A Love Letter to Portland, Maine
If we could fall in love with a city, this would be the one. Portland was named Bon Apetit’s Restaurant City of the Year in 2018, and for good reason. While most of our picks involved places to eat (or drink), you can’t forget about the store that makes us think of Christmas — L.L. Bean. Or the structures that make the coast-scape famous — lighthouses. While we could write a sweeping ode about our affections for the north-east-coast town, we kept it (relatively) short. See for yourself — Frontier Airline has flights directly in for less than $40, if you catch the sale right. Just saying.
Written by: Josette Deschambeault
Flannel. Wicked Good Slippers. REAL, LIVE REINDEER!
Step ONe:
Shopping at the L.L. Bean Flagship store
Step Two: look like a local
Seabags
Once they were sails on the open sea, now they tote your life around for you.
gotta have a bean boot
fisherman sweater
Amazon, L.L. Bean, the thrift store… find your favorite and rock it. (Probably with your Bean Boots.)
Step three:
See all of the lighthouses.
Step four: eat, drink, & be merry
FoulMouthed Brewing
Featuring beers like “Indecent Thoughts,” this is still a family-friendly brew pub with scrumptious food (nachos, poutine, chocolate donuts) and kick-ass beer.
Blue rooster food company
It’s a tater tot emporium. Need I say more?
“I would rather feel bad
in Maine,
than feel good anywhere else.”
Bar of Chocolate Café
Our favorite is the Bourbon Flourless Torte with fresh Raspberry Sauce, paired with 16 year-old Lagavulin. Or the Chocolate Martini.
Local Favorite: Whoopie pies
Present for every birthday, anniversary, and commemoration. The more the merrier.
Two Fat Cats Bakery is your best bet.
DUCKFAT RESTaurant
Get the Fully-loaded Poutine (with Duck Eggs and Duck Confit).
Maybe wear stretchy pants.
“Maine is a beautiful place that I paradoxically want to hoard to myself and share with everyone I meet.”
Boda “Very Thai” Kitchen+bar
We cried over the quail eggs & tom kha gai soup.
named one of the best breweries in america for a reason.
Your S/O may never leave here. Mine’s still there.
lobster everything
Lobster rolls are a staple.
(Of course, so is Lobster Bisque, Lobster Stew, Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese…)
Step Five: Board your plane with a food coma & maybe a hangover