Water was the theme of my weekend.

Friday afternoon I stopped into Rabelais to chat with owners Don and Sam, and ended up walking out with The River Cottage Fish Book. Content includes nearly 600 pages of sourcing fish (choosing the best, fish to avoid and seek out…), fish and shellfish skills (killing, descaling, gutting, filleting…), and fish cookery (smoked, baked, grilled, deep fried, poached, in stews and salads).  Simon Wheeler’s photographs are beautiful and useful. If you like fish, and especially if you are doing a CSF, this book belongs in your kitchen.

Friday night I enjoyed the best raw fish in - okay I was going to say Portland, then Maine, but really let’s go with New England and I would say the East Coast, but I have not spent time in the Southeast. Food Factory Miyake was amazing, perfect, an ecstasy of Japanese food. I can’t wait to go back, wanted to thought about crying so they would let me stay and give me more, incredible. There, I think that pretty much sums it up.  Actually, one more thing, don’t be embarrassed by yourself or others who loudly pronounce oohs and aahs over the presentation and taste of everything you are served (okay maybe if you start screaming a “Harry Met Sally” overture when given edamame that might get you some odd glances). Of course I started out with some pretty good cards. Joe Ricchio (who you want to wait on you when you go, just because he is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about everything Miyake) sent me to Downeast Beverage Co. (Miyake is BYOB) to pick up sake.  The shop has been helpful in the past (organic vodka check, wide selection of artisan beers check…) and this time I walked out with a bottle of  Taru Sake, Kikusakari.  This sake is aged in Japanese cedar, so you have a delicious woody taste. It perfectly complimented the dishes my friends and I enjoyed. My recommendation is to go with the five-course option for $50 per person. Do not plan to share, trust me you will want every single morsel to yourself. Also, definitely get the soup - the night we were there it was miso based with crab.  I wish I would have written down what I was served, but honestly I was just so involved in admiring and delighting in every bit.  With any luck I will be back for another dinner next month when a sushi loving friend comes to town. James you are in for a treat!

Saturday I was in the water for my first surfing lesson with Liquid Dreams in Ogunquit. My instructor Julie was terrific, and thankfully the same size so I could wear one of her spare wetsuits (the ones the shop has are more for summer rental). It was thrilling paddling out, sitting on the board, looking for the next wave, and well I did not manage to stand but I did ride a longish wave on my knees.  Driving back to Portland with surfer/messed up salt water wet hair I could not help but smile at this outdoor clubhouse so close to my home.  In two weeks I will be back to enjoy a few more waves with a lot more to look forward to this summer than I realized before Saturday.

Bottom photo: Frosty for Liquid Dreams Surf Shop blog.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 17th, 2010 at 9:05 am and is filed under Books, Local Flavors, Portland Maine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.