When I teach journalism students about writing for news organizations, I always tell them not to mention the weather unless the story is actually about the weather. And yet, as I write this, the pouring rain outside my window that’s melting the snow and ice we had over the weekend seems relevant. This is the transition period — when we are ready to shed the layers of winter and welcome patio life and outdoor living back into our lives.
There are always certain markers of the upcoming summer that transcend weather, of course. The Lost Kitchen in Freedom unveils its yearly reservation lottery parameters on the first day of spring, for instance. The opening of Jimmy’s in Brewer and the Gifford’s ice cream stands also mark the coming season.
Now that we’re rounding the corner into April, regardless of ice cream and reservation systems, I am thinking about all the experiences I want to have this summer — especially where I want to eat, the things I want to experience and the people I want to do it with.
Last summer was a joy. I brunched in Orono and Bangor and Portland. I ate on patios in Hallowell and Belfast and Freeport. I laughed with friends over drinks and sampled menus I’d never before. And I had so many lunches and dinners by bodies of water. It was pure joy. As the season drew to a close, I looked back with satisfaction.
This year I want more.
That’s why I have put together this list of summer experiences to help guide the building of a summer food bucket list. The best way to use this is to choose the items that you enjoy most. Skip the ones that aren’t for you. And pull together a list of things that will make your summer of 2024 a memorably delicious one.
Let’s go.
Have a new fine dining experience
In Maine, we’re lucky to have excellent restaurants cooking with local ingredients and creating amazing dining experiences. This summer, I would love to try a new fine dining experience.
Earth at Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport, which offers three-, four- and five-course dinners that range from $85 to $105 each, has been on my radar since last summer. The March menu at the year-round restaurant with rustic styling includes dishes like poached oysters served with Siberian caviar, champagne emulsion, salsify and blood orange hollandaise and Faroe Island salmon with celeriac puree, confit mushrooms, lobster emulsion and romanesco.
Likewise, Turner Farm on North Haven, which offers Barn Suppers in the summer, has my attention. Unfortunately, getting to the island is a challenge. There is a ferry, the Equinox, that takes diners to the island on Thursdays, but spots are limited. You can also get a water taxi from Vinalhaven or bring your own boat. If you can get there though, the meal includes “family style, multi-course menu rotates to feature seasonal produce, local meats, fresh bread and sweet delights,” which sounds lovely. This one will cost you $145 each ($90 for those under 21).
A bit closer (and easier to get to), Primo in Rockland began accepting reservations for its 25th summer season on April 1. Its frequently changing menu celebrates local ingredients cooked elegantly (main courses cost $32 to $58).
And I’d be remiss not to mention that reservations at The Lost Kitchen ($265 per person for a five-house dining experience) are now in sight. Send a postcard following the instructions on its website if that’s one you’re craving.
Enjoy a new patio
Like many Mainers I know, the first warm day of the season sends me dashing for a patio to enjoy the fine weather. The sun always seems a bit brighter and warmer on that first day, and the outdoors feel fresh and new. Scrolling through Facebook memories this time of year, I can track that special first day based on the photos of tables outside Mason’s Brewing Company in Brewer, Sea Dog Brewing Company in Bangor and other fun places.
This summer I want to try a new patio experience. Part of the fun, though, is the spontaneity of it all. You don’t know it’s a patio day until you’re in it and craving dining al fresco. Still, Maillard Kitchen at Sidereal Farm Brewery in Vassalboro, Rio’s Spiked Cafe in Searsport (reopening Memorial Day weekend and Fisherman’s Wharf in Lubec are all on my wish list.
But I also want to return to favorite old spots, too. And also have friends over more regularly to enjoy my own patio, which I’ve been slowly remaking into a space for good laughs, good friends and good times.
Have rooftop drinks with friends
Drinks on a rooftop? Sounds like a good plan for the early days of summer. And it’s one I want to make happen with friends this summer as well.
Much like the patio experience, having drinks in a special rooftop spot is also a warm weather treat. This summer, with a good friend moving back from southern Maine and some writer friends with so much to celebrate, I want to make plans for rooftop drinks on a lovely, warm evening at The Tarratine in Bangor. The stately building has a rooftop with a view of Bangor. Perfect for celebratory drinks.
Picnic by the water
Another spontaneous experience for the list: picnicking by the water. Last summer, I had breakfast at Seawall picnic area in Acadia National Park, tacos at the Bangor Waterfront (takeout from Mainely Tacos is amazing) and many a packed lunch and dinner eaten on the shores of Pushaw Lake.
This summer, I want more of that. And perhaps I will even try a few new spots for this experience, too.
So that’s my summer dining bucket list. What’s on yours?