You know as a dedicated innkeeper, I force myself to try new restaurants on your behalf. Last week, I headed out to Stonington and had dinner at the Maritime Cafe. What a great view and pretty dining room. I especially liked the appetizer list--full of fresh seafood with original twists. On nice days they have outdoor seating right on the busy harbor. In the evening, a beautiful night sky makes everythig taste even better.
Last night, I tried the Cafe This Way in Bar Harbor. While the quiet of Blue Hill is my favorite, the bustle of Bar Harbor is fun to visit from time to time. I had dinner with Jill Smith, baker extraordinaire from Millbrook Company, Bobbie Lynn Hutchins, owner and chef at Cafe Bluefish, my all time favorite Bar Harbor dining experience, and her partner. Julie Harris, one of the three Cafe This Way owners, visited us from time to time. It's Julie who has designed the menu--with so many interesting choices it's hard to decide. Luckily, we were all willing to share. I think the smoked duck wrapped scallops were my favorite, or perhaps the ribeye with bleu cheese...
And on the menu here at the inn--Stonington crabmeat quiche is on the menu for this morning, Jeff made a lemon poppy seed bread the other day that was delicious, and then there are the savory tarts... O, and the pancakes. Guests have been raving: "Especially loved the blueberry pancakes" "Blueberry pancakes to die for!" "Every bite of breakfast was memorable!"
I'll have to tell you about our fall offerings and my gallery hopping another day. Right now, it's off to make some of those pancakes for the guests.
I do hope your July is as delicious.
Friday, July 17, 2009
And, happy anniversary to the inn and me, again! Today, July 17, it is two years that I've been writing "innkeeper" for my occupation. I still say, just about every day and sometimes many, many times during the day, "This is the best job ever" or "I love my job." People often ask how I came to be an innkeeper. The truth? What Color is Your Parachute, by Richard Nelson Bolles. I highly recommend both the book and questioning what you are doing, why you are doing it, and what makes a good fit for you.
Be happy in your work. If you aren't, I'm sure Nick at Blue Hill Books can have a copy of "Parachute" waiting for you when you arrive in town and I'll chat with you over breakfast (this morning, Jeff made scrambled eggs with sage from our garden and a lovely baby Swiss--guests went wild, and was there even one strawberry turnover left for me to try? No. Not even a crumb.), or I'll talk with you over a glass of wine and some hors d'oeuvres (tonight I did a similar selection to my very first night--I was so nervous then!--I knew I could handle something with a Mexican flair--everyone likes my guacamole and, Sister Salsa, right here in town, makes a great salsa, and quesadillas are always yummy and have endless varieties. We have a white on the wine list from Willamette Valley, Orgeon, called Borealis--delicious and a nice pairing with the spicy food.)
Two years! I really appreciate all the support from friends, family, and staff, without whom I couldn't do this at all, and from guests, who are the real reason this is the best job ever. Two years of so much laughing and learning. Here's to many more.
See you at breakfast...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
What to do on a stunning July night? Cruise to Deer Isle and have dinner at the Cockatoo. I’ve told you and told you how lovely the view is from the deck. I know more guests stop in for a late lunch, having explored Barred Island first, than venture this far from the inn, on such a gravel road, at night. Still, I arrived about 7:30, in the pinking light, and enjoyed a lovely glass of Vihno Verde. The hostess took great care of me from the first moment. It’s a restaurant that can feel awkward, what door to go in, is it OK to just grab a table on the deck?, is it OK with no reservation but I was warmly greeted and immediately taken care of, seated on the deck, greeted by my waitress, glass of wine in hand at once. And, wireless on the deck!
Mark Island Light foghorn can be heard over most of Deer Isle but it can be seen from the deck of Goose Cove Lodge. You can fool yourself that the lobster buoys in the cove are seals, or, heck, maybe they are seals. This image is by Jeremy D'Entremont.
Speaking of lighthouses, Maine is having a Lighthouse Day! Sept. 12 will be the first ever open house of Maine lighthouses, sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, the State of Maine and the American Lighthouse Foundation. The largest effort of its kind in the nation, the event is designed to provide access to the public to all participating lighthouses on that one day.
You can see why I am so enthusiastic about this area...
Saturday mornings in Blue Hill, Maine, are the best! Blue Hill has its farmer's market at the fairgrounds and I go to scoop up breads and meats and art. Each week there is a new guest artist. I've gotten handmade purses and glass flowers and admired hooked rugs. This week, the Salty Spinners caught my eye. The hats they make are great.
I got to see Katy Allgeyer's new work, too. You can see some on her website, including a new one of the Opera House in her building series that I am craving.
And I made the mistake of going to the Handworks Gallery, just a block from the inn. I thought I might find a new pair of earrings but instead got this great bracelet which has hardly left my wrist since. I haven't gotten a good photo of it to show you but guests and friends have been admiring it all week. Marcia, at Handworks, has a marvelous collection of art and jewelry and beautiful objects.
Back at the inn, our strawberry plants are still producing, we've loved using the microplaner, and the white gingerbread on this morning's menu was a big hit in the dining room.
From the guest book: "Blue Hill makes me weep with its beauty." "We arrived on a very rainy day, exhausted & weary, & this lovely B&B made us whole. The elegance, the exquisite cuisine & the absolutely delightful staff made this a memorable & restful time." "The atmosphere is enchanting, the service top-notch and the food delightful!" (The last comment was left by kayakers who arrived dripping from rain. I love that even a bit of gray weather can't stop visitors from enjoying their stay.)
And so ended the story of your innkeeper making a bit of a fool of herself. See, we had someone famous who I just adore come to stay. I managed to be very professional for most of her stay but when I went to tell her how much I really really like her work, I'm certain I came off as a bumbling idiot. It's just that my mother, who passed away in 2000, was always the Queen of Everything and I was the Princess of Quite A Lot. She and I, and my sister, shared a love of Mary's work so I was just tickled to have her here. And she was gracious enough to sign the guest book, "Beautiful place, wonderful people!" My mother would be thrilled. Mary's website is chock full of great gifts and cards and fun things. And this You Tube interview talks about her very sweet books, too.
Garden peas get the credit for my making new friends at the farmer's market today.
I do like to browse every stall at the farmer’s market but I had made a number of purchases and my bag was heavy and I was planning to head back to the car and back to work when I caught a glimpse of carrot tops and sweet peas. Sweet peas--or garden candy--are my absolute favorites. A couple was running the eclectic stall—there were wooden cutting boards (or serving boards because they're really too pretty to cut on), vegetables, cards, jewelry.
I picked up the bag of peas and asked if she had more. No, she answered, she had picked some for them and this was all that was left. “Well, I’d like these please.”
“Pick a carrot as well. It’s a free carrot with every purchase, for nibbling on while you walk around the market.” The carrot, I will tell you, was a fresh-from-the-garden, giant plume of a tail, bundle of delicious orangeness. You likely know me well enough to know I do appreciate an accessory or two, a bit of craziness with an outfit, a scarf tossed over my shoulder. Enter the carrot plume. So I, while enjoying my carrot, browsed a bit more, and so, by browsing and asking Ann Flewelling, as she turned out to be, dozens of questions, I made an amazing discovery. She and Marnie Reed Crowell collaborated on a book, Beads & String, a Maine island pilgrimage, which they published via their press, Threehalf Press, out of Sunset, Maine (home of my favorite spot in the whole world). There's a sample at this link, or come to the inn and borrow the book, or buy it at the Island Heritage Trust site.
Another book to keep an eye out for is Kathryn Ma'sAll That Work and Still No Boys, winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award. I always say that we have the nicest guests--and we do--but we certainly have talented, creative ones as well!
Other notes from the guest book this week: "Great beds & wonderful breakfast!" "Thank you for a wonderful stay. We've enjoyed every minute..." I do have to report on a guest comment from June: A young could wrote, "Great place! The baby picture in 5 is totally creepy." I have to say we do agree with you and finally have retired her to the attic. Perhaps our ongoing historical research will reveal who she is and I can find her a less "creepy" place to hang.
And if you had been here this morning, you would have a strawberry-lemon sorbet (with strawberries from Homewood Farm, just outside of town). And then chocolate currant scones, which were out of this world delicious. Egg dishes this morning included scrambled eggs with Stonington crab meat and sauteed leeks. Mmmm, mmm! If you aren't being served three-course breakfasts where you are, come see us!
This last photo is a snapshot I took when I was showing some friends the granite walled cemetery in Sedgwick. The first gravestone dates to 1835, very near the time the inn was built. Let me know if you're interested in seeing it and I'll let you know where to find it.
Our strawberry patch produced a whole pile of berries today! I hope your July is as delicious.
Our newest space, the Cape House Studio, is ready for guests. All of our rooms are works in progress--there isn't one I don't have some plan for. The Studio, though, is ready for the 2009 season.
The kitchen/sitting area has a sink, stove, microwave, and small refrigerator. There's a table large enough for a good game of cards plus the chair you see here with a good reading lamp. In the bedroom, you'll find the charming spindle beds, either twins or a king, and matching dresser. The bathroom is a bit beige--perhaps to be remodeled in Winter 09/10? The views toward the back catch the trees in our lower garden. The front faces the gorgeous academy across the street but mostly you see azalea bushes, beautifully in bloom right now. You might wonder why we call it the Cape House Studio. We refer to the whole building, adjacent to the inn, as the Cape House. This is the Studio because it has artwork, paintings by my aunt, Ky Wilson, and great grandmother, Arline Wilson, in the bedroom, and photographs by Terrill Lester in the kitchen/sitting area. You'll find an easel in the closet and watercolor pads and paints and books on the shelf. Mention the starving artist discount and we'll take 10% off your Studio stay. Please forgive these snapshots. I used my iPhone, wanting to show you as soon as possible.
We've been seeing old friends come through already this spring. I love the Morrises--they notice and appreciate every single change and are very complimentary about the food here, pushing us to do a cookbook--someday. Pat and Pam from Connecticut came through again. We try hard to spoil everyone but they are always leaving presents for us. You should see the whoopie pies! This doesn't show how adorably they are wrapped, or were wrapped...
From the guest book this week: "Hooray for your excellent bacon." I have to agree. We still get it from Smith's Smokehouse. Tomorrow I'll pick our order up at the farmer's market, while I chat with Dan from Gravelwood Farm about the eggs his chickens have been laying for us and say hello to Dan from the Flower Farm and get one of Jill's sticky buns. She's from Millbrook Bakery, where we got lots of our toasting breads. The farmer's market is great--came through on a Saturday and we'll give you directions. It's not far from the inn. Breakfasts have gotten good reviews from the guest book, too, and it's no wonder with Matt and Jeff whipping up gingerbread with a fresh lemon glace, chocolate scones, Belgian waffles with sauteed apples, omelets with the yummiest fillings. For today's afternoon treat, Jeff made graham crackers--my first homemade graham cracker ever. I'd be happy to share the recipe--once I get it, of course. These are crisp childhood memories, like the graham crackers you remember only so much better.
Dan, from Dan's Flower Farm, brought in his first bouquet of the season. They truly are so beautiful you could cry. My photographs do not do them justice in the least but I had to show you.
On the menu for hors d'oeuvres tonight? A blueberry sage baked brie, a recipe adapted from one in Brooke Dojny's cookbook, Dishing Up Maine. Lest you think I only cook out of one book, let me tell you about the Maine Mapmaker's Kitchen, newly out. Jane Crosen--of the incredible hand drawn maps of this area--together with Richard Washburn, her husband, has created a Downeast cookbook celebrating creative, healthy recipes "for home, camp, and a float."
It took reading a review of Becky's in Portland in the latest issue of Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors to articulate something I have always felt. "Grilled crab and cheese! Try that and you'll never waste your money on a lobster roll again," wrote Peter Spectre. My first crab and swiss came from the Fisherman's Friend, when it used to be across from the elementary school, when the school was still in Stonington, say 1988. You can still get one at the Friend. Mmmm mmmm. I hope your spring has been as beautiful and delicious and bountiful. If it hasn't, come see us.
You know as a dedicated innkeeper, I force myself to try new restaurants on your behalf. Last week, I headed out to Stonington and had dinner at the Maritime Cafe. What a great view and pretty dining room. I especially liked the appetizer list--full of fresh seafood with original twists. On nice days they have outdoor seating right on the busy harbor. In the evening, a beautiful night sky makes everythig taste even better.
While the quiet of Blue Hill is my favorite, the bustle of Bar Harbor is fun to visit from time to time. I had dinner with Jill Smith, baker extraordinaire from Millbrook Company, Bobbie Lynn Hutchins, owner and chef at Cafe Bluefish, my all time favorite Bar Harbor dining experience, and her partner. Julie Harris, one of the three Cafe This Way owners, visited us from time to time. It's Julie who has designed the menu--with so many interesting choices it's hard to decide. Luckily, we were all willing to share. I think the smoked duck wrapped scallops were my favorite, or perhaps the ribeye with bleu cheese...
