Asparagus was brought to America by European settlers sometime in the 18th century. Abigail Adams, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson all learned to appreciate asparagus and grew it on their home farms. In the first American cookbook, published in 1796, Amelia Simmons calls asparagus “an excellent vegetable” and wisely cautions against overcooking it: “by over-boiling …
When I visit my cookbook assortment seeking culinary inspiration, the nearly 100-year-old Girl Scout chant sung around the campfire, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold,” reminds me that when it comes to practical matters in the kitchen, old friends still have a lot to offer. One of …
MILBRIDGE — The sign on the door of the Milbridge House Restaurant says it opens at 6 a.m. But, by 5:25 a.m. on a recent Tuesday, several cars were already in the parking lot. When Manager Jessica Leighton unlocked the door five minutes later, a handful of regulars walked in. Fishermen Tee Trundy, David Leach …
ELLSWORTH — Come May, Ellsworth residents and passers-through will have more options when it comes to snacking on Maine’s official state treat. Bangin’ Whoopie, a Bangor-based bakery selling more than 100 flavors of whoopie pies, is coming to the Maine Grind building, said the store’s owner, James Gallagher. The company will set up shop in …
SURRY — No one wants a car repair, especially one caused by Maine’s mud season special: potholes and frost heaves. However, Pugnuts Ice Cream Shop is offering a free scoop of its Frost Heave ice cream to make it all better. Just bring in a receipt for vehicular work resulting from pothole-related damage until the …
Do you ever get a hankering for certain foods, like a cup of steaming hot soup on a cold and drizzly day, the silky smooth and rich taste of chocolate ice cream, the salty crunch of potato chips, the sour crispness of a pickle spear? The human palate, or the way we humans develop our …
All about eggs In many cultures around the world, eggs represent new life, rebirth. For Christians, the Easter egg symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In that spirit, Bar Harbor personal chef and caterer Cas Dowden will show how to prepare frittatas, a type of flat, delicate omelette, deviled eggs and share her knowledge about …
“The September evening set in brisk and chill, and the cheerful fire that snapped and roared up the ample chimney of Captain Kittridge’s kitchen was a pleasing feature. “The days of our story were before the advent of those sullen gnomes, the ‘air-tights,’ or even those more sociable and cheery domestic genii, the cooking-stoves. They …
ELLSWORTH — It wasn’t long ago that empty storefronts dotted Main Street and downtown dining options — especially lunchtime ones — were limited. There were no nachos to nosh, no Mullagatawny to slurp, no Caprese wrap to tuck into. Enter Noele Spurling, sandwich maker, soup concocter and salad guru at John Edwards Market. When she …
Smelt in your mouth In coastal Maine, the sound of peepers signals the start of the smelt spawning run in freshwater tidal rivers and streams. Often spurred by full-moon tides, the fish travel at night and lay their eggs at the foot of falls or rapids. Wearing headlamps or carrying lanterns, dip netters wait at …
