Red's Eats (Maine)

Red's in Wiscasset, Maine, has earned cult-like status with Lobstah roll lovahs. There is almost always a wait, so we saved it for our trip back to NYC.

Shrimp samples!

Kwame, ABF and I waited in line for about 40 minutes. Staff came by twice, first offering samples of their fried shrimp (so tasty!) and then bringing much-appreciated cups of icy-cold water.

We snagged a table in the corner and spread out our fabulous feast. It felt good to sit after just standing around all that time. (Did I mention there was a line?)
All that waiting in line had given us plenty of time to come up with our order plan. We ordered 3 lobster rolls, which come with butter or mayo. Kwame & I got butter, ABF got mayo. We also ordered a small batch of the fried shrimp (so easily swayed by samples are we!)

The rolls come with a well-publicized "more than one whole lobster"'s worth of meat, and I believe it! Every roll was overflowing with lobstah.

It was tasty, but not as tender as I'd like, sometimes a little too chewy. The drawn butter was unsalted, so not much flavor added there.

ABF also talked us (trust me: not difficult) into getting some fried zucchini. These were delicious,too--whatever they put in their breading is all right with me! Tender, soft-but-not-mushy zucchini, delicious dipped in anything, but especially their tartar sauce!

The shrimp? Also just as delicious as they were while we waited in line!

We also snagged dessert on our way out- ice cream for all! I had my favorite summer treat, black raspberry ice cream! So full and fruity and just one of my favorite things about summer.

Flat Stanleys pose with some black raspberry ice cream!

ABF got the eagle tracks, which was a chocolate ice cream with peanut butter cups in it. Wow, was this fabulous! (no pic--sorry!)

Kwame ordered two different flavors-- I can't remember which, but one was studded with chocolate chips, and they were both delicious!

While it wasn't the best lobster roll I ever had, our trip to Red's was still a fun and tasty experience. Waiting just once in that line, though, is enough for me! However, I can't say enough about how nice and welcoming the staff was. They were friendly, helpful, and just so nice. They are working under the gun for hours at a time, but it's clear that even all the fame and press Red's has earned hasn't made it snooty and stiff.

Red's Eats
41 Water St
Wiscasset, ME 04578
(207) 882-6128

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Boothbay Lobster Wharf (Maine)

That Sara's wedding didn't start until 3:30, so a small group of us took the 5 minute drive downtown to Boothbay Lobster Wharf, where we were determined to chow down on freshly-cooked Lobstah!

Imagine my delight to see the "triple delight" special: three 1 1/2 pound lobsters and two sides for--get this: 26.95. YES.

Okay, the sides are tiny. It's not even a quarter cup of potato salad and you had maybe half an ear of corn which the three of us split. Who cares?! Did you see that lobster? And the cup of drawn, salted butter? That is all I need!

We had the softshell lobsters, meaning there wasn't quite as much meat as a hardshell, but it was more tender. I've eaten a good amount of lobster my life, and this was hands-down the best lobster so far in this delicious thing called my life. (Best lobster roll of my life, Lincolnville, Maine, Summer 2006, in case you were wondering).

After we devoured our delicious, succulent, salty, buttery lobstahs, half of our group went back to prepare for the wedding. Kwame, ABF & I had a little more on our minds still. ABF ordered a lobster roll, which he thought we'd share with him.

 But something else caught my eye and Kwame's. Blueberry pie à la mode. Ohhh yeah!

 There are two places to order at the Lobster Wharf: the lobster/fresh seafood side, where you order and pickup your lobster, crabs and shellfish, and the to go window where you get, well, everything else. This is where we got a little backed up, and it took almost 30 minutes to get ABF's lobstah roll. But man, it was worth the wait. HUGE!

AMAZING lobstah roll!

Worth the wait!

Everything at Boothbay Lobster Wharf was beyond delicious, and the prices made our wallets as happy as our tastebuds. This is a MUST stop if you're even THINKING about going to Boothbay Harbor!

Lobster Wharf
97 Atlantic Ave
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
(207) 633-4900

McSeagull's (Maine)

A few days before that Sara's wedding, three of us (bride included) slipped away to Boothbay Harbor's downtown area for a quiet lunch on the water. We walked right into McSeagull's restaurant and took a seat on the outdoor deck. 

  McSeagull's menu is so crazy, unbelievably, astoundingly long, that our server had to come back to us three times before we made up our minds. The categories are little confusing, and some seem mildly similar to the others, so I felt a little lost. I'd condense that one a bit!
I still hadn't had my chowder that week, so I ordered a cup of it. It was creamy, had a nice tang from the white wine, which I loved and it was soothingly delicious.

I also had a glass of the Allagash White, a beer brewed in Portland. Beer and chowder, so far off to an excellent start!

I ordered broiled scallops which came with french fries. Okay, not all that healthy, but better than the all-fried seafood dish I considered for a hot second!

The outdoor seating is nice, the view is lovely, and it's a good starting point for the area. It wasn't melt-your-face-off delicious, but it was decent, and the outdoor seating kicks it up a notch or two for me. Post on my favorite meal on Boothbay coming soon!

McSeagull's Restaurant
14 Wharf St
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
(207) 380-3818

Luke's Lobster (roll with it!)

Next week is an exciting one-- my friend That Sara (of NYCNomNom) is getting married in Maine! I love Maine, and all of New England, so I'm very excited for the trip.

ABF & I decided to get into the New England spirit a little early last night and finally hit up Luke's Lobster, just a 2 minute walk from the R train (and his office!)

It's a small space, but it was practically empty so we got the big table and started with some Maine Root sodas (similar to the ones we had last year at Scratch)

L-R Shrimp, Lobstah, Crab

There was no hemming & hawing on what to order-- we both wanted the Noah's Ark ($38), which is 3 rolls split for 2 people: shrimp, crab, and of course, lobstah (Sodas, potato chips, and crunchy/salty pickle included)!

Cravetastic Crab

I love a good lobster roll, and I like them simple-- just a little drawn butter and naturally sweet lobstah on a grilled, buttered hot dog bun. That's it. Luke's sticks pretty close to this, adding their own spice blend as well, and letting you add as much Sriracha as you want (deeeeeeeeelicious on all rolls). I added a zing or two of it in alternating bites.
And yet, as much as I love a delicious lobstah roll, the crab roll totally stole the show!
Normally crab seems like WAY too much work for too little meat, but at Luke's, they do all the hard work for you! And they top their perfectly toasted, perfectly buttered rolls with an impressive, satisfying amount of filling.

Our rolls came out quickly, and the Noah's Ark platter was a great way to sample a few bites of each seafood flavor. Yum. As much as I loved the crab, I think I'd still go back for a taste of all 3. But next week, lobstah rolls in Maine! And Rhode Island! And Massachusetts!

Luke's Lobster
26 S William St
New York, NY 10004
(917) 882-7516

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Zapoteca (Portland, ME)

I know what you're thinking-- I thought it, too! Mexican food in Maine? YES. I'm a risk-taker sometimes, and this time it paid off so, so deliciously.

ABF & I found parking on a drizzly, dark night in downtown Portland. You might almost miss Zapoteca--it's on the fringe of the busy downtown area, but it looked warm, welcoming, and took our walk-in immediately!

I ordered a margarita.. A habañero-watermelon margarita ($10), thankyouverymuch. It had habañero-infused tequila, watermelon purée, agave nectar, a splash of lime juice, and orange liqueur. It was smashing...without getting me smashed! I only had one, but oh, I could see having a few of these quite easily! Smooth, perfectly balanced, with the watermelon and the hot pepper both noticeable and not overpowering each other. Even ABF was impressed.

ABF ordered a pint of the Allagash White, a take on a Belgian wheat beer by Portland-based Allagash Brewing Company. ABF really, really liked this beer-- we picked some up the next day to bring home.

To start: deliciously decadent Queso Fundido Con Champiñones (melted cheese with mushrooms- $12). It was a creamy, stringy pan of local jack cheese, mushrooms, and dark Mexican beer-- wow. They melt it all up in the fire-roasted wood oven and we could not get enough of this.

My entrée, the Relleno de Puerco (roasted poblano pepper stuffed with pork- $16). This was shut-my-mouth good. A tender, fire-roasted poblano pepper bursting with chorizo, pork tinga, and queso fresco, and covered with a tomato-habañero sauce. Oh that sauce. I'd put it on cereal if I could. A nice, building, intense heat that complemented the flavors without obliterating them in heat.

It came with a simple arugula salad drizzled with a slightly hot gaujillo-chili dressing, and creamy refried black beans. Solid dish all around, and while I couldn't eat it all, I probably ate a few bites more than I should have because it just tasted so wonderful.

ABF went with his go-to dish (and one of my favorites): Enchiladas Suizas De Pollo (chicken enchiladas in a tomatillo sauce- $17). This had succulent chicken, the same cheese as in our queso fundido, with a fabulous tomatillo sauce--zomg. Wood oven roasted enchiladas filled with tender chicken breast & local artisan jack cheese. Creamy fire-roasted tomatilla sauce, black beans & a little bit of that guajillo arugula salad.

We loved just about EVERYTHING about this spot-- the amazing, perfectly-turned out food, the service, the low-key atmosphere, and the fact that we could HEAR each other across the table (no deafening sound system, their music was audible without drowning out our words), and of course, the pitch-perfect margarita! Sure, it could be lit a little better (the lighting is a bit shadowy at night and made menu reading a bit of a challenge at times), but that's a small mark compared to all the excellence. And OH the food! This will be one of our first stops when we return to Portland.

Zapoteca

505 Fore St

Portland, ME 04101

(207) 772-8242

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Scratch Bakery: Sweets

The sandwiches at Scratch (oh lawd, the SANDWICHES) were so good that it was a while before we tucked into our desserts.

The smell of fresh baked goods will deliciously envelop you at Scratch. It took a bit of self-control not to BUY ALL THE FOODZ! We managed to dial it back and just get a few bites, but there are plenty of delicious offerings from mini-cakes to cookies, blondies, brownies and more.

We'd picked up some cookies (ABF loves a good cookie): a chocolate-chocolate chip and a ginger-spice one (I can't recall the exact name) and for me, some shortbread.

I am a sucker for a buttery, flaky shortbread. They had regular shortbread and sea salt shortbread-- which is what I ordered. Just 75 cents for a dense, heavy, flaky square of goodness!

My shortbread was good, but I think the salt took away from the wonderful, sweet butteriness (is that a word? it is now), so if when I go back I'll stick to the regular shortbread. Mmmm...melty.

There's so much more to try-- I need to go back for some tart key lime squares, almond horns, chocolate-drenched anything, and of course, more shortbread!!

Scratch Baking Company

416 Preble Street

South Portland, ME 04106

(207) 799-0668

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