Visit Midcoast Maine | Part 2, Dining Out and At Home

Last week on the blog, we got out and about touring and shopping in Midcoast Maine.

This week in part 2, I am sharing the restaurants we ate at when my friends visited, plus recipes for the food we cooked at home using summer’s farmers market bounty!

Fresh Maine Food From the Sea and Farm

When family and friends come to visit it is a fun opportunity to get out and enjoy a taste of some of the local restaurants.

But I also love to cook at home for and with my guests.

Sharing a meal with those you love is, after all, one of life’s great joys.

It nourishes both the body and the soul.

And Maine this time of year produces so much fabulous local food.

Lobster, crabs, haddock, mussels, and scallops freshly caught from the sea.

Gorgeous summer veggies and fruits from the fields.

And, for those who partake, locally and humanely raised meat and poultry.

Today I am sharing the restaurants where my recent guests and I dined.

Plus the recipes for the meals we made at home.

I hope you brought your appetite today!

Dining Out

There are so many fabulous places to dine out here in Maine, from lobster shacks to fine farm-to-table restaurants.

My friends and I ate mostly at more casual places for lunch.

I did make reservations at a nice restaurant for dinner one night, but we ended up canceling in favor of a relaxing meal at home.

As a vegetarian, I have to admit that I often have a hard time finding something on the menu at local restaurants.

I get it — when most people visit Maine, they want seafood, probably lobster. And lobster is indeed a very special Maine treat.

But there are many times when there is literally nothing “vegetarian” on the menu except a side salad, pasta with tomato sauce, or a grilled cheese sandwich.

So, I do eat seafood on occasion here. Sometimes more than I like, and when what I really want is something creatively prepared with those beautiful local veggies…

My guests, though, always enjoy the classic Maine seafood dishes and that is what is most important!

Royal River Grill House, Yarmouth

On the way home from picking my friends up in Portland, we stopped for a late lunch at the Royal River Grill in Yarmouth.

If you enjoy design as much as I do (and I know that is why many of you are here with me…) this place is worth a stop just for its recently renovated interiors, the work of local design firm Nicola’s Home. With vaulted ceilings, large windows looking out on the Royal River and Yankee Marina, oversized furniture, and a mix of blues and natural tones, it is an airy and fresh take on coastal decor.

If you are on Instagram, be sure to check out the Nichola’s Home page. I have gotten a lot of inspiration from it!

Back to the real reason we stopped there — the food. We were there for the mid-day menu (3:00-4:00) — a nice mix of small plates, salads, and sandwiches.

I had the Very Berry Salad: Mixed greens, raspberries, blueberries, pickled red onions, goat cheese, and pine nuts with a strawberry vinaigrette. The perfect light lunch!

Highly recommend!

Barren’s Distillery and Restaurant, Camden

There is a new area to enjoy in Camden, across the harbor from downtown.

A modern version of the “working waterfront”, with restaurants, a coffee shop, and retail space, in addition to the renovated Lyman-Morse ship building and repair facility. All fronted by a huge wooden boardwalk which abuts the marina.

The Lyman-Moorse wharf has a relaxed “summer vacation” feel to it. It is a great spot to stroll, sit, or grab a bite to eat, while watching boats of all sizes pass by. Old school wooden yachts. Graceful multi-sailed schooners. Small skiffs. Even a rowboat or two.

We had lunch at Barren’s Distillery and Restaurant. We sat at an outdoor table to best enjoy the view and sunshine.

The menu includes classic Maine pub food — seafood, burgers, a few pasta dishes, and some side salads.

Like most Maine restaurants it was not particularly vegetarian friendly. There was just one token vegan selection which did not appeal to me. (No thank you to jack fruit and vegan mayonnaise…) I had to go “off program” with a haddock sandwich. It was fine, but I would have preferred a non-meat/fish option. My friends enjoyed their haddock.

Since it was the middle of the day we didn’t take advantage of the fun cocktail menu, all made with Barren’s Distillery’s own liquors. My favorite name was the Fisherman Holding Flowers: Barren’s Spice Rum, hibiscus chamomile infused Harbor gin, Gifford pamplemousse, all spice honey syrup, fresh lime.

Recommend for classic Maine fare, fun cocktails, and the ambiance!

Sea Basket, Wiscasset

Right on Rte. 1 as you approach downtown Wiscasset, this is an old-school Maine seafood restaurant, with a walk-up counter and both in and outdoor seating. The scallops, clams, haddock, and shrimp are all lightly fried. Sweet potato fries are a nice option instead of regular. And their coleslaw is homemade and crisp.

In addition to seafood, they also have a variety of chicken filet sandwiches, grilled cheese, and pb&j!

We all had the scallops, which, as I mentioned are fried, but not battered. They were top-notch!

Definitely worth a stop if you are driving up Rte. 1 and looking for a traditional Maine bite to eat!

Atlantic Baking Company, Rockland

Across from the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, this bakery and cafe is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat or a loaf of bread or something sweet to add to a meal at home.

Their artisan breads are made from scratch, hand-formed, and baked fresh each morning.

They have a wide variety of pastries — croissants, muffins, scones, cookies, seasonal pies, and cakes — also made from scratch daily. My favorite is their apricot pistachio oat cookie!

For lunch they have a selection of pre-made sandwiches and salads, as well as a daily soup and pizza.

They are one of the few places that offers me several vegetarian choices. I appreciate that!

McLoon’s Lobster Shack, South Thomaston

It wouldn’t be a visit to stay with me in Maine without at least one meal at McLoon’s Lobster Shack.

I (and many others) will boldly claim that McLoon’s has the best lobster roll in Maine.

It also has one of the most beautiful settings.

I won’t say anything more about McLoon’s here, because I wrote an entire blog post on them: The Best Little Lobster Shack in Maine. Go give this oldie but goodie a read!

McLoon’s is a little bit off the beaten track, but if you are in the area, nearby, or passing through, get off the main roads and make your way there!

You will thank me!

NOTE: Like all good lobster shacks, McLoon’s has a walk-up window and outdoor picnic-table seating. There is a small covered area. They are BYOB and close at 7 pm.

Home Kitchen Cafe, Rockland

On their last morning, my friends requested a farewell breakfast at the Home Kitchen Cafe, in Rockland.

This local dining establishment covers all the bases!

Part diner: a huge menu of breakfast and lunch dishes served all day!

A little seafood restaurant: lobster rolls and fish tacos and sandwiches.

A good part taqueria: Serving up southwestern delights such as huevo rancheros and migas made with their own home-made masa harina corn tortillas. Plus burrito bowls and quesadillas.

Even part deli: Reuben, chicken or tuna salad, and chicken club sandwiches.

Swanky breakfast spot: 7 types of omelettes, build-your-own scrambles and breakfast sandwiches. Pancakes, waffles, granola, oatmeal, and amazing-looking sticky buns.

And then a little Asia thrown in: breakfast fried rice, Thai cobb salad, and their version of a banh sandwich.

You might think that a small kitchen could not handle all this diversity, but everything is made from scratch, fresh, hearty, and delicious!

They have plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Another place not to be missed if you are in the area!

Cooking at Home with Sumer’s Farmers Market Bounty

It is no secret that I love to cook!

I am at my happiest standing in front of Bluebelle (my big blue BlueStar range), looking out at the water view, while preparing a meal with or for family and friends.

One of the reasons I love a home-cooked meal so much is that I can make exactly what I want, prepared with ingredients I have selected — and not settle for fish tacos because there is no real vegetarian option on the menu.

And this is such a glorious time of year to shop for fresh vegetables and fruits, local cheeses and baked goods. There are farmers markets in every town, plus roadside stands ranging in size from a single table to a full-blown store.

Here are recipes for the foods my friends and I cooked when they visited

NOTE: I get many of my recipes from the NYT Cooking. This is a subscription site, but I believe they allow you a certain number of free recipes each month. It is my go-to recipe site and well worth it for me to pay for it.

Farro With Blistered Tomatoes, Spinach and Pesto

This is an easy but tasty dish from Yasmin Fahr/NYT Cooking with big pieces of tomato, red onion, and fresh mozzarella.

You roast whole grape/cherry tomatoes and red onion, then mix with cooked farro, fresh spinach, lemon zest, and pesto, (I used store-bought for ease). Finish with the cheese and top with fresh parsley and/or basil.

Yum!

French Grated Carrot Salad

We were enticed by a bunch of lovely bright orange carrots with long healthy green tops at the Freedom Farmer’s Market. What to make with them, though??

An online search yielded this classic French grated carrot salad from Pardon Your French website.

The carrots are combined with fresh parsley, pine nuts, and raisins and then dressed with a simple olive oil/lemon/mustard vinaigrette.

Always use good extra virgin olive oil.

We subbed dried tart cherries for the raisins, because… raisins, eww…

A nice side salad paired with other veggies, ha!

Crunchy Noodle and Tofu Salad

In our enthusiasm at the farmers market, we purchased a large (and beautiful) head of Napa cabbage. I found the recipe for this asian slaw type salad from Hetti Lee McKinnon on NYT cooking. It used both the cabbage and some of our leftover carrots.

It also calls for those store-bought crunchy fried “chow mein” noodles. Maybe not the healthiest option, but they sure were a yummy addition to the salad.

The recipe calls for baked tofu, but I had fresh. So I baked my own using this recipe: Marinated Baked Tofu.

My friends added grilled chicken.

The salad was light and fresh! (Even with the fried noodles, ha!)

Farmers Market Pizza

One of my favorite ways to cook is to go to a farmers market or farm stand with an open mind to see what is in season and speaks to me.

Then decide what I will make based on what I come home with.

I either find a recipe with those (or similar) ingredients or just make something up on my own.

These kinds of meals are best when they are kept simple, allowing the fresh ingredients to shine!

I have actually written two blog posts about cooking this way! Please read:

• Simple and Fresh Cooking With Summer’s Farmers Market Bounty
• Fresh Seasonal Meals Made with Summer’s Bounty

At the Freedom Farmer’s Market we were inspired by some beautiful baby broccoli and vibrant swiss chard.

And some small-batch goat cheeses.

Another stand had some homemade pizza dough.

Yes, a plan was being hatched…

In combination with fresh mozarella left over from the farro dish and some local tomatoes I had on hand, we made the most delicious pizza!

This is my favorite kind of meal!

Bagel and Egg Breakfast Sammies

At the farmers market, I discovered the best bagels!

Growing up in New York and living in the DC area for years, I really appreciate a good bagel.

And really hate a bad one.

For years every Saturday morning our family would get bagel and egg breakfast sandwiches from a local deli. It just doesn’t feel like Saturday if I don’t have a bagel and egg sammie.

But I have had to make do siince I have lived in Maine.

Until now!

Spark Bagels from tiny Northport makes hand-rolled honey-boiled sourdough bagels, using Maine-grown grains.

Believe me when I say that these are the real deal.

They can be purchased at the Belfast co-op and farmers market and Freedom farmers market.

(And now, happily, at a little road-side stand just up the road me!)

Spark Bagel is looking to open their own storefront soon in Northport.

So, for breakfast two mornings we made the tastiest breakfast sandwiches: fennel and salt bagel with scrambled egg, goat cheese, and pea shoots.

Hello, old Saturday mornings with a Maine update!

Blueberry Bread Pudding

It is blueberry season here in Maine.

The month when I eat as many wild Maine blueberries as I can.

And then I freeze some to eat later.

I wrote a blog post all about Maine Blueberries: Wild About Maine (Wild) Blueberries.

Read it to learn what makes these blueberries so special — and so tasty!

In it I also shared recipes for some favorite blueberry treats — muffins, scones, pie, and cobbler.

But I had never made blueberry bread pudding until now. And, oh. my. gosh! One of the yummiest things I have ever made.

And I would say it qualifies as both a dessert and a breakfast! Eggs, bread, and fruit?? That is breakfast, right?

Here is the easy recipe!

You are welcome!

This Week Into Next

Welcome, August!

My favorite month of the year!

For one, it is my birthday month.

And Maddie’s and Cisco’s too. Did you know we all share a birthday?!

And also, I always think of August as vacation month. (How European of me!)

When I was growing up, I spent most of August with my sisters and cousins at my grandparents outside of Chicago. So many wonderful memories!

You can read all about those summers in my recent post: Cousins Reunion | Family Bonds, Cherished Memories, and Fun!

And then when my kids were young, we would always head out on vacation in August after summer swim team had ended. Such great memories of family time then too.

Now that the “kids” are grown, some with children of their own, it is time to make new August memories.

Next week they are all coming, and I can hardly wait! These are the days I look forward to all year long.

They will be here in various combinations, starting on Wednesday, for two weeks!

So, you might hear from me on here, but there is a good chance you won’t.

If not, have a wonderful month!

For the record, I will be enjoying summer well into September! I hope you can too!

Be well, friends!