Foodie Heaven in Maine,
USA
Home to the most eastern point of
contiguous USA and famed for fresh seafood that is hauled in along its rugged
3,500 mile long coastline, a Maine road trip should be on every foodie’s wish
list. From visits to local farms, cracking open fresh lobster at a coastal shack,
food festivals and award-winning fine dining, Maine’s culinary scene is filled
with discoveries for visitors year-round.
Top lobster
dining experiences include sampling the state’s renowned Lobster Roll while
taking in mesmerising views of the water. Try the rustic Chauncey Creek Lobster
Pier in Kittery Point, family-owned McLoons Lobster Shack on Spruce Head Island
or the lively atmosphere at Portland Lobster Company, right on Portland’s
waterfront. Learn the ways of a Maine lobsterman first-hand and take your turn
hauling up the traps on a lobster boat excursion with The Lucky Catch, while taking in views
of picturesque lighthouses and historic civil war forts from the water. The Maine Lobster Festival is
among the state’s most notable events and has taken place in Rockport since
1947. This multi-day festival in late July/early August is rooted in local
tradition, with visitors getting a real sense of how life on the coast is
shaped today. Take part in harbour cruises, sample some of the 20,000 lbs. of
fresh lobster caught locally just hours before, attend a seafood cooking
contest, giant parade and International Great Crate Race.
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Maine is home to over 150 individual
family-owned oyster farms. The local cold, salty ocean waters are rich in
nutrients that oysters love, giving Maine oysters a crisp and briny, yet
buttery and sweet flavour. Take yourself on a self-guided road trip along the Maine Oyster Trail, which has 75
one-of-a-kind Maine oyster businesses to experience, from farm tours to raw
Oyster bars. Unforgettable experiences along the route include a personalised
guided sea kayak ecotour of Casco Bay with naturalist and local tour guide, Alice’s Adventures. Nauti Sisters Sea Farm is a
hands-on, aquaculture farm and ecotourism company in Yarmouth, owned and
operated by three sisters. Take a two-hour boat ride with their all-female crew
down the scenic Royal River to the working oyster farm, including an oyster
shucking experience.
From December to April, wild Atlantic sea
scallops can be harvested from state-regulated waters in the Gulf of Maine by
divers and mechanical draggers, with oversight by the Department of Marine
Resources. Since most of these scallops are harvested by boats that go out and
return on the same day, the term “dayboat scallops” is used. They can be found
just hours later at some of Maine’s finest restaurants during the season.
New restaurant openings worth travelling
for include Dry Dock in
Portland, serving up Fried Oyster Sliders to start, a raw seafood bar and mains
including Lobster Dinner and Fisherman’s Pie. Table Salt in Bar Harbor serves
up Bar Harbor Blonde oysters by the dozen, with Frutti Di Mare and Lobster Roll
as main options.
For more information, see:
www.visitmaine.com