Why Local Restaurants in Maine Will Keep You Coming Back

Maine is a state known for its natural beauty, but it is also home to some of the best local restaurants in the country. These restaurants offer a unique and authentic dining experience that will keep you coming back for more, and there are a variety of reasons why this is the case. To maximize Maine’s local restaurant scene during your visit, it’ll be worth using an itinerary planner so you can effectively plan where you’ll eat and when. You can click here for more. In this article, we will be taking a look at a couple of the most notable reasons why local restaurants in Maine will keep you coming back, as well as delving into what makes Maine restaurants so special. 

A Foodie’s Guide For The Best Time To Visit Maine

In the north, you can hike miles of trails through pristine wilderness and cool off in refreshing lakes. In the south, long sandy beaches await you. People can stay in small fishing villages or set up camps in remote areas. During your meal, you’ll enjoy seafood from the sea to your table and drink award-winning craft beers from all over the world.

Maine, has been branded as the ‘Vacationland’ for a reason, it’s because of its unique setting and diverse activities to choose from. If you’d like a gastronomic experience, carefree and fun vacation, you don’t need to wait for the best season because the best time to visit Maine is any time of the year. A trip to Maine, whether it’s for a day or a month, is surely worth your time and money.

Discover Maine’s Hottest Food Trends For This Year

Maine is America’s northeasternmost state, and it’s renowned for its craggy coastline, nautical history and glorious parks, as well as its signature cuisine. While lobster is always worth indulging in, you don’t need to settle for the same old Lobster Roll or boiled lobster with melted butter. There is a trendier way to enjoy this delicious crustacean while you’re exploring the area. Aside from a new trend in lobster, Maine’s newly-relaxed CBD laws make it a great place to sample innovative CBD-infused fare. When you learn about these two exciting food trends for this year, you’ll be ready to enjoy some unique food and drink during your Maine adventure.

Try pan-roasted Maine lobster

To indulge in an amazing meal, head for Portland’s Main Wharf, where a chic and low-key eatery called Scales is getting rave reviews from foodies. Scales is the perfect place to enjoy a bold new take on traditional Maine lobster. Most people expect lobster from Maine to be boiled or served up in a roll, but the Scales dish, Pan Roasted Lobster, is a little different. This beloved entree is seasoned with a pan sauce made from fine herbs. Mouth-watering sides include toasted Pullman loaf and fresh butter lettuce.

When your Maine trip is over, be sure to experiment with lobster back at home.  One of the best ways to create tender, juicy lobster in a home kitchen is to pan-roast it, Scales-style. If you’re not used to pan-roasting lobster, and worry that you won’t do it right,  consider preparing lobster with a sous-vide method. Sous-vide machines cook plastic-wrapped foods in water baths at precise temperatures. By cooking in this way, you can easily create flawless lobster dishes at home, and relive your Maine memories.

Sample CBD-infused fare made with Maine-grown hemp

All CBD-infused fare sold within Maine must be made with locally-grown hemp. If you love CBD culture, and want to try CBD-infused food and drink while you’re visiting the Pine Tree State, you’ll enjoy knowing that you’re sampling items with true Maine provenance. Drop by Portland, Maine’s Wellness Connection to pick up CBD-infused dark chocolate bars and raspberry Rooibos teas. These items won’t get you high, but they may ease nervousness, boost mental clarity, and improve sleep quality. Anyone who is over the age of 21 is able to buy them with valid ID.

CBD culture is exploding, so Maine may well be serving up CBD-infused beers and entrees in the foreseeable future. Right now, tasty edibles are available in select stores. Enjoy them in your hotel room after a busy day of seeing the sights.

Pan-roasted lobster has its roots in Maine maritime tradition, and CBD-infused edibles are thoroughly modern. When you try both Maine food trends, you’ll enjoy a charming blend of old and new. Maine’s many superb restaurants and shops offer a bounty of delicious food, whether it’s familiar or off the beaten track.

America’s Most Iconic Dishes

America’s diversity and innovative spirit has led to it becoming a world leader when it comes to cuisine, with Maine’s lobster industry alone worth $334 million a year. From its very beginning, the USA has been importing recipes from around the world and putting its own unique spin on it. Agriculture remains an important part of the community, so if you’re visiting Maine or any other state, then you have to check out some US-exclusive foods. Dining in Maine restaurants will definitely satisfy your food cravings, but don’t be afraid to explore elsewhere for even more unique American dishes.

Whoopie Pie

Where else could you start than with Maine’s official state treat? Whoopie Pies are an iconic staple of Maine and no trip to the state is complete without a taste. Somewhere between a cookie, a pie and a cake, this chocolate heavy, cream filled snack offers a unique flavor. It represents the optimism and ingenuity of the American character.

Ryan Hibbert, Riot Hospitality’s CEO, highlights the benefits of keeping things local. His restaurant ‘Farm and Craft’ serves healthy food on a diverse menu, while paying homage to his Arizona and Mexican food-based roots. Consuming the Whoopie Pie is a way of experiencing the culture of Maine, in the same way a Farm and Breaky Burrito contains the spirit of Arizona.

Lobster Roll

You can’t visit the USA and not try some of the greatest lobster that the world has to offer. While Maine is well known for its fishing heritage and fresh-from-the-ocean lobster, the whole nation will provide this delicious crustacean. The most common way to prepare it is in a bread roll.

From fancy restaurants to New York City vans, the lobster roll makes for a great stomach-filling snack. Native to New England, it will usually be served in a hotdog bun with butter, lemon and mayonnaise. Generally served cold, with plenty of herbs, this is filled to the brim with flavor, all in a quick roadside snack.

Wild Salmon

There is plenty of Atlantic ocean salmon making its way to shores of America, but 99.8% of this is farmed. For true freshness and flavor, consider visiting a state such as Alaska. Here, fishermen risk injury to catch wild salmon. Once in the restaurant, a glaze of maple syrup is the American way of adding something special for its visitors.

The cold northern seas are where the best wild salmon can be found. Be sure to visit a restaurant which advertises wild salmon for a real, authentic taste, without preservatives. In true American style, salmon is best consumed on a New York bagel.

With the three dishes above, you have tasted some of the best America has to offer. Of course, there are hundreds of other foods you could try. Come to Maine for your first Whoopie Pie, but stay for the lobster rolls and wild salmon. American restaurants are always experimenting with flavor, to give you the best eating experience possible.