Trip Summary: From One Portland To The Other

Last weekend the in laws came into town and we all made the short trek up to Portland Maine. I have to say that I didn’t expect to love Portland Maine, especially since I am from Portland Oregon and think it’s the best city ever, but I really did love it. Having just done some brief research on the city I discovered that it has won numerous awards so I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Normally I dont place much merit in those types of awards but I must say that with my experience in Portland I can truly say that most of those awards are warranted.

Ranked as Bon Appétit magazine's America's Foodiest Small Town (2009).[11]
Ranked #1 on Forbes.com America's Most Livable Cities (2009).[12]
Ranked #6 on Relocate America's Top 10 Places to Live in 2007.[13]
Ranked #12 in the world by Frommer's in its list of Top Travel Destinations for 2007.[14]
Ranked #20 in Inc. Magazine 2006 Boom Town List of Hottest Cities for Entrepreneurs.
Ranked #7 on the 2005 list of the 100 Best Art Towns in America. (The Countryman Press, April 2005)

Despite the cold, the city was very walkable. The old city section of town was a particular favorite with bars and restaraunts and shops galore. The town has a very old colonial feel that feels a little more European that any city in the US I have been to thus far. It was very charming. Not a typical word in my vocabulary but its really the only word that fits. Portland was one of those places where you feel an aura radiating from it. Almost like you are transformed to a different era. We did a lot of wandering and just taking the city in which made for a relaxing weekend. We went lobstering which was quite the experience. On the way out of town we stopped in at the Portland Headlight which was the total cliche lighthouse but it was pretty beautiful. All and all I ate more lobster and fried food that I have in the last 5 years combined, had some great beers in some great pubs, listened to some good music, and had a great time taking in a very unique American city. My wife's family and I had a great time and I will definitely be heading back up to Portland in the future. Below are some pictures, videos (sideways rookie film job on my phone), and links to some of the sights I recommend hitting if you ever travel there.

Portland Headlight
1000 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME
04107
(207) 799-2661
Email cephl@aol.com
http://www.portlandheadlight.com/

Lucky Catch Cruises
170 Commercial St
Phone: 761-0941
Web: www.luckycatch.com
1 1/2 hour lobstering excursions from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. Pull traps near lighthouses & seals.

Bull Feeney's
375 Fore St
Phone: 773-7210
Web: www.bullfeeneys.com
An Irish pub & restaurant dedicated to the immigrant families who built today's Portland.

Portland Harbor Hotel
468 Fore St
207.775.9090
www.portlandharborhotel.com
Experience Old Port charm, distinctive details & impeccable service

Three Dollar Dewey's
241 Commercial St
Phone: 772-3310
Web: www.3dollardeweys.com
Portland's original alehouse. 36 Draft beers & 42 bottles. Reasonably priced pub fare. Free popcorn!

Portland Lobster Co
180 Commercial St
Phone: 775-2112
Web: www.portlandlobsterco.com
Enjoy Maine's best lobster roll, lobster dinners, fried clams, beer & wine on our large deck!

Fore Street Restaurant
288 Fore St.
Phone: 775-2717
Web: www.forestreet.biz
Offering peasant style American food cooking in the heat of live wood fire ovens.

Novare Res Bier Cafe
4 Canal Plaza
Phone: 761-2437
Web: novareresbiercafe.com
Bier Cafe. Great selection, huge outdoor deck.

Guest Bloggage - Kristen Muir

Guest Bloggage with Kristen Muir - This installment of Guest Bloggage is taking a slightly different turn. But I guess when your first two guest posts are about Chris Isaak's contributions to adolescent males and the power of networking then anything in between is a different turn. Kristen is the wife of Scott. Wow, that sounds really possessive (sorry Kristen). I went to college with Scott where he played D1 soccer, so needless to say we spent some time together in the gym and amongst our circle of friends. About six months ago the two of them moved to New Jersey and Scott and I reconnected and we all have been hanging out ever since. I would like to say that we equally reciprocate our dinner parties, however I would definitely be lying. Kristen is a culinary champ and future Giada/Sandra Lee/Rachel Ray (she's a beauty and she can cook), so naturally Heidi and I find ourselves indulging at their casa more than we find ourselves hosting. Kristen also works for a wine distributor and knows more about wine than most of my friends know about beer. I asked her to write a guest post for BadskiBlog about food and wine and I must say I am a little disappointed that no wine references were made. However, I now have leverage to make her write another post about wine. I hope you enjoy her advice and recipe, and keep her name on your radar screen so when she hits the Food Network with her own show you can be like a tenth grade emo kid who brags about how they were My Chemical Romance fans before they got big and sold out.

Many steer clear of the kitchen and claim "I'm not a good cook" but in reality anyone has the power to be a master chef. The most important factor in my opinion is loving food and loving all of it. I used to hate bacon. My narrow-minded view of this salty and savory meat only recognized it as a fatty breakfast side. Once I opened my eyes, I realized bacon was one of the greatest ingredients of all time. Bacon wrapped fillet mignon, chopped and crispy pancetta over a salad, crispy bacon mixed in to good old mac'n'cheese...the list goes on and on. If you are a vegetarian, vegan, don't eat pork because its the dirty meat kinda person...sorry you'll never be a well rounded cook.

I think people are just intimidated by all of the ingredients and styles that can be combined to create one simple meal. Should I learn to cook Italian, French, Mexican, Southern Comfort...where do I begin and what will I be good at?

Start with the basics. Watch the Food Network. You don't know how to properly cook pasta... Rachel Ray goes over the basics ALL the time. Watch and learn how to chop an onion and all vegetables for that matter. Learn about cooking meats...always best to only flip it once and let that meat rest for a bit after your done cooking to let the juices set.

Learn this simple rule... garlic, onions/shallots, olive oil/butter(yes butter), salt & pepper are essential in the majority of food that is made. I don't even attempt to make a meal without these.

When you become brave enough to start making different types of food (Mexican, Italian, etc.) learn what the key spices are.

Know this...delicious meals do not have to be unhealthy if the right amount of spice and fresh ingredients are combined together.

The recipe below is a perfect example of spice, freshness, and simplicity. Grab and apron and enjoy... the food and the cooking!


Teriyaki Chicken with Pineapple and Coconut Rice

Chicken Glaze
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 shallot minced
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp dry chardonnay ( reserve the rest for drinking with the meal)
- 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp honey

Saute garlic and shallot. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to boil. Simmer for 10 minutes and let cool. Marinate chicken in this glaze or favorite teriyaki sauce for 24 hours. Best if grilled. Pair with grilled pineapple skewers and garnish with chopped green onion and cilantro.

Coconut Rice
- Medium grain rice - desired amount
- 1 can coconut milk - desired amount
- 1 lime
- chopped cilantro

Cook rice. Add lime zest, juice, and desired amount of coconut milk. Add cilantro right before serving.