Ogunquit, Maine: A Family Dinner

I've been having a really hard time getting back into the routine of things.  After spending seven wonderful days in Ogunquit, Maine and then relaxing during the long weekend back at home, I haven't felt motivated to blog about much.  My empty kitchen fridge isn't exactly giving me inspiration either.  Bret and I both totally lazily ordered takeout from our favorite Billy Tse's last night instead of going grocery shopping.

However, I did want to share one meal that Bret and I cooked while we were up in Ogunquit.  Since it was a family vacation, we found ourselves eating out a lot.  Since everyone wanted a few nights to just take it easy at home, each couple (Bret's parents, his sister and brother-in-law, and us) volunteered to cook one meal.  Since Bret and I don't have a grill and thus don't grill often, we wanted to cook something that we could use the beach house's grill with.  After our trip to Stonewall Kitchen, Bret and I hit up York's Hannaford and the Meat House (which I still haven't visited locally) and found the ingredients for our family dinner.

Despite it being a really hot evening, we turned on the oven and the grill.  We were pretty happy with our little family feast.

First up, we beer-poached three different kinds of sausages that we picked up from the Meat House - sweet Italian, spicy Italian and chicken sun-dried tomato.  Once the sausages were cooked through, we threw them on the grill to get nice and crispy outside.

I grilled some red, yellow and green peppers, along with some cubanelle peppers and onions.  Once the vegetables had some nice grill marks, I sliced them up, threw them in the pan used to poach the sausages and sauteed it in the beer and sausage juices.  I really think that grilling vegetables brings out a deeper flavor in vegetables.

Our sausage, peppers and onions were served with fresh crusty sausage rolls from Hannaford.  We had a regular yellow mustard, along with Stonewall Kitchen's roasted garlic mustard.

We served two sides with the sausages.  The first was a salad using the ingredients that Bret's sister brought up from her CSA share.  We used her lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber.  We also topped the salad with sliced almonds and a chopped apple from our own farmers' market delivery.  Bret's mom brought a light Italian and a light Caesar dressing but Bret and I also couldn't resist purchasing Stonewall Kitchen's maple balsamic dressing - yum!

We also braved the old-fashioned oven and attempted to make sweet potato fries.  These actually came out pretty good except that some of the fries were a bit more charred than others.

We had many, many beers with and after dinner.  Nothing goes better with sausages than beer, right?  It wasn't the most extravagant meal but it had a lot of nice flavors and I was happy when everyone took a second helping!

Just when Bret's family thought that dinner was over, they were surprised when we also brought out dessert.  I baked chocolate chip cookies in the afternoon and after they were fully cooled, I added vanilla ice cream, wrapped them up and threw them in the freezer.  Ice cream sandwiches on a hot summer evening makes everyone happy, especially Bret's nephew!

I'm hoping to get back to my regular blog posts as I get back into the swing of things so bear with me!  I don't know why but it really has been hard for me to sit down and write after so many days of really unplugging myself at the beach.

What do you do to find your creative inspiration?

A Meal to Remember: Arrows Restaurant

Before heading up to Ogunquit, Bret and I did a lot of research on which restaurants we wanted to check out.  We looked online, got recommendations from our friends and fellow food bloggers, and even asked some locals once we got here.  One restaurant was named over and over again - Arrows Restaurant.  There is no way to even begin describing Arrows' long list of awards and accolades.  When the chefs are named Best Chefs in the Northeast by the James Beard Foundation, you can't help but get excited.  But what I really was looking forward to was checking out their famous garden, which is right outside the restaurant.  This garden supplies virtually all of the specialty produce for the restaurant and this is truly local food at its best.

After making reservations well over a month in advance, our date night finally arrived on Wednesday and we headed off to Arrows. 

Even though we had an early 6 PM reservation, I insisted that we get there early so that I could stroll around and take photos.  We were greeted in the parking lot by a server who had an amuse bouche of a cucumber and olive oil gazpacho.  Bret and I were both completely surprised by this but we welcomed the gazpacho as it was a hot summer evening!  Normally I'm not a fan of gazpacho but the cucumber flavor was so refreshing that I wanted more than just a small taste!

We had some time to kill before our reservation so we wandered around the garden and I nearly swooned.  This was so beautiful and I loved knowing where many of my meal's ingredients would be coming from.  I have to share some pictures with you:

We finally entered the restaurant and I was in love with the gorgeous decor in the dining room.

Bret and I were seated at a wonderful table overlooking the flower garden.  The table setting was simple but incredibly romantic.

We perused the menu and decided to splurge on the ten-course indulgence menu.  Since we weren't sure what the plates would be, Bret and I decided to meet in the middle with a bottle of rose.  Armed with the most efficient, considerate, and wonderful servers, our ten-course dining journey began.

We began the evening with their delicious garlic bread rolls.  The garlic aroma was so strong and I happily took in a huge whiff when our server approached us with the bread basket.

Our first course included two delicious Dodge Cove oysters deep fried with smoked pepper relish, house-cured bacon bits and fried sage.  The oysters had a nice crispy cornmeal-fried crust and the oyster itself was so succulent.  The bacon added a nice element to the smokey pepper relish and the fried sage added a nice crispy touch. 

Then we were onto the Arrows' "non traditional" Peking duck with tender duck breast, crispy duck skin, fried leeks, hoisin sauces, mini steamed bun, scallions, pickles, poached ginger and boiled peanuts.  The presentation was absolutely stunning and I adored that they set a pair of chopsticks with this slate dish.

Our third course was a salad of fresh garden tomatoes with fried basil-shallot salad atop a tamarind vinaigrette.  The tomatoes were so plump and juicy.  There were three kinds of basil in this salad but what stood out to me were the citrus notes of the lemon basil.  I will definitely be learning more about lemon basil when I get home! And of course the crispy shallots added a nice level of crunch to this dish. 

We moved onto some lobster, which was served two ways.  The first was a grilled Maine lobster tail and the second was a lemongrass butter poached lobster claw and knuckles.  This was served with a Thai red curry sauce.  Bret does not even like lobster and he couldn't help but adore this dish.  The grilled Maine lobster tail was simple and yet flavorful but the butter poached lobster claw stole the show and simply made you groan out loud in its tenderness.  I could eat this dish every day and never tire of it.

Our next course included more seafood with a cedar-wrapped wild salmon with house-cured bacon and mushroom ragout, whiskey roasted onion, haricot verts, and crispy potato.  This dish was so elegantly presented that it seemed a shame to break into it.  The crispy potato can only be likened to a refined potato croquette or even more simply, a tater tot.  Bret said that he could have eaten a dozen of them. 

We were then onto our meat courses and a beautifully plated lamb chop soon arrived.  The grilled lamb chop was serve with spicy coriander and paprika-spiced tomato sauce, along with a mint-parsley sauce.  By this time, I was seriously getting full and could only nibble at my lamb even though the tomato sauce was seriously addictive.

Our final meat course of the evening was of course a beef course.  We were served the most generous piece of red-wine poached tenderloin of beef with warm sauteed Swiss chard.  A sliver of the most melt-in-your mouth sauteed calves liver lay atop the tenderloin and this was accompanied with an onion marmalade.  My appetite began to fail me and I only managed to attack a quarter of the soft tenderloin.  I did manage to eat all of my liver as this is one of my favorites. 

Our server had noticed our struggling appetites and had paced the plates progessively slower as the courses began to get heavier.  He even suggested that we take a stroll through the garden, which was actually fairly customary with those enjoying one of the tasting menus.  I absolutely adored that Arrows was focused on the dining experience and not about turning tables.  Bret and I took our glasses of wine and took a few minutes to stroll around and to simply enjoy the evening.

When we returned, we moved onto the final courses of the evening.  Our cheese course included a beet relish, pitted cherry, a hard Wisconsin cheese along with thin slivers of peach and plum, and toasted brioche.  Although I was a tad disappointed about the use of a Wisconsin cheese versus one from New England, all was forgiven as I tasted the local beets, cherry, peach and plums.  The lighting wasn't the best for this photo (or the next two dessert courses) but I appreciated the simple yet elegant plating.

I ordered my favorite after-cocktail drink, which Bret always teases me mercilessly about - Bailey's on the rocks.  I don't care that it is an old lady drink; I adore it.

Our first dessert course was a frozen citrus log topped with a gingerbread cookie crumble.  The texture was fantastic - a bit more frosty and icy than a sorbet.  The gingerbread crumble added a nice spicy flavor but it wasn't quite crunchy enough for me.

Our final course was a beautiful oversized macaroon of sorts.  Two hazelnut crisps were held together with a creamy hazelnut-thyme filling.  Although we were given both a spoon and a fork, our server encouraged us to eat this with our hands like an ice cream sandwich.  The hazelnut crisp was so light and airy while the hazelnut filling with rich and decadent.  This whimsical dessert stole my heart and my only regret is not getting a decent photo of it.

Over three hours later, Bret and I walked out of Arrows feeling as if we had experienced something magical.  We have had some amazing tasting menus but this was truly something special.  By using local ingredients, everything just tasted that much fresher.  You couldn't help but really savor every flavor in every bite.  But it was more than just the food.  The decor and the gardens made you feel like you were someplace else - someplace out of this world.  And the service was always attentive but never noticed.  This was truly a one of a kind dining experience and probably the best culinary experience I've had to date.  Our meal at Arrows is sincerely a memory that I will forever cherish.

Arrows Restaurant is located at 41 Berwick Road, Cape Neddick, Maine.

Fun and Fearless Adventures at Stonewall Kitchen

Whenever Bret and I head up to Ogunquit for a day trip, we always pass by Stonewall Kitchen in York, Maine.  Every time, I tell Bret that I want to go but we never seem to have time on our way to or from Ogunquit.  Since we're staying here for a week, I made sure that visiting Stonewall Kitchen was on our agenda!

After spending Tuesday morning sailing, we were finally on our way to Stonewall Kitchen!

I was positively giddy when I saw the sign as we approached.

And I squealed with delight as we saw the quaint looking buildings housing the Stonewall Kitchen headquarters!

We decided to first head into the Company Store to stock up on some goodies. 

Of course, I made a beeline for their awesome mustard selection. I sampled every single mustard they had out!  I already have a few Stonewall Kitchen mustards that I haven't tried yet but that didn't stop me from picking up a few more new ones.  I have a bit of an addiction when it comes to mustard.  I can never resist buying one when I see something new or interesting.

There were lots of other different sections to browse through and so many delightful samples to taste! But with fall around the corner, Stonewall Kitchen knew where to direct me!

Is it any surprise that I found myself in the pumpkin section?

After filling our basket (which Bret thankfully carried) and sampling lots of different sauces, dips and mustards, Bret and I were ready for lunch.  We decided to head to the Stonewall Kitchen cafe, which is adjacent to their company store.

Since it was hot out, we decided to skip the chowder and espresso.  Instead, Bret and I decided to split a sandwich since we were planning on cooking a huge feast for family dinner that night.

We found a table and got ready to dig in.  I love that the each table had a Stonewall Kitchen salt and pepper shaker!

When in Maine, we felt compelled to drink Maine soda. My blueberry soda was delicious!

Bret and I ordered the Pilgrim Sandwich and we chose a side of their potato salad.

The Pilgrim sandwich had sliced roasted Boar's Head peppermill turkey breast, housemade traditional herb stuffing, cranberry sauce, baby iceberg lettuce and cranberry horseradish sauce on multi-grain bread.  This is one serious sandwich and we savored every bite. The potato salad was equally delicious with a definite presence of mustard and very little mayo. 

We of course couldn't resist one of their baked goods and decided to split a toffee bar.  This was so moist and soft.  I was a big fan!

Afterwards, Bret and I ventured over to the viewing gallery to watch the bottling and jarring process in action.  But we first had to stop and take a few photos in the Adirondack chairs! Thankfully we found one in the shade!

I felt awkward taking photos of the employees in the viewing gallery and instead wandered over to the cooking school.  This place was impressive and if I lived closer, I would definitely take a class there!

I had a fantastic time wandering around Stonewall Kitchen and taking lots of photos.  I'm so glad that I made a visit to Stonewall Kitchen a priority during our stay in Ogunquit.  Even though I'm loving vacation, a part of me can't wait to head home to work with some of my new goodies!

Stonewall Kitchen is located at Stonewall Lane in York, Maine.

Wild Blueberry Cafe (Ogunquit, Maine)

After a late night of Scrabble with Bret's family Sunday night, Bret and I decided to sleep in on Monday while the rest of the family went to the beach.  By the time we got ourselves going, we were way too lazy to make our own breakfast and decided to check out a little cafe that we spotted along one of our previous walks on Shore Road.

The Wild Blueberry Cafe seemed like it was fairly quiet when we arrived but we did have to wait a few minutes for our table.  It seems as if the restaurant was a little understaffed on a Monday morning as summer is slowly winding down.

Bret and I both ordered glasses of water while we perused the menu and we were promptly served two miniature blueberry muffins.  They were so delightful and the blueberries were definitely fresh.  I am grateful they didn't give us more or I would have probably inhaled them all!

The Wild Blueberry Cafe offers a decent variety of breakfast items.  I was severely tempted by the Lobster Benedict as I love lobster and adore eggs Benedict.  But since we were heading to the beach, we probably wouldn't eat too much of a lunch so we both decided to go with the hearty breakfast burrito.

Even though the restaurant wasn't busy at all, there was a long wait for our food.  I managed to occupy myself by taking photos of the simple yet elegant centerpiece on our table.

And I also took some photos of my very hungry fiance!

Finally our breakfast burritos arrived!  These tortillas were filled with hash browns, scrambled eggs, Monteray Jack cheese, spicy sausage and a mild salsa.  The burrito was definitely huge and it had a lot of nice flavors.  But it was definitely messy and more than a little greasy from the hash browns.

Our breakfast burritos came with a mixed green salad tossed in a white champagne balsamic vinaigrette and sliced strawberries.  While the greens were a nice relief from the greasy burritos, the salad was definitely over dressed and felt a little heavy.

Overall, Wild Blueberry Cafe wasn't the best breakfast or the fastest service but it hit the spot for what we were looking for.  We were desperately trying to revive ourselves from the previous evening and at the same time giving us energy for the beach.  I should also mention that the cafe is also super close to the beach, which makes it a popular spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Wild Blueberry Cafe is located at 82 Shore Road, Ogunquit, Maine.