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.
 |
| Hello lover! |
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.
 |
| So pretty and simple. Speaks volumes though. |
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.
 |
| 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.
 |
| Really cool store in Portland, Maine |
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
 |
 |
| Priorities people! Priorities!! |
 |
| 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.
 |
| 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.
 |
| So Damn Good! |
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 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.
 |
| Haddock Reuben from Gritty McDuff's was outstanding! |
 |
| Shawn's Blue Solo Cup and Melly's Mojo-jito |
 |
| Incredibly delicious Shrimp Po Boy from The Fisherman's Wharf, Boothbay Harbor |
 |
| 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! |
