Category Archives: Good Eater Seal of Approval

Oh, Frosty’s!

July 10, 2014 Laurie Graves 3 Comments

On Tuesday, I went to Gardiner to deliver flyers for Railroad Square Cinema—I do this every 6 weeks or so—and when I drove into town, I saw something that made my heart beat fast. Very fast. On the corner, in bold red, stood a sign for Frosty’s Donuts.

Frosty’s Donuts, which sells the freshest, most delectable, most melt-in-your-mouth honey-dipped donuts in the area, maybe even in Maine, started as a small shop in Brunswick in the 1960s. The hours were, ahem, flexible, and for those who didn’t live in Brunswick, getting a donut from Frosty’s was pretty darned hard.

June and Bob Frost had run the shop in Brunswick for decades, but when June died in 2011, Frosty’s was sold to Nels Omdal and Shelby St. Andre. John Frost, June and Bob’s son, taught Omdal and St. Andre the fine art of making donuts, and Frosty’s, which had been closed, reopened on February 11, 2012. But for Clif and me, the problem of accessibility remained the same—the hours were from 4:00 to 1:00, and we are rarely, if ever, in Brunswick before 1:00.

I felt certain I was doomed to a life without Frosty’s donuts, and becasue I am crazy about donuts, even desperate for donuts, as I once wrote, this was not a happy thought. But then something verging on the miraculous happened. Omdal and St. Andre decided to expand their Frosty’s empire to Gardiner, which is much closer to us than Brunswick is. Maybe, I thought, just maybe I’ll be able to get to the Gardiner Frosty’s before it closes for the day.

Therefore, I didn’t fool around when I saw the cheery sign on the sidewalk. I parked, grabbed some Railroad Square flyers, and went straight to Frosty’s, which was not only open but still had a good selection of donuts. Clutching those flyers, I stood in a happy daze, surveying the donut case. Initially, I had planned to buy two donuts, one each for Clif and me. But somehow, that seemed confining. Two out of all those wonderful flavors?

All right, then. Four. I would buy four donuts, each of them different so that we could have a little sampler. But what about that honey-dipped twist?

“Oh, add one of those, too,” I told the woman behind the counter.

“Well,” she said with a smile. “If you’re going to buy five, you might as well make it six. You’ll save money.”

How could I resist? Two of the things I love best—donuts and saving money. “Throw in a chocolate glazed,” I said.

Now, you don’t have to be a math genius to figure out how many donuts apiece that makes for two people. And if you think that any of those donuts made it until the next day, then you would be wrong.

“Clif,” I said later that night. “We have to plan a donut strategy. I go to Gardiner every six weeks. That Frosty’s is open until 5 p.m., and I’ve been given permission to leave Railroad Square flyers there.”

“We’ll eat whatever you bring home,” Clif said philosophically.

I certainly knew that. “But how many should I buy? One twist to be shared by the two of us?” The twists are big, and both Clif and I have a special weakness for them.

Clif shrugged. “It’s not like you’re going every week.”

“A twist each?”

Clif just grinned. “That lemon-filled donut was pretty darned good, too.”

So was the raspberry-filled donut, the chocolate coconut, and the chocolate glazed. They were all tender, flavorful, and moist, without a hit of the awful dryness you find in donuts from another shop that will remain nameless.

Stay tuned. I’ll report back on Frosty’s donuts in six weeks.

Community, Good Eater Seal of Approval, People

A Fun Fundraiser with Sweet Tooth Fudge

April 14, 2014 Clif Graves 1 Comment

Yesterday afternoon, 84 boxes of fudge were delivered to the little house in the big woods. Fortunately, most of that fudge is going to other people and will not be staying here long. Karen and Jeff Toothaker, of Winthrop’s very own Sweet Tooth Fudge, had volunteered to make fudge for a fundraiser for the town library—we will soon be building an expansion—and I volunteered to coordinate this fundraiser. Hence the 84 boxes of fudge delivered to our home.

To say that I have “a sweet tooth” is an understatement. I have never met a dessert that is too sweet for me, and my favorite foods include chocolate, donuts, pies, and, as it happens, fudge. In truth, I am a sucker for fudge, and Sweet Tooth Fudge—smooth and oh-so creamy—is among the best I have ever eaten. (Top honors must go to my mother’s fudge, of course.)

Is Sweet Tooth Fudge the best in central Maine? I certainly think it is. I haven’t tasted any fudge that is better, and most of what I have eaten isn’t even half as good. Sweet Tooth Fudge definitely gets the Good Eater seal of approval.

And what a sweet fundraiser this was! The Toothakers are wonderful to work with, and the fudge practically sells itself. Clif brought a sign-up sheet to work, and Kelly, one of his co-workers, asked who was making the fudge. When Clif told Kelly it was Sweet Tooth Fudge, she immediately signed up to buy 2 boxes.

Because this was a fundraiser for the library, Karen came up with clever literary names to describe the fudge. I especially liked Come Spring by Ben Ames Williams, “inspired by our driveway in spring! A layer of vanilla fudge spread with Jif peanut butter topped with puddles of chocolate fudge.” And I also really liked Talking Walls: Discover Your World by Margy Burns Knight: “Chocolate was first discovered in the tropical rainforest of the Americas. It is now enjoyed everywhere. You choose—pure chocolate or chocolate walnut.”

When Jeff dropped off the fudge, we chatted a little about the fudge-making business. Jeff estimated that he and Karen spend 1,000 hours a year on fudge—14 weekends in which they sell the fudge, and 3 evenings before each weekend to make the fudge. A lot of work, but fun work, Jeff said.

I also had the opportunity to visit Karen and Jeff’s fudge-making facility at their home. One whole room is devoted solely to fudge making, and with its shelves and double sink, the room is neat, orderly, and spic and span. January, February, and March are Sweet Tooth’s slow times, but during busy months when they have lots of fudge on hand, Karen told me I could come to their house to buy fudge directly from them. As I have a brother who is very keen on chocolate fudge and have other family members and friends who like fudge, I expect I will be buying fudge from the Toothakers on a semi-regular basis.

Naturally, I might slide in a box for myself as well. After all, the fudge keeps for 3 weeks, and I can have a thin slice every day for dessert. This will allow me to stay within the parameters of my perpetual diet and yet finish the fudge before it becomes hard and dry. Of course, Clif would help me, too, so there is little chance that a half-pound of fudge would languish in the cupboard.

Anyway, many, many thanks to Jeff and Karen Toothaker for doing this fundraiser for the library. One sweet step at a time, we are getting closer to our goal of raising money for the expansion.

Animals - especially dogs, Good Eater Seal of Approval, People, Restaurant

My 56th Birthday in Pictures (With a Few Words, Too)

September 16, 2013 Clif Graves 4 Comments

Yesterday was my 56th birthday, and it was filled with all things good. First, I met my Franco friends Joan Vermette and Susan Poulin for lunch at the terrific restaurant Petite Jacqueline in Portland. (A very appropriate place for Franco-Americans to meet.) Franco-Americans are a chatty bunch, and Joan, Susan, and I talked well past the closing time. Yikes! I felt a little foolish when I realized the restaurant had closed, and we were still there talking, but the tolerant staff remained pleasant.

After lunch, it was off to SoPo to join Clif and Liam at Shannon and Mike’s home. After cake and presents, we went for a walk on the beach at Pine Point in Scarborough. It was dusk, and the sky and the ocean were silver gray. The dogs frolicked, and I found a piece of sea glass to add to my collection. While there were people on the beach, it was far from crowded. As I mentioned to Shannon, given it’s not too cold, off season is my favorite time to walk on the beach. Lucky Mike and Shannon to live so close to the ocean.

After the walk, it was back to Shannon and Mike’s home for a dinner of appetizers—chicken wings, chocolate hazelnut spread on bread, cheese straws, brie, and crackers.

What a great way to celebrate the start of my 56th year. If only Dee could have joined us…

My birthday in pictures:

Pain Perdu (French toast by another name and utterly delicious)

Good Eater Seal of Approval, People

Kate’s Birthday: Lunch at Hot Suppa in Portland, Maine

July 25, 2013 Clif Graves 2 Comments

Yesterday, I drove to Portland to meet my friend Kate and my daughter Shannon for one of our thrice annual outings to celebrate our birthdays. Although none of us can remember exactly how long we’ve been doing this—3 years? 4 years? Longer?—we’ve been doing it long enough so that we’ve established a routine. As we are all frugal souls, we don’t like to pay parking garage fees, and we have become expert at finding street parking. (If we eat on upper Congress Street, my favorite spot is on State Street, next to the big churches, where there are often empty spaces.) The birthday girl chooses the lunch spot, and afterwards, we go to Whole Foods, where the parking is free, and we can each get a cup of gelato for $2.50.

This time, Kate, the birthday girl, chose Hot Suppa for her birthday lunch. Shannon has been there several times and recommended it. She did not steer us wrong. Hot Suppa, with its brick walls and colorful artwork for sale, is small but cozy and not terribly loud. The perfect place for 3 women who want to celebrate a birthday. The food is hearty and good. As it turned out, we all ordered the same thing, roasted veggies with pesto on a roll served with a side of hand-cut French fries. Oh my, those fries were tasty—perfectly cooked and very hot. The sandwich, with its medley of vegetables, was also tasty. The portions were enormous, and Shannon and I could have easily split a meal. Last but not least, the service was snappy and efficient.

Although getting together is the main point of these gatherings, we also like to exchange gifts. Shannon gave Kate a blue necklace, which she is wearing in the photo of the three of us. Shannon also gave Kate a scarf. Often, for birthday presents, I give cards made with photos I have taken of flowers, my obsession. I figure that even if I forget which photos I have given to various people from year to year and there are some repeats, it doesn’t really matter. The cards are ephemeral and are made to be given away. However, this year I decided to go literary, and I gave Kate 2 books by the Maine writer Monica Wood—Ernie’s Ark and When We Were the Kennedys, both of which are set in Maine. Monica Wood is a real Maine treasure, as I like to say. Not only is Monica a very fine writer, but she also tells a darned good story, whether in fiction, as with Ernie’s Ark, or in nonfiction, as in When We Were the Kennedys.

Somehow, on these gatherings, the weather is always fine, which makes driving to Portland a pleasure. Over lunch and gelato, we talk about books and movies and family and work. How we’ve all come to look forward to our birthday gatherings. These small celebrations add pizzazz and spice to already good lives.

Good Eater Seal of Approval, Nature, People, Restaurant

Lunch at Kennebec Pizza Company

May 3, 2013 Clif Graves

Yesterday, I went to Hallowell—surely the only town in central Maine that can lay any claim to being quaint—to meet my friend Sybil for lunch.

The forsythias were in full bloom, a glorious burst of yellow.

We ate at a tiny pizza shop called Kennebec Pizza Company, which is on the main street.

Sybil has been to Kennebec Pizza before, and she raved about the bacon pizza. As luck would have it, bacon pizza was available by the slice. “It’s my favorite, too,” said the young man who was making pizza. “So I always have it ready.” Sybil couldn’t resist this pizza and ordered a slice. I did the same.

Let’s just say I was happy that I followed Sybil in her choice of pizza. The bacon, cut very fine, added a salty—but not too salty—smoked taste to this pizza with its crisp crust. I whipped through one piece, and I had to use extreme self-control not to get another one. (Susan Poulin, if you are reading this, you might want to make plans to stop at Kennebec Pizza the next time you are in central Maine. I know how much you love bacon.) The slices sell for $2 each, and if this isn’t the best lunch deal in the area, then it must come close.

Sybil and I talked about the usual things we love—movies, books, writing, our families. After we had eaten, we went for a walk by the Kennebec River, where we watched a pair of ducks—mallards, I think—-swim in the still, dark blue water. They were searching for their own lunch. I hope it was as good as ours.

Good Eater Seal of Approval

Frosty’s Donuts in SoPo

April 29, 2013 Clif Graves 2 Comments

On Saturday, my husband, Clif, and I—along with our dog, Liam—drove to South Portland to visit our daughter Shannon, her husband, Mike, and their dog, Holly. Before I go any further, let me make it perfectly clear that visiting with Shannon, Mike, and Holly is reason enough to go to South Portland, or SoPo, as it’s called. However, not long ago, a Frosty’s Donuts came to SoPo, not far from where Shannon and Mike live, and let’s just say that Frosty’s makes the trip even sweeter.

I have been a donut hound for many, many years. Oh, how I love donuts. But good, fresh donuts are not that easy to find, and, no, neither Dunkin Donuts nor Tim Horton’s has fresh donuts. (Once upon a time, Dunkin Donuts had fresh donuts, and each store employed bakers. But those days, alas, are long gone.)

However, Frosty’s, located in Brunswick, Freeport, and South Portland, make their donuts daily, and they are fresh, fresh, fresh. Melt-in-your-mouth fresh. So fresh that two of their raised glazed donuts—my favorite—can go down quick and smooth and leave you wanting a third. Because Frosty’s sells out of donuts so quickly, we are rarely in Brunswick or South Portland when they are open. Therefore, sometime last week, I casually wrote in an email to Shannon: “How about picking up some donuts from Frosty’s when we come down?” And Shannon, being a very nice daughter, agreed to do so.

The day was beautiful, and the trip flew by as donuts, donuts, donuts called to me. We always go to SoPo the back way, through Monmouth, Sabattus, Lisbon, Durham, and Freeport. The road twisted and turned, and lawns and fields were a bright, spring green. With daffodils and forsythia in bloom, Portland was a blaze of yellow, and finally we made it to Shannon and Mike’s home, where a box of Frosty’s donuts was waiting for us.

“Do you want some iced tea?” Shannon asked. “I just brewed it.”

Perfect.

Then we settled in her dining room for donuts and iced tea. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a Frosty’s donut—probably 5 years—but they are just as good as I remembered. There are new owners since I last went to Frosty’s, but they sure have mastered the art of making donuts, which is not that easy. Clif and I have made donuts at home, and we have had very mixed results, with more than our share of “lead sinkas,” as we Mainers put it.

“Well,” I said to Clif on our way home. “Frosty donuts need to be a SoPo tradition. We’ll pay our fair share, of course.”

“Of course,” Clif agreed.

And as we usually only go to SoPo once a month or so, the donuts won’t be too much of an indulgence. Besides, there are so many wonderful parks and walks in the area that we can head out with the dogs as soon as we are finished and walk off those donuts.

A finest kind of day.

Good Eater Seal of Approval, People, Restaurant

Celebrating Shannon’s Birthday at Petite Jacqueline

April 12, 2013 Clif Graves 3 Comments

Yesterday I headed to the big city, to Portland, the Babylon of Maine, to celebrate my daughter Shannon’s birthday. As is our tradition, our friend Kate Johnson joined us for lunch. We all look forward to these thrice-yearly gatherings, where the birthday girl gets to select the restaurant. This year, Shannon chose Petite Jacqueline, a restaurant I had never been to, and it had such good food at such reasonable prices that I am tempted to choose it when we celebrate my birthday in September.

With its yellow walls and banquette seating, Petite Jacqueline really does have some of the feel of a French bistro. (There are tables and chairs as well.) On its website, Petite Jacqueline bills itself as serving comfort food—and this is certainly the case—Hamburgers are on the menu as well as mouth-watering, hand-cut fries. The food is neither fussy nor pretentious, but at the same time, there is a certain elegance to it. This combination of simple but good paired with elegance gives the restaurant a comfortable feel. There is nothing stuffy about Petite Jacqueline, and for a relatively small restaurant, there is a surprising amount of elbow-room, always a plus for me as I hate being crowded.

A friendly but intense server told us about the specials, one of which was English pea soup. Being Franco-American, I am very familiar with pea soup, but I had never heard of English pea soup, and it seemed a little odd for a French-style bistro to be serving English pea soup. On the other hand, maybe it was done in the spirit of multiculturalism, which I am always in favor of.

“What is the difference between French pea soup and English pea soup?” I asked the server.

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

So I decided to order the soup, and as soon as the server brought it to me, I could immediately see the difference. This English pea soup was bright green and puréed. French pea soup, at least the one I am used to, is made with dried split peas and ham or salt pork. It is yellow and thick with texture, almost like a porridge, and the ham gives it a smoky taste. This green pea soup, on the other hand, had a fresh—one might even call it green—taste with an onion undertone. I ate every bit of it and could have eaten more.

Shannon ordered the hamburger, which came with those delectable fries, and Kate got the sandwich au fromage, which featured brie and apricot preserves and came with a side salad. Both said their meals were delicious.

Along with buying the birthday girl lunch, we like to give presents, and Kate brought Shannon The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. (If you are unfamiliar with this terrific blog, then don’t hesitate to check it out.) Shannon has been wanting the cookbook for sometime, but Kate, who lives out of state, did not know this. Perhaps, I joked, Kate received psychic emanations from Shannon: “I want the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.”

Whatever the case, Shannon was very pleased with the book, and we were all very pleased with our meals at Petite Jacqueline.

Kate’s birthday is next, and I can’t wait to see which restaurant she will choose.

Wherever we go, we always bring our good appetites and our bonhomie.

The gang of three, with Kate being a little squeezed out

Good Eater Seal of Approval, People

Lunch with Ali at Pad Thai Too in Waterville

February 16, 2013 Clif Graves 2 Comments

Yesterday, I went to Pad Thai Too in Waterville to have lunch with Ali, who is engaging, friendly, and down-to-earth. She’s a master gardener who manages to grow astonishing amounts of vegetables on an in-town lot. (Those who are looking to reduce the cost of their grocery bill should take note—-growing your own food really makes a difference.) She also has hens. Our conversation ranged from family to gardening to cooking to politics. She enquired after the girls and Liam. I asked about her home renovations, and we chatted with the ease of old friends. But here’s the thing—we aren’t old friends. Yesterday was the first time we had ever met. But in a sense, we are old friends, having met several years ago through our blogs—Henbogle and A Good Eater. We’ve been wanting to get together for lunch for some time, and finally, we did.

Blogs are curious things. There is a wide variety of blogs, which include online columns for newspapers and magazines as well as the musings of everyday people about their lives and the things that interest them. My blog and Ali’s blog fall into the latter category, and we follow each other’s blogs because of our similar interests. In an earlier time, letters might have been the vehicle for this kind of friendship, but today we have the computer, which allows communities—around the state, around the country, around the world—to form based around those similar interests.

“I’d really like to organize a get together for Maine bloggers,” Ali said.

“That would be so much fun,” I replied.

And we also agreed that we’d like to get together for lunch again, when schedules allow.

Now, what about the food at Pad Thai Too? It was very tasty indeed. I had a combination platter of spring rolls, vegetarian fried rice, satay, and dumplings. I ate every bit of it.

Ali had Khao Soi, a soup with chicken (tofu is also an option), crispy noodles, soft noodles, mustard greens, red and yellow curry, and coconut milk. It looked so good that I vowed to order it the next time I went to Pad Thai Too.

All in all, a very good day with great food and even better company.

Good Eater Seal of Approval, Restaurant

A Lobster BLT at the Red Barn

February 11, 2013 Clif Graves 1 Comment

Well, we finally made it to the Red Barn on Sunday. The $25 gift card that I won was absolutely screaming to be used, and use it we did, splurging on the Barn’s famous lobster BLT as well as an order of mixed seafood, homemade chips, and a whoopie pie to share. (Clif and I do have our limits, broad though they might be.) Adding 2 small drinks, the grand total came to $31, which seemed like a very decent price for all that luscious seafood.

The lobster BLT came on homemade whole wheat bread, which certainly jazzed up the whole sandwich. So much so, in fact, that I would be tempted to order a plain BLT on another visit. But what did I think about the lobster BLT? I liked it, but I didn’t love it, which was a little surprising when you consider how keen I am on lobster rolls and BLTs. Somehow, though, the strong, smokey taste of the bacon overpowered the sweet, subtle lobster. Now, if I had lobster on a regular basis, I think I might have enjoyed the combination a little more. But, for me, lobster is a treat, something that I only have very occasionally, and when I do have it, I really want to taste that lobster. I don’t want tomato sauce with it. I don’t want spices. I just want lobster. In the future, I will stick with a plain old lobster roll.

But it was fun to try the lobster BLT. And the chips and the mixed seafood—shrimp, scallops, fried clams, and fix—were their usual delectable selves. For dessert, the whoopie pie was moist and chocolatey—everything a whoopie pie should be.

All in all, what a meal! We left feeling full, content, and happy, and ready to return on another cheat day.

Good Eater Seal of Approval, News, Restaurant

Hot Chickity Chicken—Winning a $25 Gift Certificate to the Red Barn in Augusta

February 6, 2013 Clif Graves 2 Comments

The title of this post says it all! On Monday, I won a $25 gift certificate to one of my favorite places to eat—The Red Barn in Augusta, Maine. (I put my Good Eater business card in a bowl for their monthly drawing.) I’ve written about the Red Barn before, about how their seafood and chicken are so good and so fresh and about how the employees are actually paid a living wage. The employees, in turn, are friendly, cheerful, and efficient, which is not always the case with those who work in service-sector jobs. Being paid a decent wage really affects morale, and employees that feel valued give better service. It’s as simple as that. In addition, Laura Benedict, the owner, frequently makes the Red Barn available for fundraisers for area charities and organizations.

Although you can get a lobster roll or grilled fish or chicken sandwiches at the Red Barn, they specialize in fried chicken and seafood, and it is my restaurant of choice for my weekly treat day, where I let myself eat as much as I want without worry of calories. Sometimes I get fried chicken, other times it might be shrimp, but I always order a side of their crisp homemade chips. And to guild the lily, Clif and I often split a homemade whoopie pie for dessert.

Then there are the prices—$10.95 for a lobster roll, $8.75 for a pint of chicken, and $12.25 for a pint of shrimp. I have become so spoiled by the Red Barn’s prices and the quality of their food that I can hardly bring myself to order seafood anywhere else.

Yesterday, I went to the Barn to pick up my gift certificate. The smell of fried seafood, chicken, and chips was so enticing that I could barely restrain myself from ordering right then and there. But I did. Clif has a cold and quite rightly didn’t want to eat out last night. Also, my cheat day is on the weekend, either Saturday or Sunday, and while I could have ordered one of their grilled sandwiches, I had something a little richer in mind. So using all my self restraint, I collected my gift certificate, and as I tucked it into my pocketbook, I glumly reflected on our supper that night—spicy lentils over rice. Now, lentils are very good in their own way, but they certainly can’t compete with the Red Barn’s food. I hurried out the door and didn’t look back.

“Friday,” I said to a sniffling Clif as I picked him up from work—his broken wrist still prevents him from driving. “If the weather and our health allow, we’ll go out to eat on Friday, which, after all, is the start of the weekend.”

Nodding, Clif blew his nose and agreed that by Friday, he should be ready for a meal at the Red Barn.

So until then, I will be daydreaming, at odd moments, about our Friday meal at the Red Barn. I’ll be getting something rather over-the-top, something I’ve never ordered before—a lobster BLT. (Susan Poulin, are you reading this? I know you’re as wild about bacon as I am.) How will lobster go with bacon? I have no idea. Stay tuned, and I’ll let you know.

Notes From the Hinterland