The Maine Attraction

For several months, I worked out of Portland, Maine, one day a week.  Alas, the job is over and I no longer have an excuse to make the two-hour trip to eat fries and beignets at Duckfat.  

We had a chance to take a short trip to Portland this weekend, and it made me realize just how much I miss Maine.

First of all, Maine comes with lobsters, glorious lobsters.  It's not a Maine picnic unless there is a lobster.

And strawberry shortcake.

My husband is a huge Hopper fan, so when he heard we were going to be in the vicinity of Cape Elizabeth, the location of some of Hopper's lighthouse paintings, he got super excited.

The Portland Headlight is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and supposedly the most photographed lighthouse in North America.

I don't doubt it.  Located inside beautiful Fort Williams park and overlooking Casco Bay, the lighthouse is really photogenic.  Like Gisele Bundchen photogenic.

And if the lighthouse isn't enough, did I mention there were ducks?  Yes, ducks in the water and . . .

duck fat in all the food.  Duckfat fries everything in duck fat . . . fries, beignets, churros.  And everything comes out so crispy and gorgeous.  They also have a duck confit panini that is out of this world -- it's grilled to perfection on the outside and filled with savory confit and a spicy Thai chili sauce.  And let's not forget the truffled ketchup they serve with your fries.  Yes, truffled ketchup.  They also serve a variety of other house made dipping sauces.  And all of the fried goodness comes out in a paper cone.  What's there not to love about this place?

Where have your travels taken you this summer?