Let them eat Lobster!

Last weekend Rory and I traveled to Kennebunkport, Maine to stuff ourselves full of lobster. When I planned the trip the weather forecast was great. Sun, sun, and more sun! As the week progressed, the forecast changed to lots of rain and thunderstorms.  Being a Southern California native, I am not acclimated to this thing called weather. I am ashamed to admit that I don't even own an umbrella, rain boots, or a rain jacket. And yes, I do realize I am moving to a country where it rarely stops raining. 

The drive from Boston to Kennebunkport only took about two hours. For some perspective, it only took two hours to drive 90 miles across three states in Friday traffic! You can't even get from Los Angeles to Orange County in two hours on a Friday night. We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Kennebunkport named after the home's original owner, Captain Jefferds. Upon arrival we were ready to start our weekend o'lobster. I planned on having lobster at every meal possible. Our first stop was Nunan's Lobster Hut. Nunan's is a local favorite. It has been serving cooked to order lobster for nearly 50 years. The family run restaurant even operate its own lobster boats. Nunan's is unpretentious. It has wooden benches, family photos adorning the walls, and a sink in the middle of the dining room to wash your hands after cracking the lobster. Just my kind of place. 

Even though the lobsters arrived cracked down the middle, they were not ready to eat. We responsible for removing the tail, cracking the claws, and excavating all of the luscious meat (hence the bibs and sink).  Our efforts were rewarded with plump, juicy and sweet lobster. In total, we ate three lobsters, a bowl of clam chowder, and homemade blueberry pie for dessert. A true feast.  My weekend o'lobster was off to a grand start. 

Well, the lobsterfest started and ended with Nunan's. Lobster is delicious, but it is also heavy and rich, especially when dunked in clarified butter.  The next morning I recalled a story from one of my culinary tours of Boston. When Boston was first settled lobster was plentiful but was not typically consumed. Instead, the lobster was fed to the prisoners! At one point, the prisoners were so sick of eating lobster they revolted. This resulted in a contract being established limiting the number of times per week lobster could be served to the prisoners. When I heard this story, I couldn't imagine ever getting sick of lobster. Well, after one night of gorging myself, I sadly understand. 

Since it rained in Kennebunkport the entire weekend my plans to go boating were thwarted. Evil weather. 

Since it was raining on Saturday, we decided to drive up to Portland, Maine.  We stopped at Gilbert's Chowder House for lunch. I have to say, it was some of the best clam chowder I've ever tasted.  

Our Bloody Mary's on the way!

Rory outside Gilbert's Chowder House

Portland, Maine - standing in the rain

We ate like Kings in Maine. Our stay at Captain Jefferd's (which Rory always pronounced in a thick pirate accent) included a three course breakfast each day.  The foodie inside me would detail all of my meals (the blueberry pancakes, raspberry muffins and rasberry-rhubarb pie) but I fear that I would lose the few readers I have!  

On our drive back to Boston, Rory and I marveled how much our lives had changed in the past year. A year ago we would have laughed if someone told us we would be moving to England, or living temporarily in Boston, or having a weekend o'lobster in Maine(well I might have believed this one).  In just a week, we will be leaving the US and starting our new lives in England. I guess this means I have to stop playing tourist and start focusing on finding a job. Yikes!!!!!