This past weekend could be classified as an eating frenzy. It was planned out such that three fine meals would be scheduled back to back, but that is how it all came together. And I am that much happier (and unhealthier) for it.
Friday night we were invited to dine at a private dinner club in Portsmouth, NH called THE 100 Club. I had been for drinks before, and visited the space years ago pre-club both as a steakhouse and as a tapas restaurant. I was a fan then, even if the space is strange.The 100 club has a reputation for being overpriced and ostentatious though it is also a social networkers dream - frankly, my nightmare. So, I was glad that the lounge/bar that our host & Hostess had selected for our table wasn't crowded and we could enjoy a catch up dinner in peace.
I learned one important lesson which is that always take the advice of someone who frequents an establishment. Had I know that THEN, I would have been blessed with my own serving of theTuna Carpaccio but instead, I had to get a taste and proceed in salivating over my hosts' appetizer. I got a warm spinach salad which was good at the time (cashews, goat cheese, etc) but was clearly almost forgettable since I had difficulty recalling the appetizer I chose in the end for this blog. ;) And honestly, I could've made a MUCH better version of my dinner - Veal panfried w/ lemon and capers. I've NO idea what cut of veal they used but it was very very fatty. Dessert was awesome though - vanilla creme brulee, as was the Pinot Grigio. I'd go back, but only if I didn't have to pay like this time.
Saturday night started off as a beer and queso at ON THE BORDER, a favorite for the fast and easy but good mexican fare. But I had been tricked and ended up with a 9:30pm reservation at the restaurant of all restaurants, FORE STREET, in Portland, Maine. The ambiance is warm and inviting. The staff are wearing jeans and aprons and the patrons are in varied attire so it's not too formal and it's not too casual. The kitchen is in the middle of the main dining room, for all to witness the genius that is their daily menu - changing every day!
So, we started w/ the daily pizza. This day it had Balsamico, Rapini and Clothcovered Cheddar. It was DIVINE. I meant, cheese, bread and balsamic? Who DOESN'T Like that combination?
For dinner I got the halibut that came w/ mushrooms , broth and some green veg. It was awesome but I was full before finishing. And I realized I'd probably ordered the lamest meal. Mike did MUCH better then me, by ordering a trio of lamb. It was AWESOME. But no dessert, just too much food.
Sunday evening was a belated celebration of my 10 years working for my employers. We went to THE BLACK TRUMPET in Portsmouth, NH. Which I love! I started w/ the BLACK TRUMPET cocktail, yummy!!! and we shared the Meze Plate which had a fishcake, seared sea scallop, and halibut ceviche. That was FANTASTIC. Again, I messed up w/ dinner and went for the Lobster & shrimp Phyllo pot pie. It was ok. Tasty but I know I hadn't "won" per se. And opted for no dessert again - though I was tempted.
And so now I am a big old food coma blob, sitting at work, eating diet food while preparing for one of my last nights out this week. Ixtapa Mexican for a belated Mother's Day dinner tonight. And tomorrow night? Who knows.. but I can pretty much guarantee I will ike it.. I mean, it IS food! :)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
"wangs" and beer
There is just something about meeting some good friends over plates of wings and pitchers of beer. I would never have thought I would be the girl to initiate these get togethers, but I have indeed found a peace in the simplest forms of bonding; finger licking, beer swillin' good times.
WINGS UR WAY is a great place in Portsmouth that was started by some college friends, as far as I know, and has since taken off into almost a chain status business. The restaurant doesn't appeal to me and doesn't often seem to house many patrons, but the bar always has a cool collection of people, both men and women. The game is on the tv, though not too loud, the staff are dressed comfortably, but not too slutty, the beer mugs come cold and there is an extensive menu of wing and other options to choose from. There aren't many restaurants that have that "meet here very Friday" feeling for me.. a beer or a margarita once in a while is cool, and a place where you know the bartender's name like a certain micro-brewery.. however, this restaurant has served up three repeat trips of good fun and good food so I am happy to say, I would spend my Happy Hour there anytime.
wangs and beer, Wangs AND Beer, WANGS AND BEER!!!! Mmm Friday :)
WINGS UR WAY is a great place in Portsmouth that was started by some college friends, as far as I know, and has since taken off into almost a chain status business. The restaurant doesn't appeal to me and doesn't often seem to house many patrons, but the bar always has a cool collection of people, both men and women. The game is on the tv, though not too loud, the staff are dressed comfortably, but not too slutty, the beer mugs come cold and there is an extensive menu of wing and other options to choose from. There aren't many restaurants that have that "meet here very Friday" feeling for me.. a beer or a margarita once in a while is cool, and a place where you know the bartender's name like a certain micro-brewery.. however, this restaurant has served up three repeat trips of good fun and good food so I am happy to say, I would spend my Happy Hour there anytime.
wangs and beer, Wangs AND Beer, WANGS AND BEER!!!! Mmm Friday :)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Eating in Church is sometimes ok.. .
Taking communion is really the only time it's cool, that is unless you happy upon a few of the good places in the area that are in fact converted churches. There are two I know of off the top of my head, and I tried one for the first time (in it's current set-up) this week. The Mission Oak Grill in Newburyport was a FAR cry from what I expected.
Admittedly, I should have expected the restaurant would be considered 'fine dining', but the main dining room was far more formal then I would have expected. Though lovely, my friends and I were a little casual and decided we'd be more suited to the bar area, even if it is just a designated area of the main dining room off to the side. Bar = casual. At least in New England! So, we sat a a high top and were provided a martini/wine menu, dining menu and bar menu. Needless to say, plenty of options to choose from and a wide variety of food types from seafood to land lubbers fare. However, what caught our attention at this swanky place was the bar menu's 1/2 off deal! Between 5-7 on weekdays, the bar menu is 1/2 off.. and the bar menu entrees are ample, shareable in some instances. And so, we tried the haddock kabobs (a whimsical presentation of skewered, friend fish and french fries; the chicken club sandwich which was definitely big enough to split, and the meatball slidders which I was not willing to split.. I mean - each slider (3) came with a different topping: roasted red pepper, buffalo mozzarella, and pesto. I would hate to have missed out on trying any of those. And so, I was good and cleaned off the plate - complete with delicious and crisp french fries. It was an unexpected treat for bar food, and the prices were extrememly friendly too! Definitely work checking out.
Another church renovation worth noting briefly, is the HOLY GRAIL PUB in Epping, NH. It's no longer "new" though it's not as well known as many of the newer restaurants in Portsmouth or other seacoast NH towns. But that is probably a good thing because it's tough enough to get in as it is! Some time ago I met a friend at the bar for a beer. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the staff friendly, and the beer selection impressive. I definitely intend on returning for a meal sometime soon and will be sure to include a more thorough opinion on the establishment when I do, but to warrant a mention just for a beer? It has a lot of promise!
Admittedly, I should have expected the restaurant would be considered 'fine dining', but the main dining room was far more formal then I would have expected. Though lovely, my friends and I were a little casual and decided we'd be more suited to the bar area, even if it is just a designated area of the main dining room off to the side. Bar = casual. At least in New England! So, we sat a a high top and were provided a martini/wine menu, dining menu and bar menu. Needless to say, plenty of options to choose from and a wide variety of food types from seafood to land lubbers fare. However, what caught our attention at this swanky place was the bar menu's 1/2 off deal! Between 5-7 on weekdays, the bar menu is 1/2 off.. and the bar menu entrees are ample, shareable in some instances. And so, we tried the haddock kabobs (a whimsical presentation of skewered, friend fish and french fries; the chicken club sandwich which was definitely big enough to split, and the meatball slidders which I was not willing to split.. I mean - each slider (3) came with a different topping: roasted red pepper, buffalo mozzarella, and pesto. I would hate to have missed out on trying any of those. And so, I was good and cleaned off the plate - complete with delicious and crisp french fries. It was an unexpected treat for bar food, and the prices were extrememly friendly too! Definitely work checking out.
Another church renovation worth noting briefly, is the HOLY GRAIL PUB in Epping, NH. It's no longer "new" though it's not as well known as many of the newer restaurants in Portsmouth or other seacoast NH towns. But that is probably a good thing because it's tough enough to get in as it is! Some time ago I met a friend at the bar for a beer. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the staff friendly, and the beer selection impressive. I definitely intend on returning for a meal sometime soon and will be sure to include a more thorough opinion on the establishment when I do, but to warrant a mention just for a beer? It has a lot of promise!
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Mythical Fenway Frank
Now, Fenway is a special, special place. The roar of the crowds, the history of the park, the manual scoreboard, the Green Monster, the seats made for hobbits.. but the most well known item in that park, aside from the players, has to be the Fenway Frank. A much talked about hotdog that requires a significant amount of patience and wealth to acquire. Whether you brave the concession stand lines (often shorter then the ladies' restroom though), or sit in your ticketed spot and wait for a Fenway concessioneer in bright yellow to come your way in the stands, you will wait a long, long time. And then, you have to work out how to 'fix' your frank the right way. From the line you've got to make your way to the napkin/ketchup/mustard table. You can only hope you're not trying to purchase multiple items for multiple people or the balancing act can get supremely entertaining. Pump as much of the yellow and red stuff onto your dog and then make darn sure not to drop it. The stay-at-your-seat alternative though isn't much better -having your dog handed down an entire length of fellow game-watchers in your row, hand after sweating hand, along with limited packets of the red, yellow and (ew) green stuff you might want. I've never ordered onions - good luck getting onions. Point being.. to deal with this mess, that frank had better taste like Filet.
And um yeah, the last Fenway frank I had was the greatest letdown of all time... it was literally cooked SO long that the center of the dog had petrified. It has charred and turned into jerky almost. Can you believe I still ate it? Well, the damn thing cost me at least $5 (I don't remember the prices cause I have blocked out my bankruptcy from one game of two drinks and a dog)... and had taken me a good 25 min to acquire in line.. so by the time we found someplace nice to stand outside where we wouldn't get pushed and shoved, I was NOT about to go complaining to the concession stand about wanting a replacement. But seriously, I've learned a valuable lesson. You're not buying the fenway frank cause it's good, nutritious or even tasty. You're buying into the lure and myth of ballpark history - complete with a hotdog nearly as old as the park itself!
Trust me, the next game I went to, I ate beforehand and very much enjoyed the suckers dropping their cash on the franks knowing I had a much better and more affordable meal. I'd venture to say even McDonalds would have been an improvement, and a trip to the golden arches for me almost always includes a long visit to the porcelain prison afterwards, so that is saying a LOT!
Go Sox!
And um yeah, the last Fenway frank I had was the greatest letdown of all time... it was literally cooked SO long that the center of the dog had petrified. It has charred and turned into jerky almost. Can you believe I still ate it? Well, the damn thing cost me at least $5 (I don't remember the prices cause I have blocked out my bankruptcy from one game of two drinks and a dog)... and had taken me a good 25 min to acquire in line.. so by the time we found someplace nice to stand outside where we wouldn't get pushed and shoved, I was NOT about to go complaining to the concession stand about wanting a replacement. But seriously, I've learned a valuable lesson. You're not buying the fenway frank cause it's good, nutritious or even tasty. You're buying into the lure and myth of ballpark history - complete with a hotdog nearly as old as the park itself!
Trust me, the next game I went to, I ate beforehand and very much enjoyed the suckers dropping their cash on the franks knowing I had a much better and more affordable meal. I'd venture to say even McDonalds would have been an improvement, and a trip to the golden arches for me almost always includes a long visit to the porcelain prison afterwards, so that is saying a LOT!
Go Sox!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Season O' Ice House has begun
I am in trouble now.. the seacoast's ice cream joints are coming back to life JUST in time for me to recommit to my health and fitness plan. Awesome.
The Ice House is a clam shack - come- summer MUST visit restaurant... picnic tables outside and usually a line both for the restaurant that goes out the door and down the ramp, or around the parking lot for the ice cream stand. Now, I understand they don't make their own ice cream, that it's actually GIFFORD brand, but that doesn't detract from the pleasure of walking up to an old work style ice cream shop and ordering your favorite combo or sundae. I might have had trouble telling you what my favorite is, there are lot of flavors that I enjoy. The PURPLE COW yogurt is fantastic - black raspberry yogurt with milk and white chocolate chunks. YUM..
however, at the end of last season and reconfirmed with my first ice cream stand stop of the summer.. is the choc chip peanut butter twirl ice cream with peanut butter sauce. WH-aaaaaaa-T!? So amazing.. so delicious... so sinful. And so I confess that this visit falls on the day I started back at the gym, but maybe that compensates for the shameful self-indulgence that is stopping at the ice cream stand ALONE after having had a nice meal with friends. Needless to say, this isn't something I will have the luxury everyday, or every week for that matter. I need to learn a little self-control though if something, anything, were to tempt me over and over and over again.. it would be peanut butter.. especially peanut butter sauce.
The Ice House is a clam shack - come- summer MUST visit restaurant... picnic tables outside and usually a line both for the restaurant that goes out the door and down the ramp, or around the parking lot for the ice cream stand. Now, I understand they don't make their own ice cream, that it's actually GIFFORD brand, but that doesn't detract from the pleasure of walking up to an old work style ice cream shop and ordering your favorite combo or sundae. I might have had trouble telling you what my favorite is, there are lot of flavors that I enjoy. The PURPLE COW yogurt is fantastic - black raspberry yogurt with milk and white chocolate chunks. YUM..
however, at the end of last season and reconfirmed with my first ice cream stand stop of the summer.. is the choc chip peanut butter twirl ice cream with peanut butter sauce. WH-aaaaaaa-T!? So amazing.. so delicious... so sinful. And so I confess that this visit falls on the day I started back at the gym, but maybe that compensates for the shameful self-indulgence that is stopping at the ice cream stand ALONE after having had a nice meal with friends. Needless to say, this isn't something I will have the luxury everyday, or every week for that matter. I need to learn a little self-control though if something, anything, were to tempt me over and over and over again.. it would be peanut butter.. especially peanut butter sauce.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A weekend to share...
Some people might call me extravagant, even if it is behind my back. But who is going to treat you well if you don't do so yourself? I am accustomed to meals out, a nice home, good vacations, etc. but I've never put something together with the intention of my own PERSONAL satisfaction without the consideration or inclusion of other people. It may sound selfish, but I suppose my goal in planning this birthday weekend retreat was to shout out, "If plan A doesn't work, you have to make a plan B... or you're going to feel let down." And the only thing worse then feeling let down by others, is to feel let down by yourself. And so, I ended up booking a weekend away at an Inn on the coast of Maine with spa appointments, dinner plans and a whole lot of down time! Instead of boring you with most of my relaxation, I wanted to at least offer my insights one what most would consider the highlights of this weekend:
1. The Stage Neck Inn, York Beach, Maine: A quaint, seaside Inn on the water in York Beach. I had an upper beach view room, which meant I could see the beach from over the parking lot, but considering I booked a VERY low rate, last minute on a weekend when they were hosting a wedding, I still considered myself fortunate. Especially with the clean rooms, comfortable beds, and views from the lobby and dining rooms of the Inn. I didn't make it to breakfast the first morning as I chose to sleep late, however, brunch on Sunday was a nice cap off to the weekend, even if I felt slightly out of place in the company of many Seniors... the sausage and eggs benedict was good. And we all know, I'm ok if the food's ok!
2. Mimmo's Restaurants, York Beach, Maine: There aren't a lot of options in York Beach, for fun, casual dining. Fortunately, Mimmo's is a well known, BYO restaurant RIGHT on the beach. Admittedly, I took the MOST backwards route to get to the restaurant when it was actually off the same road as my hotel (oops), but at 7pm on a Friday night (off-season) I was seated immediately. Along with two friends, we cleaned off two bottles of wine (which we brought), a stuff mushroom appetizer that was swimming in delectable marinara sauce, two baskets of vampire-fighting garlic bread, significant platters of chicken parmigiana, Penne Al Forno, and Chicken Rolleta (or something like that.. ). It was a very joyful evening, with great food, awesome conversation and spectacular views. Definitely a fun, casual dining location where you feel like you've either been added to the mob family or you're watching a live Godfather movie! Oh, and a complimentary shot of sambuca or amaretto after your meal? Definite thumbs up!
3. The Spa at Stage Neck Inn: This spa is DEFINITELY new. They are working out some kinks, but the small size and limited patronage did make for a very personal touch. I opted for the Retreat Day Spa (90 min massage, manicure and pedicure) with the added scalp treatment and head massage. I went ALL out.. it was my birthday weekend! I arrived at 11:30am and was escorted into a very tranquil, lovely massage room which I later learned was the 'wet room' for body wraps and other treatments. They do also have a couples massage room across the hall. the masseuse was very gentle (whereas I generally like a more therapeutic, deep tissue massage), but I enjoyed the relaxation and proceeded to fall asleep a few times while she worked her magic. The head and scalp massage, to be honest, weren't anything too special. The menthol/mint essense of the scalp treatment was nice and as expected left my hair incredibly greasy, but for what I paid, I'd almost have preferred someone to have stood behind me and used on of those alien-looking head massagers. No tingles = nothing special.
3. MC Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine: Instead of heading south towards home, it was time to venture North for dinner on the second evening. Hungry after having only eaten a GIANT bag of Peanut M&Ms after my spa day, we drove on the scenic route to find somewhere to go.. passed a few typical Maine Lobster shacks.. which aren't all that original for us. I mean, we LIVE 30 min from here. So, we aimed for the quaint village of Perkins Cove, a small cul-de-sac of small boutiques and an entry way for the famed MARGINAL WAY walkway. Being off season, the drive and parking were very easy, and we had been able to spot a new-looking restaurant called MC Perkins Cove. I was skeptical that my jeans and hoodie would be too casual, but thankfully, the wait staff were in jeans too.. though definitely of the NY designer jean variety. With a small wait, we sat at the bar and were greeted heartily by the bartender, Brian, offering up the HARVEST martini as his specialty - something about pomegranate and chambourd? stop there. I'll have two! Before he could even shake up the drinks, our table was ready. now, that is service. Or so we thought..
The lighting was a little off, making the menu difficult to read from shaddows and the table tops a little worn from the copper being marked by wear and tear. However, the ambiance was refined, elegantly moody, and the tables were full. A rare treat on a weekend in April in Maine! Sadly, we ended up having to wait FAR too long for our martinis to be delivered, even though they sat at the bar waiting to be delivered for quite a while before a waiter finally took ownership of our table. We were then offered water by one person, only to not have him bring it, have another lady offer, not bring it and the later the first person brought us tap water. Did they have to drill a well?? The taste of the martini was delicious though more like juice then a cocktail.. I could have chugged down quite a few but was glad I didn't.. they're not inexpensive. So, I occupied myself with the spiced peanuts that were delivered, very nice and unique, along with the warmed bread. Finally, it was time to order.. but of all the most delectable things to get, how would I choose? I always assume you ask the waiter for a recommendation. And this is a new one. I asked, " what is the chef's specialty?" and learned they all were. Well, how is that helpful? And did I noted that this waiter strategically never offered a name and also deferred to another waiter/bus person if we asked for something? I'll explain more in a moment for my theories on this... So,we opted to share a Beijing Pork appetizer and I had the Lobster Mac N Cheese. Yum, right?
We didn't have to wait too long for the appetizer, not as long as the martinis! But I did have enough time to realize, I wasn't able to relax in this refined, moody setting. Normally, I can have a sip of my cocktail or wine and lean back into my chair, take a deep breath and just enjoy the company, the food and the drinks. But I realized the energy of this restaurant was so manic that it would be IMPOSSIBLE to relax. The wait staff were hurriedly running around the restaurant, numerous wait staff attending to numerous tables, the hostess and a presumed host were assisting, our waiter was sometimes behind the bar making cocktails - and this would all make it appear as if they were SHORT staffed. But that wasn't the case at all. In fact, I think it's fair to say they were so overstaffed that everyone assumed someone else would take responsibility for a table, fulfill a patron's request, etc. Tripping over themselves and getting almost nothing done. I theorized they were all hyper sensitive to the presense of the renowned chef Clark (of Arrows fame) who had a dauting Ramsay-esque quality about him which fascinated me, but at the same time, it made me think it was possible all of the staff were new. Either way, that was EXTREMELY disappointed. Thankfully, the appetizer arrived and I couldn't say enough fantastic things about it.. succulent pork dumplings served with three sauces and a cabbage vinagrette slaw. It was divine.. I could've been content with refills for my dinner! And so my expectations for the entrees was VERY VERY high. I should have known this would mean disappointment.
The Lobster Mac N Cheese was served classically in a baking dish with the cracked topping, wth a half of a lobster on the side.. along with lobster meat baked into the dish. and yes, this was the most expensive dish on the menu. The pasta was cooked well, though not al dente which is ok with me for a baked pasta dish.. the lobster was rich and flavorful, but the cheese sauce was almost like cheese cream, or just cream. It was almost milk-like and had a very very mild cheese flavor. Perhaps it was served too hot, so I let it sit and combine together some, which ended up helping the consistency some, but the cheese flavor was noticeable absent. I can appreciate that you don't want to overpower the lobster, but you can't call something Mac N Cheese if there isn't any cheese to speak of!
My friend had the rainbow trout with herbed polenta. it was a whole friend fish along w/ a cauldron of baked polenta. Tasty, but the fact that the hostess proceeded to spill almost ALL of the delicious sauce onto the table and my friends' hand upon delivery of this fine entree withdrew from her affection for it. admittedly, we ate most if not all of the dishes.. we were hungry and it's not to say these weren't 'good' but they weren't 'great. We both regretted not just ordering and sharing 4 or 5 appetizers! and so when the waiter asked if I wanted to see the dessert menu, I decided to entertain myself... only to have him clearly NOT hear me and bring the check. And so, I never had the pleasure to see what their dessert menu was. But if their desserts were anything like their appetizers, it might be worth going back to check it out.
All in all, nice decor, frazzled ambiance, excellent cocktails and appetizers, mediocre entrees. MC Perkins Cove has the potential to be another amazing and noteworthy bistro, but it has to get through some of these growing pains.. and the staff would be better off taking a CHILL PILL.. or drinking less coffee, either way.
And so that was my spa weekend in maine.. good food, good friends, and GOOD SLEEP. once again, these are only my opinions and I in no way claim to be a certified critic; I am just a wandering gal who enjoys eating out and spending time with friends, and is offering her opinion for you to check out whether in agreement, disagreement, or even if you just don't care!
1. The Stage Neck Inn, York Beach, Maine: A quaint, seaside Inn on the water in York Beach. I had an upper beach view room, which meant I could see the beach from over the parking lot, but considering I booked a VERY low rate, last minute on a weekend when they were hosting a wedding, I still considered myself fortunate. Especially with the clean rooms, comfortable beds, and views from the lobby and dining rooms of the Inn. I didn't make it to breakfast the first morning as I chose to sleep late, however, brunch on Sunday was a nice cap off to the weekend, even if I felt slightly out of place in the company of many Seniors... the sausage and eggs benedict was good. And we all know, I'm ok if the food's ok!
2. Mimmo's Restaurants, York Beach, Maine: There aren't a lot of options in York Beach, for fun, casual dining. Fortunately, Mimmo's is a well known, BYO restaurant RIGHT on the beach. Admittedly, I took the MOST backwards route to get to the restaurant when it was actually off the same road as my hotel (oops), but at 7pm on a Friday night (off-season) I was seated immediately. Along with two friends, we cleaned off two bottles of wine (which we brought), a stuff mushroom appetizer that was swimming in delectable marinara sauce, two baskets of vampire-fighting garlic bread, significant platters of chicken parmigiana, Penne Al Forno, and Chicken Rolleta (or something like that.. ). It was a very joyful evening, with great food, awesome conversation and spectacular views. Definitely a fun, casual dining location where you feel like you've either been added to the mob family or you're watching a live Godfather movie! Oh, and a complimentary shot of sambuca or amaretto after your meal? Definite thumbs up!
3. The Spa at Stage Neck Inn: This spa is DEFINITELY new. They are working out some kinks, but the small size and limited patronage did make for a very personal touch. I opted for the Retreat Day Spa (90 min massage, manicure and pedicure) with the added scalp treatment and head massage. I went ALL out.. it was my birthday weekend! I arrived at 11:30am and was escorted into a very tranquil, lovely massage room which I later learned was the 'wet room' for body wraps and other treatments. They do also have a couples massage room across the hall. the masseuse was very gentle (whereas I generally like a more therapeutic, deep tissue massage), but I enjoyed the relaxation and proceeded to fall asleep a few times while she worked her magic. The head and scalp massage, to be honest, weren't anything too special. The menthol/mint essense of the scalp treatment was nice and as expected left my hair incredibly greasy, but for what I paid, I'd almost have preferred someone to have stood behind me and used on of those alien-looking head massagers. No tingles = nothing special.
3. MC Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine: Instead of heading south towards home, it was time to venture North for dinner on the second evening. Hungry after having only eaten a GIANT bag of Peanut M&Ms after my spa day, we drove on the scenic route to find somewhere to go.. passed a few typical Maine Lobster shacks.. which aren't all that original for us. I mean, we LIVE 30 min from here. So, we aimed for the quaint village of Perkins Cove, a small cul-de-sac of small boutiques and an entry way for the famed MARGINAL WAY walkway. Being off season, the drive and parking were very easy, and we had been able to spot a new-looking restaurant called MC Perkins Cove. I was skeptical that my jeans and hoodie would be too casual, but thankfully, the wait staff were in jeans too.. though definitely of the NY designer jean variety. With a small wait, we sat at the bar and were greeted heartily by the bartender, Brian, offering up the HARVEST martini as his specialty - something about pomegranate and chambourd? stop there. I'll have two! Before he could even shake up the drinks, our table was ready. now, that is service. Or so we thought..
The lighting was a little off, making the menu difficult to read from shaddows and the table tops a little worn from the copper being marked by wear and tear. However, the ambiance was refined, elegantly moody, and the tables were full. A rare treat on a weekend in April in Maine! Sadly, we ended up having to wait FAR too long for our martinis to be delivered, even though they sat at the bar waiting to be delivered for quite a while before a waiter finally took ownership of our table. We were then offered water by one person, only to not have him bring it, have another lady offer, not bring it and the later the first person brought us tap water. Did they have to drill a well?? The taste of the martini was delicious though more like juice then a cocktail.. I could have chugged down quite a few but was glad I didn't.. they're not inexpensive. So, I occupied myself with the spiced peanuts that were delivered, very nice and unique, along with the warmed bread. Finally, it was time to order.. but of all the most delectable things to get, how would I choose? I always assume you ask the waiter for a recommendation. And this is a new one. I asked, " what is the chef's specialty?" and learned they all were. Well, how is that helpful? And did I noted that this waiter strategically never offered a name and also deferred to another waiter/bus person if we asked for something? I'll explain more in a moment for my theories on this... So,we opted to share a Beijing Pork appetizer and I had the Lobster Mac N Cheese. Yum, right?
We didn't have to wait too long for the appetizer, not as long as the martinis! But I did have enough time to realize, I wasn't able to relax in this refined, moody setting. Normally, I can have a sip of my cocktail or wine and lean back into my chair, take a deep breath and just enjoy the company, the food and the drinks. But I realized the energy of this restaurant was so manic that it would be IMPOSSIBLE to relax. The wait staff were hurriedly running around the restaurant, numerous wait staff attending to numerous tables, the hostess and a presumed host were assisting, our waiter was sometimes behind the bar making cocktails - and this would all make it appear as if they were SHORT staffed. But that wasn't the case at all. In fact, I think it's fair to say they were so overstaffed that everyone assumed someone else would take responsibility for a table, fulfill a patron's request, etc. Tripping over themselves and getting almost nothing done. I theorized they were all hyper sensitive to the presense of the renowned chef Clark (of Arrows fame) who had a dauting Ramsay-esque quality about him which fascinated me, but at the same time, it made me think it was possible all of the staff were new. Either way, that was EXTREMELY disappointed. Thankfully, the appetizer arrived and I couldn't say enough fantastic things about it.. succulent pork dumplings served with three sauces and a cabbage vinagrette slaw. It was divine.. I could've been content with refills for my dinner! And so my expectations for the entrees was VERY VERY high. I should have known this would mean disappointment.
The Lobster Mac N Cheese was served classically in a baking dish with the cracked topping, wth a half of a lobster on the side.. along with lobster meat baked into the dish. and yes, this was the most expensive dish on the menu. The pasta was cooked well, though not al dente which is ok with me for a baked pasta dish.. the lobster was rich and flavorful, but the cheese sauce was almost like cheese cream, or just cream. It was almost milk-like and had a very very mild cheese flavor. Perhaps it was served too hot, so I let it sit and combine together some, which ended up helping the consistency some, but the cheese flavor was noticeable absent. I can appreciate that you don't want to overpower the lobster, but you can't call something Mac N Cheese if there isn't any cheese to speak of!
My friend had the rainbow trout with herbed polenta. it was a whole friend fish along w/ a cauldron of baked polenta. Tasty, but the fact that the hostess proceeded to spill almost ALL of the delicious sauce onto the table and my friends' hand upon delivery of this fine entree withdrew from her affection for it. admittedly, we ate most if not all of the dishes.. we were hungry and it's not to say these weren't 'good' but they weren't 'great. We both regretted not just ordering and sharing 4 or 5 appetizers! and so when the waiter asked if I wanted to see the dessert menu, I decided to entertain myself... only to have him clearly NOT hear me and bring the check. And so, I never had the pleasure to see what their dessert menu was. But if their desserts were anything like their appetizers, it might be worth going back to check it out.
All in all, nice decor, frazzled ambiance, excellent cocktails and appetizers, mediocre entrees. MC Perkins Cove has the potential to be another amazing and noteworthy bistro, but it has to get through some of these growing pains.. and the staff would be better off taking a CHILL PILL.. or drinking less coffee, either way.
And so that was my spa weekend in maine.. good food, good friends, and GOOD SLEEP. once again, these are only my opinions and I in no way claim to be a certified critic; I am just a wandering gal who enjoys eating out and spending time with friends, and is offering her opinion for you to check out whether in agreement, disagreement, or even if you just don't care!
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