cornexo

Sometimes when one travels there is insufficient time to plan your entire meal tour.  Coming to Pop!Tech is one time that I wish I had.  The great news is that everyone points you to the gold standard.  Or should I say platinum standard?

Here is where I start kicking myself.  How many times does one get to dine in the establishment of a James Beard Best Chef award winner?  Not many.  This part of Maine is home to to one, Melissa Kelly of Primo in Rockland.

I could flower the page with superlatives and minute descriptions of sauces (mushroom-Madeira jus!!) but it would be lacking.  Here’s the best I can do: local ingredients — as in from the 2 acres surrounding the establishment — prepared with extreme finesse are the norm.

Just a few suggestions.  The wine selection was pleasantly varied and while the Muga 2000 we ordered was actually a 2003, no harm done.  Order the saltimbocca which, as rumor has it, is the only item that never rotates off the menu as it was Melissa’s grandfather’s favorite.  True or not, it deserves a permanent home on the menu.  Not to be overlooked the homemade cannoli might be some of the best I have ever had.  That includes the couple of hundred consumed in Italy!  What was surprising was the shell itself.  Instead of a thick wafer the delicate latticework was perfect.  Hats off to Melissa’s partner Price Kushner, the pastry chef, who coincidentally runs the house.

A special mention needs to be made for Sarah who truly accompanied us for the evening at each step explaining in minute detail where the ingredients came from, the preparation, and providing some solid choices when suggestions where requested.  If you see her, ask about her photography.

There are few restaurants which I can say I would make a 630 mile journey for.  Primo is one of them.

Camden Maine hosts one of the best small restaurants I have eaten in for quite some time.  Francine is located in a quaint old New England house on a quiet side street.  If it wasn’t for the christmas lights outside you would walk right past it.  Actually the wonderful smell would have made you wonder if you were wandering into someone’s kitchen.

The fare was not typical of Maine, but they do use quite a few local ingredients such as the braised rabbit I had.  While not quite falling off the bone it was tender and exquisite.

Don’t miss the desserts!  You might find something that will surprise you.  Carl Honoré, who sat next to us liked the custard made with duck egg yolks.

Also, talk to the bartender, Jeff, who has a wealth of information about what to do in the area.  The local visitors center should point people to him.

NYT has a nice short article on good wines under $10.  Personally, Ravenswood always goes over well at home, especially Lodi Old Vine even though it costs a bit more than $10.

If you’ve had any of these, send in a comment.  And if you feel really brave, post your reviews to Cork’d.

The Minimalist has a new article, video and recipe for a Tomato Paella on the NYT site. Looks easy.

If you try this one, or know of other easy paellas, lemme know.