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Archive for September, 2009
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
 With the holidays on the way why delay increasing your comfort level in the kitchen? In fact, why not take a last minute getaway to the coast of Maine to check out the fall foliage/holiday festivities? Chef Michael Salmon of Camden, Maine’s Hartstone Inn is offering private one-on-one cooking classes in his restaurant kitchen. Spend an afternoon assisting Michael in preparations for that evening’s dinner and get specialized training on prearranged topics. The class begins with a review of the evening’s dinner menu and assignment of duties. After a quick tour of the kitchen and orientation, you will work side-by-side with Michael preparing dinner. A few hours later you’ll have picked up knife skills, received hands on training with a specific type of cuisine, become more comfortable cooking, and gained insight into the running of a commercial kitchen. Course costs $325 first person, add a second person for $50 (second apron included).  Hartstone Inn
Course includes:
4 hour one-on-one instruction
Menu of the day
Personalized signed copy of Chef’s cookbook
Hartstone Inn apron
Food tasting
 Camden Harbor, less than 5 min walk from inn
For information on this, the inn’s cooking classes, and extraordinary epicurean experiences (mushroom hunting, time with an artisan cheesemaker…) visit the inn’s website.
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Posted in Epicurean Events, Midcoast Maine | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
When not thinking about food, reading or shopping for coats I enjoy sitting surrounded by photographs. I found these treasures online recently and thought better than to keep them to myself.
 Running in the Field by Ryan McGinley  Photo by Ryan McGinley  Mikael Kennedy Polaroid Oak Island, NC August 09  Mikael Kennedy Polaroid Oak Island, NC August 09  Phileas Fogg - Gramophone Chandelier by Claire Rosen  Beware the Squirrels - Squirrel Lamps by Claire Rosen Top two photos by Ryan McGinley from his series “I Know Where the Summer Goes.” Third and fourth from top Mikael Kennedy from his “Men in My Family” sequence. Bottom two by my friend Claire Rosen featuring lighting by artist Alex Randall.
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
As the temperatures cool outside I find myself thinking about bringing more greenery and life into my home. Winter is still months away and there are a few fall plantings in the garden to enjoy, but these pictures from Design Sponge and the (VERY) sadly retired Domino Magazine inspire me to get creative with plants in my loft.
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
Transitioning into fall means wearing sweaters or a light trench, falling leaves, crushed acorns, slightly shorter days, and cups of warmth between my hands. Black coffee, soy lattes, chai tea, or my favorite morning beverage hot water with lemon. Yawn, stretch, drink, hello morning.
I love these photos of artistic coffees.
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Monday, September 28th, 2009
I’m headed to CIFF in a few days. Hope you can make it! The Strand Theatre an Art Deco style cinema built in 1923 in Rockland, Maine, will be a primary venue. Four years ago it reopened after a near two year renovation, which my friend Donna Daly oversaw. I can’t think of a more enjoyable place to see a film and am thrilled to be able to support a film festival committed to generating interest in independent documentary films.
Films I’m hearing good things about include OCTOBER COUNTRY, RACING DREAMS, and THE FISH BELONG TO THE PEOPLE.
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Monday, September 28th, 2009
Saturday found me happily traipsing through the Maine woods hunting mushrooms with Chef Michael Salmon of the Hartstone Inn. Earlier in the summer Michael mentioned to me how excited he was about taking a summer long course on mushroom hunting through Merryspring Nature Center in Camden, Maine. Naturally I invited myself along on one of his fall forays to find some fungus.
With Michael as navigator knowing what defines prime mushroom habitat we headed to a nature preserve just outside Camden in search of dying trees, moist trail side areas, hardwoods, and oaks. Starting out my knowledge of mushrooms was limited to those I’d purchased (portobellos, porcinis, oyster, shitake, and button) from supermarkets and sauteed with butter. Who knows how many I’ve stepped on apart from few funky looking bright colored or large ones that stood out along hiking trails.
 Bracket Fungi - Tinder Polypore (& George Barron's book)  Lake Megunticook (view of from trail) The day was gorgeous with the sun sparkling on Lake Megunticook, birds chirping (actually more like woodpeckers pecking), granite cliffs, and a green carpeted forest. Soon after we entered the preserve we began finding Bracket Fungi and Boletes (Sponge Mushrooms). A few of the traits Michael used to id fungi were whether they produced lactate, turned blue or orange, tubes (or pores) vs. gills, texture, color, and where found (growing on a dead stump vs. living hard tree).
Mushroom foraging can be exciting and if edibles are found rewarding. We did not find any edibles in good condition so we’re heading back fore Part Two this Saturday. Check the Hartstone’s website page FUN FOR FOODIES next summer to see if Michael has scheduled a fungi-themed cooking class.
Do NOT mess around with fungi ingestion! If you are interested in mushroom hunting go with an expert, because that delicate looking white one will kill you in two hours.
To find a mushroom identification class contact your local Slow Food chapter, gardening association or center, or Google mycological clubs in your area. I did and found the Boston Mycological Club. Purchase a good book or two. According to Michael no one book identifies all mushrooms, it is virtually impossible with so many kinds. The one he had on hand is Mushrooms Northeast North America: Midwest to New England by George Barron. Of course if you are hunting in Oregon or Washington State probably look for a book focusing on those areas.
 Light-Spored Mushroom - Russula Brevipes (not a lactarius)  Light-Spored Mushroom - Amanita Citrina (false deathcap)  Michael's notebook with notes from his class to ID mushrooms  Bracket Fungi (possibly Artist's Conk) possibly three-years-old  Boletes - not sure of type. Notice blue staining on tubes (or pores).  Light-spored Mushroom - Amanita Virosa (destroying angel) a very young specimen. One of prettiest & deadliest fungi.  Bracket Fungi - Lacquered Polypore - beautiful mahogany color w/ a smooth lacquer finish  Bracket Fungi - very large, old, and dried up polypore  Michael Salmon walking in the woods hunting mushrooms Share on Facebook
Posted in Epicurean Events, Friends, Local Flavors, Midcoast Maine | 2 Comments »
Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Maine is perhaps best known for pots of boiling water awaiting the state’s popular red crustaceans, but what is becoming abundantly clear is the state is also home to an emerging and increasingly well regarded culinary scene with a growing population of small farmers (many of them organic) and artisan producers offering a wide array of locally grown/produced goods.
In Maine’s Midcoast Region the oyster farming industry is gaining a higher profile with people who appreciate a deliciously sensual bivalve (oyster). Full disclosure folks I find them completely irresistible. Thus it was with great joy I finally made good on a promise to myself I would visit Glidden Point Oyster Sea Farm in Edgecomb, Maine. The source of so many very, very good oysters I’ve enjoyed at “white tablecloth” restaurants and high-end “raw bars” in Maine and New York City.
 My bag of oysters Founded in 1987, owner Barb Scully and her family are continuing a centuries old tradition of oyster farming begun by the Abenaki Indians who inhabited the area 2000 plus years ago. As part of their commitment to environmental sustainability and product quality they harvest exclusively by diving, hand picking each oyster off the bottom. Family run farm, sustainable, and delicious results? Sold, one dozen Glidden Point Selects (3-4 inches) and three Glidden Point XL (5-8 inches).
Oysters $16 – $24 per dozen. Yesterday the going rate for the XL were $1.50/piece.
Shucking oysters get a glove ($20) and knife ($15). Though you might want a screwdriver and hammer as well. Just trust me and my friend’s husband on this one.
 Shucking Glove $20 If you visit the roadside stand Barb Scully run at 707 River Road in Edgecomb I recommend you spend time in the town of Damariscotta, nestled along the Damariscotta River it is home to a quirkly little arts center, shops, a variety of good restaurants, nature preserves, and a number of historic points of interest. Bring your walking shoes to the The Damariscotta River Association’s Salt Bay Preserve offers one of the most beautiful walking trails in the state. The Preserve contains Glidden Point’s ancient Indian shell heaps. Left by people who lived and fished on the Damariscotta River more than 1000 years ago, The Glidden Midden is the largest ancient mound of oyster shells in Maine. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
 Glidden Point Oyster Co. Sea Farm Roadside Stand  Oysters for sale Check out The New York Times article “Where Maine Comes Out of Its Other Shell” by Porter Fox on Glidden Point Oyster Sea Farm for more photos and information on the farm and area.
 My friend Ellen holding Glidden Point Co. XL/Jumbo Oyster Share on Facebook
Posted in Comfort Food, Local Flavors, Midcoast Maine | 2 Comments »
Friday, September 25th, 2009
On the road again today, this time in the beautiful coastal town Damariscotta. Enjoyed yet another delicious meal in Midcoast Maine. **Dinner was very healthy – butternut squash soup, oysters, and salad – most of the meal’s ingredients were procured from farmers in the region!
 "Breakfast" the Cupboard Cafe's World Famous Sticky Bun Share on Facebook
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Friday, September 25th, 2009
I thought two things after grabbing lunch (that’s right standing up on the side of the road scarfing down a crab roll) from the roadside stand Dunton’s Doghouse in Boothbay Harbor, ME. today. One, you have not had a really good lobster or crab roll until you’ve had one of Bob’s (I don’t know his last name and am not entirely sure his name really is Bob I think it might be Gary, but that is all really a whole other story). Tons of meat, hot dog bun perfectly buttered and toasted. Second, this guy or whoever owns Dunton’s has no idea there is a “street food movement” going on he’s just doing his thing and has been for a long time. Bob’s tee shirt read “Save your issues for the tissues, and the drama for your mama.” Yup pretty much sums it all up. Picnic tables in the back. Located behind Boothbay Harbor Shipyard at 40 Sea Street. Open April through October.
 Dunton's Doghouse  Dunton's lobster roll  Fried Clams Share on Facebook
Posted in Comfort Food, Midcoast Maine | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
 Kate's corner Have no fear chocolatiers, Isle au Haut will not leave you stranded without chocolate thanks to Kate and Steve Shaffer owners of Black Dinah Chocolatiers. Chocolate connoisseurs seeking that perfect handmade chocolate truffle need look no further than the arsenal of choices Kate creates on a seasonal basis. With two decades spent in kitchens and on farms she knows plenty about sustainable foods and flavor combinations that make people happy. Steve’s natural business and innovative approach to solving problems makes them perfect partners.
 Caramel with sea salt There is little as satisfying as pulling back the charming wrapping on their delicious artisanal goodies. Every box a result of their never-ending quest for new flavors, commitment to local producers, and of course sourcing high quality fair trade certified cacao.
A shining example of sustainability is their Farm Market Collection created last year featuring 10 rotating seasonal varieties such as the Blueberry-Black Pepper Truffle with Blueberries from Stoneset Farm in Brooklin and Chevre & Nib Truffle with Chevre from Sunset Acres Farm in Brooksville. This primarily spring/summer based collection will give way to a wintery collection soon. I can’t wait to find out what flavors Kate has been playing around with!
 Lavender Bark While on Isle au Haut over the weekend I spent quality time with Kate and Steve at their (seasonal) cafe, located at the base of Black Dinah Mountain and loaded up on dark chocolate caramels and sipping chocolate. **Black Dinah Chocolatiers ships their chocolates nationwide so while a visit to the cafe is a treat, you can still enjoy a sense of the island and taste the chocolates at home. Their chocolates can also be found in Blue Hill, Boothbay, Camden, Rockland, and a few other towns.
 Cafe bound  Steve manning the cafe  Me with Kate, sipping chocolates in background  Kate's macaroons, not chocolate but delicious!! It is never too early to begin thinking about the winter holidays!
 61% Single Origin Dark Chocolate Santa, by Kate. Photo by Michael Rossney Share on Facebook
Posted in Comfort Food, Friends | 2 Comments »
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