and helpful--another good place to stay if you're in the area. 

So that's it...a wonderful trip full of fun, food, nature, rest and relaxation.  I hope you enjoyed coming along for the ride. 

It's All About ME (continued)

Clam shacks are the classic way to eat seafood in Down East Maine.  They usually have a walk-up window, a huge menu and very fresh seafood.  Most offer things like burgers and hot dogs (for some reason) and picnic tables (some even have indoor seating).  They usually do a great job with fried foods as well as fresh lobsters, steamed clams and mussels, etc.

You've heard me talk about Red's Eats in Wiscasset and The Lobster Dock in Boothbay Harbor.  Another place we've been to--maybe the best of them--is Bagaduce Lunch in Brooksville.  They've been closed for the season by the time we've gotten there the last few years. 



More fried shrimp at The Fish Net.



In Blue Hill, the "town" near the cottage (as opposed to the "village" of Brooklin), there's an excellent shack, The Fish Net.  By this time, MB's mom, brother and his girlfriend had joined us and we all went there for dinner--another chance for Jake to scarf down some fried Maine shrimp.  Among other things devoured that night--scallop roll (lightly fried scallops on a toasted hot dog bun), fish chowder, seafood stew, lobster roll.  There's just something about eating that kind of food at a picnic table with others doing the same--out under the clear sky having your legs eaten by mosquitoes.  OK, the last part isn't that great, but everything else is.  Nothing a little Off can't take care of.

While we were there, a lobsterman (part of the family who owns The Fish Net) brought some lobsters to our table for a bit of a tutorial about them.  It got us anticipating cooking our own the next night.  He was very nice and obviously enjoyed telling people about the critters.  He said that it was a great year for lobsters, which, I'm sure made him even happier.



Baseball by the sea.



For years, we had passed signs for Moose Point State Park on our way to Blue Hill or Bar Harbor and this year, we decided to check it out.  It's a very nice park--on the water with some nice paths to walk and nice lawns for playing baseball with Jake.  Apparently, moose have never been seen at Moose Point (some say they've seen droppings).  We saw neither.

From there we stopped at a very nice potter co-op and visited Perry's Nut House (I tried to link thei4r website, but not surprisingly, the site doesn't come up).  This place is, well, just plain weird.  Real stuffed wildlife, very expensive fudge and nuts, a while bunch of junky toys and souvenirs, a real mummy, fun house mirrors and much more.  Jake thought it was great--as have visitors since 1927.  I guess it's one of those places to stop in one time to say you were there. 



Getting the water for cooking
the bugs.



Lobsters.  They're what you think of when you think of Maine--especially if you're hungry.  We bought a bunch at The Sleigh Bell Shoppe/Lobster Crate.  We're used to this place after all these years, but it's still pretty funny.  It's a nice little gift shop that happens to sell lobsters, too.  A very nice lady, Annette, runs it and is always very friendly. 

The cottage has a turkey fryer that we cook the lobsters in.  I simply fill the pot with sea water, crank the propane and get it boiling.  Then it's time for the bugs to take a swim and about 15 minutes later, we're eating.  The sea water seasons them perfectly.  We also picked mussels at low tide and I cooked them with some bacon, white wine and mustard.  They were really tasty even if some of them were gritty with little "pearls".  (That's what happens when you pick your own mussels.  Most that you buy or have in a restaurant are farmed and grow on strings, so sand doesn't get in and pearls can't form.)

It was quite a feast.  Jake was all excited about eating lobster this year (he had tasted it only 1 other time at Red's Eats), but didn't like the messiness of it.  Maybe next year.  Butter, lemon, wine, beer, salad and that great bread from the farmers' market.  Pretty much the perfect dinner.

We bought a few extras for a great lobster stew that I make.  But I'll tell you about that next time.



Ready to go to the table!