Hello fellow (or soon to be) Maine-iacs!
Maine is an incredibly special place to me. I grew up vacationing in York Beach and later in Ogunquit. Then, in 2021 one of my best friends bought a house in central Maine, and I’ve begun spending more time up here again. Right now, I’m here for two-and-a-half weeks, partly for a friend weekend (more on that in a sec), partly for a pseudo-writing retreat away from the city, and partly for a family trip with my aunt at the end of my time here. (And, duh, mostly to hang out with Ruby, my friend’s amazing golden retriever puppy).
Lobster Roll Off
I mentioned on the podcast that my friends and I were hosting a lobster roll off (basically a Chopped-style lobster roll cooking contest). We competed last Saturday and… it was a blast. There were five competitors (and 2 non-competing eaters/judges). Each person had an hour to make a lobster roll using any ingredients they bought or brought and half a pound of picked/shelled lobster meat (we all had the lobster from the same place for consistency). There was themed attire and even a themed playlist.
I went off-recipe with a Mexican-style lobster roll (#3 in the below pic). I started with a heavily buttered and toasted bun, then added a fish-taco-style slaw (coleslaw mix, sour cream, jalapeño, and lime), I topped it with a lobster salad dressed with jalapeño mayo (roughly using this recipe). I’ll admit I had a slight lobster roll induced panic the week before when I couldn’t find any similar recipes online (did this mean it would be bad?!), but am happy to report it was great and my roll took 2nd place.
Our first place winner (#4) made an elote lobster roll topped with grilled jalapeño using this recipe. On her win, local lobster-enthusiast Molly Hales says:
“I worked my buns off and really came out of my shell for this one. The competition was fierce and I wasn’t sure if people would like the elote spin on a classic recipe, but I just rolled with it. I want to thank the judges and give a round of a-claws to my competitors, you all pushed me to be butter.”
Our third place winner (#5) used Jasper White’s recipe (extra style points for whipping her own mayo from scratch), and I’m sad to report our girl Martha’s recipe took 4th place (#2 above). Our loser (#1) also went off-book. The last place roller gave an eight stanza poem when asked for comment, see an excerpt below:
In a quaint little town, where lobster dreams come true,
Lives a contest steeped in tradition, and today, it's me and you.
With bibs tied 'round our necks, and a hunger hard to hide,
We embark on a culinary journey, a lobster lover's wild ride.
And the triumphant final stanza. I’ll put the whole thing in the footnotes for your enjoyment.1
So here's to the lobster roll contest, a feast for all to behold,
Where Maine's bounty unites us, where stories of legends are told.
May our taste buds forever remember the joy of this day,
In this ode to a contest that celebrates Maine's lobster in every way.
I’m very much hoping this becomes an annual tradition. I’m ready to take the (non-existent) crown next year.
Maine Recs
One of my FAQs is for Maine recommendations. And I’m not an expert but I thought I’d share a few favorite spots. Many of these are dictated by the location of my friend’s house and I’m not sure I’d recommend non-coastal Maine as your first Maineventure (I’d probably start with southern coastal Maine [York, Ogunquit, Kennebunkport], but do you!), but definitely worth checking out if you’re passing through. If you have favorite Maine spots, please let me know in the comments!
· McLoons Lobster Shack (South Thomaston, ME): In my substantial but non-exhaustive research, this gets my pick for best lobster roll in Maine. Situated on an island it also gets points for being incredibly picturesque.
· Mabel’s Lobster Claw (Kennebunkport, ME): In a totally different vein, this is my favorite spot for a lobster dinner (also if the photos on the wall are to be believed, it was former President George H.W. Bush’s favorite, too). This is one of the few places where you can still get a baked, stuffed lobster.
· Fisherman’s Catch (Wells, ME): If you’re looking for fried seafood, this is perfect Maine kitsch and the food is excellent. Personally I’m a clam strips girlie with a side of onion strings.
· State Lunch (Augusta, ME): This lightly Asian-inspired restaurant in Maine’s capital is better than it has any need to be. You can plop it down in the middle of New York and it would make a KILLING. The food is fantastic, and they have a super creative cocktail program with seasonal themed menus (currently: Alice in Wonderland). Tip: don’t miss the bao buns, and order from the specials list.
· Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, ME): I get so many requests for Portland recs, but it’s honestly not somewhere I’ve spent a ton of time. My primary Portland rec is the most basic. Yes, the lobster roll is really good. No, it’s not my #1. Yes, you will have to endure an obscene wait time even on a weekday.
· Absolem Cider Company (Winthrop, ME): This newly-opened cider brewery is incredibly picturesque and doing really interesting things with cider (and this is from a girl who doesn’t particularly like most ciders/finds them too sweet). A great place to while away the afternoon or bring groups.
· Glidden Point Oyster Farm (Edgecomb, ME): This was new to me this trip, but we headed to this oyster farm on Sunday and get 2 dozen freshly caught oysters right out of the river it overlooks. They were fantastic, but fair warning you do have to shuck yourself, which does have a learning curve.
Let me know if you try any of these spots on your next Maine trip and what you think.
Other things worth mentioning…
On the pod: We have a two-part listener Q&A for some easy-listening on your roadtrips, errands, or hot girl walks. You can listen to part 1 (entertainment, food/drink, and ~LiFe~ questions) here. Or part 2 (shopping, books, misc) here.
What I listened to: Are we all mutually obsessed with the new Olivia Rodrigo single, Vampire? Because I’m listening to it basically on repeat this week. Also, I’m catching up on podcasts and really loved this episode of A Thing Or Two with Claire & Erica with their current creativity and exercise updates. If you like our Three Things episodes, they have a similar grab-bag vibe.
What I bought: I’m really into overhauling my shorts wardrobe this summer. Last newsletter I talked about my fave new denim shorts (these from the Gap), but I’m also super into these linen shorts from J.Crew (I have them in purple). They’re easy to throw on and perfect for travel since wrinkles look intentional. I also played pickleball for the first time since the last newsletter and am obsessed with finding a cute tennis skirt outfit (taking recs!). I ordered a few and will let you know if any work out.
What I’m reading: Over fourth of July, I read Ali Hazelwood’s newest, LOVE, THEORHETICALLY and wow this romance had a super addictive quality that kept me turning pages and made me sad every time I had to put it down. Plus, I loved learning more about the politics of academia via the characters. Then last weekend I read Katherine Center’s latest, HELLO STRANGER, about a painter who becomes afflicted with face-blindness. If you’re rolling your eyes at that premise, I get it. But my Katherine Center fandom is strong, and she’s become one of my new auto-buy authors so I tried it anyways. And surprise, surprise, it’s fantastic. It doesn’t take my top slot within her oeuvre, but a completely solid PG-13 romance that you’ll enjoy if you’ve liked any of her past books. (If you’re new to her, start with THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE or HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS, which is becoming a Netflix movie later this month).
That’s all for now! I’m off to enjoy Maine!
Xo,
Becca
Here’s the entire poem:
In Maine's coastal haven, where waves caress the shore,
A contest of grand indulgence, a feast worth waiting for.
With bellies rumbling, hearts afire, we gather 'neath the sun,
To celebrate the lobster roll, a delicacy second to none.
In a quaint little town, where lobster dreams come true,
Lives a contest steeped in tradition, and today, it's me and you.
With bibs tied 'round our necks, and a hunger hard to hide,
We embark on a culinary journey, a lobster lover's wild ride.
The air is filled with savory scents, lobster meat kissed by the sea,
Pulled from the depths of ocean blue, to bring delight to you and me.
Freshly baked buns, golden and warm, await their meaty fill,
As we prepare to dive headfirst, surrendering to our will.
The contest begins, and the clock starts to race,
Hands gripping rolls tightly, anticipation on each face.
We devour each succulent bite, an oceanic symphony of flavors,
As the crowd erupts in cheer, the sound of joyful savors.
The sweet, tender lobster meat, a treasure from the deep,
Mingling with creamy mayonnaise, in a marriage meant to keep.
A sprinkle of herbs, a drizzle of lemon, to elevate the taste,
As we savor each mouthful, in this friendly, competitive chase.
Juices dripping down our chins, we soldier on with pride,
Driven by the lobster's allure, our hunger cannot be denied.
Bites turn into seconds, and thirds, and even more,
A contest of wills and appetites, a challenge we gladly explore.
But as the final crumbs are cleared, and the last rolls disappear,
We raise our hands in victory, a testament to our cheer.
For in this hallowed contest, it's not just the win that matters,
But the camaraderie we share, the memories that forever scatter.
So here's to the lobster roll contest, a feast for all to behold,
Where Maine's bounty unites us, where stories of legends are told.
May our taste buds forever remember the joy of this day,
In this ode to a contest that celebrates Maine's lobster in every way.
Just got back from our first ever trip to Maine! We stayed near Boothbay Harbor and also up in Camden! Loved the vibes, the views, and, of course, the lobster rolls. Also, local movels set in Boothbay are the ultimate cozy mystery reads.
I’m reading HELLO STRANGER right now and I agree it’s surprisingly delightful! I wasn’t sure about the premise, but Katherine Center totally makes it work. And LOVE THEORETICALLY is an absolute favorite of the year for me, which I didn’t expect. I really think Ali Hazelwood upped her game with this one, also, if you haven’t read MRS NASH’S ASHES by Sarah Adler, I think you’d love it!