Blog

If you primarily associate March in Maine with mud and the still real and present danger of snow squalls, you may want to recalibrate your thinking. Marking its fourth year of providing a late winter culinary pick-me-up, Maine Restaurant Week kicks off February 29th and runs through March 10^th, offering the perfect opportunity to cozy up and flirt with all of those restaurants with whom you keep meaning to make a date.

Restaurant Week is more than just a celebration of the depth and breadth of Maine’s fantastic food scene. The buzz it generates gives restaurants a much-needed boost by getting people excited about eating out during what can be a slow time of year. Plus, thousands of dollars have been raised for local non-profit organizations since the inaugural Maine Restaurant Week in 2009.

A list of participating restaurants is available at www.mainerestaurantweek.com.The list will continue to expand through March 1, 2012. At this point, over 70 restaurants throughout the state are confirmed for this year from towns including Portland, Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Auburn, Camden, Brunswick, Bangor and more. As in years past, the three-course dinners range in price from $20-$40 per person and some restaurants will be offering three-course lunches for $15. Restaurants also have the ability to identify vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options on their menus.

The Signature Event will launch Maine Restaurant Week on Wednesday evening, February 29th from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Portland Harbor Hotel, 468 Fore St., in Portland. This event will once again feature a People’s Choice competition for best cocktail and a People’s Choice competition for best dessert. New this year is the introduction of a professionally judged cocktail and a People’s Choice award for best table display. Tickets to The Signature Event start at $35.

The Incredible Breakfast Cook-off will take place Friday morning, March 9th at the Seadog Brewing Company, 125 Western Ave in South Portland, 7 am - 9 am. The Good Table, Cape Elizabeth, will return for the third year to defend its two-year title of People’s Choice winner with its decadent Crème Brulee French Toast.

For more information go to www.mainerestaurantweek.com.

Event tickets are available through www.mainerestaurantweek.com/events or www.brownpapertickets.com.

Stay informed through www.facebook.com/mainerestaurantweek and www.twitter.com/dineme.

Maine Restaurant Week is sponsored by the Swan Agency-Sotheby’s International, US Cellular, L.L. Bean, Down East Magazine, Shipyard Brewing Company, Native Maine Produce, Maine Today Media and Cumulus Radio.

Two weekends of magic and merriment in the Kennebunks help kick off the holiday season.

On October 1^st my mother and I had the honor and the pleasure to join Loryn Kipp and Finn Mcdonald in celebrating their lifetime commitment to each other.  We came to know Loryn and Finn when they were the innkeepers at the Captain Fairfield Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine just a block away from The Captain Jefferds Inn.

 I drove down River Road in Kennebunkport one day and this is what I saw!

It seems as though there is a compost pile under this tree where the owner has disposed of pumpkins in years past. The vines then climbed the tree, seemingly unassisted and now it seems as though we have our very own pumpkin tree. Authentic and so cool! Just a little confusing when I try to explain to the three year old I nanny for that pumpkins grow on a vine on the ground and all he sees is them growing on a tree!

When I moved here I thought I would desperately miss my proximity to all my favorite retail stores. I am by no means a shopaholic, if I had to pick between shopping or walking on the beach, the choice would be easy, sand over shopping any day. But let’s face it, there comes a time in every girl's (and guy's) life where they need or would like a new piece of clothing to spice up their wardrobe. Little did I know that this fabulous town I was moving to had everything I needed within walking distance!

Yesterday I had an hour break during nannying and I was able to walk into town, get a gorgeous vineyard vines top, cute white capris, and black peep toe heels for the next night’s charity event. The whole shopping experience was effortless and relaxing. Now it does help that I'm a local so I know Caroline who owns Green and Pink Tangerine and she knows exactly what I love, but regardless she is good at what she does. She knows clothes, she knows fashion, and she carries all the designers I could hope for! And to top that off, she’s nice, personable and has great taste!  At Port Shoe I didn’t know the girl that helped me personally but she too was knowledgeable, accommodating, and extremely friendly.

The Closet, in downtown Kennebunk is always advertising the new in-style jeans, along with great tops and dresses for a fun night out on the town. Zen and Company in lower village Kennebunk has the most comfortable dress, shirts and skirts anyone could ask for. Then there is Carla’s, a unique boutique with fine clothes for everyone, and where my mother got her “mother of the bride” outfit, which was fabulous by the way! For the men, it is more limited, but what man needs numerous options anyway! Green Tangerine carries the essential vineyard vines men's wear, Dock Square Clothier has a great men’s section and for the more sophisticated man, Kings Wharf always has something for an outing. Portmanteau also carries great weekend and sports outside gear for men and women!  The list can literally go on and on.

So whether you need a Kennebunkport memento or a fabulous outfit it's all within a short walk into town (or a quick car ride away if you want to go to Kennebunk) and the experience will always be enjoyable.

Memorial Day weekend was a gorgeous start to the Kennebunkport season. My mother and I went to the beach every day which, if you know us, isn’t exactly unusual, but this past weekend was the first time I put my feet in the water and it was a welcome relief to the sudden hot weather. We went to Gooches Beach in Kennebunk on Saturday and Sunday and it was full of children swimming and dogs frolicking. Until June 15^th dogs can go anytime so we have been trying to go at all times of day to take full advantage of it! After June 15^th it isn’t impossible, we have before 9:00am and after 5:00pm which during the busy season I prefer because then the beach isn’t as crowded. It is fun to give my four-legged ladies a mid-day romp though!

Monday it turned foggy so we ventured over to Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, which is a little less dog friendly but we figured due to the weather there wouldn’t be many people and we were right. The fog was coming in and at the end of our walk it had fully taken over. Although this certainly wasn’t the first time we had been to the beach when it was foggy, somehow it was still mesmerizing watching it roll in and we couldn't help but stop and take it all in.

Kennebunkport it slowly becoming green again! As I look out now, staring actually at the Captain Jefferds Inn I can finally see the vibrancy coming back from the dull colors of winter. The Inn’s tulips are blooming in the corner garden and my father has been busy planting in the flower beds and painting our new white fence. Captain Jefferds has been cleaned literally from the top to the bottom for our annual spring cleaning. Kennebunkport also seems to be tidying itself up, re-painting the streets, fixing sidewalks, and re-paving roads all in preparation for a soon to be great season in Maine!

Another new restaurant in lower village Kennebunk has opened, right over the bridge next to HB provisions; Ryan’s Pub is the new local hot spot. The owner is kind, with a true Irish accent, and the beer was cold and delicious. I tried Smithwicks for the first time and I can’t wait to go back for another pint! Dianna went with a friend and said the crab cakes were delicious! I’m eager to go back, but I just bought a new “Kate” car so I think my eating out days are numbered!

The Schooner Eleanor is back, docked at the Arundle Wharf Restaurant per usual and I can’t wait to start working. It will be my 6th year working there and the scenery never gets old. I recommend experiencing the Maine coast on this beautiful green-hulled boat for a two-hour sail. I get so excited when I see it back in the water!

It is official the old Manhattan room is now….the Wyeth room! Named after Andrew Wyeth, a famous Maine Artist, who I actually met when I was 9, fishing off a dock in Port Clyde! Congratulations Kelly and Jacob Tabor for coming up with the new name! The pictures below are just a glimpse of what this new room has to offer. Professional pictures will be posted later this spring!