Overdue: My trip to Portland, Maine
Hi folks! Excited for Episode 6 tomorrow? I know you are! In the mean time, I've been meaning to tell you about my trip to Portland, Maine, a town the Bon Appetite voted "America's Foodiest Small Town, 2009" - and it's only 5 hours away from New York. see pics and hear about my foodie travel after the jump!
Ben and I started our foodie vacation the way any
good road trip starts: with Egg McMuffins
I don't care what you say! A good road trip begins and ends with fast food in your car, and that's just that!
Hours later, after a lot of driving and a long nap at the Hotel, Ben and I strolled to dinner at Evangeline in Downtown Portland. Evangeline was fabulous: cozy restaruant with long wodden tables and a low key atmosphere. Ben, who always has to order the weirdest thing on the menu, had Crispy Calf's Brains Fritters as his first course, followed by Veal Sweetbreads. I was slightly less adventurous - I had a beet salad and Pork Belly
and it was AMMMAZZINGGGGGGGGGG. I can't even tell you how delicious this Pork Belly was. One of the best things I've ever eaten.
The next morning, we started at 158 Pickett St. in South Portland. It's famous for it's Bacon, egg and cheese on a homemade bagel. Of course, we had to oblige! The sandwich was delicious - really ooey gooey. I'm not sure what kind of cheese it was - but it was absolutely perfect with a poppy seed bagel. I would go back to Portland for this sandwich alone!
After breakfast, we needed a serious food break. So, we decided to take a walk around the park, and what did we happen upon? A farmer's market. But we didn't eat, just looked. Did you know Brussel Sprouts grow on stalks?
They do! Who knew?
After a few hours of shopping - we were finally ready for lunch. Ben insisted we lunch at Duckfat, a bistro known for their crispy french fries fried in, what else, DUCKFAT!
I feel like a traitor to my kind saying this, but these fries just about killed me. I think I only ate like 7 of them before I had to stop. Ben ate the rest, which is why we had to go back to the hotel for a 2 hour nap afterward. They were fabulous though, just very, very rich. For dipping, we ordered Truffle Ketchup, Horseradish Mayo, Sweet and Spicy Mustard and...Duck Gravy. Duck fat fries dipped in Duck gravy. I'm vomiting on my keyboard right...now.
After our long nap and a little more shopping (this trip was a major money suck) we ended up at Flatbread, a really huge pizza restaurant on the bay that uses organic ingredients and bakes their pizzas in a wood burning oven. Ben and I were still so done in from the days eating adventures that we had to split a small and forgo dessert. I know, shameful. But the small pizza was just the right amount. Pepperoni (with no nitrates) and sausage. Mucho delicioso.
That about sums it up. Lots and lots of eating, and everything was great. Not a bad bite the entire weekend...except maybe that Egg McMuffin.
Tags: Episode 6, Evangeline, Duckfat, Portland, Maine, 158 Pickett St., McDonalds, Egg McMuffin, Flatbread, pizza, french fries, egg sandwich