Bangor Metro - June/July 2022

THE FOOD ISSUE

S E A FOO D R E C IP E S& O U R FOO D O B S E S S IO N S

P LU S ...

best RESTAURANTS

2022

$5.95

June/July 2022

TI D EP OO L TR EK S, O U TDOO R EX ER C IS ES , A B AC K YA R D O B ST AC LE CO U R SE & M O R E!

VOTES ARE IN! HERE ARE YOUR PICKS FOR THE 2022 BEST RESTAURANTS! T H E W IN N E R S , THE CLOSE CALLS & A L OO K B AC K

CONTENTS

JUNE/JULY 2022

FEATURES 33

BEST RESTAURANTS 2022

You voted — and the results are in!

Discover the best local dining spots as choosen by our readers

48

DINING BACK THEN

A look back to Maine restaurants of yesteryear

54

IN MOTION

Robinson Ballet shows its staying power

IN EVERY ISSUE 08

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Local events and our Pop Quiz

14

33

BEST RESTAURANTS 2022

16

IN SEASON NOW

OBSESSIONS

What we can’t get enough of this month

30

PERSONAL FINANCE

6 things I wish I knew about money when I was 18

WOODS & WATERS

Paddling Maine waters

62

THE VIEW FROM HERE

A non-cook’s signature dish

FLIP OUT FOR SUMMER FUN & FOOD! Flip this issue for a list of Maine events and happenings!

2 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

PHOTOS: (TOP) MARK MCCALL; (BOTTOM) SARAH WALKER CARON

60

ARTS & CULTURE 10

GET OUTSIDE & PAINT

Experience the wilderness with a plein air painting group

FOOD & DRINK 16

IN SEASON NOW

Summer is the perfect season for seafood, and we’ve got three great recipes to try

HEALTH & FITNESS 18

HIKE ME

Hike and explore tide pools filled with marine life

22

GET OUT & GET FIT

Four exercises you can do outside

HOME & FAMILY 26

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Create the ultimate DIY backyard obstacle course

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

Ready for Summer & Dining in RESTAURANTS ONE OF THE LAST MEALS I ate in a restaurant in 2020 before the pandemic hit Maine and changed everything was lunch at Portland Pie Company in Downtown Bangor. I was with my kids who ordered the pesto tortellini and a meaty pizza. I can’t remember what I ordered, but I remember the day — it was one of those cold, slushy February days where it feels like the snow will never stop.

I had no idea that it would be years before I ate in a restaurant again.

Still, it’s somewhat fitting that one of my first times to dine indoors a few weeks ago was at the same restaurant.

My boyfriend and I stopped for a drink before seeing Hockey Mom at the Penobscot Theatre Company.

AS SUMMER APPROACHES THIS YEAR, I AM EXCITED TO RE-EXPERIENCE MAINE’S DINING SCENE AGAIN. HOW ABOUT YOU? This month present the winners of the 2022 Best Restaurant Awards (page 33), a list of reader favorites selected by voters like you. Along with that, we’re also taking a trip down memory lane to restaurants past with writer Richard Shaw on page 48. It’s a fun read. And don’t miss our celebrations of two winning restaurants on pages 37 and 44.

If you’re looking to cook at home, this month’s In Season Now is all about seafood on page 16.

But that’s not all. Looking for something fun to do outside? Plein air painting (page 10) might be the creative activity you’ve been seeking. You can also take your exercise outside (page 22), create an unforgettable obstacle course (page 26) or hike on some lovely trails (page 18).

And so much more! I hope you love this issue of Bangor Metro as much as I do. And if it’s your first time (or first time in awhile), do consider subscribing. It’s thanks to subscribers that we’re able to keep creating this magazine issue after issue.

HAVE A WONDERFUL EARLY SUMMER!

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

Connect With Us Online bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro talkback@bangormetro.com

4 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

www.bangormetro.com P.O. Box 1329 Bangor, Maine 04402-1329 Phone: 207.990.8000

PUBLISHER

Richard J. Warren

EDITOR

Sarah Walker Caron scaron@bangordailynews.com

SALES MANAGER

Laurie Cates

lcates@bangordailynews.com

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Allen

aallen@bangordailynews.com

SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Fred Stewart

fstewart@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Rosemary Lausier rlausier@bangordailynews.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Bob Duchesne, Erinne Magee, Emily Morrison, Aislinn Sarnacki, Richard Shaw, Katie Smith

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

WHERE ELSE CAN READERS Bangor Metro Magazine. June/July 2022, Vol. 18, No. 5.

Copyright © Bangor Publishing Company.

Bangor Metro is published 10 times annually by Bangor Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form without the written permission of the Publisher.

Bangor Metro is mailed at standard rates from Portland, Maine.

FIND YOUR

Opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements do not represent the opinions of the staff or publisher of Bangor Metro magazine. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit.

Bangor Metro magazine to the best of its ability ensures the acuracy of information printed in the publication.

Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged. Letters to the editor, story suggestions, and other reader input will be subject to Bangor Metro’s unrestricted right to edit and publish in the magazine both in print and online.

Editorial: Queries should be sent to Sarah Walker Caron at scaron@bangordailynews.com.

Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Sales Director Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.

Subscriptions/Address Change: The one year subscription cost is $9.95. Address changes: to ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of the cover date. Please contact Fred Stewart at 207-990-8075.

Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.

COVER PHOTO: ©ANNATA78/ADOBE STOCK

“

WORK?

My book, “This Is Camp: Poems and stories about Maine’s Most Celebrated Getaway,” can be purchased locally at The Briar Patch or via online booksellers.”

— ERINNE MAGEE, CONTRIBUTOR

“My latest hobby is trying to master YouTube. It’s not as easy as one might think! The Bob Duchesne Channel is at www.youtube.com/channel/ UCNORXpTNkCAxIOBtUDJjnpQ. Youtube addresses are weird. Actually, anyone searching on Bob Duchesne will find it immediately.”

— BOB DUCHESNE, COLUMNIST “You can find more of my work at emilydenbowmorrison.com. Or if you’re interested in working on your own writing, I teach a couple of grad courses on creative writing and writing & publishing at the University of Maine at Orono — love to see you!”

— EMILY MORRISON, COLUMNIST “My latest cookbook, “The Disney Princess Tea Parties Cookbook,” came out in April and is for all the lovers of tea parties and Disney princesses out there. It’s available wherever you buy books (signed copies at The Briar Patch!)”

— SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

WHAT’S HAPPENING

ALL ABOUT PAUL!

Tourists flock year-round to take a picture with Bangor’s giant Paul Bunyan statue — let’s see what you know about this iconic attraction...

JUNE/JULY THROUGH JUNE 5 JACOB LAWRENCE: THE LIFE OF TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE Last change to see Jacob Lawrence: The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture at the Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville. The American artist Jacob Lawrence (1917– 2000) enjoyed a career retrospective at the Seattle Art Museum in 1986. Early the same year, popular uprisings in Haiti led to the ousting of dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier. Lawrence, as if in response to this convergence of events, revisited paintings he had completed fifty years earlier and adapted them for this series of 15 prints. This installation of the recently acquired print series reflects the order of the paintings and includes Lawrence’s original captions.

JUNE 23 - JULY 31 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL Penobscot Theatre Company is closing out their 2021-2022 season with a hilarious production of 9 to 5 The Musical, which has music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick. Directed by Ethan Paulini, this show tells the story of friendship and revenge in the rolodex era. When three female co-workers are pushed to the boiling point, they each concoct hilarious plans to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. Hey, a girl can scheme, can’t she? Tickets are available through the Penobscot Theatre Box Office.

OTHER THINGS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER …

PENOBSCOT THEATRE COMPANY’S DRAMATIC ACADEMY will be staging The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical in July. Check their website at www.penobscottheatre.org for dates, times and locations.

FOR MORE EVENT LISTINGS...

Flip this issue over to Experience Maine for a long list of summer events all over our great state!

Find answers below.

Answers to this month’s Pop Quiz: Question 1: A; Q2: B; Q3: A; Q4: C; Q5: A. 8 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

PHOTO: ©VTT STUDIO/ADOBE STOCK

TEN BUCKS THEATRE will be staging an outdoor production of Romeo and Juliet. Check their website at tenbuckstheatre.org for dates, times and locations.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

ARTS & CULTURE

GET OUTSIDE

& Paint EXPERIENCE THE WILDERNESS WITH A PLEIN AIR PAINTING GROUP

BY AISLINN SARNACKI

I

magine sitting at the edge of the ocean, of the top organizers for the group Plein paintbrush in hand and a canvas before Air Painters of Maine. “It’s sort of like you. A cool, salty breeze tempers the heat knitting or playing music or reading of the sun. Shadows shift and deepen and where it just relaxes you. It’s wonderful to grow. Waves dance and sparkle. Your goal is be outside in a beautiful spot and get lost to capture a piece of this dynamic scene, to in your painting.” bring it to life in washes of watercolor.

Plein Air Painters of Maine was created Painting outdoors — also known as in 2009, when four professional artists from plein air painting — is a great way to experience the wilderness while stretching your artistic “IT’S SORT OF LIKE KNITTING OR PLAYING muscles. It can also be a MUSIC OR READING WHERE IT JUST social opportunity.

RELAXES YOU. IT’S WONDERFUL TO BE Throughout Maine, OUTSIDE IN A BEAUTIFUL SPOT AND GET groups gather at scenic locations to paint outdoors.

LOST IN YOUR PAINTING.” Whether you’re a seasoned artist or new to painting, these events are an opportunity to learn new techniques, make friends and the Boothbay region started painting together — hopefully — create a painting or two. outdoors every Wednesday. In just a few years, “Any time there’s a sunny Maine the group grew rapidly to over 600 members. day, I’d rather be outside than inside It later split into regional chapters, each with and painting,” said Fran Scannell, one their own schedule of group plein air events.

10 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

Today, seven chapters plan events throughout the state, starting at the beginning of May and running until the end of October. Locations of the events vary from state parks to private islands.

Beginners are more than welcome.

“People are really supportive of each other,” said Sarah Baskin, who joined the group last year and became the top organizer for the Acadia Region chapter. “If someone were new and came [to a plein air painting event], there would be plenty of people to ask questions of or to watch.”

Plein air painters use a variety of materials, including watercolor, oil and acrylic paints. Some paint on canvas and use an easel, while others use different types of paper and clipboards or notebooks.

“Some people are really quick and just come with a sketchbook and sketch a few things,” Baskin said.

Sarah Baskin’s easel displays a plein air painting she’s working on at Fort Point State Park in Stockton Springs during a group painting event in the summer of 2021.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH BASKIN

All Plein Air Painters of Maine group paint events are free. However, some locations such as state parks do charge admission fees. Also, due to limited parking or space at some locations, members are sometimes asked to RSVP. Attendance varies depending on the weather, time of year and location, Scannell said.

“Sometimes I’m painting with three other people, and sometimes it’s 20,” she said.

Plein air painting can be challenging, even for experienced artists. Painting outdoors forces artists to work more quickly than they may be accustomed to in the studio. This is because the weather and lighting are constantly changing.

The western Maine chapter of Plein Air Artists of Maine occasionally plans events in the late afternoon so artists can capture the sunset over the western Maine and New Hampshire mountains.

“For that, we get there about three hours before sunset,” said Mike Ranucci, lead

Members of Plein Air Painters of Maine paint on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA KELLEY

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

ARTS & CULTURE

Beverly Bono works on a painting at Town Hill Park in Blue Hill during a group painting event in the summer of 2021.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH BASKIN 12 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

organizer for that chapter. “Then we paint like crazy just before the sun goes away.”

In addition, the weather is often unpredictable.

“It can start raining in the middle of when you’re painting, or the wind can pick up and knock things over,” Baskin said. “I actually lost a painting last summer … it blew into the ocean and I had to borrow a friend’s boat to go and try and retrieve it.

Miraculously, it was fine.”

The social aspect of plein air painting can also be challenging for some artists who are accustomed to working alone in their studios. When painting outdoors, especially if you’re in a public location, you will often attract comments or questions from passersby, Baskin said. That amount of interaction is only amplified if you’re painting with a group.

However, some painters thrive from sharing their process and observing others work. “...WHILE MY PAINT IS DRYING, I’LL WALK AROUND AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE PAINTING AND THEIR CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES.”

“I’m a very social person,” Baskin said.

“With watercolor, you need some things to dry, so while my paint is drying, I’ll walk around and talk to people about what they’re painting and their challenges and successes. And sometimes we go out to lunch together after.”

Other groups and businesses in Maine offer plein air painting experiences, some of which include more structured instruction.

For example, Coastal Maine Art Workshops organizes a variety of plein air and studio workshops, each hosted by a different artist. And the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park has hosted several multi-day plein air painting workshops over the years.

“You can go to five different artists’ workshops and they’ll teach you five different ways to do plein air paintings,” Ranucci said. “There’s a lot of different ways to do it, and they’re all valid. You can take something from each workshop and incorporate it into what you do.”

If interested in learning more about Plein Air Painters of Maine, visit pleinairpaintersofmaine.blogspot. com, where you’ll find a link to a list of upcoming events. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

OBSESSIONS

OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

SNACK

BREWER NUTRITION WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Following an especially strenuous walk on the Brewer waterfront (who knew strong winds would make things so difficult?), I decided to drive over to nearby Brewer Nutrition for a much needed snack. And I am now hooked. Brewer Nutrition — located 46 Center St. — has loads of delicious options to choose from, from toasts, shakes and teas to smoothie bowls and smoothies. The smoothie I got was my favorite fruit-filled food since my beloved acai bowl at the now-closed Logical Sip. Called the Kaless Whisper, it’s filled with kale, pineapple, lime, coconut water, banana, mango and ashwagandha. It’s the perfect healthy snack for my post-workout hunger.

— ROSEMARY LAUSIER

WATCH WHY DO WE LOVE IT? If you’re reading Dave Grohl’s book (recommended in the last issue!) and bummed about the cancelled Waterfront Concert, watch (or rewatch as it first came out in 2014) the band’s eight episode documentary “Sonic Highways.” The show details the making of the album of the same name, following the Foo as they travel to iconic music cities like Austin, Seattle and New York. Each episode is a deep dive into the city’s music history, including beautiful interviews conducted by Grohl (he is an excellent storyteller after all) with Dolly Parton, Buddy Guy, Emmylou Harris, Trombone Shorty, Willie Nelson and more. The band gets inspired, writes a song and each episode wraps with the Foo Fighters recording a song in spots like Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Studios in Nashville and Preservation Hall in New Orleans. You don’t have to be a Foo Fighters fan to enjoy this series — all you need is a love for music. Available on various streaming services including Amazon Prime Video.

— AMY ALLEN 14 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

PHOTOS: (BEACH) BDN FILE; ©NBLXER, ©DENIRA, ©GURUXOX/ADOBE STOCK

SONIC HIGHWAYS

READ

Your summer beach read!

TESSA BAILEY ROMANCE BOOKS

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? During the pandemic, I was truly in a reading slump. I used to love books, but I just couldn’t pick one up. Then I discovered contemporary romance books. What started with a single book (“Beach Read” by Emily Henry) turned into a full on obsession and I read more than 15 contemporary romance books in 2021. One of my favorite authors is Tessa Bailey, whose book “Hook, Line and Sinker” (her follow-up to “It Happened One Summer”) was one of my recent reads. The books follow Piper and Hannah Bellinger as they spend their time in coastal Washington state and eventually fall in love with two local fishermen.

“Hook, Line and Sinker” was romantic, swoony and extremely steamy (warning: if you can’t handle more than kissing, shelve it). Plus it included one of my favorite romance tropes: friends to lovers. I just couldn’t put it down. If you’re interested in dabbling in the genre, Tessa Bailey is a great start.

— ROSEMARY LAUSIER

GO

Perfect for a summer dip!

GOULD’S LANDING IN ORONO

DINE OUT HAUS MEATLOAF SANDO AT NOCTURNEM DRAFT HAUS

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Two years ago, desperate for some summer fun, my kids and I headed down Essex Street until we hit water — and by water, I mean Gould’s Landing in Orono. A short drive from Bangor, this boat launch and swimming area features picnic tables, a large grassy area, some rocky/sandy shore and a lot of clear, pristine open water. We’ve been swimming there in the warm months ever since. The water is always cool — perfect for a hot summer day. And there’s plenty of room to splash around. Wear water shoes if you have sensitive feet though, the bottom is a bit rocky.

And one more tip: be sure to head to Orono’s website to fill out the form for a parking permit.

It’s required (and free!) and there’s almost always someone in the parking lot checking passes.

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? We’ve become regulars at Nocturnem in downtown Bangor, and for good reason. The food is always delicious, the beer selection is huge and ever-changing, the staff is awesome and the atmosphere is exactly what you want from a cozy pub — and as things warm up, there’s a big outdoor patio area to enjoy as well. We’ve tried just about everything on the menu and I recommend it all. My kids are obsessed with the Haus Mac & Cheese, which is creamy and delicious and topped with a “Cheez-It crunch.” I mean, what’s not to love about that? But I’m currently obsessed with the Haus Meatloaf Sando. I’ve never been a fan of meatloaf and prior to trying this, the words “meatloaf sandwich” only ever conjured up visions of Adam Sandler’s “Lunch Lady Land.” Now it’s got me thinking about Nocturnem’s delicious handheld combo of juicy meatloaf with dijonaise dressing, lettuce, caramelized onions, melted Swiss and topped with fried onions.

The menu changes frequently, so stop in soon to try this out — though you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!

— SARAH WALKER CARON

— AMY ALLEN www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

FOOD & DRINK

IN SEASON NOW

SEAFOOD

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

CLAMS WITH PANCETTA, ONION AND BASIL Serves 4

INGREDIENTS 3 oz diced pancetta 1 small red onion, diced 2 lbs clams, scrubbed clean ½ cup white wine ¼ cup finely sliced basil

INSTRUCTIONS Heat pancetta in a large saute pan over medium heat until just beginning to brown.

Add the onions and cook until softened.

Add the clams and the wine. Cover and cook for 5-8 minutes, until the clams are opened.

Remove clams to a serving dish. Boil the liquid in the pan for an additional minute before pouring over the clams.

Scatter the basil on top. Enjoy.

16 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

I LOVED WATCHING my grandfather make clams on the grill when I was a child.

He’d arrange the clean clams on the grates and then pour beer over them, soaking the briquettes below. It would sizzle and crack as he closed the lid for a few minutes. When he opened it again, like magic, the clams would all be open, ready.

Well, most of them would. The ones that didn’t open were the discards. Never eat a clam that doesn’t open.

A big bowl of clams would be placed on our table, and we’d all take a few, savoring them. The shells would be discarded into a second bowl.

What delicious memories.

These days, I typically cook clams in a pan, infusing them with flavors and creating a broth worthy of dipping bread into. That’s the case with the clam recipe below. I also am an avid maker of salmon (though in an entirely different way than I ate it as a child) and shrimp. Recipes for those are here as well. All of them are quick, easy and flavorful.

Although I eat seafood all year, in my memories it’s a summer food, entwined with the leisurely days of vacation. We’d head to the fishmonger of my childhood, the one perched over a waterfall, in the afternoon. The long cases of ice contained multitudes of seafood, but it was always the rushing water outside that caught my attention most. And then my mother or grandmother would decide — clams or swordfish, salmon or mahi mahi, or something else entirely. They’d ask the fishmonger for cooking advice. And sometimes, they’d walk away with a new recipe.

I’ve found that my own fishmonger — the fine folks at Dorr’s Seafood in Bangor — can provide similar guidance. Don’t be afraid to ask.

And try these recipes. They are all modern favorites.

TERIYAKI BROILED SALMON WITH SPRING ONION RICE Serves 4

INGREDIENTS 1 lb salmon filets (about 4) 1½ cups teriyaki marinade 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 bunch spring onions, thinly sliced 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup dry rice, prepared salt and pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS In a resealable bag, combine the salmon and marinade. Allow to marinate for at least 1 hour.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set the salmon filets skin side down on it, discarding any leftover marinade. Heat the broiler on high. Broil the salmon for 6-8 minutes, until it flakes easily with a fork. Watch carefully though: it will burn.

Meanwhile, in a saute pan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the spring onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the cooked rice and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Divide the rice and salmon evenly among four plates and enjoy.

EASIEST ROASTED SHRIMP Serves 4

INGREDIENTS 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled (tail on or off) 1 teaspoon olive oil salt and pepper, to taste ½ teaspoon garlic powder

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

PHOTOS: SARAH WALKER CARON

Toss together the shrimp with the olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Spread over a baking sheet.

Bake for 5-6 minutes, flipping once, until opaque and pink.

Enjoy immediately.

SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro Magazine and the author of six cookbooks including the “The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook.” Her newest book, “The Disney Princess Tea Parties Cookbook” is out now. Signed copies of her books are available at The Briar Patch in Bangor.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

HIKE ME

Tide-Pooling

TREKS EXPLORE BEACH POOLS FILLED WITH MARINE LIFE STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

IN A SHALLOW POOL of saltwater, periwinkles and dog whelks creep across rocks.

Their spiral shells vary in color and size. Gray, green, brown, tan. Some are even bright orange with a touch of purple.

Crouching at the edge of the tide pool, a young girl leans in for a closer look. She reaches a hand into the cool water, her fingertips brushing over rough barnacles that cling to rocks by the hundreds.

“Be gentle with the plants and animals,” her mother had told her earlier that day, “and put everything back exactly where you found it.”

Taking her mother’s words to heart, the girl carefully turns over a few small rocks, hoping to find creatures hiding underneath. A small sea star embraces one rock, its five maroon legs clinging to the rough granite. Startled, a green crab darts under a mass of seaweed.

The girl turns the rocks back over, then sits back and gazes into the pool. The longer she looks, the more she notices.

On one rock, a group of tortoiseshell limpets slowly eat away at pink algae. Nearby, a hermit crab chases another. A scud scuttles by, then disappears under a cluster of blue mussels.

Tide pools — pockets of saltwater in the intertidal zone, between the low and high tide mark — are brimming with life, from sea slugs to anemones. They’re great places to observe nature. In fact, exploring tide pools is so popular that the activity has its own name: tide-pooling.

Common along the rocky coast of Maine, tide pools are delicate habitats that should be treated with care. Before tidepooling, check out guidelines on how to explore these habitats safely and responsibly provided by Acadia National Park at nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/tidepooling.htm.

The best time to visit tide pools is low tide because that’s when the greatest number of pools will be exposed. Here are a few places where you can hike to tide pools along the coast.

INGERSOLL POINT PRESERVE

IN ADDISON

EASY TO MODERATE This 145-acre preserve is home to 3.5 miles of intersecting hiking trails that travel through incredibly mossy forests to the rocky shore. The property features more than a mile of shoreline on Carrying Place Cove and Wohoa Bay. The four main trails, plus a cutoff trail, make up the network. The trails are named and marked with their own unique colors: red for Carrying Place Cove Trail, green for Moss Trail, blue for Alder Woods Trail and yellow for Wahoa Bay Trail.

The trails provide access to the coast in several places. Some of the best tide pools can be found among the sea-weed covered rocks south of Ingersoll Point, near the low tide mark. You can reach this area by hiking to the end of Alder Woods Trail (which ends at Ingersoll Point) or by hiking to the end of the Carry Place Cove Trail.

Keep an eye out for tortoiseshell limpets, which are sea snails that have wide, shallow cone-shaped shells — like a nearly-flattened birthday party hat. You can often find them feeding on pink algae, which is abundant in the tidepools of this area.

The property was acquired by the Downeast Coastal Conservancy in three parcels between 2009 and 2011. Access is free, year round. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on leash or under strict voice control at all times.

For more information, visit downeastcoastalconservancy.org or call 207-255-4500.

DIRECTIONS: The trailhead and parking is at the back of the Union Church parking lot in Addison. To get there from Route 1 in Columbia Falls, turn south onto Route 187 (Indian River Road) at Wild Blueberry Land. Drive about 2 miles, then turn right onto Wescongus Road. Drive about 1.5 miles, then turn left onto East Side Road. Follow East Side Road about 6 miles, then turn right onto Mooseneck Road. Drive about 1 mile, then turn left into the Union Church parking lot.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

BAR ISLAND

IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK EASY A large sandbar, exposed at low tide, links Bar Island to Bar Harbor. This is a popular spot for people to walk, search for shells, observe wildlife such as seabirds and explore tide pools. Keep an eye out for barnacles, sea stars, slipper shell snails and blue mussels.

Bar Island is a part of Acadia National Park. On the island, a 1-mile hiking trail leads through the forest to a highpoint of the island that offers an open view of Bar Harbor.

The sandbar is exposed about 1.5 hour before low tide and 1.5 after low tide. The time of low tide changes, so be sure to check local tide charts and plan accordingly. Hikers have been stranded on Bar Island due to poor planning.

Dogs are permitted on this trail and on the beaches but must be on a leash that is 6 feet or shorter at all times. All visitors to Acadia must purchase a park pass before entering the park. Passes can be purchased online or at various visitor centers and entrance stations on Mount Desert Island, depending on the time of year.

For more information, visit nps.gov/acad or call 207-288-3338.

DIRECTIONS: The trail starts at the end of Bridge Street in Bar Harbor. To get there, drive onto Mount Desert Island on Route 3. After crossing the causeway, veer left at the fork, continuing on Route 3 for 9.8 miles. Turn left onto West Street and drive 0.3 miles, then turn left onto Bridge Street. You can park at the end of Bridge Street. While parking is permitted on the sandbar, it is not advised, since it is well below the high tide mark. Parking is also available along the side of West Street and other nearby roads.

20 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

HARRIMAN POINT

IN BROOKLIN

EASY TO MODERATE With roughly two miles of shoreline, Harriman Point Preserve features the longest continuous stretch of the coast open to the public on the Blue Hill Peninsula. The 138-acre property was gifted to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust in 2014.

The preserve is home to about 1.5 miles of easy walking trails that explore a mossy forest and old fields.

The trails provide access to the rocky shore in two places, on either side of the point.

According to the MCHT website, the shoreline is home to “endless tide pools.” The website also suggests that you pack plenty of bug repellent if visiting during the summer.

The property can be particularly buggy because it’s home to wetlands where mosquitoes and other insects breed.

Some of the best tide pools are found among seaweedand algae-covered rocks, which can be extremely slippery.

Wear sturdy shoes and walk slowly and carefully.

Dogs are permitted but must be kept on leash or under strict voice control. Trail access is free, year round.

For more information, visit mcht.org or call 207729-7366.

DIRECTIONS: From the junction of Route 172 and Route 175 in south Blue Hill, turn onto Route 175 (Falls Bridge Road) and head south toward Brooklin. Drive about 7.5 miles, then turn left onto Harriman Point Road.

Drive 0.5 mile to the parking lot on the right. To enter the preserve, follow the trail that’s located across the street.

AISLINN SARNACKI is a columnist for the Bangor Metro and a registered Maine Guide. An expert on the Maine outdoors, she’s the author of the guidebooks “Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine,” “Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path” and “Family Friendly Hikes in Maine.” Follow her adventures at bangordailynews.com/outdoors.

You can also find her @mainenaturehikes on Instagram and @1minhikegirl on Facebook and Twitter.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Get Out

& GET FIT

FOUR EXERCISES YOU CAN DO OUTSIDE

BY KATIE SMITH

22 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

W

PHOTOS: (TOP RIGHT) KATIE SMITH; ©PASKO MAKSIM, ©ANTONIODIAZ/ADOBE STOCK

e all want to take advantage of our Maine summer — including when we exercise. While hiking, walking, running and biking are all great activities for the entire family, there are lots of other outdoor exercises to break up a run or spice things up.

Here are five moves that are great on their own, but also can be incorporated into a walk or run. The best part is the only equipment you need is found right outside. Look no further than your yard or the closest walking path.

BENCH OR STAIR TRICEP DIPS While going for a jog, wall or bike ride on a local path or at the park, stop and do some chair or bench dips: • Sit on the bench or stair and place your hands on either side of your hips.

• Slide your bottom forward, holding your body weight with your hands.

• Bend at the elbows, bringing your arms almost parallel to the ground, then go back to your starting position.

• Try for 10 reps and repeat three times.

These are great for the triceps and core.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23

HEALTH & FITNESS

STEP-UPS Steps are a great leg burner and you can use lots of different things to step up on (just make sure it’s sturdy first), such as a bench stair or large flat rock.

• Step up on the object with your right foot and lift your left leg behind you squeezing your glutes.

• Repeat stepping up on your right leg 10 to 20 times and switch legs.

This is a great way to work the entire lower body. Step-ups will help build your quads, hamstrings and glutes.

ROCK TWISTS You don’t have to do a bunch of crunches to work your abs. Sitting up and twisting from side to side with a bit of weight will activate your entire core.

• Find a rock that is heavy enough to give you some resistance but not so heavy you aren’t able to move it from side to side while sitting.

• Sit with your bottom on the ground and your legs stretched in front of you with knees slightly bent and feet on the ground.

• For a more advanced move, lift your toes off the ground.

• Hold the rock with two hands, and slowly bring it to each hip being careful not to swing — you want to engage your core by letting your midsection do the work, so slow and controlled is best.

• Try for 20 reps and repeat three sets.

24 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

PHOTOS: KATIE SMITH

JUMPS If you are looking for an extra cardio burst, jumps will get your heart pumping fast. Doing them outside after setting up a little obstacle course will make jumping more fun: • Place four rocks or sticks about one and a half feet apart.

• Keep your feet together and jump to the outside of each stick or rock.

• Turn around when you reach the end and repeat up to 10 times.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 25

HOME & FAMILY

CHALLENGE

Accepted CREATE THE ULTIMATE DIY BACKYARD OBSTACLE COURSE

BY ERINNE MAGEE

26 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

S

ummer is the time for exploration in Maine, but it’s also nice to enjoy the beauty of your own backyard. While grown-ups can happily plant themselves in their favorite backyard seat and listen to the birds or talk amongst themselves, kids tend to need a little more entertainment to keep them outside.

Enter the backyard obstacle course.

Forget the giant yard games that have been released in recent years like Jenga and Connect Four. Though fun, those games tend to be expensive and sometimes even hard to find in stock.

Instead, take a DIY route to something memorable.

Here are 11 ideas to awaken your creativity and inspire a summer filled with outdoor family time. Mix and match them to create the perfect obstacle course.

WALK THE PLANK Those round plastic kiddie pools aren’t just for babies, but in fact an inexpensive way to liven up the obstacle course for all ages. Fill the pool with mud or water or your choice of substance and place it under a balance beam of some sort. A board secured to buckets or cinder blocks or logs does the trick.

PHOTO: ©SERGEY NOVIKOV/ADOBE STOCK

WATER BALLOON PINATAS Hang water balloons from various tree branches and challenge the kids to use only objects from nature to puncture the balloons. For older children, challenge them to break each balloon with a different object (sticks, rocks and so on).

Bonus: since balloon pieces can be harmful to animals and tedious to clean up, try making the picking up a part of the game (ex: whoever has the most balloon litter adds 5 points to their obstacle course score).

LAUNDRY BASKET SKEE-BALL Bean bags, balls and water balloons are all options for this backyard classic.

Of course a laundry basket can also be replaced by any sort of bucket, large bowl and so forth. Assign a points value for each of the baskets and attach that number to the basket so there’s no confusion.

HOME & FAMILY

ICE BLOCK TREASURE HUNT Chances are you have purchased one of those mining for gems or dino dig toys that comes with a pick to chip away at the hardened clay in search of the treasure inside. That can be repurposed for an ice block treasure hunt. The idea here is a DIY version. Find the appropriate size Tupperware for your child’s age and fill it with water, adding various little toys and figures that are lying around. Then, pop the storage container into the freezer. When the toys have been chiseled free by your little one, they can move onto the next obstacle.

WATER THE PLANTS Each contestant gets a sponge and a bowl of water.

Soak the sponge, run to the assigned plant or shrub and water it! Repeat until the bowl of water is empty. This is a win-win-win for parents, kids and the thirsty garden.

BACKYARD MAZE Create your own backyard maze with some good old fashioned yellow caution tape and several stakes (or whatever you have lying around that can be safely poked into the ground). If you live in a wooded area, trees could also work in place of stakes. Wrap the tape around the stakes, adding as many “walls” as you have available stakes.

POOL NOODLE HOCKEY Using a pool noodle as your “stick,” and a lightweight bouncy ball (the size of a soccer ball), see how many goals can be sent between the trees (or cones) in 5 attempts or however many you want to offer.

POOL NOODLE RING TOSS Pool noodles for the win again! Duct tape the ends of the noodle together to make a giant ring. With the same stakes needed for the Pool Noodle Crawl at right, secure an upright noodle to the stake and voila, it’s ready for a ringer!

HULA HOOP BOWLING Whether using plastic bowling pins, empty plastic bottles or something else, decide how many hoops each contestant gets and see how many “pins” can fall. It may be helpful for parents to keep a whiteboard or at least a piece of paper handy so the kids can simply yell out their points along the way.

28 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

REALTORS

Looking to sell your home?

Having experience on your side matters.

CALL TRICIA LARGAY 207-949-3060

458 Main St., Bangor

PHOTOS: ©SERGEY NOVIKOV & MELISSAMN/ADOBE STOCK

POOL NOODLE CRAWL With stakes or dowels and as many pool noodles as you can round up, create a space where kids can army crawl through. Place a small wooden stake into the ground, slide one end of the pool noodle over it and arch the noodle until the other end meets the grass where you’ll add the second stake. Bonus use: have the kids come back to this obstacle, but this time, jumping over the arches, rather than crawling underneath.

Your listing could be on this page.

Sell it faster.

Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Home section.

Call 990-8000.

ICY WORM HUNTING In a bowl of ice, hide rubber (or gummy) creatures.

When the contestant reaches the bowl, they can only use their toes to retrieve the items. If you have a sandbox, hiding the worms in the sand could be an alternative to ice.

Have older kids who find these obstacles too easy? Hand them a blindfold.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29

PERSONAL FINANCE

Lessons LEARNED 6 THINGS I WISH I KNEW ABOUT MONEY AT 18

BUILD THAT SAVINGS When I first started working at 16, I saved nearly everything I made and I loved watching my savings account grow. Then I bought a car, and the savings stopped as the realities of gas, insurance and other expenses coupled with the desire to have 30 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

fun. As my kids and I talk about money now, I stress that it’s not just important to save money, but to build a base of money — an amount you won’t let your balance dip below. That’s how you ensure you can have the fun and have the security too.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD USE IT Armed with that first credit card, I headed to college in New York City where my roommates and I expressed our new freedom by shopping all by ourselves. In the days before you could use an ATM card at just about every store, it was either cash, charge or check. I opted for the ease of my card often. Looking back, I would have been better off giving myself an allowance in cash and keeping the card stowed — reserving it for emergencies. Though I dutifully paid off the balance each month, doing so quickly depleted my savings.

PAYING THAT BILL ON TIME ISN’T JUST ABOUT AVOIDING LATE FEES To be honest: I thought I was being responsible when I paid off my bill in full every month. And maybe I was, to an

extent. But when my funds were depleted, I couldn’t always do that. And, moreover, as time went on I didn’t always do it exactly on time. Big mistake. Not only did I rack up costly late fees, but I also harmed my credit for years to come. Late payments can remain on the credit report for seven years.

DON’T SPEND MORE THAN YOU MAKE I’ve mentioned depleting my savings a few times now. I went to college with money in the bank. I didn’t get a job immediately — though I applied for a few. Meanwhile, I kept spending. So money was going out but not coming in. In retrospect, I should have ensured I would have a part-time job for spending money and left that savings alone. Fortunately, I realized this mistake soon after and did get a job.

START SAVING FOR LATER WHILE LATER IS STILL FAR OFF Eventually, I shopped less (smart!) but did still spend on food and entertainment. In my mind, I had time to become a responsible adult, saving money and preparing for the future. So my income went to bills and then

PHOTO: ©MOTORTION/ADOBE STOCK

W

hen I think about my relationship with money at age 18, I remember three important things: I thought I knew it all (and didn’t) about credit, I didn’t know how to save and I learned a lot of lessons the hard way.

I was the teenager who turned 18 and immediately got a credit card (“for emergencies!” I told my parents who were none too pleased). I was also the 18 year old who whipped out the plastic while shopping and didn’t grasp soon enough that once the savings was gone, that was it.

Oh, to be young again.

As I prepare my own children to head out into the world as young adults in the next few years, there are a few lessons I wish I had at their age that I am working to ensure they have.

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

everything else, without any getting tucked away for later. But in reality, graduation came fast and I was utterly unprepared.

Looking back, I wish I had tucked away a portion of my income all along.

DON’T BE LURED BY THE FREE T-SHIRT Thankfully, this predatory practice of credit card companies no longer is allowed, but in the 1990s, many college students were lured into applying for credit cards with the promise of a free T-shirt or other trinkets. I was among them. And yes, in retrospect, it was totally dumb.

BUDGETING IS FOR EVERYONE Clearly, I wasn’t budgeting for food, entertainment, shopping or other expenses at 18. But I should have been. Had I created a budget for myself, those paychecks could have gone farther. If I could do it again, I would pay my bills first and then divide my remaining money between savings and an allowance for fun stuff.

What lessons do you wish you had learned at 18? www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 31

32 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

best RESTAURANTS

HERE ARE YOUR PICKS FOR THE 2022 BEST RESTAURANTS!

PHOTO: ©ANNATA78/ADOBE STOCK

2022

THE VOTES ARE IN!

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33

best RESTAURANTS

2022

BANGOR

AND THE WINNERS FOR BANGOR ARE ...

BEST BAKERY

BEST OUTDOOR

FRANK’S BAKE SHOP

SEATING

199 STATE ST, BANGOR FRANKSBAKERY.COM

SEA DOG BREWING COMPANY 26 FRONT ST, BANGOR SEADOGBREWING.COM

BEST BAR GEAGHAN’S PUB & CRAFT BREWERY 570 MAIN ST, BANGOR GEAGHANS.COM

BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT TIMBER 22 BASS PARK BLVD, BANGOR TIMBERKITCHENANDBAR.COM

BEST PLACE TO

TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS GEAGHAN’S PUB & CRAFT BREWERY 570 MAIN ST, BANGOR GEAGHANS.COM

BEST TAKE-OUT HARVEST MOON DELI 72 COLUMBIA ST, BANGOR 366 GRIFFIN ROAD, BANGOR 1018 STILLWATER AVE, BANGOR HARVESTMOONDELI.COM

CLOSE

CALL! BEST BAKERY

#1. FRANK’S BAKE SHOP #2. BAGEL CENTRAL

BEST BREAKFAST

& BRUNCH

BAGEL CENTRAL 33 CENTRAL ST, BANGOR BAGELCENTRALBANGOR.COM

BEST BURGER BLAZE 18 BROAD ST, BANGOR WWW.BLAZEBANGOR.COM

34 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

BEST CHINESE FOOD ORIENTAL JADE 320 BANGOR MALL BLVD, BANGOR ORIENTALJADE.COM

BEST COCKTAIL TIMBER 22 BASS PARK BLVD, BANGOR TIMBERKITCHENANDBAR.COM

BEST COFFEE SHOP BAGEL CENTRAL 33 CENTRAL ST, BANGOR BAGELCENTRALBANGOR.COM

BEST CRAFT BREWERY GEAGHAN’S PUB & CRAFT BREWERY 570 MAIN ST, BANGOR GEAGHANS.COM

BEST FAMILYFRIENDLY EATERY HERO’S SPORTS GRILL 41 WASHINGTON ST, BANGOR WWW.HEROSSPORTSGRILL.COM

BEST FOOD TRUCK POMPEII PIZZA 98 CENTRAL ST & ON THE WATERFRONT, BANGOR POMPEIIPIZZA.ONLINE

CLOSE

CALL! BEST TAKE-OUT

#1. HARVEST MOON DELI #2. THE LOBSTAH BUOY #3. MOE’S ORIGINAL BBQ

BEST FRENCH FRIES

BEST SANDWICH

BLAZE

HARVEST MOON DELI

18 BROAD ST, BANGOR WWW.BLAZEBANGOR.COM

72 COLUMBIA ST, BANGOR 366 GRIFFIN ROAD, BANGOR 1018 STILLWATER AVE, BANGOR HARVESTMOONDELI.COM

BEST ICE CREAM GIFFORD’S FAMOUS ICE CREAM 1109 BROADWAY, BANGOR GIFFORDSICECREAM.COM

BEST MEXICAN LAS PALAPAS 8 BANGOR MALL BLVD, BANGOR LASPALAPASBANGORME.COM

BEST SUSHI THE GREEN TEA RESTAURANT 11 BANGOR MALL BLVD, BANGOR GREENTEABANGOR.COM

BEST VEGETARIAN MIGUEL’S 697 HOGAN ROAD, BANGOR MIGUELSBANGOR.COM

BEST OVERALL PHOTO: © LESZEK CZERWONKA/ADOBE STOCK

EXPERIENCE TIMBER

BEST WINGS

22 BASS PARK BLVD, BANGOR TIMBERKITCHENANDBAR.COM

GEAGHAN’S PUB & CRAFT BREWERY

BEST PIZZA

570 MAIN ST, BANGOR GEAGHANS.COM

PORTLAND PIE COMPANY 91 MAIN ST, BANGOR PORTLANDPIE.COM

CLOSE

CALL! BEST SUS

HI

#1. THE G REEN TEA RESTAUR ANT #2. KOBE NINJA HO USE #3. ICHIB AN

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35

36 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

best RESTAURANTS

2022

greater

BANGOR CLOSE

CALL!

BEST ICE CREAM #1. JIMMIE’S ICE CREAM & GRILL

The Magic of

MASON’S BREWING COMPANY

BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER

PHOTO: MARK MCCALL

THE INSIDE OF THE RESTAURANT is jammed packed with electrifying energy when I enter. Loud and happy people are lined up at the bar with their favorite brew while others are sitting at tables deciding what to order. It’s the place to be — exactly where I want to eat tonight.

Walk through the bustling dining area to the outdoor dining space, though, and it’s a different world. Gorgeous views of the Penobscot River stretch out. The warm sun with a slight breeze makes it the perfect conditions for outdoor dining. The outside is a little quieter, making it perfect for an intimate get together with close friends. It’s also where you can find dogs dining with their humans. Their presence makes it that much better.

It’s nearly impossible to choose what to get. Should I get the hoppy Hipster Apocalypse beer or the limey tequila-filled black seeds drink? A pizza covered in spicy pepperoni or a juicy, saucy burger with crispy salt and vinegar fries on the side? Who says you can’t have all of that?

You spend the evening laughing and drinking until the sun starts to set and your bellies become full. Forget about leftovers because there was no way you weren’t going to eat it all. There is not an ounce of regret and you’re already looking forward to your next meal there.

That’s what makes Mason’s Brewing Company so great.

#2. SPENCER’S ICE CREAM

CLOSE

CALL! BEST SEAFOOD

#1. EAGLE’S NEST #2. MCLAUGHLIN’S AT THE MARINA

CLOSE

CALL!

BEST DATE NIGHT #1. MASON’S BREWING CO. #2. LUCERNE INN #3. KANU www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 37

best RESTAURANTS

2022

greater

BANGOR

AND THE WINNERS FOR GREATER BANGOR ARE ...

BEST BAKERY

BEST TAKE-OUT

BEST ICE CREAM

GOSSELIN'S BAKERY

HARVEST MOON DELI

500 S MAIN ST, BREWER

ORONO, BREWER AND NEWPORT

JIMMIE'S ICE CREAM & GRILL

HARVESTMOONDELI.COM

409 N MAIN ST #1, BREWER

BEST BREAKFAST

BEST MEXICAN FOOD

DYSART'S RESTAURANT & TRUCK STOP

LAS PALAPAS

MASON’S BREWING CO. 15 HARDY ST, BREWER MASONSBREWINGCOMPANY.COM

530 COLDBROOK RD, HERMON DYSARTS.COM

BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT MASON’S BREWING CO.

BEST OUTDOOR

SEATING

MASON’S BREWING CO.

BEST PLACE TO TAKE

OUT-OF-TOWNERS

MASON’S BREWING CO.

BEST BURGER MASON’S BREWING CO. 15 HARDY ST, BREWER MASONSBREWINGCOMPANY.COM

CALL!

BEST MEXICA

N FOOD

PAS #1. LAS PALA ITA’S #2. MARGAR #3. PEPINO’S TACO STAND

BEST OVERALL EXPERIENCE MASON’S BREWING CO. 15 HARDY ST, BREWER MASONSBREWINGCOMPANY.COM

BEST CHINESE FOOD FOUR SEASONS CHINESE RESTAURANT

BEST PIZZA

401 N MAIN ST, BREWER

PAT’S PIZZA – ORONO

BEST COCKTAIL MASON’S BREWING CO.

CLOSE

557 WILSON ST, BREWER LASPALAPASMEXICAN RESTAURANT.COM

15 HARDY ST, BREWER MASONSBREWINGCOMPANY.COM

BEST CRAFT BREWERY

11 MILL ST, ORONO PATSPIZZAORONO.COM

BEST SANDWICH HARVEST MOON DELI ORONO, BREWER AND NEWPORT HARVESTMOONDELI.COM

MASON’S BREWING CO.

BEST SEAFOOD MOST FAMILY-FRIENDLY PAT’S PIZZA – ORONO 11 MILL ST, ORONO PATSPIZZAORONO.COM

EAGLE’S NEST RESTAURANT 1016 N MAIN ST, BREWER

PHOTO: ©ASIFE/ADOBE STOCK ©5PH/ADOBE STOCK

BEST BAR

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39

40 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

best RESTAURANTS

2022

down

EAST

AND THE WINNERS FOR DOWN EAST ARE ...

BEST BAKERY

BEST COFFEE SHOP

BEST MEXICAN

A SLICE OF EDEN

44 NORTH COFFEE

86 THIS!

59 COTTAGE ST, BAR HARBOR ASLICEOFEDENME.COM

7 MAIN STREET, DEER ISLE 44NORTHCOFFEE.COM

125 MAIN ST, ELLSWORTH WWW.86THISMAINE.COM

BEST CRAFT BREWERY

BEST OVERALL

FOGTOWN BREWING COMPANY

PROVENDER KITCHEN + BAR

25 PINE ST, ELLSWORTH 33 COTTAGE ST, BAR HARBOR FOGTOWNBREWING.COM

BEST PIZZA

BEST BAR PROVENDER KITCHEN + BAR 112 MAIN ST, ELLSWORTH WWW.EATPROVENDER.COM

BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT PROVENDER KITCHEN + BAR

BEST BREAKFAST THE RIVERSIDE CAFE 151 W MAIN ST, ELLSWORTH

EXPERIENCE

DRAGONFIRE

BEST FAMILYFRIENDLY EATERY

248 STATE ST, ELLSWORTH DRAGONFIREPIZZA.ME

DRAGONFIRE

BEST SANDWICH

248 STATE ST, ELLSWORTH DRAGONFIREPIZZA.ME

86 THIS! 125 MAIN ST, ELLSWORTH WWW.86THISMAINE.COM

BEST ICE CREAM PUGNUTS ICE CREAM SHOP

BEST BURGER PROVENDER KITCHEN + BAR

PHOTO: ©YARUNIV-STUDIO/ADOBE STOCK

112 MAIN ST, ELLSWORTH WWW.EATPROVENDER.COM

1276 ME-172, SURRY PUGNUTS.COM

BEST SEAFOOD UNION RIVER LOBSTER POT

BEST INTERNATIONAL

8 SOUTH ST, ELLSWORTH WWW.LOBSTERPOT.COM

MANNY’S GREEK GRILL

BEST COCKTAIL

CLOSE

248 STATE ST, ELLSWORTH

CALL!

PROVENDER KITCHEN + BAR

BEST COCKTAIL

CLOSE

#1. PROVENDER KITCHEN + BAR

CALL!

BEST BREAKFAST #1. THE RIVERSIDE CAFE #2. SYLVIA’S CAFE

#2. FINN’S IRISH PUB #3. SALT AND STEEL

best RESTAURANTS

2022

MID COAST

AND THE WINNERS FOR THE MIDCOAST ARE ...

BEST BAKERY

BEST BURGER

RALPH’S CAFE

ROLLIE’S BAR & GRILL

12 PURPLE HEART HWY, BROOKS FACEBOOK.COM/EATATRALPHS

37 MAIN ST, BELFAST ROLLIESMAINE.COM

BEST BAR

BEST COCKTAIL

ROLLIE’S BAR & GRILL

DELVINO’S

BEST ICE CREAM

37 MAIN ST, BELFAST ROLLIESMAINE.COM

52 MAIN ST, BELFAST DELVINOS.COM

STONE FOX FARM CREAMERY

BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT

BEST COFFEE SHOP

DELVINO’S

15 BELMONT AVE, BELFAST BELLTHECATINC.COM

52 MAIN ST, BELFAST DELVINOS.COM

BEST OUTDOOR

SEATING

YOUNG’S LOBSTER POUND 4 MITCHELL ST, BELFAST YOUNGSLOBSTERPOUND.WEBS.COM

BELL THE CAT

BEST CRAFT BREWERY BELFAST, MAINE WWW.BELFASTBAYBREWING.COM

BEST FAMILYFRIENDLY EATERY

OUT-OF-TOWNERS

12 PURPLE HEART HWY, BROOKS FACEBOOK.COM/EATATRALPHS

RALPH’S CAFE 12 PURPLE HEART HWY, BROOKS FACEBOOK.COM/EATATRALPHS

42 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

EXPERIENCE

52 MAIN ST, BELFAST DELVINOS.COM

BELFAST BAY BREWING

RALPH’S CAFE

BEST BREAKFAST

BEST OVERALL DELVINO’S

BEST PLACE TO TAKE YOUNG’S LOBSTER POUND

398 EAST MAIN ST, SEARSPORT STONEFOXFARMCREAMERY.COM

BEST FOOD TRUCK WASSES HOT DOGS RENY'S PLAZA, BELFAST

BEST PIZZA ALEXIA’S PIZZA 93 MAIN ST, BELFAST

BEST SANDWICH BELL THE CAT 15 BELMONT AVE, BELFAST BELLTHECATINC.COM

BEST SEAFOOD YOUNG’S LOBSTER POUND 4 MITCHELL ST, BELFAST YOUNGSLOBSTERPOUND.WEBS.COM

CLOSE

CALL! BEST OVERALL EXPERIENCE #1. DELVINO’S #2. THE LOST KITCHEN

CLOSE

CALL!

BEST OU

TDOOR S

PHOTO: ©OLESYASH/ADOBE STOCK

EATING #1. YOUN G’S LOBS TER POU ND #2. DOCK SIDE FAM ILY RESTAUR ANT #3. NAUT ILUS

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 43

northern 2022

best

MAINE

RESTAURANTS

CLOSE

CALL! BEST BAKERY

#1. SADIE’S BAKERY

CLOSE

CALL!

BEST FOOD TRUCK #1. THE BUS #2. RIB TRUCK #3. MAINE-LY MEAT ‘N POTATOES

CLOSE

CALL!

BEST BREAKFAST #1. SADIE’S BAKERY #2. AL’S DINER

44 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

The Nostalgia of

HOULTON FARMS DAIRY

BY KATIE SMITH

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIT EXTRA when it comes to going out for ice cream. I order things like hot fudge sundaes with peanut butter sauce. However, after seeing all the creamy cones that were getting passed out to everyone standing in line the first time I visited Houlton Farms Dairy, I had to have a plain vanilla cone.

I wasn’t disappointed — the vanilla cone was cold, refreshing and required nothing else.

As soon as I latched onto my waffle cone I could smell its sweetness. The ice cream swirls went on forever and that pure vanilla taste was like nothing I’d ever had before.

The texture was silky, quenching my thirst and sweet tooth at the same time. The crunchy cone was perfect for breaking off and dipping.

I visited there after hearing about it from raving fans on a hot July day. My two older kids ate their little kiddie cups and played under the shady trees while I rested my pregnant feet and practically licked their cups clean.

As soon as Houlton Farms Dairy opens, people park their cars and practically run to get in line. The little stand looks like it was plucked from a Hallmark movie and I love going there at dusk when the outside lights are on and kids are worn out from a hot summer day.

Visiting Houlton Farms Dairy transports you back to your childhood. There is something about their ice cream that makes going out for a treat feel just as special as it did when you were younger.

PHOTO: BDN FILE

#2. MISTY MEADOW ORGANIC FARM

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 45

northern 2022

best RESTAURANTS

MAINE

AND THE WINNERS FOR NORTHERN MAINE ARE ...

BEST BAKERY

BEST BURGER

SADIE’S BAKERY

BIG RICK’S BURGERS & WINGS

5 WATER ST, HOULTON

280 MAIN ST, MADAWASKA

BEST BAR BIG RICK’S BURGERS & WINGS 280 MAIN ST, MADAWASKA

BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT LAKEVIEW RESTAURANT 9 LAKEVIEW DR, ST AGATHA LAKEVIEWRESTAURANT.BIZ

BEST CHINESE JADE PALACE 30 SKYWAY DR, CARIBOU

OUT-OF-TOWNERS THE RUSTY CRAB

86 BENJAMIN ST, MARS HILL

BEST BREAKFAST SADIE’S BAKERY

CALL! BEST BAR

#1. BIG RICK’S BURGERS & WINGS #2. THE FORESTER PUB #3. NORTHERN MAINE BREWING COMPANY

MOST FAMILY-FRIENDLY THE RUSTY CRAB 86 BENJAMIN ST, MARS HILL

BEST ICE CREAM HOULTON FARMS DAIRY

BEST OVERALL

EXPERIENCE

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THE SANDWICH SHOP 222 MAIN ST, PRESQUE ISLE

BEST FOOD TRUCK THE BUS VARIOUS LOCATIONS, HOULTON

46 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

PHOTOS: ©TIERNEY/ADOBE STOCK; PHOTO: STOCKSTOCK (GLASS) ©CAREY/ADOBE ©NEW AFRICA/ADOBE

5 WATER ST, HOULTON

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47

FEATURE

Back Then A LOOK BACK TO MAINE RESTAURANTS OF YESTERYEAR

BY RICHARD SHAW

M (Above) Louis Amatruda, owner of Astoria Cafeteria on Central Street in Bangor, circa 1935. (Below) Writer Richard Shaw at a favorite Bangor restaurant, the former Kev-Lan Korner, circa 2008, PHOTOS: COURTESY RICHARD SHAW

48 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

y late father loved to dine out, and so do I. So, you might say the apple — or perhaps the cheeseburger deluxe — didn’t fall too far from the tree. We both lived for our weekend jaunts to classic Maine eateries, from the coastline northward to Aroostook County.

The first commandment of eating out was to treat the hardworking wait staff kindly. Dad’s mother, Hazel Oliver, a waitress at Gene’s Restaurant in Skowhegan, knew that well. In the 1940s, the storied cafe’s heyday, she never knew who might walk through the door. Hometown celebrity Sen. Margaret Chase Smith was a frequent customer, along with a summer pantheon of show business mavens headed for nearby Lakewood Theater.

Save for dealing with the occasional tipsy thespian, Grandma enjoyed pouring coffee and slinging hash. Maybe her most memorable guest was the jovial little bellboy, Johnny Roventini, who made a fortune belting out the tobacco advertising slogan, “Call for Philip Morris!”

Smoking used to be welcome in restaurants, but today it’s illegal.

So, glass ashtrays and matchbook covers bearing the eateries’ names are eBay-ready relics.

(Top left) Lobster Pound Restaurant, Lincolnville Beach, circa 1960.

COURTESY RICHARD SHAW (Above) The waitresses and cooks of Auto Rest Park Restaurant in Carmel, circa 1947.

COURTESY LAURIS HODSDON (Left) A postcard of the Auto Rest Park Restaurant in Carmel, circa 1940.

COURTESY RICHARD SHAW

(Below) A collection of matchbook covers from 1945-1970.

COURTESY RICHARD SHAW (Right) Baldacci’s Restaurant staff in Bangor circa 1970, including future Gov. John Baldacci, far left, third row.

COURTESY PAPER TALKS MAGAZINE

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49

FEATURE

(Above) Oronoka Restaurant, circa 1962.

COURTESY RICHARD SHAW (Top right) Helen and Lawrence Mugnai, proprietors of Helen’s Restaurant, Machias, in a 1963 photo.

COURTESY JIM AND JANE HARNEDY (Right) 95er Restaurant on the Hogan Road in Bangor, circa 1970.

COURTESY BANGOR DAILY NEWS

50 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

My first job was working on the F.W. Woolworth Co. lunch counter in downtown Bangor. Our regular crowd included a guy dressed like a cowboy and a woman who chatted incessantly about the weather.

One day I tangled with the store manager after he opened the dumb waiter door at quitting time and discovered a tray full of unwashed forks and spoons. When we stopped yelling at each other, I was grateful that the gentleman didn’t fire my 17-yearold derriere on the spot.

DOWNTOWN BANGOR ENJOYED A GLUT OF FAMILY-OWNED EATERIES. INCLUDED WERE THE BRASS RAIL, ATLANTIC SEA GRILL, BROUNTAS AND THE PINE TREE RESTAURANT.

In addition to other chain-owned store luncheon nooks, downtown Bangor enjoyed a glut of family-owned eateries.

Included were the Brass Rail, Atlantic Sea Grill, Brountas and the Pine Tree Restaurant, where owner Peter Aloupis would send customers on their way with the words, “Pleasure, pleasure.”

A short drive away was the king of Bangor restaurants, Pilots Grill. Owners Bill and Paulette Zoidis always made me feel welcome, as I perused menu items with odd names such as Shrimp Wiggle, Welsh Rarebit and Finnan Haddie.

One day, I saw author Stephen King feasting on Salisbury steak and fries, so I didn’t feel bad ordering the cheapest menu items.

Up the road eight miles, the Oronoka Restaurant was worth an article all its own. In the 1950s, my family and I would warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and a toasted cheese sandwich, all for $2.50, after tobogganing at the Penobscot Valley Country Club. Norm Lambert serenaded us on the organ, while logs crackled in the large stone fireplace.

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www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51

FEATURE (Top) Brookside Restaurant in Ellsworth, circa 1960.

COURTESY RICHARD SHAW (Bottom left) A circa 1960 menu from the Brass Rail Restaurant in Bangor.

COURTESY GERRY PALMER

Family restaurant memories include stops at the Valle’s Steak House chain in southern Maine, Waterville’s Silent Woman and a long walk under the Maine Turnpike in a tunnel that connected Howard Johnson’s in the north and southbound lanes.

Other favorites included the original Helen’s Restaurant in Machias, East Millinocket’s Hamlet Restaurant, Tozier’s in East Corinth and Sweeney’s in Veazie.

Our first taste of ethnic food was Mandarin Chinese at Bangor’s Oriental on Exchange Street and Italian at the old Baltimore under the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge, and when all else failed, there was always Miller’s Restaurant.

Many classic eateries closed decades ago, but a few, such as Moody’s Diner in Waldoboro and the Pat’s Pizza and Governor’s chains, live on.

As Dad, Mom, my siblings and I discovered too many years ago to count, nothing beats the smell of fresh-roasted coffee and being greeted by a server with a smile to light up the world. Give that worker a tip!

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53

FEATURE

In

MOTION ROBINSON BALLET SHOWS ITS STAYING POWER

BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER

54 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROBINSON BALLET

I

was filled with nervous excitement as I prepared to walk up the stairs to the Robinson Ballet studio for the first time in 10 years to watch the rehearsal for the company’s spring ballet in April.

Dancing at Robinson Ballet was truly the most magical experience. I started at the School of Robinson Ballet, which teaches the young dancers, when I was seven and then joined the performance company, the Robinson Ballet Company, at 11 when I was first cast in “The Nutcracker.”

But I left all of that behind when I went off to college at 18 and I wasn’t sure how I would feel when I went back into that large rehearsal space.

I wasn’t even sure I would still even be able to make it up those flights of stairs.

Luckily, I did — guess those workouts paid off — and what I felt for the next two hours was nothing short of pure happiness.

I sat next to Robinson’s artistic director and my former dance teacher, Stevie McGary, as we watched dancers run around with large colorful ribbons and banners to energetic jazz music. A boy was sitting on a bed — fashioned with wheels underneath and a large sheet overhead to make it look like he was riding a sailboat — as his peers would push him and the bed around in circles in the middle of the dance floor.

The dancers were rehearsing “Wild Things,” inspired by the children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” and the company’s first spring performance since 2019.

The 50-minute ballet featured around 30 students in ages ranging from 9 to 30 years old. The students who performed this year come from all over the state, with the furthest driving all the way from Southwest Harbor.

The ballet — which the company first produced in 2017— also blends in the characters from “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod” an 1889 poem written by Eugene Field.

Staged at the Gracie Theatre in Bangor in May, the performances came after a tumultuous couple years for the company due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Robinson was forced to cancel its 2020 spring performances — “Hercules” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” — and the studio’s traditional holiday show, “The Nutcracker,” was suspended as well later that year. There were also no productions in spring 2021.

But as vaccinations became more widespread in 2021, the Robinson Ballet Company decided to stage a smaller than normal tour of “The Nutcracker” in November and December 2021.

The company usually tours around the state for performances on www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55

FEATURE weekends for about a month, but instead stayed in the Bangor and Ellsworth areas due to COVID precautions.

When choosing what to perform this spring, McGary said she wanted to do “Wild Things,” because it’s bright and funny and would offer a respite from the difficulties that the pandemic brought. It’s also her favorite show.

The April 9 rehearsal was the first time many of the dancers rehearsed the show without masks. McGary occasionally reminded them to use their facial expressions as they filled the big studio space with stomping, laughter and smiles.

Brooke McKay, a 17-year-old senior at Hampden Academy, said the company is “back and better than ever now.”

17-year-old Ellie Derosby, a junior at Hampden, said she still gets emotional thinking about the time the dancers lost and the limited time she has left in the studio. But she’s not letting the pandemic take away those few special moments.

“It makes you value every single second,” Derosby said.

After missing out on “The Nutcracker” in 2020, which McKay and Derosby both described as “devastating,” “Wild Things” was a much-needed return for the dancers to the stage.

The forced hiatus also showed the immense staying power of a company that has been in Bangor for 45 years.

Robinson Ballet was founded in 1977 as the Ralph Robinson Concert Dance Company under the direction of Ralph Robinson and his wife Jean-Marie Aubert.

Two of the founding members were his

AFTER MISSING OUT ON “THE NUTCRACKER” IN 2020, WHICH MCKAY AND DEROSBY BOTH DESCRIBED AS “DEVASTATING,” “WILD THINGS” WAS A MUCH-NEEDED RETURN FOR THE DANCERS TO THE STAGE. 56 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2022

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROBINSON BALLET

nephew, Keith Robinson, and his wife Maureen, according to Bangor Daily News archives.

Keith and Maureen Robinson traveled to Europe in 1980 and danced professionally in Paris and Athens before returning to the states, and the company, in 1984, to begin their extensive teaching careers.

Keith Robinson took over as co-artistic director of the company with his aunt in 1986 after his uncle stepped down and Maureen Robinson filled Aubert’s spot as co-artistic director in 1990. McGary became artistic director in 2016, while Maureen Robinson stayed on as director of the school.

“We’ve known Stevie since she was 9 or 10, so the same thing that Ralph instilled in us, we’ve been instilling in her for all these years,” Keith Robinson told the BDN in 2016.

And I was lucky enough to be taught by all three of them.

Stepping inside the studio after all these years felt like nothing had changed. Except for the fact that I was interviewing my former dance teacher instead of preparing for a performance.

The things Stevie and the other dancers told me really hit close to home. Talking to Brooke and Ellie about losing out on a year of “The Nutcracker” made me really feel for the then-high school seniors in the company who never got to dance in their final Nutcracker performance. I could only imagine losing the opportunity to miss out on a part I dreamt about playing for years. Like me, they considered their dance friends their family and would see each other after school 3-4 times a week and every weekend for years.

Even after I had finished asking Stevie questions for this article, I asked her if I could stay and watch the repertoire rehearsal that followed the “Wild Things” rehearsal. They were learning a dance I had performed a decade ago. What’s so funny about dancing is that it truly never leaves you. I remembered the moves, the costume I wore and where I performed it.

And even though I wasn’t dancing with the kids (as much as I wanted to), I was so happy to simply watch them.

Stevie told a group of kids about how my mom was her first dance teacher, and then Stevie became one of mine. And now I was interviewing the next generation of dancers.

“It’s really a full circle moment,” she said.

Indeed it was. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57

WOODS & WATERS

Paddling

MAINERS KNOW HOW TO MAKE GREAT BOATS

BY BOB DUCHESNE

OLD TOWN CANOE is 124 years old this year, but the company doesn’t look a day over 100.

When business magazines list the brand names associated with Maine, L.L. Bean usually tops the list. Perhaps these lists miss the boat though. Old Town Canoe was founded by the Gray Family behind a hardware store in Old Town in 1898, 14 years before Leon Leonwood Bean began selling his Bean Boots in Freeport.

Old Town Canoe is so ingrained in Maine’s cultural history that the company is named for the very place it all began. The company’s earliest watercraft were inspired by the traditional birchbark canoes that had plied Maine’s rivers for centuries. Birchbark canoes were light and capable of carrying substantial loads, but required constant maintenance and repair. Old Town Canoe used wood and canvas to produce a more durable canoe that remained true to the canoe-making style and tradition. The combination launched Old Town Canoe to become what is now the oldest, largest and best-known canoe maker in America.

While canoe-making has always remained true to its roots, styles have come and gone. War canoes were popular early in the century, and they were offered in the company catalog between 1906 and 1936. Many boys and girls camps in Maine had one ready on the beach. Two 34-foot monsters were built for Disneyland less than a year after the California theme park opened.

Tastes change. Technologies change. Over much of the company’s first 50 years, Old Town Canoe expanded to produce a variety of boats to meet the changing public demand, including dinghies, sailing canoes, sailboats and even larger powerboats. Soon after Evinrude invented the detachable outboard motor in 1907, Old Town introduced a square-stern canoe to accommodate it.

OLD TOWN CANOE'S...

EARLIEST WATERCRAFT WERE INSPIRED BY THE TRADITIONAL BIRCHBARK CANOES THAT HAD PLIED MAINE’S RIVERS FOR CENTURIES.

PHOTOS: BDN FILE

MAINE WATERS

During the latter half of the 20th Century, aluminum canoes encroached on Old Town’s dominance. From 1951 to 1976, Grumman Canoe enjoyed the lion’s share of the canoe market. In the long run, modern materials such as fiberglass and spun plastics proved to be quieter, more resilient, and more repairable than aluminum. Old Town Canoe pioneered the use of Royalex, with a three-layer polyethylene rotational molding process that the company still uses on several of its most popular canoes, including the Discovery and Penobscot canoe lines.

The historic design for canoes was limited by one important factor — how far wood could be bent before breaking. With molds and modern materials, new shapes and sizes became possible.

Today, Old Town uses 3D printers to produce test versions of new models, allowing the company to swiftly improve designs and correct flaws. That’s important, because materials aren’t the only things that change constantly. So does usage.

Near the end of the last century, the popularity of kayaks began to skyrocket.

Old Town started making kayaks in 1995, and within five short years, the company was making more kayaks than canoes. Furthermore, it was making more styles of kayak, constantly innovating to meet the growing demand for boats that served very different markets. There are solo kayaks and tandems.

There are small kayaks for day paddling and larger boats for touring. Some models of siton-top kayaks are popular with recreational paddlers, while other higher-end models are specially designed to suit fishermen.

In 2013, Old Town launched the Predator line of fishing kayaks, created specifically for anglers. A year later, it offered the first motorized kayak, with an integrated Minn Kota trolling motor to keep hands free for casting. The first pedalpowered kayak followed two years later. In 2020, Old Town launched the Sportsman line, with a new selection of paddle, pedal and motorized models.

One model includes an Autopilot feature, integrating GPS with an electric motor that can hold a boat in place without an anchor despite wind and current — an angler’s dream.

Johnson Outdoors bought Old Town Canoe from the Gray Family in 1973. The new parent company retained the brand name and wisely kept production in Old Town, taking advantage of nearly eight decades of boat-building experience and a highly-skilled workforce.

Even the biggest brand names come and go. Sears, Oldsmobile, TWA, Toys-R-Us and Radio Shack all had their day. Somehow, more than a century after that first woodand-canvas canoe rolled out of the shop behind the hardware store, Old Town Canoe is a Maine brand that just keeps going.

Innovation and adaptation may have kept the company prosperous, but one factor is likely the secret to success: Mainers just know how to make great boats.

BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 59

Z

j Signature Dish? z THE VIEW FROM HERE

CAN A NON-COOK HAVE A

BY EMILY MORRISON

B

When I say I’ve become obsessed, I mean I can’t stop myself from cooking one giant vat of this goodness every four days, and when it runs out, I make more.

Could this be my signature dish? I don’t know, but I come from a long line of signature dish makers. Grammie served venison so delicious it tasted like real beef, Aunt Laura whipped up decadent chocolate and tapioca pudding from scratch and Meme made New England boiled dinners every Sunday for her family.

As for my immediate family, my mother has perfected the “smooshed sandwich” (chicken, stuffing and cranberry sauce leftovers squished inside two pieces of white bread) and my sister consistently produces the best crockpot mac-and-cheese on the planet.

Me? What’s my claim to culinary fame? I think I make a mean vegan chili.

In fact, it’s so mean my husband can’t stomach it anymore.

Literally, he’s had so much that the acid level in his stomach has changed — he’s on antacids and can no longer enjoy tomato sauce, beer, coffee or anything spicy. Go figure.

But you know what? I still make it. I make it for my son, for my oldest when she’s home, and for myself, because I love coming home and warming up something that’s already made.

And isn’t this the beauty of food, that it warms us up from the inside out? Good sustenance, whether we’re providing or enjoying it, fills us both physically and spiritually. Filling up bellies is one way we show our love.

This is why I threw my students a pizza party the other day, why my mother just bought a boatload of snacks for our three-day-vacay into the mountains, and why my mother-in-law continues to send chocolate chip cookies out to the vegan in Vermont every week.

Food is love, so if I can keep scraping my love together, throwing it in a pot and sharing it with everyone except my husband, then maybe I’m not doing half-bad after all.

Now if I could only master vegan mac-n-cheese, I might have two signature dishes.

PHOTO: ©JCHIZHE/ADOBE STOCK

THOUGH I WOULDN’T call myself a cook, I’m a mom of three and the kids gotta eat. I’m a meal-maker more out of necessity than inclination. Honestly, the most impressive thing I make in the kitchen is a mess.

When the kids were younger my go-to meal consisted of pasta and sauce. You don’t need to be Julia Child to boil water in a pot and throw some Prego on top. ‘Course I burned some saucepans and cooked some spaghetti that resembled twisted pipe cleaners, but it killed hunger and the kids didn’t complain, much.

Gradually, I branched out to lasagna and an occasional meat loaf but breakfast and lunch took care of themselves — cereal, soup and sandwiches.

As our cherubs entered their teens and began toasting bagels, packing lunches and saying, “We don’t care what you make,” I relaxed my relatively low cooking standards. My lackluster culinary habits had a particular pattern: mac-and-cheese Mondays, taco Tuesdays, takeout on Wednesdays, every man for himself Thursdays, and pizza parties on Friday night.

Life had reached a food zenith — easy, delicious and in no way nutritious.

Then, my children did something I thought they’d never do — they developed nutrition, ethics and higher culinary expectations.

My oldest went vegan, the middle child decided she only liked turkey clubs and the youngest became a vegetarian.

Almost overnight my dinner prep became thrice as difficult.

How could one meal satisfy three different appetites? I needed to find a one-pot wonder that had a little something for all my carbicarni-herbivores to enjoy.

So, I decided to try my hand at a vegan chili recipe that the vegan would like, the vegetarian would love, and the turkey sandwich eater could stare at while she ate more sandwiches. Eventually, I stumbled upon a meat substitute called Impossible Burger made from water, soy and coconut oil, and I’ve recently become obsessed with adding this sneaky plant protein into the bean, corn, pepper, tomato and veggie broth mixture.

EMILY MORRISON is a high school English teacher, freelance writer and editor from coastal Maine. She is living happily-ever-after with her handsome husband, three beautiful children and two beloved dogs. And a cat.