To all our friends, from us at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, we wish you a Healthy and Happy Holiday with those you love! ~Melanie Hyatt & Jim Bazin
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December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
December 20, 2011
Holiday Subscripton Offer 2011
What’s the perfect gift for… the foodie on your list? The relative or friend who is currently a Mainer in exile, longing for a taste of their home state? The person who has everything? Yourself?
It’s not too late to order the gift of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, a gift that will continue giving all year long with great recipes, local chef profiles, in-depth articles, and stunning photography.
Give the gift of Maine’s original food magazine, and make someone smile this holiday season. We’ll send the recipient a gift letter stating this gift is from you. Subscribe today for yourself or someone special on your holiday list!
Happy Holidays to you and those you love!
Melanie Hyatt & Jim Bazin
November 25, 2011
Hartstone Inn For the Holidays
If you are looking for a truly magical dining experience for yourself and those you love this coming holiday season, look no further than Camden’s Hartstone Inn. Publisher Jim Bazin, my son, Jacob, and I enjoyed fine dining at its best there for an afternoon seating of Thanksgiving this year.
The menu was heavenly, and every dish was a rare treat of the most perfectly blended flavors.
For starters, our taste buds were awakened by the Shrimp Timbale with Roasted Butternut Squash and a Thyme-Cream. Beautifully presented and mouth-watering.
Shrimp Timbale with Roasted Butternut Squash and Thyme-Cream.
On to the next course, a Sweet Potato, Rutabaga and Green Apple Soup with a Maple-Cream. We heard an exclamation of “mmm” from around the dining room. Another perfect fusion of flavors and another work of art.
Caught in the act: Savoring the Sweet Potato, Rutabaga and Green Apple Soup with a Maple-Cream. My son Jacob said “This is so good it could be dessert.”
A Cranberry-Lemon Sorbet came to clear our palates, a small portion but an appropriate tangy taste of the holidays which prepared us for the main course, Rosemary-Roasted Turkey with a Pecan-Apricot Dressing and Shallot Smashed Potatoes. The Turkey was so moist, the dressing, potatoes, squash, and stuffing divine. I knew Chef Michael Salmon was in the kitchen.
And lo and behold, the master appeared at our table to say hello and serve us his signature souffle dessert, this one a Pumpkin Soufflé with a Spiced Crème Anglaise. It was to die for!
I must make note here that the wonderful service put this already amazing meal over the top. Our warm and attentive servers made sure our every need was catered to, and we greatly enjoyed our time talking with Chef Michael’s wife, Innkeeper Mary Jo. We enjoyed their genuine hospitality, warm atmosphere, and superb feast.
The Hartstone is offering special dining all this winter with weekly specials, and check out their amazing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Menu.
Spend some time at the Hartstone Inn this season and add more wonderful memories to your holiday!
September 14, 2011
Bob Zimmern’s Prosciutto and Fontina Gougères
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Andrew Zimmern about his Maine connection for our magazine. He shared some wonderful Maine recipes with us, and here is a beloved one made by his dad, Bob.
“These are the ultimate party food! This recipe is one my father has served at every cocktail party he has ever had in his house. He serves them to couples before dinner or for crowds at some of his bigger, swankier affairs. They always disappear fast! They are delicious and addictively easy to make and serve. They look complicated, but done once, you’ll realize that they’re really easy…and the freeze and serve option is fantastic. My wife, son, and I sneak into his kitchen at night and pillage his stash on a regular basis. I also make these with pancetta and Taleggio, or with a blend of cheeses for my vegetarian pals.” —Andrew Zimmern
image: carolscafe.com Continue reading “Bob Zimmern’s Prosciutto and Fontina Gougères” »
September 12, 2011
Gardening in Maine
In issue 13 of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, we introduce Certified Master Gardener Maryann Blaisdell. Her new column, “In the Garden,” explores the inception of her gardening life. She shares what got her started, and how her garden grows.
A slice of Maryann’s garden oasis.
We are pleased that in future issues, she will be sharing her tips, techniques, and insights in a regular column. She reminds us that the key to her ideal garden is to strive for four-season interest through all parts of plants—bark, branches, leaves, and flowers. For Maryann, “the joy of gardening in Maine is enjoying the changes you see in your garden all through the year.”
Maryann, a retired elementary school teacher, now enjoys teaching others to find gardening success through her business, Amaranth.
Look for more from Maryann’s garden in the next issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.
September 8, 2011
Martha Greenlaw’s Shrimp Casseroles
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, Martha Greenlaw shares her love for Maine shrimp in her column, “Notes From Isle au Haut.”
One of Martha’s favorite places to sample and purchase Maine shrimp is at Holbrook’s Dock in Cundy’s Harbor. During the season, Holbrook’s will cook shrimp for their workers, boiling them in 35-gallon drums in the fish house, then offer complimentary samples to customers.
Martha Greenlaw on Isle au Haut.
Martha says she usually takes home about 10 pounds of the tiny delicacies, and one of her tried-and-true Maine shrimp recipes is her Cundy’s Harbor Shrimp Casseroles.
For Martha’s recipe, purchase the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine. Order your subscription today! Also, check out Martha’s archive of great Maine recipes on our blog.
For even more Martha and Linda Greenlaw recipes, purchase their new cookbook collaboration, Maine Summers (for which MF&L publisher and creative director Jim Bazin did all the photography, over 90 images).
September 7, 2011
Critter Corner
We know that many of our readers have beloved animal companions like we do. We also know that there is a lot of care and attention that goes into keeping them healthy and happy.
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, Dr. Judith Herman, DVM, CVH explores some causes and effects of “the itchies and scratchies” in cats and dogs. She provides readers with her expert knowledge, and suggests some natural and homeopathic remedies and recipes for relief.
Please don’t let my canine and feline friends itch & scratch.
We recommend you check out previous issues of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine for more of Dr. Herman’s advice and insight. She has a regular column called “Critter Corner.”
Read the new edition of “Critter Corner” here!
September 6, 2011
From the Pantry: Maine Made Snacks
We all know Maine is increasingly famous for its locally sourced, creative cuisine, but did you know Maine also makes a very large contribution to the healthy snacks category?
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, we explore healthy Maine made snacks in our column, “From the Pantry.” There are a handful of some of our favorites represented, and they are sure to satisfy both your taste buds and your grumbling stomach.
Some healthy Maine-made snacks!
We share and highlight the following:
Healthy snacking!
September 5, 2011
Vegetarian Mushroom Nut Loaf with Red Onion Gravy
Mary Lake, teacher, writer, vegetarian blogger, and mom is getting creative in the kitchen once again with a recipe that’s says fall comfort food! Her variation on traditional meatloaf, made with mushrooms, leeks, wild rice, and nuts is delicious and very satisfying!
In Mary’s Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine column, “Creative Vegetarian,” she provides the recipe for her Mushroom Nut Loaf, plus her savory recipe for Red Onion Gravy. If you are looking for a hearty and healthy meal, this is it!
Mushroom Nut Loaf with Red Onion Gravy
image © Mary Lake 2011
What is especially great about this vegetarian loaf recipe is that it is easy to prepare and comes together quickly. Mary recommends serving it with potatoes and an assortment of roasted vegetables for a flavorful dinner.
If you haven’t checked out Mary Lake’s archive of creative vegetarian recipes on our blog, take a minute to do so now. You’ll want to make them all! She also has a fantastic archive of vegetarian recipes on her blog, mittenmachen.com
Be sure to get your copy of the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine for Mary’s recipes and dozens of others, plus great stories, beautiful images, and lots of Maine foodie fun! Order a subscription for yourself today, and purchase one for the favorite chef in your life!
September 4, 2011
Coming Home To Rock City Coffee
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, Editorial Assistant Chelsea Sonksen makes a touching tribute to a favorite Rockland coffee shop, Rock City Coffee.
From the perspective of a college student, she reminds us that we all have that special place where we go that is a refuge, a comfort, and a home-away-from-home. A place where we are always welcome, a meeting place to share stories and catch up with friends old and new, and a place that home just wouldn’t be the same without. For Chelsea, that place is Rock City Coffee in Rockland.
Chelsea explores the idea of leaving home and after a while returning once again to those places and people in our lives that have the greatest meaning. She reminds us that home is more than just a physical place. It is also a feeling, and a sense of being where we belong.
As she quotes Maya Angelou in her article, “You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it’s all right.”
Read Chelsea’s article “Coming Home to Rock City Coffee” here.
Subscribe to Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine today!
September 3, 2011
Intimate Harvest: A Farm To Table Story
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, contributing writer Fred Fruehan shares one of the most intimate “farm to fork” stories you will ever read.
While everyone likes good food, especially the choicest cuts of meat, few want to know or talk about how it gets to the table. We like to read about eating locally, pore over cookbooks for recipes, and watch celebrity food television shows. But we prefer to leave the harshness of the harvest to the fishermen, farmers, foragers, and butchers.
In this enlightening story, Fred brings out the responsibility, care, and dignity that went into one man’s story of raising Berkshire pigs for slaughter. Dwight Blue of Warren is one of few people who know the intimacy of a real Maine harvest.
Learn how Fred helped Dwight during the final stages of this story, and all the work that went into those final rewards. “It was an honor to play a role in my own food supply,” Dwight stated. “I have a new respect for the amount of work that goes into the raising and harvesting of our food.”
Fred Fruehan (left) and Dwight Blue at work, dressing a Berkshire pig.
image © Maggi Blue, 2011
Like his article in our previous issue, where Fred discussed a real Maine butcher (Fulton Curtis of Curtis Custom Meats in Warren), he continues to bring our readers to the truth and dignity of their local food supply. He reminds us that “opting out of an unsustainable food system” is still an option, and that for those of us who love good local food, there are, thankfully, those who are bringing it to our tables so we don’t have to think about how it got there.
You will not want to miss Fred’s incredibly told story of Dwight Blue’s “Intimate Harvest.” Subscribe to Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine today!
September 2, 2011
Lani Temple’s Grilled Maine Lamb Chops
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, Lani Temple, MF&L columnist and owner of Megunticook Market in Camden shares her favorite meat for the grill: local lamb chops.
Grilled Rack of Lamb, prepared by Lani Temple.
image © Jim Bazin 2011
Lani sources her lamb from Ellsfarm in Union, where Perry Ells and family run a 63-acre sheep farm. The result is hormone and antibiotic-free meat, which translates into better health for all.
In Lani’s column, “Easy Entertaining,” she shares how to prepare and grill racks of lamb chops, including a wonderful homemade marinade. She also offers recipes for all the side dishes to make this the perfect meal. Grilled vegetable and accompanying marinade recipes are provided, as well as a delicious recipe for both jicama slaw and Israeli couscous salad.
Grilled vegetables and Israeli couscous salad.
image © Jim Bazin 2011
The results of Lani’s efforts are always scrumptious as well as beautiful to behold, as you can see from the accompanying images. She is a frequent guest with Rob Caldwell on 207, where she shares her culinary talents.
Learn how to prepare Lani’s perfectly grilled meal from beginning to end in Issue Number 13 of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, available now!
Subscribe today!
September 1, 2011
Laura Cabot’s Eggplant Caponata
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, caterer Laura Cabot shares her amazing recipe for Eggplant Caponata. Laura says, “When in Paris, ratatouille rules. When in Rome, try caponata.”
Laura’s Caponata is a dish tailor made for the bounty of the end of summer garden, and in her recipe she uses eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, and tomatoes (with other special ingredients) for a savory and truly beautiful dish.
Once you’ve tried making this recipe a few times, Laura recommends experimenting and substituting favorite ingredients, making it “your own.” Great with bruschetta or as a quick pasta fix with anchovies and Parmesan cheese, Eggplant Caponata also freezes well, allowing you to enjoy your garden’s offerings over the long winter months.
If you love Laura Cabot’s recipe as much as we do, we’d like to remind you to peruse our blog, where she is a regular contributor with a large archive of great recipes for you to make at home!
Laura Cabot is the president of Laura Cabot Catering in Waldoboro. She is a regular contributor to Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine with her column, “Locavore’s Kitchen.”
Get Laura’s Eggplant Caponata recipe in the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle. Subscribe today!
August 31, 2011
Rustica Cucina Italiana
While some chefs make a straight shot into the culinary world, there are those like Chef/Owner John Stowe of Rockland’s Rustica Cucina Italiana who take a more circuitous route.
After years of travel and working at various professions, John found an opportunity and a niche in the former store Market on Main on Rockland’s bustling Main Street. When the Rockland business came up for sale, John and his wife considered the venture and took the plunge.
Years of on-the-job-training brought John to his current place in the Rockland community. Read all about his travels and learn his story in the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.
Chef John Stowe’s Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Aglio e Olio.
image for MF&L by Lorena Stackpole
Rustica Cucina Italiana has a wide variety of authentic Italian cuisine offerings to satisfy all diners. Chef John shares one of his restaurant’s most popular dishes, Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Aglio e Olio, in issue Number 13 of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine. Subscribe today!
August 30, 2011
Amalfi on the Water
When you think of a quintessential Maine restaurant, you think of an amazing view of the harbor complete with boats, buoys, and sea breezes. And of course, you think of great food. You get all of the above and more at David Cooke and Nancy Wood’s Rockland restaurant Amalfi on the Water.
What makes Amalfi stand out from the crowd? Menu tems you won’t find anywhere else, like paella and mousakka. And unlike many local restaurants, Amalfi is open year round to serve their loyal regular customers through those long winter months when many local restaurant choose to close.
Chef David Cooke’s Seafood Paella with Chorizo Sausage at Amalfi On The Water
image for MF&L by Lorena Stackpole
Amalfi’s community commitment is strong, as is their love of Mediterranean cuisine crafted from the freshest local ingredients. As their website states: “A View to Remember, Food Not to Forget.”
Read about Amalfi on the Water and get their authentic recipe for Seafood Paella with Chorizo Sausage in the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine. Subscribe today!
August 29, 2011
Saltwater Farm Full Moon Supper
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, Editorial Assistant Chelsea Sonksen shares the magic of a Full Moon Supper.
Just what is a “Full Moon Supper”, you may ask? We’ll give you a hint: It is a delightful local and seasonal dining experience to be had during the time of every full moon at Saltwater Farm in Lincolnville.
We were fortunate to join Chelsea on this enchanting communal dining experience. In her in-depth story, she tells the tale of a memorable evening from beginning to end, and Jim Bazin, publisher/photographer, captures the images which made it such a special night.
Saltwater Farm teamwork applied to putting together a delicious . . .
Strawberry-Rhubarb Shortcake
From appetizers to dessert, gracious hostesses Annemarie Ahern, Ladleah Dunn, Abby Avey, and Irene Yadao brought out the best in the seasonal local ingredients they prepared. Included in this article is their elegant recipe for lettuce and lovage soup.
From left: Abby Avey, Irene Yadao, Ladleah Dunn, Annemarie Ahearn
Find out what a Full Moon Supper at Saltwater Farm is really all about in this issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine. Subscribe today!
August 28, 2011
Scott Yakovenko: The Slipway
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, writer Nancy Griffin talks to Scott Yakovenko, chef/operator of the new Slipway restaurant in Thomaston. He discusses his early culinary beginnings in St. Thomas, and his return to Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde where he ran both Cod End and the Dip Net.
After some time recently in Camden running Port Clyde Seafood, Scott was on a search for the perfect place for rustic dockside dining. He found it at the site of the former Harbor View Restaurant in Thomaston.
Bouillabaise at Scott Yakovenko’s Slipway Restaurant in Thomaston.
Scott opened The Slipway this spring, and has been busy ever since serving up a great menu to a large following. He recently added a very popular wet bar to the end of his dock, and reservations are recommended!
Bill Zibylit, Scott Yakovenko, Owen Ostergard with a freshly caught halibut.
The Slipway has a full liquor license, and Scott maintains a strong emphasis on fresh seafood and local products. (Check out the gorgeous 40-pound halibut photo with Scott and his crew Bill Zibylit and Owen Ostergard above.)
Learn about Scott’s training in international cuisine, and get his recipes for Maine Mussels with Dijon and Fresh Herbs and Grilled Maine Lobster with Mustard Scallion Beurre Blanc in Issue 13 of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, available now! Purchase it online and Subscribe today!
August 25, 2011
Lynn Archer: Archer’s on the Pier
Lynn Archer is something of a celebrity in these parts. She single-handedly threw down Bobby Flay in a match up in Buoy Park in Rockland two summers ago with her “King of Lobster Clubs”. Since then, she’s been continuing to do what she loves, cooking at her beloved Brass Compass Café in Rockland. That is, until a business opportunity and a chance to provide jobs in her community inspired her to add to her already adventurous life.
Lynn Archer at her new restaurant, Archer’s On The Pier.
image © Jim Bazin 2011
Lynn recently took helm of the former Boathouse Restaurant in Rockland, transforming it into her new restaurant, Archer’s on the Pier. Calling The Brass Compass her “grown child,” Lynn refers to Archer’s on the Pier as her “new baby.” With seating capacity for 150, a wraparound deck with gorgeous view of Rockland Harbor, and a menu that supports the local bounty of the state, Lynn is full sail ahead.
Cioppino Archer, one of Lynn Archer’s special dishes at Archer’s On The Pier
image © Jim Bazin 2011
Read all about Lynn Archer’s philosophy on cooking and life, her new restaurant, and get her recipe for Cioppino Archer in the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine! Subscribe today!
August 24, 2011
Travel Channel Andrew Zimmern’s Maine Connection
Travel the world over, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a spot as serene, as beautiful, and as delicious as Maine. But don’t take our word for it. Ask Andrew Zimmern, star of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.
In the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle, Andrew has many positive things to say about his adopted home state, including a touching tribute to his dad, who resides in Portland, and the highest praise for many of our favorite local chefs and restaurants. He shares his long history with Maine, his favorite haunts, and some outstanding Maine recipes, like one for Sweet and Sour Bangkok Style Lobster with Red Chiles.
Andrew and Bob Zimmern (Andrew’s father) enjoying some Maine Chowdah.
Whether dining out at restaurants like Hugo’s, Fore Street, or Back Bay Grill with his dad or hauling lobsters with the Greenlaw Family on Isle au Haut, Andrew thinks Maine is where the flavor’s at.
Captain Linda Greenlaw and Andrew Zimmern hauling traps on Isle au Haut.
Don’t miss this in-depth article with great images. Subscribe today to Maine’s original and only true food magazine!
August 23, 2011
Maine Food & Lifestyle Issue 13
We’re excited to report that the new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine prints this week! Issue 13 will be available soon! On the cover, we tease you with our lobster dinners at Cod End in Tenants Harbor.
As always, we offer recipes galore from several Maine destinations. Engaging feature articles complete with gorgeous photography await your every turn of the page.
In this issue: Travel Channel Andrew Zimmern’s Maine Connection, including his favorite Maine restaurants and recipes; Old Vines Wine Bar in Kennebunk, and The Stolen Menu Café and The Union Grill/Bluff Pub in York; Amalfi On the Water and Rustica Cucina Italiana, both well-established Rockland restaurants; two new eateries: Scott Yakovenko’s Slipway in Thomaston and Lynn Archer’s Archer’s on the Pier in Rockland, and much, much more!
Certified Master Gardener Maryann Blaisdell shares her love of gardening in her debut column. Editorial Assistant Chelsea Sonksen offers a tribute to Rock City Coffee and explores the Magic of a Full Moon Supper at Saltwater Farm.
Come sample some more of the good life in Maine. Subscribe or give the gift of good taste to those you love!
