When the leaves start to turn and it gets cooler, my favorite time of year comes around. Yes, it’s fall, but the real reason I love it? Harvest on the Harbor 2022! It should come as absolutely no surprise that this is one of my favorite events in Portland every year. After all, when you center something around local food in the area, it leaves plenty to love! But what’s been so amazing about attending HOTH over the years has been watching it evolve. Keep reading to get the scoop on what you can expect from Harvest on the Harbor 2022! Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Maybe the most exciting thin ..read more

Since its inception, Sur Lie has always been a favorite of mine. Whether it’s Maine Restaurant Week or I’m just dining because I can, every meal has always been amazing. Now, it’s truly at its best with Executive Shef Mimi Weissenborn, and you can experience that for yourself with their chef tasting menu. Keep reading to learn why it’s the best way to treat yourself this season! First Course: Burrata and Moules Frites There’s a lot to love about the chef tasting menu, and it started off incredibly flavorful with burrata and the moules frites. The burrata is light, bright, and just a tad acidi ..read more

As inflation continues to rise, you may be wondering if there are any hidden gems, cheap spots, or hidden steals and deals that you don’t know about around Portland. Here’s my list of some of my favorite hidden steals and deals that I’ve collected over the years, so keep reading to find out more! Omakase Menu at Izakaya Minato It’s no secret to absolutely anyone that Izakaya Minato is my favorite restaurant in Portland. What you may not realize is that the omakase menu is part of the reason why. Omakase, aka the chef’s choice menu, means you put your meal in the chef’s hands. Although the pric ..read more

Everyone knows that summer in Maine is all about lobster, right? Everyone has plenty of favorites and places that they visit, but why not open your mind to more? I had the privilege of interviewing Stu Snyder, one of the co-owners of Beal’s Lobster Pier. Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Beal’s is well-loved, and with good reason! Keep reading to learn all about Beal’s and why you should try them this summer! All About Beal’s Lobster Pier Beal’s has been a Maine institution since it opened in 1932 as a buying station before becoming the lobster institution it’s known and loved for today. It w ..read more

My favorite time of year is almost here again! Yes, you guessed it, I’m talking about Maine Restaurant Week. It’s basically like my Christmas and for good reason. I try to use it as a way to experience new places that I might not have been to yet.  After all, many restaurants use MRW as a way to test out new specials and see how customers react to them. You often get some of the best menus of the year during Restaurant Week!  Last year’s Maine Restaurant Week was not my favorite because we had a COVID exposure at work, right before all of my reservations. I made it to exactly two pla ..read more

The doldrums of winter are upon us. For a lot of people, it’s a time when they spend more time inside their house. With COVID, it’s continued to feel like a time when leaving the house is uncertain. That’s why I love virtual options, like the virtual cooking classes offered by Oasis Free Clinics. I’ve participated in my fair share with 2Gether We Cook, Three of Strong for cocktail classes, and even a fondue class featuring delectable local Maine cheeses. So when I heard about the virtual cooking classes being offered by Oasis Free Clinics in Brunswick, I knew I had to share what they are doing ..read more

Isn’t it crazy to think that 2021 is almost over? It’s such a relief to know that we made it through 2020 in one piece. At the time, it seemed like it was quite literally impossible. Now, with 2022 quickly approaching, I’m back, and hi, shopping local is still incredibly important. But what you may not realize is how much local businesses need YOU right now. I mean each and every person reading this needs to shop local here in Maine this year. Forget Amazon, forget Walmart, and every other big box store. Yes, this is always important, but it’s never been more important than right now. If you w ..read more

Guys, today I want to talk about luxury picnics. Heard of them? Seen one while you were out and about in Portland this summer? If not, it’s time to talk about them. Whether you’re looking for something to do with your girls, or you want to do something special for the one you love, a luxury picnic can fit the bill. Keep reading to learn all about them and which one in Maine I love and got to try for myself! What on EARTH is a luxury picnic? If you’re not familiar with luxury picnics, they are exactly what they sound like. Imagine a picnic, but instead of having your standard picnic basket and ..read more

Although it seems like we’ve made it through the worst of the pandemic, the Delta variant is intent on holding us back. But more than ever, I feel like happy hour in Portland (and hey, maybe everywhere honestly) is just necessary right now. So, the question on my mind has been: where do I go for happy hour? I went through my handy dandy happy hour post from 2015 that I try to update every six months or so, but it seemed like everywhere on there wasn’t offering happy hour. So. I thought, why not start with a new post since there are definitely some new faces and places offering happy hour speci ..read more

Different isn’t always a bad thing and when it comes to the changes that Ada’s has made, it seems like they are really finding their footing and creating a neighborhood spot for delicious on-the-go food. Keep reading to learn more and see how many tasty meals you can fit in their Eat More Pasta tote with only $50 to spend! Say so long to the sit-down restaurant model When you think of Ada’s, you may think of their pasta, pizzas, brunch, and sitting down for a meal. Well, the sit-down restaurant part of the equation has been phased out, but in my opinion, it was to make way for bigger and bette ..read more