Category Archives: Farm

10 Relentlessly Delicious Courses!

Last night was one of the most epic dinners to have been served at Flanagan’s Table, Maine’s premier wedding destination and hidden pop-up dining paradise. This particular bit of gastronomic excess was helmed by Maine’s own King of Yum, Jason Loring of Nosh and Slab , with help from a couple of Maine’s rising kitchen stars Thomas Pisha Duffly, and Cyle Reynolds.

Course after course seemed to effortlessly flow from the kitchen. What emerged were re-imagined renditions of Nosh classics: ham and cheese, chicken and waffles,poutine! These beautifully crafted full flavor courses surprised and delighted one after another. Pacing and size of each dish was spot on, leaving diners full but mostly capable of sampling each of the 10 courses without need for hospitalization from gastric overload.

It will be hard to top this meal, but for the charitably minded with deep pockets, there are still tickets available for Flanagan’s end of the year charity feast. The ticket price is steep but 100% of money raised goes to help feed hungry children. Tickets may be purchased here

Photos of a few of the many fine dishes sampled:

Poutine

Lamb Lolipop

Corn Friter

Hot Dog

Crab salad

Brisket

It’s not necessarily Maine and it is not dining out, but fall in New England makes me crave the slow simmered foods and root vegetables of my youth.

The following link takes you to a fantastic yet simple recipe for Brisket at one of my affiliated sites Food 52

Robert’s Maine Grill

I really enjoy Robert’s Maine Grill, for me it represents the traditional Maine Seafood restaurant remade using only the best local ingredients. This is particularly impressive located as they are in Kittery, a southern Maine town previously known for its factory outlet shopping and tourist trap restaurants.

It’s almost impossible for me not to stop here whenever I travel down or back from Boston. There focus on the freshest seafood and local farm raised ingredients just makes their food just burst with flavor. Most importantly when they say jumbo lobster roll they mean it. Below are some photos from a recent lunch time visit. As an added bonus during peak summer traffic they offer free valet parking for guests.

Jumbo Lobster Roll

Beer Battered Fish

Blueberry Pie

The view from the dining room.

Hugo’s: The Big Show!

More than a meal, more than a restaurant. Hugo’s is one of the most satisfying diner as art experiences to be found in Portland.

It begins with the space intimate but not small. Perfectly designed to be warm and bring comfort to diners weary from the outside world. Fulfilling this promise are the friendly and impeccably professional staff. Ask any employee the heritage of your tomato and chances are they will know! A special nod to our waiter Patrick I can’t imagine anyone being better at their chosen profession. These are people that know and love food and it shows!

The menu itself is a work of art. The dishes are always changing, but the innovative format remains. Divided into sections: Foraged and Farmed, From the Sea, Forest and Field. Mix and match or eat your way down a column. Either way you will experience amazing food and it is impossible to leave without both your tummy and spirit satisfied.