International Pig Week Continues: The Thirsty Pig in Portland, Maine

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

If you read yesterday's blog post, you will know that I have decided that this week is INTERNATIONAL PIG WEEK on LilyOnTheLam.com.  I started off this pork-themed week of blog posts with the fantastic Divin Porcello - Friends of Ham- restaurant in Budapest, Hungary.  It is now time to take this Pig Week to the United States - Portland, Maine to be exact.

I love Portland, Maine.  It has this weird zen calming effect on me.  

Of course Portland, Oregon also has the same weird zen calming effect on me ... so perhaps just the word "Portland" calms me.

(Side note: which by the way, I have FINALLY started watching Portlandia from IFC.  After years of doing the "Yeah yeah, I know I should watch it - I'll get around to it eventually," I have finally watched a few episodes.  Which, by the way, is the same thing I said about Modern Family [love it] and have continued to say about Downton Abbey and The Strain [yeah yeah I'll get around to it.]  Each episode of Portlandia makes me miss Portland, Oregon.  The quote "Portland is where young people go to retire" cracks me up every time I hear it in the following Portlandia sketch.  Probably because it is somewhat scarily true!  The Dream of the 90's really is alive in Portland!  Sigh ... I miss the 90's.)

While walking down the streets of the historic downtown Portland, Maine area, I saw a sign for "The Thirsty Pig."  I looked it up online and saw that it was known for its quality, specialty sausages and great beer selection.  Win-win!  I knew it was time to check this Pig out!

At The Thirsty Pig, you order your meal at the front counter.  If you like chatting with cute, male hipster counter staff while watching retro cartoons, this is your place!  (Side note:  I always love any place with cute, male hipsters.)

The decor is warm, homey and eclectic.  Very pub-like.  Very friendly.  The patrons and the staff are great.

And who doesn't want their own "dial out a handful" of peanut machine?  I had never seen so many peanut machines in one place!

And in homage to my listening to Cary Elwes' book on the Princess Bride on audiobook, I feel compelled to add this clip when talking about peanuts.  Rest in Peace, Andre the Giant.

But back to the bar/restaurant review ... I saw that The Thirsty Pig menu had a pretzel with mustard and cheese.  I know I shouldn't load up on bread in a specialty sausage house, but I am powerless to resist a good pretzel.  

And this was a good pretzel.

The cheese and mustard were OK, but the pretzel was top notch.

Next on to the pig ... Thirsty Pig's kielbasa with their fantastic pickles on the side!  But to my great surprise, The Thirsty Pig has collard greens as a side dish.  I love me some fantastic collard greens, so I ordered it and hoped the Thirsty Pig could make collard greens as good as I was used to in the South.   

I don't know how Portland, Maine made such great collard greens, but they did it!

And reviewers raved about their pickles and they were NOT wrong ... crunchy, tangy - everything you want in a pickle.

And of course, a cold beer ... or in this case, a cider beer.

The Thirsty Pig indeed has tasty, gourmet, quality, specialty sausages.  I was surprised at how delicious the food was- usually pubs focus more on the beer than the food.  The atmosphere was friendly, jovial and warm.  If I lived in Portland, Maine, this is the type of place I could see myself hanging out once a week.  I only wished my stomach were bigger to allow me to sample more of The Thirsty Pig's fine sausages.  But it gives me a great reason to travel back to Portland, Maine.

P.S.  The Thirsty Pig has great merchandise too.  Look at this fantastic t-shirt I purchased that I just HAD to have!

The front of the T-shirt has The Thirsty Pig logo on it

How are you enjoying International Pig Week on LilyOnTheLam.com?  What are your favorite pork restaurants?  Let me know in the comments section below!

Ohhhhhh America: The Joy of Foam

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

It is Day Three of "Ohhhhhh America" week - where I detail items that make me say "Ohhhhhh America" and make me shake my head in disbelief, sorrow, shame or all of the above.  I usually have "New Product Wednesday" posts on Wednesdays where I review a product that is new or at least new to me.  However since I have many product reviews this week, I am going to skip it for this week.  (Gasp!)

Instead, I have a tale about psychics, foam and friends who take you to see foam.

Over the last year or even longer, I have been re-evaluating various relationships.  Unfortunately there are some people in my life who make zero effort and are quite happy for me to carry the full load.  I'm not too keen on this situation, so I have been expending energy only on relationships with people who have not adopted this Lily 100%, them 0% philosophy.  

Last I checked, cell phones work both ways ... is it so hard to press H - I and then press "send" on a cell phone to text or email?  Or better yet, how about a phone call?  I think if someone has made zero effort to contact me, they have no right to complain about me not talking with them.  It's a two way street, people!  

Sadly, I was disappointed and shocked to learn that a couple people who I considered friends disappeared from sight when I was not the one driving 100% all communication.  People I had helped when they were sick, hospitalized or in trouble.  People I had bought gifts for and went out of my way to see.  People I had hosted parties for, at my expense.  But in the end, the clear knowledge of who is willing to put in effort and who is not is a gift.  No need to look back in anger.  Life is short.  Better to spend time and energy on those who spend time and energy in return.  No need to waste energy on those who do not appreciate or reciprocate.

I have decided that in the future, I need to put people/acquaintances/friends in one of two camps ... those who would drive me out to the middle of nowhere to look at foam and those who would not.  I am pretty sure this will become the new litmus tests for all friendships.  "The Lily/Foam Friendship Corollary" is sure to be the buzz term for all future psychology conferences from now until the end of time.

I was visiting FLL (the woman affectionately referred to as "The First Lady of Lynchburg, Virginia" in past LilyOnTheLam posts.)  FLL had taken me to a cute little shopping area in Charlottesville, Virginia.  I purchased a fabulous ring from a street vendor that I just adore, even though it quickly turned my finger a gray-green.  I heard if you paint the inside of a cheap metal ring with clear nail polish, this can help stop this from happening.  (Also buying better quality jewelry helps too!)

After much shopping, FLL and I sought refuge in a quaint coffeehouse.  Our last stop had been this mystical ethereal shop that sold tarot cards, crystals, etc. and had a cute male cashier.  I told FLL about a psychic I went to while on holiday in Portland, Maine (as it has become a vacation hobby to throw away money on silly pursuits like this).  The psychic had told me that I was an alien.  (My step-father will enjoy that he's been proven correct on this one.)  

Apparently I came to Earth to help "tune up" alien souls to survive here.  The psychic plucked at the air to demonstrate how I rearranged souls' molecules.  (Souls have molecules?)  Evidently I was like the TSA agent at Stonehenge telling the alien souls to make sure their shampoo was in three ounce bottles or less.  

I was not surprised to "learn" that even a millennia ago, I was working annoying jobs.  

Evidently my soul is really, really old.  (A fact that many people will concur on ...)  I sat across from this Earth Mama psychic, taking in her weirdness.  (She told me my aura is also supposedly a blue rose slowly opening in the light.  Whatever that means!)  Then the psychic told me she watched a fascinating special on TV about Stonehenge.  

At this point I had to hold back a snort.  Um yeah what are the odds that this "psychic" watches a TV show on Stonehenge and then surprise, surprise her next client was someone who was supposedly at Stonehenge?  Use a little imagination, woman!  And don't TELL ME about your inspiration for your bogus reading!  Try a little harder, Psychic Lady!  

I do feel like I am an old soul, but I have my doubts whether I was working "the gate" at Stonehenge.  As I told this story to FLL, she metaphorically slapped her head and said "Ohhh I forgot, I want to take you to FOAMHENGE!"

I just stared at FLL.  None of those words strung together seemed to make sense to me.  Evidently my hearing was going.  "Foamhenge???"

FLL said "Yes, there's a Stonehenge in Virginia made out of foam and I want to take you to it."

FLL said this with a perfectly straight face.

I did what any old soul/possible alien gatekeeper would do in my situation when faced upon hearing that someone wanted to drive me out to rural Virginia to show me foam.

I said:  "LET'S DO IT!"

I have never been to the real Stonehenge - the prehistoric monument located in England.  No one knows exactly how these gigantic stones were raised in a semi-circle or what it was used for.  Some think druid burial ground.  Some think alien portal.  Some just revel in the mysteries of the unknown.

Apparently back on April Fool's Day 2004, Mark Cline of Enchanted Castle Studios erected a Stonehenge like replica made entirely of foam near Natural Bridge, Virginia.  I'm not really sure why and I suspect the answer might be "Sounded like a good idea at the time!"

Now Natural Bridge, Virginia is known for its "natural bridge" rock formation.  So I think it is an interesting twist that it is now known for two items - one nature made and one man-made ... rock and foam.

With me navigating by iPhone GPS, FLL and I took off to see "Foamhenge."  I'd like to say there was a kicky theme song playing in the background as we traveled ... I'm thinking like Dolly Parton or Daft Punk.  But I actually don't even recall if we had music on, as we were so determined to see FOAM.

After what seemed like forever, we pulled up into a gravelly makeshift parking lot.  I had been reading Yelp reviews that had complained about the climb from the quasi parking lot to the actual "Henge of Foam."  I looked up the hill and was like "Yelpers, are you a bunch of wussies?"  (I kid, I kid - please don't send me hate mail!)  The climb did not seem bad at all - but if it had been winter, yes it probably would have been somewhat difficult or at least slippery.  (See Foamhenge in summer, people!)

There was actually a large branch to the side of the "entrance" of Foamhenge that I think was a walking stick for those who may have issues getting up the hill.

We met a very nice man at the base of "Foamhenge" who talked to us for awhile and gave us a preview of what we would see at the top of the hill.  (Um, foam?)  Large blocks of foam seem to inspire friendliness.

There was a sign with an ominous warning against defacing "Foamhenge."  Creator Mark Cline says that he is watching and will scratch up your car if you scratch up his foam.  I looked around me to see if I could spot Mark Cline hiding in the foliage, about to pounce.  I am paranoid by nature, I don't need to be told that someone is watching me!  I did appreciate that the sign said "I'm nuts enough to do it!"  I feel like all my work e-mails should have a similar sign-off.

Foamhenge was meant to be a one time April Fool's joke, but it's now been over ten years and people are still coming to see it.  Time and the elements have not been kind to the Henge o' Foam, but I think the exposed foam looks like aged rock from a distance.

In addition to the foam structure, there are signs with theories on how Stonehenge came to be constructed.  (So yes, you're not only looking at foam but learning some nifty fun theories while you're at it!)

The theory that makes me smile is the one where they propose that Merlin of King Arthur's court levitated the large stones into place.  To demonstrate the theory, there is a replica of Merlin (in foam, I think?) looking like he's commanding something or another.  His hand is missing, but his fierceness remains.  Mark Cline modeled the face of Merlin after a friend who has since passed away.  In my book that's a pretty cool piece of immortality - to be reigning over Foamhenge after one has passed.

There is something very Americana about stopping during a road trip to see the biggest ball of twine, a giant thermometer or a two-headed snake in a jar.  I'd like to pretend that I am "above" all this - but I have to admit, I revel in it.  There was no deep thought about "Do I really want to see some foam in the middle of nowhere?"  You just do it!  

On a gorgeous day in May with a very good friend, my eyes feasted upon foam resting in the Virginia countryside.  It was just as inexplicable as the real Stonehenge ... and perhaps may be the closest I get to the real one.  I didn't have any deja vu about "working the gate" at the henge, rearranging alien souls.  But hey, you never know ...

After FLL and I got our fill of the Henge o' Foam, we headed back down the hill.  I turned for one last look and saw a plane streaking the sky like a giant arrow pointing at the Merlin statue next to the Stonehenge replica.  I take this as a sign that of all the theories about how Stonehenge was created, we should put our "faith" in magic.   

When we returned to the car, a family of four were getting out of their car with such excitement to see the Henge o' Foam.  Now I tend to be a cynic who is dead inside (LOL), but I had to smile at just how excited this family was.  It was like they were going to meet Santa Claus, Jesus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy!  I stopped to think when was the last time I was THAT excited about anything?

For me, the "beauty" of Foamhenge was that it reminded me to experience joy in the weird, wacky and wonderful.  I never knew I needed to see some big slabs of foam on a hill, but I am glad that I did!  

I hope you all are filled with as much excitement as that family of four on their way to Foamhenge.  It's important to hold such happiness close to our hearts and be grateful for the moment.  Ohhhh America!

An Omnipotent Mind, A Rude Fur-Wearer, Lucky Guy and Courtney B Vance - A Day in New York City

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

I'm still feeling blue about the passing of Roger Ebert (see my blog post "Goodbye and Thank You Roger Ebert" here).  I was very fortunate to spend my Thursday, April 4, 2013 evening at the Broadhurst Theatre seeing Tom Hanks in the very first week of his Broadway debut in Nora Ephron's "Lucky Guy."  But thinking about the loss of great writers Nora Ephron, Mike McAlary and now Roger Ebert, it's just a sad day.

I am in New York to see my Broadway shows, shop and as my pal Miss Brandy would say "eat my way through the city."  I go to NYC at least twice a year and when I was in management consulting, I was in NYC up to 12 times a year.  But until February 2012, I had never ventured off the island of Manhattan to truly see Brooklyn.  

(A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge where I then turned around doesn't count.  Neither does the time "Little Jen" and I got on the wrong train, ended up in Brooklyn and jumped on the first train headed back to Manhattan.)  

In February 2012, the magnetic pull of actor Kevin Spacey got me to cross over and see Brooklyn.  (Read about it here in:  "A Space in My Heart for Kevin Spacey and Charo - Part One" and "A Space in My Heart for Kevin Spacey and Charo - Part Two."

Now in April 2013, another magnetic force was pulling me back to Brooklyn - Williamsburg, to be exact.  The magnetic attraction of Southern cuisine.  I have had "Eat at Pies 'N Thighs" on my "Must Do" list for quite some time now.  But for this trip, I was ready to make it a reality!

I'll be writing about my lunch experience at Pies 'N Thighs in a future blog post, so stay tuned!  Before and after lunch, I window shopped around Williamsburg.  Seeing that it was 88 degrees when I left Tampa Bay for New York City, I had no idea what to pack.  I ditched my flip-flops for new boots I bought just for the NYC trip.  I had ordered them online and hadn't even tried them on.  I knew it was a risk, but I was willing to gamble with my feet.  (Do you hear my toes screaming "Say what now??") 

These boots were NOT made for walking!

After four miles of walking around Williamsburg (yes, I was wearing my Fitbit pedometer so that is an accurate measurement!), my right pinky toe was in horrific pain and I hadn't seen any taxis at all during my entire shopping afternoon.  Seriously, are there no cabs in Williamsburg?  Someone needs to warn a girl! 

Seeing that I am staying in Midtown East, there was no way I could walk all the way back without doing a battlefield amputation of several toes.  I started praying to Jesus to send me a taxi cab.  But Jesus wasn't amused.  I could distinctly heard a "Get your arse to church more often and then let's talk" whispered in the wind.  Sorry Jesus!

I kept hobbling down the sidewalks with my huge parka coat slowly roasting me as the sun beat down harder.  When I was in Portland, Maine in September 2012, I went to a psychic named Jackie Major (@MajorMeditation on Twitter).  Jackie told me something along the lines of we can use our minds to bend energy (or something like that) and make things happen.  She used the example of thinking really hard about wanting a parking spot close to the mall and then arriving at the mall and finding the first parking spot open. 

 (Hey Jackie, I'd do a better job of remembering what you said if you had sent me that recorded CD of our session that you were supposed to send me!  Not that I'm bitter or anything ...)

My aching right foot needed some energy bending, pronto.  I stopped walking, stood up straight and focused my brain on one thought "I will get a taxi - it will arrive very soon and it will not be occupied.  I will get a taxi NOW."  I started walking and less than 30 seconds later, a taxi appeared.  

HOLY COW!  Jackie Major's mind-bending energy thang really works!  My toes screamed "THANK YOU!" as I literally crawled into the SUV taxi.  I mentally patted myself on my back.  

Evidently, I am all powerful.  

Said with all humility, I am pretty much the Wizard of Oz. 

Just don't look behind the curtain.         

I went back to my hotel, rested my toes and before going out for the evening I changed into much more comfortable ballerina flats.  I had a third row ticket to "Lucky Guy" and I could not wait!  

I am a huge Nora Ephron fan and a huge Tom Hanks fan.  However, I didn't know that Peter Scolari was also in the play.  I kept hoping that at the end curtain, Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari would run out in their cross-dressing Buffy and Hildegard from TV show "Bosom Buddies" costumes.   

Spoiler alert - it did not happen.  I should have used my mind-bending energy thang to make it happen.  Sigh ... hindsight is 20/20.

I also didn't realize that the uber-talented Courtney B. Vance, Maura Tierney and Christopher McDonald were also in the cast!  Wow, this show was going to be amazing!

I dropped my coat off at the downstairs coat check (hallelujah, my parka is too huge for those little Broadway seats).  I stood in line at a bottleneck while people waited for the ushers to give them Playbills and escort them to their chairs.  There was a 50-something, skinny, redheaded woman in a big fur-collared coat who reminded me of Danny DeVito's character's mistress in the movie "Ruthless People" (see clip of the actress here).  The fur-laden woman reached out toward my waist with long, bony fingers.  I was holding a small black sequined clutch purse in front of my waist.   

My brain was thinking "What the hell is this bony, pasty woman doing?"  She looked at me as her hands were reaching at me and asked "Do you have any Playbills?"  My head snapped to attention.  

"WTF?"  

I looked at her and said "No ... because I - DON'T - WORK - HERE."  She just blinked at me as if she couldn't understand why I would be at the theater if it were not to wait on her.  Evidently there was no way I could be a patron of the theater.  

The woman's husband, who was wearing a track jacket; started chuckling.  He may have been amused, but I was not.

I looked at all the ushers - they were generally older, Caucasian, wore tuxedo-style shirts with bow ties and wore big red buttons saying "no cell phones."  I was in a black shirt and skirt and was holding a sequined clutch and no Playbill - but evidently in this hare-brained, fur-wearing lady's mind, I looked like "The Help."  

I grew up in the Midwest and have had more than my share of people confusing me with "The Help" because I'm not 100% Caucasian.  Although I am 1/2 Asian and 1/2 Caucasian, some crack-smokers think I look Latina.  I've had people loudly enunciate "Por Favor" or "Muchos Gracias" when trying to ask me to go fetch them something in a store.  "Um, queso caliente Motherfrickers, I don't work here.  Dos caminos!"  

I walked down to my third row stage left seat, second in from the center aisle.  The fur-wearer was also in my row, but the furthest seat practically sitting in the exit.  Sorry hare-brained lady, this "theater help" apparently has a better seat than you for the play.  

Normally I would attribute an interaction like this to subtle (or not so subtle racism) but seeing that all the ushers I saw were white, does this count as racism to my 1/2 Caucasian side?  Regardless which half the woman was consciously or subconsciously attacking, I was 100% annoyed and offended.  I know it may sound thin-skinned, but when it happens over and over again it can be difficult not to get a bit of bitterness over it.

However the show must go on!  I set aside my prickly annoyance once the play "Lucky Guy" started.  The first scene has all the major actors, except for Tom Hanks.  I was excited to see Courtney B. Vance.  I think he is absolutely the unsung talent of his generation.  He is under-utilized.  I would love to see him in more roles as a serious dramatic lead.  He has such gravitas and yet such subtle, smooth transitions between joy, anger, sadness and happiness.  He is a consummate actor. 

When my sister was twelve years old, I took her on her first trip to New York City and to four Broadway shows.  I let her in on a game I have been playing for years.  Whenever I go to a Broadway show, I search the Playbill to see if anyone in the cast has starred in one of the "Law and Order" television series.  I guarantee you that as long as it's an ensemble piece (no one-person shows), there will be at least one actor who has been on "Law and Order."

"Lucky Guy" was no exception - Courtney B. Vance actually starred in "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" as well as appeared in the original "Law and Order."  Cast members Brian Dykstra, Michael Gaston and Danny Mastrogiorgio as well as three of the understudies had all been on "Law and Order" as well.  Lily's Theater Game wins again!

I knew Tom Hanks would be good in "Lucky Guy."  He's a two-time Oscar winner, for heaven's sake.  Even though this was his first week of performances, I knew he would wow the audience.  Just like in his movies, he took me on an emotional rollercoaster with Nora Ephron's dialogue.  

But it was Courtney B. Vance, who was like a conductor on a train or to stick with the analogy, the calming older brother who sat next to us on the emotional rollercoaster.  He wove the seams of the play and pulled it all together.  Like the Narrator in the play "Old Town," Courtney B. Vance was the nurturing presence and the heartbeat of the play. 

Plus the scene where Tom Hanks and Courtney B. Vance's characters are on a morphine high together brings down the house.  Courtney B. Vance brought as many emotional highs and lows to the party, as Tom Hanks did.  If you're in New York City, I strongly urge you to see "Lucky Guy." 

After the play, once again I was left thinking that Courtney B. Vance needs to star in many, many more roles.  More people need to see the depth and expanse of his creative range.  It is a moral imperative!  I need to do some mind-bending, energy-bending mojo mantra magic on that task.  

Nora Ephron's last play reminded me not only of what a true talent she was, but what a great void we have in her passing.   

After the show, I tweeted: 
 

Loved seeing #LuckyGuy tonight -Tom Hanks was superb and it's always a great delight to see true talent @CourtneyBVance in action! #broadway

     
Well, the Twitter account of Courtney B. Vance (appropriately titled @CourtneyBVance on Twitter.com) favorited my Tweet and re-Tweeted it!  Now I am sure Courtney B. Vance has some social media intern who runs his Twitter account, but in my energy-bending mind I like to think that Courtney B. Vance was kicking back in his chauffeur-driven car checking his Tweets.  I also like to think that he thought "Well damn, that LilyOnTheLam (@SouthTampaLily) is one smart Tweeter!" and promptly favorited and reTweeted my Tweet.  

And if that scenario didn't happen, I like to think that Courtney B. Vance's also uber-talented spouse, the gorgeous Angela Bassett was at home with their twins and retweeting on her husband's behalf.  I see her in my mind's eye spotting my Tweet and knowing that LilyOnTheLam needs to be retweeted to the universe!  

 I suddenly have the urge to watch a double feature of "What's Love Got To Do With It?" and "Waiting to Exhale."

(Side Note:  Angela Bassett, Morgan Freeman and the one sole shot of Gerard Butler's chest were the only reason to see the movie "Olympus Has Fallen.")

I think Courtney B. Vance's Twitter account re-Tweeting my Tweet basically makes me a Broadway star too, right?  Right?  (Just agree with me!)

So what have I learned today as I pranced around Brooklyn and New York City?  

I learned that I should have gone with unfashionable athletic shoes instead of sassy boots.  

I learned that when your toes are about to drop off, my mind can bend energy to make taxis appear out of thin air.

I learned that even though I have a law degree, a good job and a sexy BMW convertible, ignorant people are still going to mistake me for "the help" - and that that is their issue not mine.  

I learned that while some of our great writing talents have been silenced recently, that their voices can still be heard through the talents of others.  Their contributions have immortalized them and they will not be forgotten.

I re-learned that Courtney B. Vance is amazing.

And I re-learned that New York City never fails to disappoint. 

Thanks for reading!

 

    


  

Chowdah Competition: A Tale of Four Clam Chowders - Maine vs. Minneapolis

Hello LilyOnTheLam.com Readers:

I was recently celebrating the Autumnal season in Portland, Maine.  And by celebrating, I mean shoving every tasty morsel I saw into my happy, but rapidly expanding belly.  

As part of this ravenous rampage of the Old Port, Cape Elizabeth and Kennebunkport areas, I had the delicious privilege of sampling New England-style clam chowders.  The following weekend, I went to visit my baby sister Squidge in her first real "on her own, no roommates, post college graduation" adult apartment in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She made me dinner - clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls.  I've always been the one to make treats for my sister, it was wonderful to have her playing chef for me! 

In honor of my chowder-extravaganza, I'd like to share my thoughts and pictures of the four clam chowders I had within a week.  I hope you have the opportunity to welcome Autumn with a great bowl of clam chowder.  (Also, if you're in the San Francisco area, check out my restaurant review of The Blue Mermaid Chowder House and Bar.) 

My first meal in Portland was lunch at DiMillo's Restaurant and Lounge a floating restaurant in Old Port, Portland, Maine.   I like "floating dining" - locally, I like going to Fulton's Crab House in nearby Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida.  However I do find that when restaurants have a "gimmick" there is a greater chance that the cuisine suffers, so I wasn't sure if DiMillo's food would be as good as the environment.  

I ordered a cup of clam chowder and a lobster roll.  (You'll hear about my Lobster Roll in a subsequent LilyOnTheLam.Com blog post.)  The restaurant was spacious and reminded me a little too much of Florida - evidently the Thursday lunch crowd is mostly geriatric at DiMillo's.  I felt like a fetus amongst the blue hairs!  

The restaurant seemed to be overstaffed with hosts/hostesses and understaffed with servers.  My poor waiter was doing his best running between many tables while four hosts (and possibly managers?) stood at the host stand gabbing away.  I wanted to turn around and say "hey, help a server out!"  When I worked in the restaurant industry as an eager high schooler, I worked for a family-owned Italian restaurant.  There was never a "that's your job" snideness.  If a server was swamped, as support staff we pitched in to help.    

DiMillo's Clam Chowder was your basic New England style clam chowder.  I found the chowder to be too thick for my tastes.  I like my chowder to taste like a thick, creamy soup and not like white gravy.  But the flavor was good and there was a nice balance of clams to potatoes.  DiMillo's felt like an old time supper club and for that, I felt very at home and comfortable.  The fellow patrons were very sweet and a load of fun to eavesdrop on!
  

DiMillo's Clam Chowder

The dessert special that day was an Almond Joy cheesecake.  I was quite full from my lunch so there was no room for dessert for me.  However an adorable elderly lady at the table next to me ordered the cheesecake special.  Out comes this huge slab of the best-looking cheesecake ever.  It was all I could do to stop myself from reaching over and swiping a bite.  

The older lady took the most amazing joy in each forkful.  It was the definition of pure bliss.  After about fifteen minutes of such blissful bites, she called it quits - only managing to get through about one-third of the enormous piece.  But she giddily asked the server for a box because she was not going to miss out on the rest of the dessert.  I enjoyed watching someone so thoroughly enjoy their meal.  

So if you find yourself at DiMillo's in Portland, Maine - check out their dessert special and see if it brings as big of a smile to your face as it did for a cheesecake-loving older lady!  And maybe you'll cause other people to share in that smile.  My lunch at DiMillo's was a homey welcome to Portland.

Of the three cups of clam chowder I had in Portland, Maine; each restaurant served their chowder with Westminster Bakers Co. oyster crackers.  These crackers were amazing - light, crisp, flavorful.  I think it's a real testament to their quality that each restaurant I went to served them and I definitely need to find if they are sold locally in Tampa, Florida.  

The next day, I went to Gilbert's Chowder House.  Have you ever heard two lovelier words put together?  Chowder ... House.  I can almost hear the angels weeping at the beauty.

Gilbert's has a long rectangular dining room and it is extremely popular.  There was a line out the door for their chowder.  It is a very casual eating establishment with a wide variety of chowder lovers as patrons.  If you're looking to kick back with a pint of blueberry ale and a steaming bowl of chowder or a lobster roll with everyday citizens, check out Gilbert's Chowder House.

Gilbert's Chowder House's Clam Chowder

Gilbert's Chowder House's clam chowder was the perfect consistency - creamy mouthfeel without being overly thick or wallpaper paste-like.  The aroma and taste had a savory, "fresh from the sea" appeal.  It was cold and rainy when I was at Gilbert's Chowder House and the big styrofoam cup of chowder warmed me from the inside out.  My only complaint was that there were way too many potatoes.  The flavor was great, but I would have appreciated a better clam to potato ratio.  It was more potato chowder with clams versus clam chowder with potatoes.  But it was hearty, rich and very flavorful.  

Gilbert's was also the only restaurant I saw in the Portland, Maine area where they offered clam chowder in bread bowls. So if you prefer your chowder in a bread bowl, head over to Gilbert's.

The third Maine New England-style clam chowder I tasted was in the quaint and charming Kennebunkport, Maine restaurant Mabel's Lobster Claw.  There is a couple public parking lots in Kennebunkport and many dining choices.  However I arrived right at lunchtime and every restaurant seemed to be packed.  I parked my rental car and started walking around.  

I had read good things about Mabel's Lobster Claw, so when I saw a sign advertising the restaurant I walked closer to the sign to see if it had a map to show me where the restaurant was located.  There was an arrow pointing the direction of the restaurant but it was one mile from the main town area.  Since I had just parked my car, I figured a one mile walk in scenic Kennebunkport would be a great start.  I also assumed that since it's off the main drag, there was a good chance there would be an open table.

Unfortunately about 2 blocks into the walk, it started raining heavily.  I was prepared with a thick Nautica jacket and an umbrella.  I walked on the far edges of the sidewalk to avoid getting splashed by cars driving through puddles on the side of the road.  By the time I reached Mabel's, I was very happy to have a roof over my head out of the rain.

Mabel's is extremely homey with a courteous staff.  It had a combination New England cabin/diner feel.  The counter was covered with a delightful array of housemade desserts.  

I ordered the clam chowder and WOW!  Of my three Maine clam chowders, Mabel's Lobster Claw Restaurant's clam chowder was the best.  The chowder was like velvet - silky, hot and creamy.  Just the right combination of clams and vegetables.  The clams were amazingly tender.  I am very used to clams being overcooked and rubbery in clam chowder.  I don't know how Mabel's keeps their clams so tender, but I am mighty glad that they do.          

Mabel's Lobster Claw's Clam Chowder

Mabel's Lobster Claw Restaurant was a perfect "Vacation in Maine" style restaurant.  Friendly, fast service in a warm, laidback environment with amazing seafood.  Win, win and win!

A week later after my Portland Maine vacation, I was presented with another bowl of clam chowder - but this time I was in Minneapolis in my baby sister's kitchen.  She was using the following clam chowder recipe taken from Cooking Light, but had added carrots and more vegetables to it.  Now this may be blasphemy to New Englanders, but we Midwesterners see no evil in throwing more veggies into our chowder.  Also the recipe has BACON in it ... is there anything more wonderful than bacon?  It brings  a nice smoky quality to the creamy mouthfeel of the soup.

Clam Chowder a la Squidge

My sister had carved out hollows in sourdough bread bowls from Panera Bread.  

I couldn't find Westminster Bakers oyster crackers sadly, so I bought a local brand.  Unfortunately they were not as good as Westminster's.

The picture below is my sister's clam chowder pot, mid-fast stirring.  Like the stove in my first "real" adult apartment, my sister's stove runs way too hot.  "Low" is boiling, so it was imperative that the chowder be stirred fast and ferociously!
  

 And voila - my sister's clam chowder with vegetables and bacon served in a sourdough bread bowl.  Fantastic!

You may think there is some nepotism here, but of the four chowders - my sister's clam chowder was my overall favorite because the extra vegetables and bacon balanced out the richness of the clam chowder.  

For freshest, most tender clams, the award would go to Mabel's Lobster Claw.  It also wins for overall ambiance, since the town of Kennebunkport is wonderfully quaint and scenic.  

With autumn upon us, get yourself a bowl of clam chowder.  Where is your favorite place for clam chowder?  Let me know in the comments section below!

Happy Fall 2012!  Chowdah, chowdah, chowdah!

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Welcome Autumn: The Best Mulled Cider I Have Tasted In Years

Restaurant:  Mornings in Paris Old World Cafe
When Visited:  September 2012

Happy Autumn LilyOnTheLam.com Readers:

My October resolution is to write more blog posts since the last 6 weeks have been horrifically anemic.  I not only blame Anderson Cooper for this (read why here), but also "Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter for killing off one of my favorite characters on the show.  (I won't reveal who in case you haven't seen the episode - no spoiler alert here!)  Needless to say, I have been too broken up to blog!

(All kidding aside, the real life death of former "Sons of Anarchy" star Johnny Lewis was a very sad footnote to the TV show scripted death of another character.  The loss of someone so young with so much potential to alleged drug use and mental illness is truly tragic.)

As usual, I have been on the Lam (hence more excuses for not blogging).  I was in Portland, Maine for a 4 day weekend last week.  It was a "see Fall colors, get to wear sweaters, see Comedian Margaret Cho at Downtown Portland's State Theatre (front row seat, baby!) and eat as much lobster as humanly possible" weekend and success was had on all accounts.  I have another trip coming up, but since you all like to stalk me on a regular basis I won't reveal where I am going until after I have returned.  So nyah-nyah-nyah.  ;-)

In the next few weeks, look for my "Lobster Rolls of Portland, Maine" blog post where you get to see my reviews of the 9000 Lobster Rolls I devoured while in Portland.  (OK maybe it just felt like 9000).  Also, stay tuned for an eventual Clam Chowder blog post (but in the meantime, check out my San Francisco clam chowder blog post).  OK basically my trip to Maine was one big eat-a-thon that I did solely and purely out of the goodness of my heart so that I could relate food knowledge to you, my readers.  I am practically Mother Theresa.

(BTW, if you don't know who Comedian Margaret Cho is - check out her website here or look to the left of this blog post for her picture on my blog - she's the sassy Asian woman holding up the "Hi Lily" sign and NO, that was NOT photo-shopped.  (Read all about how this picture came into being by reading the blog post here.)

I have lived in many winter climates, including - Minnesota, Wisconsin and the home of "help, I'm buried under 30 feet of snow" Buffalo, New York.  Living in Florida, I can soundly say that I do not miss snow, ice, sleet, hail, slush, freezing weather, black ice, fishtailing when I drive, scraping windows, blizzards and other manner of winter weather fiascoes.  I don't miss it at all!  But I do miss the change of seasons - when the fall colors emerge and we go from green to a firework storm of golds and reds.  

I also miss the culinary aspects of fall - crunching into a crisp apple with the autumn wind blowing on my face, slightly coloring my cheeks pink with the cold air or diving into a bowl of beef stew in front of a fireplace.  For my first ever trip to Maine, I packed my sweaters and closed-toe shoes (no Flip Flops this time!) and a hunger in my belly for some autumnal food and drink.

The first day in Maine was bright and sunny - very summery.  My three remaining days in Maine were cold with incessant rain.  I walked around the Old Port of Portland but peppered my walk with many shopping and dining stops to duck out of the rain.  On one of the coldest days, I spotted this cute cafe called "Mornings in Paris Old World Cafe."  Why is it that "Mornings in Paris" sounds romantic and alluring whereas "Tea Time in Hoboken" or "Dusk in Tampa" just sounds sad?  (Sorry Hoboken!  Not sorry Tampa!)

The line was out the door of this lovely cafe and that seemed like a good sign that I needed to check this place out!  There was a sidewalk sandwich board sign advertising hot mulled apple cider.  Now THAT was exactly what I needed for my "Celebrate Autumn/Get out of the rain" festivities.  

I stood behind a couple who basically decided that they needed to have every pastry in the bakery case.  "Ohhh I'm getting the cream-filled horn ... no wait, the tiramisu ... no wait ..."  I tried to enjoy the situation for its mirth and merriment, however the bitter wannabe hipster in me rolled her eyes discreetly.  I knew immediately what I wanted.  There was no "oh wait, no --" dialogue going on in my head.  It was hunger at first sight when I spied an apple cider cupcake with cinnamon frosting.  HELLO AUTUMN!  HELLO CUPCAKE - get in my BELLY!     

After I placed my order, I watched the woman behind the counter ladle the mulled cider into my cup.  A traditional mulled cider is apple cider steeped with "mulling spices" such as cardamom, clove-studded oranges, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and brown sugar.  I don't know what Mornings in Paris used for their mulling spices, but I could tell you it smelled incredible. I knew just on smell alone that this cider was going to be very authentic.  

Even with the long line, I outfoxed some of the patrons and snagged a prime table in the back of the cafe.  It gave me a great view for people watching - especially the hottie barista who was way behind in making espresso drinks for the not so patient line in front of him.  He could best be described as a military lumberjack ... a hot military lumberjack.  Every cup of mulled cider should be accompanied by a gorgeous view - fall colors, children playing or a hot military-style lumberjack ... beauty is found everywhere!

While I let my cider cool slightly, I took a picture of my recent shopping acquisition - a gift for my sister from an Old Port gift store store named "Something's Fishy."  Since my sister and I refer to each other as "Feeesheeee" (a long drawn-out, over-emphasized version of the word Fishy), I knew I had to get her a gift from this store.  I texted the picture to my sister and she texted back "Is that a cupcake under that bag?"

  

To bastardize a line from the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" - "Cupcakes move pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss them."  My hyper-alert sister was not going to miss a cupcake sighting.  Obviously you can tell we are related.  

I have to say that without a doubt Mornings in Paris' hot mulled apple cider is the best mulled apple cider I have had in years.  You could tell that the mulling spices had been steeping for quite sometime.  The result was rich, complex and belly-warming.  It was autumn in a cup.  Plain and simple.  It was beyond delicious.  If you are near Portland, Maine, you need to have a cup of this seasonal beverage while it's still in season!  

The apple cider cupcake was not as apple-y or as cider-y as I would have hoped.  The frosting was either old or had a tremendously high fat content as it came off in one piece and was pretty hard.  I figured this was God's way of telling me to skip some calories and fat.  I ate the cupcake instead.  It was large with discernible apple pieces and a nice texture.  If it had just been called an apple cupcake, I would have been happy - but "apple cider cupcake" made me think of a much more spicy, pungent cupcake.  Like a rich spice cake studded with apples.  So the name was more of the let down.  I expected more.  But it was still pretty tasty and the hot mulled cider helped up the moisture content when paired with the cupcake.  

If you're looking for a great autumn-flavored cupcake, go to East End Cupcakes (only a few blocks away from Mornings in Paris) and get their pear cupcake with honey buttercream frosting.  You won't regret it!  (Stay tuned to future LilyOnTheLam.com posts where I write about East End Cupcakes and just how many cupcakes I ate from their store!!!)

Overall, I loved the atmosphere at Mornings in Paris Old World Cafe.  The service was friendly.  The long line of patrons obviously adore the place - which is admirable in an area that has many coffee house and tea house options.  The hot mulled apple cider was the best I have tasted in years and they had a nice variety of baked goods to satisfy any sweet tooth.  The only drawback I saw is that you may be paralyzed by how many wonderful choices of pastries there are ... here's my advice: order them all!  ;-)

If you're not in the Portland Maine area, here are some recipes online for hot mulled cider.  I plan on making some in my crockpot when it finally cools down in Florida.  There may not be snow outside my Tampa Bay window, but I can still enjoy the flavors of autumn.

Mulled Apple Cider Recipes from the Internet:

The Pioneer Woman

Crockpot Mulled Apple Cider

Chef Bobby Flay's Mulled Cider

(And for those who enjoyed alcohol, Chef Bobby Flay's Mulled Red Wine Sangria recipe.)

P.S. Today is Chef Floyd Cardoz's birthday - celebrate my reading my blog post on Chef Floyd's cooking class and also my blog post on Chef Floyd's North End Grill.

P.P.S.  Check out Margaret Cho on tour now - her comedy show is fabulous!

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