Maine foodie day

11 years ago

This may only mean something to fellow mainers... My mom and I had a some errands to do in Portland last week. Going to Portland is a two plus hour drive for us and an excuse to stock up on some ingredients. First stop of course is Micucci's the best italian grocery store in Maine - for olive oil, saffron, asiago and grana, harissa, pasta, really good salami and chocolate... Then a quick pizza lunch. Off to the Sun Market to stock up on Korean, Japanese and Chinese ingredients - green tea, yuzu kosho, red pepper paste, soy bean paste, daikon, dried red pepper, kim chi, korean soy sauce, nori and a quick korean food lecture from the owner. A visit to the Applestore where my computer has spent the last week being repaired. And finally on the way home a stop at the A-1 diner in Gardiner for dinner with friends which consisted of fish tacos, pork tacos, risotto cakes, liver and a to die for lemon pudding cake. My cooking should be perked up for months.

Comments (14)

mabeldingeldine_gw
11 years ago
Oooooh, sounds good! I love Micucci's! Have you ever tried their pizza? Delish. Just in time for the big storm!

Where is the Sun Market? I need to hit a good Asian market to make some Kao Soi.

edited to correct typo

This post was edited by mabeldingeldine on Wed, Feb 6, 13 at 16:07
annie1992
11 years ago
Yum, it sounds like Michigan, we have to travel a couple of hours to get to anything. Have fun with all your goodies!

Annie
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Stacie, your hubby might question your penchant for hauling groceries, but you only need remind him that he'll likely be glad to eat them! :D I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't help but view road trips in terms of what the opportunities to stock up the pantry might be. In fact, Monday, I'm going into the Bay Area (2 hour drive) to attend an employee reunion dinner at a restaurant where I worked for quite a long time. I am driving my truck, and will load it with several coolers. Dinner will involve quite a bit of wine, and likely cocktails as well, so I have booked a room (there's a bed and breakfast upstairs) and will have as much time as I like the next day to shop. Oh boy. Some women would hit all the clothing outlets etc...What's on MY list?? Indian market-spices, kari leaves, dals, chapati flour. Chinese market & deli-several roast ducks (to freeze), a number of ingredients I don't know the English words for, a few much treasured and very missed green vegetables, various noodles (fresh and dried) some fresh fishes I cannot buy here (to freeze when I get home), good quality long grain rice, some candies and savory snacks I have been missing. Some rice bowls, noodle bowls and ceramic spoons to replace the ones I've broken, and who knows what else. Japanese market-good sashimi quality tuna (to freeze when I get home), my favorite rice (Tamaki Haiga, which is fully milled, but left with the germ intact for better nutrition and I think flavor), various dried seaweeds, various pickles, gobo roots, candies and savory snacks. Hopefully, I'll find some of my favorite chopsticks, the dark wood, square cut, very fine point ones, as some of mine have been wearing down and drying out. Ooooooh, some mochi. At my favorite produce stores, I will buy...well...produce! I expect I will be drying, freezing and canning the contents for several afternoons once I get home. There is so much in the way of produce that I simply cannot find around here. Attempting to keep my freezer(s) space in mind, I will also visit my favorite butcher for a few specialty meats like calves liver, which I can't find 'round here, and also some cuts of lamb that never make it into my local stores. I have a feeling it's going to be an expensive trip. :D
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mustangs81
11 years ago
Sounds like fun and a great haul.

I went to Portland on a Leaf Peeping tour with girlfriends and was itching to go to some of the markets. Unfortunately my travel companions weren't foodies and would question such destinations. Although I did slip in a kitchen store in Bar Harbor and one in North Conway, NH.
nancylouise5me
11 years ago
You didn't stop in at the Old Port for LeRoux? Best kitchen store there is. I love their 2 floors of cooking bliss. They also have over 30 different flavored oils to try. Love the old creeky building too! Sounds like you had a great day. NancyLouise
bob_cville
11 years ago
My father-in-law lives in Maine, so we go up there almost every summer to the Camden/Rockport area, but since we usually fly into Portland, we might stop in the stores you mentioned the next time. Have you tried the sauces from Maine Chefs? The chef that makes the sauces and runs the company is a cousin-in-law to my wife. We've tried several and they have been pretty good.
riverrat1
11 years ago
This sounds like my kind of trip! You sure did get some nice goodies to bring home.

I have friends that live in the Jackson, Maine area and I'm hoping to go for a visit soon. I've been to Portland and ate my way through the seafood restaurants. We didn't have time for shopping but I plan on doing that this trip. I love the old Sebago Lake area! sigh~
User
11 years ago
Hope you got the essentials - bread, eggs, milk, toilet paper. Looks like you'll be snowed in for a while.

Stay safe, and warm.
mabeldingeldine_gw
11 years ago
Riverrat, when you come to Maine, let me know! I'd love to offer lunch, and I'm sort of enroute to Jackman
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
11 years ago
When I was in Maine, I saw two big mooses [ meese? :-) ].

then I was in a bus, the female driver was a moose hunter.

Do they sell moose meat in Maine?

dcarch
agmss15
Original Author
11 years ago
Micucci's is amazing. My mom has been going there forever.

Sun Market is on Congress st. Hmmm my direction giving skills might leave something to be desired... Sort of near the museum and MECA. Do you know where June Fitzpatrick's smaller gallery was? It's around the corner from there.

I haven't been to LeRoux - though I wonder if that is the place my mom has mentioned. Is it a restaurant supply place?

I will keep an eye out for the Maine Chef sauces. The yuzu kosho sauce I got is delicious! Tangy spicy!

As far as the storm I was stocked up but we didn't get hit to badly. Though it was very windy! I was snowshoeing with my puppy and suddenly realized he had run home. Too much for him and not much is!

Jackson or Jackman? I am also on the way if you are going up Rt 201 to Jackman. Let me know if you are going through.

I haven't seen moose meat for sale - usually if you like game meat hunters will provide (if they like you). A friend's 12 year old got a moose a few years ago. It was bigger than him.
riverrat1
11 years ago
mabeldingeldine and agmss15, I will certainly let you know when I go 'up' to visit our friends in Maine. It will be a few months till I'm able to go.

Gotta try some of that Moose meat! ;-)
nancylouise5me
11 years ago
LeRoux is an awesome cooking store agmss. 2 floors of anything your heart desires for cooking and baking. Knives, teapots, food, candy,specialty bakeware and more. It is on Commercial Street I think, across from the harbor and Dimillos's floating restaurant in an old building. They have cooking demos and tastings on the weekends. And when you are done there, there are so many other great boutiques, shops and restaurants for foodies all within walking distance in the Old Port. NancyLouise
cj47
11 years ago
That's my kind of shopping trip! It sounds like a great time, and talking to the Korean owner about cooking--bonus! The great thing about a trip like that is that it actually does make your cooking more fun for quite awhile. Enjoy the haul!!

Cj
agmss15
Original Author
11 years ago
I love the Old Port. My mom and I used to treat each other to occasional clothing splurges at a store called Amaryllis. I don't even know if that store still exists.

Maine foodie day

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