Maine Gastronomy

Well, another visit to Maine has come and gone. We just celebrated New Years there, late.

We began our trip in earnest December 30, up early to shower and dress, that is until the phone rang at 4:45 a.m. No good can come from a call before 5 in the morning (unless it announces the birth of a baby, or a windfall lottery ticket).

Jet Blue's recording informed us that our connecting flight to Portland had been cancelled. After almost two hours on hold it was clear there would be no fireworks at L.L. Bean, no walks through snow covered streets, no fireside dinner at our favorite inn, to usher in 2011. And our carefully orchestrated food tour (a nod to the Food Network and the Travel Channel) would have to wait.

It would be selfishly reprehensible for us to complain. After all we were in the warm shelter of our home, while many holiday travelers were still stranded in airports, or shivering in cars on unplowed streets. As appreciative as we were, we could not help but feel disappointment over this missed opportunity. Unable to make our annual autumn visit, we were more than excited to enjoy a winter holiday in the snow. Preparation went way beyond packing. We upped our exercise regimen; fighting form was required for our culinary tour of Maine's gastronomic fare. A hearty breakfast at the Harraseeket Inn would prepare us for our excursion south and a stop in Wells for lobster pie at the Maine Diner. We would continue our scenic drive through Kennebunkport, and perhaps share a lobster roll at Allison's, the runner up on Food Wars. Once back in Freeport we might have to sample a pie at Wicked Whoopies, where Paula Dean's boys made a visit, chased down with afternoon tea at the inn.

But, as often happens with the best laid plans this was not to be. However, through sheer determination we rebooked, repacked, and with our belts on the last notch, we arrived to ring in the New Year, a few weeks late, and a few pounds lighter. Which was really a good thing, because after all the eating, I am praying my zipper will stay up, at least until we board the plane for home!