Category: Food & Drink

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#atozchallenge | M is for the Maine Diner

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We have a permitted driver in our house and, per Maine law, she needs to drive seventy hours with a licensed driver before she can take her driver’s license test. Seventy seems like an easy enough number, but it’s painfully difficult to get to when juggling the rest of life’s demands. We tried to wing it for a while, but six months in and with less than thirty hours logged on the driving sheet, we knew we had to get more serious about finding time for her to drive.

My husband started taking her out on longer weekend drives. They pick a diner, or other lunch spot, that is about an hour and a half away. She drives there and back, gets 3 hours on her driving log, and they get to try a new place. They usually head up north, somewhere along the coast.

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#atozchallege | L is for Lobster with a View

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Lobster is my favorite food. Probably not a surprise for a girl from Maine although it’s not loved by all Mainers – honestly. I have a childhood friend who won’t touch it. But, for me, it’s my favorite and I thoroughly enjoy it. One of the first comments that my future mother-in-law made about me after meeting me for the first time was, “She really knows how to eat a lobster.”  It’s true. I do.

Usually, we’ll eat lobster at home. There are some advantages to eating it at home. (1) It’s easy enough to prepare; (2) You can get as messy as you want; and (3) It’s cheaper. We always do a least a few clam bakes over the summer. But, sometimes, it’s nice to go out for lobster too.

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#atozchallenge | G is for Gelato Fiasco

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I was appalled to learn that Maine did not make it onto the list of top ten states for ice cream consumption according to the Huffington Post article “Ice Cream Cities: Which Ones Eat the Most”. It confuses me because in the Old Port alone, there are four ice cream stores and two Gelato stores. In roughly a six block radius, you have six places to get frozen treats. That’s one every block!

Maybe I’m taking it too personally, because certainly I feel that I do my part to move us up in the standings. I usually go for ice cream, but was intrigued by the amazing flavors of Gelato that are carried by Gelato Fiasco. I did a little internet research on them and loved that they had strong Maine roots. I was also impressed with the fact that they use locally sourced milk. We decided to head up to their flagship store in Brunswick to check out some Gelato.

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Holy Donut

#atozchallenge | D is for Maine Potato Donuts from The Holy Donut

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You would never know by the number of times I go through the Dunkin Donuts drive through in a week, but my love affair with donuts ended a while ago. It was no ones fault. We just grew apart. People, and taste buds, can change.

Being from Maine, I still feel obligated to support Dunkin Donuts, so even though I have no interest in donuts anymore, I go there regularly. They have other menu options. They’ve also won my loyalty because they will actually give me an extra-large cup of ice water when I ask for it. I think I pay for the cup, but I’m good with that arrangement especially since I’m relegated to small, sometimes kid sized, cups at most other chains. Having given up soda a few years ago, I need my water to be extra-large.

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Alex Pizza

#atozchallenge | A is for Pizza by Alex

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All couples have their differences, but one of the biggest strains on my marriage was when my husband admitted that he didn’t like Alex Pizza. I’m not sure I’ve fully accepted it, and on rare occasion he’ll humor me and join me for a pie, although usually he’ll mumble a few sarcastic comments and skip the pizza. And, since the menu has only one option, Greek-style pizza, there’s not a lot of other choices for him.

Fortunately, I have a long list of family and friends who are willing to accompany me to Alex Pizza. It’s usually the first stop we make when friends return home for a visit. Just last month, my girlfriend, who had flown in from Seattle, and I stopped by Alex for lunch on the way home from the airport. I had eaten a large brunch only an hour earlier, but was happy to keep her company while she enjoyed her pizza. Of course, once we stopped in, hungry or not, I ordered a pizza anyway. I did refrain from eating the whole pie which at least proves I showed some restraint. But, what would you expect? It’s Alex Pizza!

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