Feast on Farm-to-Table, Boat-to-Basket Bliss

Few places in America can rival the lively food scene that’s taking place today in Maine. By now, most people have heard of the big hitters in the foodie world like Primo and The Lost Kitchen. But, new chefs and a focus on farm-to-table, boat-to-basket fare have the MidCoast teeming with great restaurants. Here are a few you don’t want to miss.

 

 

Rustic Excitement at the River’s Edge

River House – Damariscotta

With its snug, pub-like dining room and small open kitchen, you may not know what to expect at the River House. But, the waiting lists and the need to make reservations are good, first clues. Overlooking the Damariscotta River, the chefs at the River House are turning out exceptional, uncomplicated dishes with foods from their own farm and from farmers and fisherman who live nearby. The restaurant follows a values-based approach to its operations – using solar panels on their farm for electricity, burning their own wood in the grill, and making the most of recycling and careful management. (Flat iron steak is pictured above. Jonny cakes, with salmon and tartare, and miso creme fraiche is shown at the top of the page.)

 

 

Local Goes International

The Hoot – Northport

Photo by K. Melissa Waterman

One look at The Hoot’s brunch menu and you’ll know that the restaurant’s “locally-sourced and internationally inspired” mission is a big understatement. Thai Shrimp Cakes. Ropa Vieja Sandwich. North African Green Shakshuka. Italian Omelet. Right?! And, most of the produce, organic vegetable and herbs, and pasture-raised meats come from the restaurant’s own farms just a few miles away. The Hoot also relies on other local farms and fishermen to round out their menus. The restaurant sits by itself on Route 1 just south of Belfast. It might be easy to miss, but you definitely don’t want to.

 

 

The Train Stop for Inspired Dining

Noble Kitchen – Brunswick

Take the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston to its Brunswick Station and you’ll be just two blocks from the renown Noble Kitchen. Relying on contemporary cooking techniques, Noble’s chefs create dishes that honor the fresh, sustainable foods from nearby family farms. Enjoy the large outdoor patio or the inviting dining room for cool evenings. The Noble Kitchen is located in the stylish Brunswick Hotel, so If you take the Downeaster, reserve a room, and on the following day, take a walking tour to enjoy the shops and sights of Brunswick. (Sesame glazed true north salmon shown above.)

 

 

Dining Rivaled Only by the View

BLUE– Georgetown

Photo courtesy BLUE Restaurant at Grey Havens Inn

When making reservations for BLUE, plan on arriving early for a view you won’t forget. From the magnificent, covered porch of the 1904 shingle-style, Gray Havens Inn, you’ll find stunning vistas of the oceans, tree-cover islands, and distant lighthouses. It’s a timeless setting that is everything you imagine Maine should be. Enjoy a coastal cocktail from the Bar at BLUE and then treat yourself to the menu and dishes that rival the ocean outside. Chef Esau Crosby works closely with local fishermen, farmers, and gardeners to find seasonally-inspired foods that are both familiar and innovative. (Frutti di mare shown above.)

 

 

Mediterranean meets Maine

Nina June – Rockport

The deck behind Nina June is one of the most sought-after dining spots in the MidCoast. Located on hilly, Central Street in Rockport, the deck boasts a high view of Rockport harbor and Indian Island Lighthouse in the distance. Nina June is passionate work of chef and cookbook author, Sara Jenkins. Born in nearby Camden, she was raised in Italy, Spain, and Lebanon and eventually ran the restaurants, Porchetta and Porsena, New York’s East Village. The menu has a Mediterranean spin based on locally-sourced seafood and produce. (Pictured is Chef Sara Jenkins serving Citrus Oyster Salad.)

 

 

The Star of Oyster Raw-Bars

Shuck Station  – Newcastle

One of Maine’s best known oyster bars sits just one block away from the Damariscotta River. The river is world famous for its cold, clean waters and its history of oyster gathering dating back over 2200 years. Choose one of the covered picnic tables and settle in for the finest oysters on the planet – including varieties from Glidden Point, Moondancers, Otter Cove, and Blackstone Point. For a sublime lunch or dinner, try one of Shuck Station’s river-themed cocktails such as the “Kelptini” (pictured above) – a salty, sea-forward martini made with kelp vodka, olive brine, and a nori garnish.

 

 

The Outdoor Charcuterie

The Rooting Pig – Bristol

Located on the Pemaquid Peninsula, The Rooting Pig is a unique open-air culinary and charcuterie experience. As a recent addition to 30-acre, densely forested, Broad Arrow Farm, the charcuterie offers large and small boards paired with local cheeses, vegetables, herbs, wines, ciders and craft beers. The farm uses only organic agricultural methods and avoids herbicides and pesticides of any kind. For a memorable lunch, pre-dinner appetizer, or a light nosh, plan your route to The Rooting Pig.

 

 

Italian ‘Sperimentale e Tradiizionale’

40 Paper Bistro & Bar – Camden

Located in the historic Knox Woolen Mill built over the Megunticook river in downtown Camden, 40 Paper is beloved for its contradictory approach to Italian dishes. The menu offers both experimental and traditional dishes – many of them influenced by other foods from Spain, France, surrounding Mediterranean countries. The dining room is warm and intimate, while the spacious bar is one of the most popular in the area. Loud and quiet. Romantic and casual. Experimental and Traditional. You have so many choices at 40 Paper! (Grilled octopus, potato, sun dried tomato, capers, celery shown above.)

 

 

Organic Pizza, Craft Brew, RV Nirvana

Boothbay Craft Brewery – Boothbay

For anyone who loves to travel by RV and stay on their own schedule, Boothbay Craft Brewery offers a farm-to-table food and craft brewery nirvana. With accommodations and full services for a dozen campers, the brewery grounds are a relaxed and entertaining space. The Watershed Tavern relies on local farmers and oyster-harvesters for many of their best-known dishes. Among the menu standouts are their organic, 12” wood-fired pizzas with amazingly fresh toppings. On Saturdays, “Brother Shucker Oysters” from Wiscasset, shuck fresh, raw oysters all day long until sellout.

 

 

Italian Inspired by Local Farms

Enoteca Athena – Brunswick

For Chef, Tim O’Brien, the best things in life are Italian and little bit American. The seasonal menu at Enoteca Athena features inexpensive, rustic foods that highlight lesser-known, regional Italian foods, plus other Italian dishes with notable American influences. Open now for a decade in Brunswick, the restaurant buys it foods from over 25 Maine farms and seafood markets. Located in downtown Brunswick, Enoteca Athena is a welcoming place for a few glasses of wine, good conversation, and creative, Italian-inspired food. (Bruschette with maple mascarpone and roasted butternut squash shown above.)