Sunday, May 27, 2018

#49 Eat Lobster In Maine

I absolutely love lobster. It is such a treat to have. I enjoy it immensely and never take it for granted. Lobster makes everything better.

Lobster is the boom in a seafood biqsue.
Lobster is the mic drop in a baked macaroni and cheese.
Lobster is the bow chicka wow wow in a bowl of butter.
Lobster is the I'm sorry for party rocking in a toasted bun.
Lobster is Jesus in a Fra Diavalo.

The Porthole Portland Maine
Hello lover!
Lobster is simply amazing. It's one of the fruits of the sea. It is also an acquired taste. Most people either love it to pieces or loathe it completely. Obviously I happen to be on the "love it to pieces" side of the lobster spectrum. And this unrequited love for the quirky crustacean brought about a quest I just had to add to my Bucket List.  I needed to eat lobster in Maine.

Why Maine you ask?

Well for starters, Maine is known for their lobster. It is a huge commodity for the state of Maine and the commerce brings a lot of revenue to the state. I wanted to go directly to the source to try my favorite seafood item. The other selling point for me was the fact that numerous chefs, critics and restaurateurs I have admired over the years have often stated that Maine lobster is arguably the best lobster in the world.

Who was I to disagree with professionals? No one. I was no one to disagree. And while my original Bucket List goal was to attend the Maine Lobster Festival, after reading reviews of the festival and talking to people that have visited Maine, I adjusted my goal. I did not want to go to an over priced, over crowded festival to eat lobster. I wanted to savor fresh from the sea lobster at a shabby little restaurant on a wharf.

Thankfully, Maine is full of restaurants just like that. The hard part was not finding a restaurant. The hard part was deciding which ones to try. Luckily, I did not have to make any decision. One of my nearest and dearest friends, Becky, had moved to Maine and discovered the perfect restaurant to relish a genuine Maine Lobster Boil. But before I get to that, I am going to talk about the pre-game.

Lobster stands are a common site along the coast of Maine. 

Yes, we totally pre-gamed before partaking in the Lobster Boil.

The pre-game occurred at a little restaurant in Lewiston, Maine called Chick-a-dee's. On my visit to Maine, which is one of the most beautiful states in the USA, my lovely host Rebecca treated me to lunch. She had heard fabulous things about the Lobster Rolls at Chick-a-dees of Lewiston and wanted to see if I was down to try it. I absolutely was. Not only was the name of the restaurant really cute but she informed me that they served real lobster rolls.

And by real lobster roll I mean they served buttery lobster meat on a buttery, toasted bun. It was not lobster salad on a bun. Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoy lobster salad but I feel it is very deceptive when food trucks and food stands advertise that they are selling lobster rolls when in fact, they are selling lobster salad rolls.

I once paid $15 for a lobster roll on Martha's Vineyard and was handed a bun with lobster salad in it. To me, personally, that was not a lobster roll. They had tricked me. I was very hurt and cried a little but still ate it. Just kidding. I didn't cry. The lobster SALAD roll was delicious even though it was a fallacy, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just wasn't expecting lobster salad. Of course, the world does not revolve around me alone so I do understand that just like with any food recipe, there are different interpretations as to what constitutes a lobster roll.

Chick-a-dee's Lewiston Maine
So pretty and simple. Speaks volumes though.
But let's get back to the great state of Maine and a restaurant called Chick-a-dee's. This restaurant wasn't much to see from the outside. It reminded me of a little chalet. However the inside of the restaurant was another story completely. Pale wooden floors lined the quaint rooms of this restaurant. The walls were painted a gorgeous weathered grey while white trim and molding added a beautiful touch of class to the overall design. And while there was some artwork on the walls, it was very simple and uncluttered. The atmosphere of the restaurant felt beachy and serene.

Becky and I were seated in the dining room by a friendly waitress. Immediately we noticed a beautiful pallet board wall hanging of a dandelion, blowing in the wind across from our table. I commented that we both needed that wall art in our life. It was very symbolic for both of us. I have been scouring the interwebz for art like that ever since I saw the painting. Eventually I will find one I love and I will get two! One for me and one for Becks.

Our server asked if we were ready to order. We absolutely were. Becky was treating me to a Lobster Roll and Fries. My stomach was growling so loud I was positive our server heard it. I wasn't even embarrassed. I was ready for some lobster to get in my belly. And I did not have to wait long. Our server was back in no time setting two plates of heavenly goodness cuddled in a buttery bun in front of us.

The smile on my face was so huge as she set down the plates but there was also a curious glint in my eyes as I looked at my lobster roll. Becky explained to me that the lobster roll was comprised of all claw meat. She went on to say that the meat in the claw of the lobster is actually the best part of the crustacean. The claw meat is sweeter and more tender than any other part of the lobster.

Chick-a-dee's Lewiston Maine
Hurt me!

As I took my first bite of the delectable roll, I almost fell out of my seat and onto the floor. The incredible flavor of lobster claw meat bursting in my mouth was more than I could bare. Becky was 100% right. It was so delicious. And the bread was luscious. I must say, the bread in New England is very distinctive, especially lobster and shrimp roll buns. It's chewy yet light. The way they grill or toast it with butter gives is a very enticing flavor. It reminded me of bread grilled on an open flame but without getting all burnt. It just tasted so damned good.

The fresh cut fries were also incredible and the cole slaw was nice and creamy. We savored every single bite of our lobster rolls. I was so sad when it was over. Becky and I also discussed our trip to Portland that evening for even more lobster. I was one ecstatic gal. I was a total lobster junkie getting one hell of a fix that Friday back in August of 2017. It was a super day.

Portland Maine
Really cool store in Portland, Maine
So let's get to Portland, Maine. It's an amazing city. It reminded me of Pittsburgh in that it was a big city with a small town feel. The Old Port section, where we we were dining, was architecturally stunning. The aesthetic brick buildings each had their own endearing charm to them. Some had ornate window trimming. Some had colorful canopies flanking their entrances. Some had contrasting pops of color worked into their facade such as royal blue and hunter green.

The street lamps were reminiscent of cast iron railroad lamps and the perfectly lain brick sidewalks meandered around a wide variety of unique specialty shops, pubs and art galleries. Cobblestone streets with their antiquated charm blended perfectly with the European style that the Old Port provoked. I felt as if I were walking around the River Thames in old school London or a Scottish village along a seaport. It was so enthralling.


Some scenes from Downtown Portland, Maine

Portland Maine


The Old Port Portland Maine


The Old Port Portland Maine


The Old Port Portland Maine
Priorities people! Priorities!! 

The Old Port Portland Maine
A really cool fish market in Portland!

We made our way down a little side street near a fish market. I looked up at the sign hanging from one of the buildings. It was an old sign, definitely vintage. We had arrived at The Porthole. Not gonna lie, it was not much to see from the outside. I would even go so far as to say it was shady looking. Once you stepped inside though, it was anything but shady. It was a New England Lobster House.

The Porthole Portland Maine
Eating lobster in Maine baby! Couldn't have been more perfect than the Porthole!

Becks and I made our way through the restaurant to the giant outdoor deck. There were a lot of people milling about out there. Some were enjoying the bar and the band while others were in the dining area. While we waited for a picnic table to open for dining, we hung out by the water, observing the harbor.

Becky was admiring all the fishing vessels with their lobster traps stacked and ready to go for another day of fishing. I noticed there were lobster buoys set up everywhere in the wharf. I did not realize you could trap lobsters that close to land. I always thought you had to go deep into the sea to find them like the red crab fishermen had to do in the Deadliest Catch. Turns out, you can catch lobster right up to the coast.

The view from the deck of the Porthole. So awesome. 

The boats lined up for fishing in the AM. Wicked Pissah! (I have no idea what that means.)

Before too long, it was time to eat! As we were being seated at our picnic table I noticed I could no longer hear the band. We did not learn until we visited Boothbay the next day that many cities, towns and villages along the Maine coast have noise ordinances in place after a certain hour. Bands and such can only play music until a certain time of the night, usually 9 or 10 pm. We learned that the reverberation from the noise has a negative impact on lobster fishing. Too much noise = poor catches. Interesting.

By now the sky was dark and a chill was settling into the evening air. It felt so wonderful though. The smell of salt water, melted butter and boiled seafood wafting through the air was everything I had imagined Maine would smell like. Becky had already told our server to bring us two twin lobster bakes. You know what that meant? That meant there were going to be four lobsters at our picnic table. The anticipation was thrilling me to pieces.

Downeast Unfiltered Cider
So Damn Good!
I ordered a Hard Cider while we waited for our food. The cider was so delicious and crisp. It tasted like tart yet sweet apples. This delicious paradox was called Downeast Unfiltered. Unfortunately, as I would learn with most of the delicious food and beverages I enjoyed on my trip to Maine, you couldn't find this in Pennsylvania. Maine is probably the first place I have ever visited where I enjoyed every single thing I ate and drank immensely. There were zero disappointments.

Becky and I talked about lobsters and boats and all sorts of things while we waited for our food. Our server brought steel pails and lobster bibs to our table. Excitedly, I immediately put on my lobster bib. I wanted to make sure I was 100% ready for the lobsters when they arrived. I wanted to look nice for them. They were going to a good home in my belly where they would be appreciated.

When our server arrived with our plates I was so happy. I started clapping while oohing and ahhing over their perfection. I felt like royalty. The lobsters were huge and perfect and red. Did I mention they were whole lobsters? Well, they were. And there is a method to eating a whole lobster to ensure you get the most out of your lobster. Becky walked me through each step. It was serious business. I listed a diagram below on how to get the most out of your lobster.

How To Eat A Whole Lobster
How to get all the meat you can out of a whole lobster.

Really Cool Lobster Infographic. 

I am so ready!!

One important thing the diagram did not mention that Becky did explain to me is that it is when separating the tail from the body, there will be some water in the crustacean. It is best to hold the tail and body over your pail and allow the water drain into the bucket rather than all over your plate. It's also a good reason to wear a bib as the lobster is juicy and messy.

And that is one of my most favorite parts of eating seafood boils. You can be a sloppy mess and it is totally acceptable. Anyone that has ever seen me eat knows that at some point I am eventually going to be wearing my food. It may be in my hair, all over my face, on my shirt, in my lap, or splattered on my shoes. Just know, it is going to happen. It's inevitable.

And eating food with your hands is so primal and fun. There is a sexiness about it. You can be a total mess, licking your fingers, shoving potatoes and seafood in your mouth while butter runs down your chin and juice streams down your arms and it is perfectly okay. You look around the restaurant at the fellow savages chowing down, and nod and smile at your neighboring diners. It's great stuff. Really, it is.

My Boyz! 


Thanks for the memories!

Becky and I were having a blast enjoying our lobsters. I cut my lip twice sucking the meat out of the little lobster legs. I embraced the pain. It was for a good cause. That cause was lobster consumption. Once again, I savored the sweet, tender claw meat from the giant lobster claws. It was so heavenly. And as much as I was enjoying my meal, I did find myself a little sad. This lobster was too good. It was too fresh.

The lobsters on my plate were not previously frozen. They were not sitting in a tank for days. The lobsters on my plate were sitting at the bottom of the ocean that very morning. You can't get much fresher than that. I knew having lobster that fresh would ultimately change the way I looked at lobster. Lobster this fresh was not abundant in Pennsylvania.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of restaurants that sell very delicious lobster dishes in Pennsylvania but those lobsters more than likely were not in the ocean just hours before. Now, as wonderful a lobster meal as I may get back home, it will ultimately pale in comparison to what I was enjoying at that very moment on the deck of a harbor at a fresh seafood restaurant on the Atlantic coast in Portland Maine.

This was a profound moment indeed.

As we finished our delicious meal, I took a moment to really take everything in. Just 3 months prior I was on another adventure. I was looking out into the Atlantic Ocean, sampling conch and key lime pie with my beloved kiddos in Key West, Florida, the East Coast's most southern state. And now, 3 months later I was on another adventure. Once again I was on the Atlantic, enjoying lobster and Maine wild blueberry ice cream with one of my nearest and dearest friends in Portland, Maine, the East Coast's most northern state.

I opened the 2017 warm weather season in Florida and was closing the 2017 warm weather season in Maine. I had never had two major trips like this in one year. This was such an epic moment for me. And it's these amazing moments, these unforgettable adventures spent experiencing the culture and lifestyle of another place, with people so close to my heart, that remind me just how wonderful of a life I do have. For every bad day and blah day I have made it through, there is always an amazing day, like today, waiting for me to experience as well.

I think this is the perfect way to close this blog entry. No other words need to be written.


Chrissy




Listed below are some links and photos of more amazing food I enjoyed in Maine as well as some groovy info on lobsters.












Gritty McDuff's
Haddock Reuben from Gritty McDuff's was outstanding! 

Gritty McDuff's
Shawn's Blue Solo Cup and Melly's Mojo-jito


Incredibly delicious Shrimp Po Boy from The Fisherman's Wharf, Boothbay Harbor

Stone Fox Creamery
Maine Wild Blueberry Ice Cream from Stone Fox Creamery.
The best ice cream I have ever had in my life!
Ok. Buh-bye for now!




















Sunday, May 6, 2018

#508 Write Your Name In The Sand

Ahhhh! The Beach. Some people love it. Some people hate it.

I'm not gonna lie, up until maybe 8 years ago, I could care less if I made it to a beach or not. I didn't hate the beach, not at all, but it wasn't something I seriously yearned for like so many others do. If I had an opportunity to visit the beach, of course I enjoyed it. I enjoy all opportunities afforded to me. However now, I do find myself craving some beach time every year.

So, let's get to the purpose of this story. Let's talk about how cathartic it is to write your name in the sand. To many, this may seem like a silly Bucket List goal to have. It is a very simple one. Why would I add something so mundane to my list? I will explain why I added something so mundane to my Bucket List.

I added this mundane thing to my list because it is not at all mundane to me. Like I mentioned above, up until 8 years ago I didn't crave quality beach time like I do now. My love affair with the beach came about unexpectedly. You see, I have actually done some hard time in my life. No, I am not talking about prison, I am talking about the things life throws at me. Some of those things are very trying. Sometimes life hits me so hard that it actually hurts physically, while leaving scars and bruises and fissures along my soul.

It's part of being human. We have all felt that kind of blow at least once in our life. We all have scars and sad stories.


There comes a time though, if we are so lucky, that we hit mid life. ( I hate calling it middle age. It reminds me of bad British history. ) And, a significant part of hitting mid life is becoming cognizant of the culmination of everything you have experienced thus far in life, both good and bad. This day of reckoning hits you out of nowhere and the thoughts become resident in your mind. The culmination of life experiences often takes a toll on many of us by mid life.

Life doesn't always turn out as planned. Some of it is a complete blessing, while some of it can be seriously depressing. We all feel it in some aspect or another. It's a normal part of the whole aging process. And through it all, many of us remain strong in life. We may be tired and exhausted but we are still strong and resilient. I think the thing that separates the warriors from the rest of the pack is being honest with oneself. Knowing your limits, realizing when you need to step away for a few and recognizing your outlets for restoring and recharging your batteries are things warriors take seriously.

There is no benefit to pushing yourself too hard all of the time. You must take time for yourself, even if it is for a few moments. You have too. Sure, it's better to burn out then fade away, but do you wanna burn out in your 30's, 40's and 50's? Doubt it. I don't want to burn out in my 60's or 70's either.

8 years ago I was 36. I had more than my fair share of blessings and curses in my 36 years. Pondering life and reflecting on what I accomplished, figuring out what goals were still important to me and accepting that some of my goals would not be attained was part of the mid life "process" I was going through. Again, most of us go through it in our own way.

This pondering can cause clarity, focus, and determination but on the flip side it can also cause stress, anxiety and depression. Everything has a price tag attached to it. Some of those price tags have a cash value. Some of them have a time value. Some of them require you to compromise a part of your life. You have to figure out what you can and can not afford. You have to figure out what your are willing to spend and what you are willing to do without. Time is ticking louder and louder by the minute and hour.

So, there I was, at the beach thinking of all this mid life stuff, yet again. This stuff consumes me sometimes. I can and will admit that. Most days my mid life haunting is minor but some days it eats me alive. I know the stress and anxiety from "thinking and living" has taken years off my life. It is what it is. I have no choice but to accept that. But, I can still try to get some of those years back.

Anyways, it was at the beach 8 years ago where I realized I was feeling alright while thinking about all these things. I felt contented and strong. Eventually I stopped thinking and focused on enjoying the beauty around me. It dawned on me that there was so much surrounding me that was revitalizing and recharging my being.

The salty air was doing wonders for my breathing, my skin and my hair. The warm, soft sand under my feet was soothing 36 years of walking this earth. The sound of the waves crashing against the beach, all frothy and wild, was like a grown up lullaby for my racing mind. Wadding in the salty waters, allowing the waves to roll up on my calves, relieved 36 years of tension. I had discovered the beach was an incredible outlet for my crazy soul.

So, I wrote my name in the sand. I left a part of me on that sandy beach to be washed away with the tide, just like my worries. It was a lot of fun too. Something so simple, like writing in the sand, made something so complex, like my brain, feel so much better. Now, every time I visit a beach, I try to leave my mark in some written form. Sometimes it is my name, sometimes it is a date, and sometimes it is just a word I am feeling. And whether my mark gets washed away with the salty water, dusted away by the summer wind, or trodden upon by the fellow beach lover, the therapy of it all does not change.




I am now one of those fellow beach lovers who yearns for some quality time with one of natures most healing miracles. And sometimes I graffiti it with a stick. Cuz, that's how I roll. I'm bad ass and relaxed!


Chrissy






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