We had a wonderful time and would certainly go back. So why I am writing this on our Dinner with the Canellis blog? Because we had some terrific food and visited some wonderful places and I wanted to remember it all again.
Daughter, Beth and her husband, Rob, recommended the Azure Cafe in Freeport and it did not disappoint. It was a short walk from our B&B and the weather was fine all weekend - a bit brisk at times and some snow on the lawns. I had the Maine Seafood Cakes - tender crab, salmon and shrimp cakes with spicy carrot and parsnip ribbons topped with coriander cream and the Filet Tartufo, a grilled filet topped with Applewood-smoked Maine sea salt and local Crimini and oyster mushrooms with black truffles, Gorgonzola, crispy fried shallots and roast garlic smashed potatoes. Gerry had the Antipasto d'Azzuro - Provolone, Genoa, Sopressata, Proscuitto, fresh Mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh basil, roasted local tomatoes and Italian olives served with a black truffle mustard. It was all absolutely delightful. He also enjoyed fresh Maine seafood risotto with haddock, shrimp, calamari and Maine lobster in a creamy risotto with fresh local tomatoes and fresh basil. Gerry chose a wine from Piedmont, Italy, the 2007 Colle dei Venti Barbaresco. It was an absolutely wonderful meal and we remembered to save our cork for our collection.
Our first breakfast at the Brewster House was as amazing as the last - three mornings of juice, French press coffee, a fruit course, and egg dish and a sweet breakfast entree. Blueberry and Cheese Stuffed French Toast, Sauteed Vegetable Fritatta, White Chocolate Cherry Scones, Bananas Foster Croissant French Toast, Baked Eggs. Everything was absolutely delicious and served with lots of hospitality, conversation, and in this case, sunshine at our table for two by the window. We really could have gone the entire day without eating again. Well, except for a stop at the sweet plate in the front hall. On the way up to bed each night at the Brewster House we always stopped by the domed cake plate for a cookie or bar of some kind. On the last day I learned that Ruth makes all of the baked goods that I at first suspected came from a bakery - they were that good. Oatmeal cookies, gluten-free meringues. All yummy.
After shopping on Sunday morning and afternoon we were simply exhausted. We rested our legs at Petrillo's, on Depot Street, a small place next to the rail tracks in what looks like it might have been a train depot. We shared one of the best small antipasto plates ever and enjoyed some brew. I quickly learned that I really like Allagash White Ale from nearby Portland. We rested our legs some more at the Nordica Theater and took in a late afternoon movie before heading off to Canelli's Italian Restaurant in Yarmouth.
Why Canelli's, you ask? Well, Ken and Ellie ("Canelli") had a restaurant in Medfield, MA for many years. When a Groupon offer came in my email box I didn't know this, of course. I just figured it would be a fun dinner for Gerry who immediately recognized Ken from his many work lunches at Canelli's. We shared a wonderful plate of steamed mussels in a Marinara sauce and a bottle of Chianti. I had the Scallops Angelina - dry sea scallops sauteed with fresh mushrooms and spinach in a light cream sauce, served over homemade fettucine and it was delicious. Gerry
had broiled dry scallops with butter, white wine, a light crumb topping served with potatoes and a vegetable.
Monday we met our friend and financial advisor, Jay Flower, at the Old Port Sea Grill on Commercial Street for lunch in Portland and had light lunches of salads and a lobster roll so that we could have some kind of appetite for Duckfat fries later in the afternoon. And so it was, with 2000 calories later (what would Duckfat Hand Cut Belgian fries be like without another Allagash White and some Horseradish Mayo on the side?) tucked under our belts, we took in another movie at the Nicklelodeon Theater on Temple Street and some more shopping filled out the afternoon. We ended our day sharing some scallops wrapped in bacon and a cocktail at the Jameson Tavern just blocks from our bed and breakfast in Freeport and ordered a hamburger and fries to share and take away while we watched television in the comfort of our cozy room with gas fireplace - armed with our small bottle of scotch and Grand Marnier. Of course, we stopped at the cookie plate near the front hall.
We sadly packed up and left Scott and Ruth's lovely inn on Tuesday morning. We detoured to Kennebunk Beach where Gerry found two heart-shaped stones within minutes. I found the third before racing back to the car in the 35 degree sunshine. (See photo above.) Another detour to the Stonewall Kitchen and Cafe in York (just some small tasting bites around the shop) before landing in Portsmouth, NH and some more shopping at Attrezzi and LeRoux Kitchen. Lunch at The Library Restaurant on State Street was a perfect ending to a perfect trip with outstanding ambience and service.
