Portland, Maine - A Foodie Town After My Own Heart

Hello friends!

I've been so terrible with posting, but I just woke up from the most pleasant food coma ever. How was I induced into such a coma you may ask? It all started with a pleasant vacation to...

Maine!

Portland, Maine, and the surrounding small islands to be more specific. This little city stole my heart this past Memorial Day weekend when I journeyed there with my boyfriend, Josh, and his family. First we spent a day relaxing on Great Diamond Island then it was a fun-filled grub (and pub) crawl through Portland, but not before we enjoyed some fresh, from-scratch sticky buns, prepared with love by Josh's grandparents.

I will have to split this into two posts because I just couldn't help myself when taking photos. So today we will focus on, what else, the two out-of-this-world bakeries of Standard Baking Company and Two Fat Cats Bakery. Now I had already read about Standard in an article on Twitter about "Top Bakeries in the US", so I knew I was in for a real treat. In both taste and character it does not disappoint. With some of the friendliest staff to the most mind-blowing baguettes, I was swooning as soon as I stepped through the door.

From classics like baguettes, focaccia, and croissants, to delectable sweets like vanilla bean madeleines and morning buns with pecans - I just couldn't decide what to buy. I could have just bought one of everything, but I had many more food shops and restaurants to explore, and with my college student budget, choices had to be made. I went with a demi baguette and the vanilla bean madeleine, and I can see how the baguette was voted into that article in the first place. Hard, crusty exterior with a light-as-air interior that melts in the mouth. I am sadly wishing I had one right now as a matter of fact.

Where to next? Well, until recently, the sister bakery of Standard was Two Fat Cats. I heard that it was recently sold to another owner, but it was (according to any and everyone I encountered in my days there) a must-go-to in Portland. So off we trekked to see what Two Fat Cats had to offer...

Do you see those pies? It took all of my self control not to buy one (again - so many places to see, so many foods to eat!) but their scent left me feeling warm and cozy and wanting to curl up with a thick slice and a dollop of ice cream. But I had to buy something that could be eaten (without shame) all by myself, so I settled, as if settling were truly the right word, on this red velvet cupcake.

Note: I am not a delicate eater. I apologize if the way I dove into this cupcake upsets you, but this is how we eat cupcakes on sugar mountain; and I dare you to go into Two Fat Cats Bakery one day and see if you can leave without inhaling something in seconds. Moist and with the perfect amount of cream-cheese frosting - this cupcake lasted even less time than it appears in the photos. Ah, little cupcake, you never stood a chance.

I barely stepped into Portland before I became overwhelmed with just how much they love food there. Dare I say it, could I have found my dream city to retire to, where I can eat and enjoy food to its fullest potential without surprising and/or shocking my peers? The dedication to good food continues on Wednesday, when I share with you gourmet groceries, crazy popcorn flavors, and...

mashed potato bacon pizza.


Until Wednesday my fellow foodies!

~Jess