Living in Boston, if you like short trips by car, you can easily visit all six of the glorious states of New England. Driving distances are doable, and there are things worth seeing.
Especially up north. Especially by the coast.
This means Maine.
Maine is gorgeous. The rugged Atlantic coastline, the freezing ocean, the trees, the quintessential New England towns, Acadia National Park – it’s an experience. Like most of nature traveling, you don’t drive to Maine to see cities. And well, there aren’t many “cities” in Maine anyway. Yet there is one worth visiting – Portland.
As I’m about to leave the East Coast for another Portland, one in Oregon, it’s only fair to pay homage to what Portland, Maine is all about. After all, Portland, Oregon was named after Portland, Maine. So Maine was first. The East Coast was first. Naturally. That’s why we are all so uppity here.
Portland, Maine is only a two-hour drive north of Boston, right up interstate I-95. It’s a small city on the water (population is only about 66,000). It’s pretty; it’s cute; it’s touristy in the summer. Typical New England stuff.
There wouldn’t be anything special about it but for one thing –it’s a foodie’s jewel. There are at least three restaurants worth traveling to from Boston, just for the food. On my recent visit there a week ago, I went with one goal only – to eat at a certain lunch place attractively named Duckfat. Come on, how could you not wish to eat at a place named Duckfat? Fries in duck fat are God’s gift to this planet. So is with duck confit. But back to Portland. Not only does this appetizing city have specialty spice shops, it has at least two wine stores within three blocks of each other that feature wines I’ve never seen (that’s saying something, because I work in the wine business). Go Portland. Really. These people know how to eat. Behold:
Vernacious, spice and condiment store on Commercial St. in Portland. Just spices. SO my thing.
Duck fat fries with truffle ketchup at Duckfat in Portland. Does anything taste better?
If you are interested, Duckfat is open daily 11am – 9pm. They don’t take reservations. It’s just a casual place that serves damn good food.
Tomato Fennel soup at Duckfat. Makes me hungry just remembering the taste.
We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine... 555 Congress, Portland, ME.
