Word out on the street is there is a new Taco/Burrito vendor frequenting the corner of Market and Commercial. Today we managed to get a first hand report on the quality of the 3 bean soft taco with fresh salsa. The overall visual impression was favourable and the sprig of fresh Cilantro (Corriander (Eur.)) and slice of lime made for an appealing presentation.

Unfortunately this is one taco that didn’t score highly on the taste test despite a catholic measure of what the vendor was touting as a Salsa Picante and a dolop of Daisy. Your own reports on “Street Food” are welcomed, so let’s have ‘em.

Overall rating 2.5 flying rats out of 5.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Sometimes the best vacation days are the unplanned ones that you take on a whim (something I do a little too often!) This week on Tuesday I decided to take Wednesday off and managed to wrangle a couple friends into going up to Windjammer days in Boothbay Harbor. It was one of those ideal days where we laughed ourselves silly all day long, had ice cream for lunch (It was about 80 degrees, sunny with a nice breeze off the water).

We overheard some people talking that there were far fewer people for the festival this year….perhaps a reaction to the high gas prices? Somewhat ironic to have high gas prices keep people away from something that celebrated the old days of moving people and cargo by the the power of wind…..

We had great fun touring the ship Friendship of Salem which was docked at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. Originally built in 1797, it was a merchant ship, and I think my favorite pic of the day is the one looking up from the cargo hold through the deck to the mast – the glass in the door just caught the reflection of the flag flying high above in the wind.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Our family recently joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) right here in Scarborough at Broadturn Farm. We pay a seasonal fee and are entitled to a weekly share of the farm’s yummy fruits and veggies ( not to mention fresh eggs, and poultry/pork shares too if we want).   So last week we got our first share and as it is still quite early in the growing season it was on the smallish side (pak choi, lettuce, arugula, rhubarb and chive flowers)…but as my friend tells me by the end of the summer, we’ll need 2-3 bags to bring home our share.

So we made lots of salads this week, with varying toppings, like mango, avocado, nectarines and it’s been yummy served on the side of this giant striped bass that Rich hauled in from off of P-Town last week.

And, Maya and I went strawberry picking this past weekend.  Not too many left after early morning visitors, but we came away with about a quart and a half (for $4)…can’t beat that.  And so since I’m not a pie-maker of any sort, I was struggling with what to do with all this rhubarb and strawberries…until, low and behold in EveryDay Food, I found a great recipe for strawberry rhubarb sundaes…so easy and delicious–
and speedy.  Combine a pound of strawberries, hulled and halved, two stalks of rhubarb chopped into 1/2 inch pieces, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of water in a saucepan.  Simmer over high heat for 6-8 minutes.  Cool and refrigerate for about an hour and serve over vanilla ice cream…the girls loved it and so did I.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Yesterday I took a look at the 22nd Annual Audience Reader’s Poll in the Portland Press Herald and I came away sad.

Best Restaurant went to Fore Street. No qualms there, it’s probably my favorite restaurant in Maine as well. Fresh, delicious food impeccably prepared. However, it barely beat out the Olive Garden.

Are you frickin’ kidding me? The f’in Olive Garden came in second?!? That’s like saying the second best “Cheap Eats” in Maine is McDonalds.

Oops, my bad. McDonald’s came in first in that category. WTF?!? With Olive Garden and McDonalds nearly taking the top two food positions that Mainers prefer, I wonder if it’s any surprise that Mainers are so unhealthy and overweight?

Now, obviously national chains may have an unfair advantage to one-site shops. Market Street Eats, one of my favorite lunch spots (and a perfect Cheap Eats joint), can only serve people within walking distance of it’s one store in Portland, Maine. It must be good because it just expanded. Still, it completes with all the McD’s throughout the state for the questionable privilege of being the Audience Reader’s Choice.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

This past weekend, our family stayed with friends on Pleasant Lake in Otisfield, Maine. It was a winter wonderland…There was easily 4+ feet of snow on the ground. The camp sits right at the water’s edge and faces west across the narrow part of the lake. We obtained fishing licenses in advance so that we could participate in one of Maine’s winter pass-times, ice fishing. After watching our friend Mark handle a manual ice auger to efficiently drill 6 holes in the ice to set up traps, by girl friend Jo and I took our best shot drilling a hole in the ice. 15 minutes later, the kids are starting to lose interest. It’s not as easy as it looks!–the ice was about 14 inches thick…

We are now ready for Survivor Winter Edition. Jokingly we wondered aloud why after 8+ years, there has never been a winter-time themed Survivor. Our best guess is that there is very little skin opportunities, (no bikinis, no boobies, no 6-packs), just frost bite.

We also enjoyed some xc skiing, sledding (or sliding as they say here in Maine), and of course Knob Creek.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites