Once in a blue moon…

That’s tonight folks. Not only is it New Year’s Eve, it’s also the second full moon of the month. So as you create your New Year’s resolution list, put on the seemingly unobtainable, wish for the good things that happen only once in a blue moon. World peace would be a good one, and working toward it by reaching out a bit more in your travels, going beyond your comfort zone, talking to that rather odd fellow seated on the adjacent counter stool or instead of donning the headphones, starting a conversation with the person seated next to you on the plane…

See you next year.

Old World Gourmet withdrawal

Today’s the last day until May, so if you can’t live without those chocolate chip cookies, go purchase a gazillion to keep in the freezer.

And, meats in the deli case (and probably a lot of other items) are 50% off. Stock up for that New Year’s Eve party. Then join me in withdrawal symptoms from those cookies (I only purchased two).

Not familiar with this little outpost? It’s at Freeport’s Big Indian. Need I say more?

Bacon truffles?

I took my friend Kayt Sukel, a Germany-based freelance writer covering travel and food (She travels with her son Chet and contributes to TravelSavvyMom, check it out, among other places) on a foodie tour of Portland’s East End, yesterday, stopping in at my favorite haunts.

We began with lunch at Duckfat: fries (of course!). Now Kayt’s a worldly traveler, and she thought these among the best she’s ever tasted. “It’s the seasoning,” she said. And I agree. It’s just perfect.In addition,  I had the tomato-fennel soup, Kayt the smoked squash soup special (which she proclaimed I must have the next time it’s on the menu–consider that an in-the- know recommendation).

Next stop, DeansSweets, across the street. We sampled an in-the-testing-stage bacon truffle. Dean thinks it needs more smokiness, perhaps more salt. We agreed on the smokiness, not sure about the salt. Most of Dean’s truffles are not only nut free (actually all are nut free), but also gluten free, which allowed Kayt to buy some for a gluten-sensitive relative who always seems to miss out on the goodies.

Then we perused Rabelais‘ books, where I requested For all the Tea in China, by friend Sarah Rose and due out in March. It’s an industrial espionage story about tea (I kid you not). Should be a good read; watch for it.

Off to Two Cats: Me, a chocolate-chip cookie (of course); Kayt, a whoppie pie.

From there, we waddled off to Micucci‘s, where the line for Stephen’s pizza rivaled that for Duckfat’s fries. I stocked up on some necessities (prosciutto—is this the only place in the state that knows how to slice it?) and purchased some right-of-the-oven luna bread for each of us to take home (love that stuff).

Final tour stop: Homegrown Herb and Tea. I love this li’l place that’s so clearly without either a caffeine or sugar buzz. It exudes good karma. R.E.L.A.X., sip, enjoy, chill. And do order the kava kava January special made with lavendar and coconut milk and cocoa and too many other good tastes. Mmmmm. And home we went, me armed with Bresca blend tea and lavender shortbread and Kayt with a sniffle remedy for a Saturday bride with a red nose. Sarah can whip up a tea for any malady; I swear by her migraine tea.

New Year’s Eve X 2

Can’t get enough of that New Year’s Eve midnight joy? Experience it twice, in Eastport.

The first city in the U.S. to see the sun rise drops the ball, err make that sardine and maple leaf, twice, once each.

See, it’s like this. Eastport shares much history and culture with St. Andrews, NB, Canada, its neighbor across Passamaquddy Bay. St. Andrews is in the Atlantic time zone. So, at 11 pm Eastern time, which is midnight St. Andrews time, a giant maple leaf drops from the top floor of the downtown Tides Institute (okay, it’s only three stories, but it works). Then, one hour later, when it’s midnight eastern time, down comes the sardine, a symbol of the seaport’s heritage. New Year’s Eve in Eastport? Why not, it’s twice the fun.

Saddleback opens its yurt

I don’t know why, but when ever I see the word yurt I flashback to Dr. Seuss books, probably because one of my childhood faves was Yurtle the Turtle, but I digress.

Yes, Saddleback has opened a full-service yurt (now there’s an oxymoron) at the base of the Kennebago quad (which used to be the summit T-bar), thus finishing the democratization of Saddleback’s one-time wild west zone. Now, there’s no need to return to the base (or into the trees). The heated yurt serves soups, deli sandwiches, and drinks, and it has composting toilets. Current plans call for it to be open weekends, holidays, and during vacation.

A bit more on the food. The regular menu includes deli sandwiches, brie fondue, hotdogs, Saddleback’s signature fudge, cookies, and whoopie pies. Beverages are water, sodas, beer and wine.

A yurt I say, an on-mountain yurt
Saddleback Mountain has opened a yurt
A yurt with food and toilets, that’s cert
Just the place to warm muscles that hurt.

Hmmm, not a heckuva lot rhymes with yurt. Have at it folks…

Restaurant updates: York, Portland, Brunswick

Just a few updates worth noting (and for most, the websites have yet to catch up):

In York, the Chapman Cottage has, for the most part, closed its dining room to the public. It will remain open to guests on weekends in the off season, when it will be open to the public one night each month as well. That’s a loss, it was a lovely place to dine. Owners Donna and Paul Archibald are looking forward to working just 60 hours per week, rather than 120. Can’t blame ’em.

In Portland, Walter’s is back! Yay! The perennial favorite reopens tonight at its new location, 2 Portland Square. Katahdin, another long-timer on the Portland restaurant stage, has closed and is expected to reopen in January on Forest Ave., in the former location of the closed Geo’s.

And in Brunswick, local fave Scarlett Begonia’s has moved off Maine Street into the new Maine Street Station. No more ordering at the counter, and no more BYOB: The space is far larger and there’s even a bar.

Missing Ocean Wood? Consider these

Now none of these can replace Ocean Wood, Mike Brunton’s campground on the the Schoodic Peninsula that closed after last summer. But, if you’re looking for a place to pitch your tent or park your pop-up, pick-up or small RV on the coast, a campground with few frills but big natural assets, consider these:

• Recompence Shores Campsites, Freeport: An eco-sensitive campground that’s part of Wolfe’s Neck Farm (you know, kid-friendly farm animals for petting and educational programs). That aside, there are 175 wooded tent sites, a few with hook-ups, spread along three miles of tidal Casco Bay shoreline, far from the frenzy that’s downtown Freeport.

• Hermit Island Campground, Phippsburg: Start planning now to snag one of these 275 tenting and pick-up sites.  Why? The location, on a causeway-linked, 2455-acre island at the tip of the Phippsburg peninsula, south of Bath. There are open and wooded sites, but no-hookups. Pluses include seven private beaches and hiking trails.

• Old Quarry Ocean Adventures Campground, Stonington: A possibility, although it’s probably far busier than most Ocean Wood devotees would prefer, as it’s also the headquarters for Old Quarry’s kayak/boat/bike etc adventures. Still, the camping sites are away from the madness, and no vehicles are allowed near the wooded and/or oceanfront campsites, all with tenting platforms. Only three with RV hook-ups.

•Mt Desert Campground, Somesville, Mount Desert: This one’s a gem, at the head of Somes Sound on Mount Desert Island. It has 152 tent sites in the woods and along the shoreline. Electrical hook-ups are available, but no trailers allowed that are longer than 20 feet.

• Mainayr Campground, Steuben: In the Ayr family since 1958, this well-off-the-beaten-path campground has 35 tenting and RV sites on tidal Joy Cove. Nothing fancy or fussy. Just good ole campin’, with Ayr family stories perhaps shared around the campfire.

• Cobscook Bay State Park, Edmunds Township: One of the crown camping jewels in Maine’s state park system. There are 106 sites in the woods, in the fields, and along the shore line of this spectacular 888-acre chunk of real estate. Raw. Remote. Gorgeous.

Ameranouche + Cellardoor + Lily Bistro

Trust me, by the middle of January, the holiday glow will have been replaced by dreariness along the coast, and you’ll be pining for a pickup. Here’s one: Lily Bistro, in Rockland, is pairing with Cellardoor Winery for a CSA five-course menu with wine pairings, followed by a live performance by the acoustic trio Ameranouche. Event takes place Friday, Jan. 15, with one dinner seating between 5-7 p.m. Cost is $65, tax and grat not included.

Who done it?

Find out at the Norumbega Inn’s Murder Mystery Weekend, Jan.23-24 (and another, March 19-21), in Camden.

Guests become part of the plot during this weekend of murder and mayhem written exclusively for the Norumbega.

The inn, an elegant Victorian-era stone castle overlooking Penobscot Bay, fits the description of the Clue board game: Library, parlor, dining room, etc. The sleuth who solves the mystery wins a free night for two.

The price—$225 pp plus the room cost, tax, and grats—includes two breakfasts, two wine-and-cheese receptions, and two dinners.

New Year’s Eve in Belfast

Maine, that is.

The Belfast Bay Inn and Suites has a sweet New Year’s eve package that includes a champagne toast and hors d’oeuvres, breakfast delivered to your room or suite (no need to get out of your jammies if nursing a holiday hangover), a $20 gift certificate to the inn’s lovely Molly Amber gift shop, and a gift from the innkeepers, all for $110 per person, per night (two-night minimum). See my review of this inn in the current issue of maine. magazine (short version: it’s a gem, elegant and comfortable, with five-star service).

Staying here puts you smack dab in the middle of downtown Belfast (a town that gives definition to the term cool) and at the heart of its New Year’s by the Bay festivities: music, theater, artists, waterfront bonfire, fireworks and more.