Live the Live ™

Every summer, I try to grab a few free days and drive up the Maine coast. It’s only a few hours from my home in Rhode Island, but it’s a different world. People are friendlier, life is slower, the fresh seafood is astounding, and it’s just damn beautiful.

On the way up, my daughter and I made a quick stop, right off the highway in Portland, for some Colombian street food at Maiz. The arepas were overflowing with goodies, and we enjoyed every bite.

Our first overnight stop is usually Boothbay Harbor, because we love the quaintness of that little town, and my sister lives not too far away in Newcastle. Of course, I also love Boothbay Harbor because it’s the home of one of my favorite restaurants, Mine Oyster.

It’s nuthin’ fancy, but they have a massive menu, and I go there for one thing, and one thing only: the incredible fresh-off-the-boat tuna they always serve up. Sushi chef, Taka, is a master, and the specialty roles they have are like no other place I’ve ever been. I spent two nights in Boothbay Harbor, and both nights I dined at Mine Oyster. I just couldn’t get enough.

We did explore the area, however, and another favorite stop was Deb’s Bristol Diner, in Bristol, Maine. My daughter and I have been there several times before and the food is just terrific, as long as you’re willing to wait in line. No reservations here, but once you take a bite of the food, you don’t care anymore.

I dropped my daughter off at New Harbor, where she took the Hardy Boat, the ferry to Mohegan Island, and I headed back to Boothbay, stopping at Glidden Point Oyster Farm. I’ve passed this property before, but they’ve always been closed. This time, I got to shuck my own oysters and sip on some Maine-made rhubarb wine.

Some of my other favorite stops for food in Boothbay Harbor include Ports of Italy for, what else, Italian. The Red Cup Coffeehouse to get the day started with some caffeine and a bagel. Pier 1 Pizza and Pub for that nice slice. And the Downeast Ice Cream Factory for something sweet at the end of the day.

Somewhere in all these travels, on the outskirts of Boothbay, my attention was drawn by a sign at Karen‘s Hideaway, which boasted a “big sexy crab roll.” Naturally, my curiosity was piqued, and what I got was a hefty serving of freshly caught Maine Jonah crab, tossed in mayo, and served on a toasted bun with strips bacon under the crab. Bacon instead of lettuce? That is damn sexy!

I headed North on Route 1 from Boothbay to Rockport, Maine, my next destination.

I had time for a bite for lunch, and no place in this area is better for lobster than McLoon’s Lobster Shack on Spruce Head Island.

I had discovered McLoon’s years ago, back before it seemed the rest of Maine had discovered it. Now, the place is jammin’, but the quality of their lobster rolls remains the same: excellent!

I had intended to go to Primo, a James Beard award-winning restaurant that is one of my all-time favorites. But my overnight accommodations at the East Wind Inn in Tenants Harbor was further away from the restaurant than I thought, somehow, and rather than drinking and driving, I decided to stay at the inn and sample some of their food and drink in their basement bar, known as the Quarry Tavern. I wasn’t disappointed.

I sat at the bar, which only seats five people, and enjoyed a Caesar salad and a main course of beautifully prepared beef short ribs.

It was a nice break from all the seafood that I had gorged on for the last two days. (I also knew that I was going to be eating more seafood the following day, when I headed to Portland.) It was a good move on my part. I had a few cocktails, and all I needed to do was walk back to my room at the end of the night.

The next morning, I enjoyed a fabulous free Eggs Benny breakfast at the inn’s Harborview Bistro – – part of the deal when you get a room – – and then I hit the road, heading south toward Portland (and home), where another full day of feasting would begin.

That’ll be next time.