Food in Maine
by Molly
(Houston, TX)
Lobster Salad - Great Food in Maine!
What about the food in Maine, any vacation includes eating the local grown or produced food. What can you tell me about Maine eating?
Liz's Reply...
Hi Molly, I totally agree - eating locally grown or produced food is an important part of a vacation experience. And when you visit Maine, you will have MANY opportunities to do that.
For starters, there is the fresh Maine lobster (nearly everyone's favorite crustacean!). Have you eaten one before? If not, don't let yourself be intimated by its appearance. Lobster is much easier to eat than most people think.
My Maine lobster pictures and my tips on how to eat lobster are a good primer for anyone eating lobster for the first time.
Regardless of what time of year that you visit Maine, lobster will be available. However, summer into fall is the prime lobster season in Maine.
Where is the best Maine lobster?
Because lobster is so abundant in Maine (not only along the Maine coast, but inland also), you could probably ask 100 people and get 100 different responses.
The famous sea creature is on the menu (in one form or another) at many Maine restaurants, and even for sale "live" at roadside stands. The lobster is so celebrated in Maine, that it is honored by thousands of people at annual festivals...
...such as the Portland LobsterFest in June, the Rockland, Maine lobster festival and the Winter Harbor Lobster Festival, both held in August.
If lobster isn't your thing...
...how about other fresh Maine seafood from the Gulf of Maine?
Fried, baked, broiled or streamed haddock, clams, and scallops appear on nearly every Maine menu, or can be purchased fresh. Chowders, stews, bisques and many other Maine seafood recipes make good use of the local fishermen's catch.
What other food in Maine can you look forward to?
The Maine State Berry, the wild blueberry, is awesome! Fresh Maine blueberries are available throughout the state in farm stands and farmer's markets, as well as in grocery stores.
And, wherever your Maine travel takes you, there will likely be plenty of Maine blueberry jellies and jams, fresh Maine blueberry pies (the official Maine State Dessert) and blueberry muffins, blueberry syrup for your blueberry pancakes...
...and for a real thirst quencher - blueberry soda!
Also delicious are Maine strawberries. With the strawberry season beginning in June, strawberry picking is a fun family activity on a Maine vacation. These also are readily available for purchase at roadside stands and in local food stores.
And, for something really special (especially if you are traveling in Maine with kids)...
...you will want to sample the official Maine State "Treat" - the Maine Whoopie Pie. Claimed by some to have originated in Maine (although in 2011 there was a heated debate about this between Maine and Pennsylvania), round pieces of chocolate cake are held together with a luscious cream filling.
All throughout Maine...
...you will notice that eating Maine foods that have been locally grown and produced is of great importance to the locals. You will find this also characteristic of food that is served in many Maine restaurants - with a large number of Maine dining establishments serving not only food from Maine, but food organically grown.
Will you be on vacation near Portland, Maine?
I ask because Portland - Maine's largest city - has earned national recognition for many of its fine restaurants. Although there are award-winning Maine restaurants, all across the state...
...no one geographical area has as large of a concentration of them as this city. Portland has become a true "foodie" paradise with some of the best gourmet food in Maine!
If you enjoy the food in Maine, local store and restaurant owners would love for you to remember...
...gourmet food from Maine makes a great Maine food gift! Your purchase of Maine food items helps sustain local, hard working entrepreneurs throughout the long, cold Maine winter! If you are fortunate enough to bring home a fresh lobster...
...you may be interested in my Maine lobster recipes.
Bon Appetit!
Liz
