I’d like to introduce you to the best thing I’ve ever eaten. It’s buttery, nutty, ocean salty, and comes from a place in Portland, Maine. What follows might be considered a photographic love letter to the people and places I encountered in Maine. I just feel so lucky to be able to recreate a piece of my memories at home, in my kitchen.
The people at Fore Street restaurant make magic (and mussels) come out of this kitchen space. The restaurant feels like you’re sitting in someone’s home… with a bunch of strangers, wine, and amazing food (and you don’t have to help with the dishes). If I had a list of favorite restaurants around the country, Fore Street would top the list. It tastes like home, elevated to its highest level.
My meal there certainly elevated my home kitchen, because I took their famous mussels and made them in my home kitchen. Then I sat on the couch, with wine and bread and a ridiculous amount of napkins… and more bread.
Before we head to mussel-land, there’s more I want to tell you about Maine. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Maine is special. Inspiration falls from the sky and grows from the ground.
Gosh Portland, Maine… for a second you had me thinking your were Austin, Texas.
I think it was the surprisingly warm night air, the hospitality of Cheryl Lewis at El Rayo, the unapologetic use of the color orange, and the goat meat tacos.
Anyone who hands me a margarita (especially a well garnished margarita) is a friend (and I mean a gooood friend) of mine.
El Rayo Taquiera, Portland Maine. It’s bright, colorful, fun, inspired by tequila and tacos.
Abigail Carroll of Nonesuch Oysters taught me about spat (teeny tiny baby oysters) and some of her new oyster growing techniques. She also insisted I taste a pale green oyster that tasted exactly like a copper penny. Amazing. (You can read more about Nonesuch Oysters in Sweet Paul Magazine ((super rad!)).)
Standard Baking Company is serious. They make the bread that Fore Street serves with their buttery mussels. The dipping of their bread in these mussels was be-yond!
Behind the scenes of Standard Bakery Company there are hard-working, morning people, and lots and lots of pans and flour and bench scrapers.
Their morning buns take two days to make! When they’re made, they’re made for serious. These are huge ropes of rolls.
I got to meet Peggy of Jordan Farms. We walked around talking about eggplant and admiring cucumbers.
You know… totally normal.
At Jordan’s Farm is a tiny restaurant called The Well. They serve dinner, five nights a week, in these enclosed gazebos in the middle of the farm. It’s entirely too charming. Jason, the chef and owner knows how to make simple food sing. Most restaurants boast about being farm to table, but The Well is literally farm.to.table… because the table is actually on the farm.
Jason made Maine Wild Blueberry Cobbler and I’m so glad this has happened for me once in my life.
Broadturn Farm, run by Stacy Brenner and John Bliss is a hard-working farm. It’s home to a produce and flower CSA, weddings and events, and Flora Bliss,
I’ve never been to a working flower farm, and Broadturn felt intentional, yet wild and real.
Stacy helped me realize something about Maine.
Maine is beautiful, unique, totally special, a place that I would daydream about living in the picture perfect summer months. It’s possible to create the life you want for yourself in Maine. It’s possible to have a dream about nurturing land, building a barn, and growing a family that know how to milk goats and tend to chickens in a coup. But making that dream a reality is a journey… a really tough journey every year that you decide to continue living your dream.
That’s not to say that we can’t make our dreams real in Los Angeles or Milwakee… of course we can and we try and try and try. Stacy just helped me remember how hard we work for the dreams that we have. How unromantic they can be. How exhausting. How full of pests and taxes… and how it’s totally worth it all, but still totally hard.
And Stacy had kitties… that would come sit next to me. I’m a sucker.
Rock City Coffee Roasters roasts their beans on-site in Rockland, Maine.
I’m currently enjoying bags of their coffee now every morning. It’s so rich and round that it’s hard to share… though I never have been very good at sharing.
While in Maine, I snuck into Hello, hello Books in Rockland and signed a few of my cookbooks.
Speaking of books, I’m clearly trying to extend my vacation days by reading about Maine every night. My favorite reading right now is The Year of the Goat. It’s about a couple, Margaret and Karl, who lived in New York City, and decided… you know… to live the dream and move to Maine and raise goats. The book is a story of the year they took together to travel the country researching their dream. It’s a food book, dream book, love story. I feel fortunate to be reading it, and even that much more fortunate to have shared a meal of goat meat tacos with them.
Margaret and Karl and also author and photographer, respectively, of Portland, Maine Chef’s Table. It’s like a secret recipe book for some of Maine’s best treats. Goodness abound.
That was a long way to mussels, wasn’t it?
Thank you for going on that ride with me.
Let’s talk about flavors. This is how we’re going to celebrate our mussels. Onions, garlic (not pictured), and lemon… solid base flavors. Butter for luxuriousness. Parsley and jalapeno for jazz. Almonds for… whaaat!? Almonds are the wonderful surprise of this dish. They’re ground in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients creating a savory, chunky, toasted, spicy nut butter (literally and most deliciously).
Mussels are scrubbed and debearded.
This is the only part of this recipe that takes any extra effort. Have you ever debearded a mussel? Here’s how.
I have a miniature food processor. The ingredients for this recipe may seem like they’re coming to the brim. I’m just working with a small size.
Almonds are chopped coarsely using the pulsing action.
All the other goodness, butter included, is added to the food processor.
Look at this nut butter (literally). Some pieces of the almond are pulverized, others are the size of peas. Variety. Butter is creamy and studded with flecks of parsley and jalapeno. Onion, garlic, and lemon are representing. It’s so incredibly major.
Taste and season with salt and crushed red pepper flakes to taste. Oh gosh. So good.
I placed my mussels in a cast iron skillet, added a touch of white wine, and dolloped the butter mixture on top.
In the oven the butter will melt down, melt with the wine, and bring together the flavors of onion, garlic, lemon, parsley, spice, and mussel. Nothing bad happening here.
All we have to do is wait.
That’s hard.
While I wait I really enjoyed the exercise of slicing bread, scooping olives, and pouring wine.
It makes the placing of this sizzling pot of buttery mussels that much more satisfying.
This is real life consumption. Mussels are tender and seasoned. Bread is the perfect utensil.
This dish is sexy and earnest. It’s simple , comforting, and somehow profound. It really is one of the best dishes I’ve ever enjoyed and I’m humbled that I can make it come out of my oven.
I really hope you’ll try this recipe and enjoy it. Make it a date. Make it a dinner party. Open a second bottle of wine. Celebrate a night of living. This dish will make it super special.
Note: I made a full batch of the almond butter, but I halved the mussels (only using 2 pounds instead of 4). I froze the other half butter for a later batch of mussels.
Fore Street Mussels from Portland, Maine
serves 4
adapted from Food&Wine
1/2 cup dry roasted almonds
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup chopped white or yellow onion (half of one medium onion)
2 heaping tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 teaspoons mined jalapeno (seeds removed)
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
salt to taste
4 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded
1/2 cup dry white wine
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Scrub and debeard the mussels. If any of the mussels are open and don’t close after a tap or two, throw those guys away.
Place almonds in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Coarsely grind the almonds by pulsing a few times.
Add the butter, garlic, onion, parsley, lemon juice, lemon zest, jalapeno, red pepper flakes, and a few pinches of salt. Blend the mixture until it comes together. The mixture will be thick. Some of the almonds will be ground up well and others will be more coarsely chopped. Great! This will all meld together in the oven. Taste the butter to see if it needs any more salt of pepper. It’s totally good, isn’t it?
Place the mussels in a large roasting pan. Top with 1/2 cup white wine. Dollop butter throughout the pan, making sure that each part of the pan has a bit of the butter mixture.
Place pan in the oven and bake for 12 minutes. Slice baguette into slices while the mussels bake. Take the pan out once during baking to stir the mussels and butter together. The butter will have melted down, leaving the almonds on top of the mussels. Stir that all together!
Remove the mussels from the oven and serve immediately with baguette and wine! [/printable]
Gail
You not only nailed it, you made it even better! As if that was possible! We live 20 minutes from Fore St and go there many a Friday at 5 for the mussels and a glass of wine. My husband made this recipe tonight and OMG!!! incredible!
And yes, Maine is the most special place we’ve ever lived. G from Maine
Maknzee
I am currently in Portland visiting (indefinitely I hope.) I am getting ready to put these bad boys in the oven. You’re a huge inspiration. Let’s clink wine glasses through time and space. Cheers!
joythebaker
Cheers!
Becky
Was in Portland this summer and visited Fore Street resturants twice and loved it, I don’t eat mussels but I do now….but only at Fore Street, they were awesome!
Christopher Lee
Very nice website, great job! Would you happen to know the recipe for the Tomato Puff Pastry Pie from Fore Street?
joythebaker
oh man! i wish i knew the recipe!
Megan | Eats Daily
I just found this post and I wanted to say thank you! My husband and I are having a hard time deciding if we want to move back to Portland or back to Boston. I think you just convinced me to move back to Portland! Gosh I love that place
joythebaker
it’s divine! enjoy whatever surrounds you choose. best to you!
Tracey
My husband and I love Fore Street. We would travel there when we lived in Nottingham, NH just to have dinner. And, I have been looking for a great mussels recipe. Glad you got to see the beauty of Maine and NE.
Joy
I went to Fore Street about a year and a half ago and my mind was blown. I’ve been a silent follower of your blog for ages and squealed when I saw your entry about it! I cannot be silent anymore. Well done you for having impeccable taste (as if that were ever in question).
Joy
…and also, my name really is Joy, too :)
Jenny @ Stuff-I-Love
Hi Joy,
I made this last night! It was amazing. I used half the mussels, intending to make the whole butter mixture and freeze half (do what you did) but I forgot and used the whole mixture on half the mussels haha. The mussels tasted amazing and the butter mixture was perfect for dipping. My biggest surprise was how simple it was! Thank you so much for the recipe!
-Jenny
Caitlin
the fact that you called this recipe one of the best meals you’ve ever enjoyed means that I will definitely be making it for my boyfriend’s birthday dinner tonight. thank youuuuu Joy!
Carrie
Mmmm …. Fore St IS amazing! Yum – so glad you got to experience Maine!
katy
I love how much love Maine has been getting on your blog! Plus, these mussels look amazing!
Brooke
I don’t normally comment on blog posts, but I made these mussels on Monday and they were nothing short of INCREDIBLE! Seriously, my husband and I were soaking up the broth with bread like it was the last thing we would ever eat. AWESOME. Everyone needs to eat these.
joythebaker
I’m so happy you made these and love them. Arent they bonkers!? Thanks for commenting!
Amelia
My hometown! I can’t believe I missed you but I CAN believe you loved it so much. We’ve got a little something special in Portland, Maine.
Kimberly
Oooooh that was a lovely journey :) Maine is truly a magical place. I spent two weeks on a sailboat in Maine while experiencing an Outward Bound expedition. Changed my life. Got to spend 3 days alone on an island, sleeping on a rock, just me and the stars and God. Wowza. Thanks for the word picture!
Martha
I am from Maine (have been living here for 6 years) and went to Fore Street for dinner with my parents a couple of months after I moved up here (haven’t been back since but keep meaning to!). My fiance and I LOVE mussels and this recipe sounds heavenly. Cannot wait to make it (and have some Standard Baking Co bread to go along with it!).
Megh!
I’m so excited by this post! I love it here (here being Portland, ME.) I moved here just over a year ago and fell in love with all the same things you did. El Rayo is lunch spot of choice in the hot summertime. Next time, try a Bright and Hazy…white rum, lime, ginger beer. So refreshing! Two good friends of mine married last September at Broadturn Farm. It’s easy to say that the most exquitite aspect of their wedding, with the exception of their love for each other, was the flowers. To be married on a flower farm seems like a no brainer. I die for Standard’s ham and cheese croissants. Finally, my boyfriend of nearly a year, but just a few months back in February, brought me to Fore St. for Valentine’s Day. It was a first-time experience for us both. OF COURSE we ordered the mussels, and we still talk/dream of them on the regular. We are so excited to use your recipe to recreate. Thanks for writing such a beautiful post about the beautiful place I love to live in!
Gemma
We spent two very happy nights in Portland in June and I ate the Fore Street mussels on the first night. Maine is such a beautiful part of the World, I’m desperate to go back.
Katy
Awww, Next time you are in Portland, ME check out Artemisia Cafe on Pleasant Street for breakfast or lunch. Soooo good- my friends and I used to go there for brunch every Sunday. <3 Glad you enjoyed Maine!
Love all of the places you went to see!
Calantha
Thank you for sharing your voyage and the wonderful people you met in Maine. For those of us who dream of travelling but find ourselves unable to do so, it was lovely to feel swept away by your story and photos! I also think I will pick up the book about goats… who doesn’t love a good goat story :)
juliet tarantino
i ABSOLUTELY love that you take on new challenges like waking up and getting dressed in the morning — you are truly a trooper, and a creative force to reckon with!
i love your blogs for your inspiration and perspectives —
thank you
juliet tarantino
elaine
Hey Joy!
I was wondering where that plate is from in the first photo! It caught my eye and I think it’s so beautiful! Does it have a name or brand on the back and if so where did you get it? Thanks!
Elaine
Amelia
So I’m thinking I must go to Maine. Joy, you sure know
How to make a girl fall in love with a place, and a dish :)
Tracy
Wow what an amazing trip! Thank you for sharing your adventure!
alice
These were delish, but cooking them in the oven as suggested they didn’t open like the normally do when I make mussels. I would do these on the stove top and steam them – they open better that way!
Liz s.
Love your blog very much, but feel the super dorky need to let you know..Milwaukee is misspelled above. My hometown, so, yeah..:)
Diana Daniel
I am originally from Maine. I always felt like I wanted to live someplace “bigger and better” with more possibilities, excitement, diversity and warmer weather. So, I moved to San Francisco. No doubt that San Francisco is an amazing city with an incredible food scene, vibrant city and people. YET, reading your blog helped me realize how special Maine is to me and all it does have to offer. I live in California, yet I am proud to call Maine my home state and it will always be fondly held in my heart. I’m going back in October (3rd trip this year). I guess I miss Portland and my dear friends. Thank you!
Laura Ann T.
These are such great pictures of wonderful moments in a beautiful place (did I use enough adjectives?)! Thanks for posting about Maine. It is truly a magical place. I’m definitely going to make these mussels when I next see them at the store by the way. :)
Casey @ The Baker Bee
I have a serious love for mussels. I will be making this… maybe even tonight. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience!
Nieqo
Good on you for the almonds! Lush!
yvonne
omg i LOVE fore street. i try to eat there every time i go to maine, but have never had the mussels! i made these tonight…SO DELICIOUS. the almonds!!! thank you for giving me a little taste of maine here in my own new york kitchen.
Chris
Oh man do these mussels sound seriously yummy. It must be my day for shellfish recipes ’cause I saw an amazing (and similarly simple) recipe for clams on a cooking show today. Must be a sign that it’s time for me to make/eat some!
Becky Allred
Joy,
We live in Little Rock but have a family home on Cape Jellison, Maine. I highly recommend Chase’s Daily in Belfast, Maine. Chase’s was nominated for a James Beard award- one taste and you will know why. Chase’s is a farm to table restaurant. It’s located about 20 minutes from Rockland. On your way to Belfast, I highly recommend going to Mclaughlin’s Lobster Shack on Route 1 in Lincolnville for a lobster roll and then head to Cellardoor Winery (also in Lincolnville). Cellardoor has a killer wine tasting on Sundays- the food at the tasting is a culinary dream. Sounds like you had a great trip. If you get a chance next time you are in Portland go to Flatbread Pizza- delicious and 100% organic.
Emma R.
You should read ‘Notes from a Maine Kitchen’- an awesome read by a Maine chef who cooks locally and seasonally. Lots of great anecdotal Maine stories! http://www.amazon.com/Notes-Maine-Kitchen-Seasonally-Inspired/dp/0892729171
Alyssa McGowan
this post has made me insanely, utterly, blissfully happy. Fore Street is one of my favorite restaurants in the world – and the mussels are insanely good… I am so happy you discovered Fore Street as well!!! Portland is a gem of a city – and you hit some of the best places. on your next trip, be sure to check out Duckfat (fries, need I say more???), Two Fat Cats bakery and you must have a pint at Gritty’s!
Michelle
What a great post! I moved to Portland 8 years ago and have a love/hate relationship with Maine. Summertime is magical and the winters are long. Every winter makes me appreciate summer more. Thank you for reminding me of what I have. Broadturn is the the best, we had a CSA share there until I started growing my own garden. Keep up great writing and cooking!
Dalia
This is my first comment on yout blog. For me what seperates your blog from all the others is that it has soul. For real. Such beautiful writing and enchating stories.
Sarah
You just wrote a love letter to life and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I admire you so much Joy. For your love of food, life and for sharing it with us. Thank you.
xoxo Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
My family are from Belgium and eating mussels is a big thing there – I just don’t like them though. I really wish I did :(
Rachel
Your posts about Maine continue to bring back fond memories of the time I spent there. Mainers are truly making some amazing food! We hardly ever ate out (the in-laws preferred in) but one of our favorites was a Mexican-ish place called El Camino in Brunswick – amazing food and cool atmosphere!
Jackie
hi joy! i just wanted to say how excited i was to see broadturn farm featured in your blog. my husband and i had the privilege of getting married there this past june and stacy did our flowers, which were so wildly beautiful. it’s so true that’s she and john and their crew (and cats) have created an amazing and bountiful farm, built and maintained with their blood, sweat and tears.
i will have to check out all these other amazing restaurants that you mentioned the next time i head to portland. thanks for posting the mussels recipe!
Kristin @ FoodFash
Love this – “Maine is special. Inspiration falls from the sky and grows from the ground. Gosh Portland, Maine… for a second you had me thinking your were Austin, Texas.” Austin would love to have you as a visitor again!
Lil Deli
I dream about places like Maine. I want to go to America!
Sarah E
Usually I’m just a lurker, but your recent posts made me have to comment….thank you for sharing your love letters to Maine! I grew up there and even though I live elsewhere now, it is very very dear to my heart. I hope next time you visit you head inland, the mountains have just as much to offer as the ocean! P.S. You are making me miss home.
Kimi
Dear Joy,
You are so aptly named. You are a wonderful writer, and I think you encourage a lot of people. I know you encourage me.
I guess I look forward to meeting you in Heaven, sis.
<3
Stephanie
oh girl, you’ve done it again! mussels are a new favorite of mine. i can’t wait to try these with some friends now that the temps are dropping and my favorite season is on its way!
fatpiginthemarket
Now I wanna move to Maine.
wendy@chezchloe
That was a seriously good post. I’m probably not the first to say this but I’m also not about to read the other 75 comments… forgive me.
I have friends moving right exactly to Portland Maine in January (ouch) but I’m imagining sleigh rides. I’m further encouraged to stay in touch with them :-)
I’ve also got goats on the brain and an arm full of goat books at my nightstand. But not this one. thx!
Snake rolls of sweet yeasted bread… awesome.
The mussels ain’t too shabby either.
nicole
reading your words about where I live (Portland!) and how you feel about the places I love- means so much! Fore St. is one of my very favorites for all of the reasons you mention.
I adore my home state and your blog- so it is pretty awesome to see wonderful words about Maine on your blog!
Kate
This looks fabulous but I have no idea how to debeard a mussel. Also, I can’t help but wonder who was the lucky other soul to be the second to your mussel consumption?
Maria
Oh Joy, thank you for the inspiration and for the recipe! Although I am greek and I have eaten kilos of mussels, I was always afraid to cook them. Until today! I’m so happy I decided to try your version, it is just wonderful!
Lucie
I love your stories about maine. I would love to go there and stay for a long autumn glance. your recipe would taste wonderfully perfect in a rocking chair on the front porch.. haha dreaming…
Sarah H B
Joy!
I can’t believe you were here— and I am literally crying after reading your paragraph about making a life in Maine.
I grew up here, and Rock City Roasters is my absolute favorite coffee shop in existance. And Standard Baking tops my list of best bakerys in Maine.
I am currently trying to start up my own Bakery in Sedgwick, ME. And it’s tough but I am determined to do it! We even started raising chickens for my baked goods! So thank you for loving this state, and for your post. please visit again soon!!! You should check out Deer Isle, Stonington, area next!
Sarah H B
Also- Joy another great Maine book. By the daughter of Elliot Coleman (apprentice to the Nearings who started the Organic Food movement up this way)….
I loved it… and thought you might want to add it to your list!
http://www.amazon.com/This-Life-Is-Your-Hands/dp/0061958328
I saw you were reading DESSERTED— great cookbook. Try the Flourless Energy bars…I make them once a week and freeze them. Black Dinah chocolates is an inspiring story of making it on an island in Maine. Another reason to come back soon and check it out!
Bakerkat
You have become Maine’s best spokeswoman. It seems like a wonderful place to go.
Kristen
Thank you for this post! I was really excited to see it was about my home-state Maine! I enjoyed reading the different perspective. Having lived here my whole life, the beauty can sometimes be taken for granted and disappear, thank you for reminding me!
Sloan
I am actually traveling to Bar Harbor in a month to do a marathon so will definitely check these places out on the way. Sounds like such a wonderful trip. If you ever need company on one of these trips…. Just saying. :-)
Katie @ Blonde Ambition
What a beautiful trip!
Also, i pretty much just want to put that “nut butter” on everything from now on….
Rocky Mountain Woman
Every time I read something about Maine I get homesick for the East Coast.
It must be time to plan a trip!
xxoo,
RMW
meg
I don’t even eat seafood and this looks amazing! It’s got me wondering what else I can put that nut butter on…
chaniarts
you were there in the summer. there’s a penalty for living in maine. it’s called winter. it is brrrr cold, with lots of snow, for a long time. btdt, got the polar fleece tshirt.
Row
Beautiful pictures and beautiful food! :)
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
I LOVE Maine! I have never tried mussels before…
tracy
you should take me with you next time.
that is all.
Julie Kingsley
Had to chime in here…
I’m a Portland local. Must say, you hit every one of my favorite spots. I’m so embarrassed to say that I’ve never made Fore Street’s mussels. So glad to finally have the recipe.
Thanks so much!
Jamie @ green beans & grapefruit
So awesome! Maine has been on my go-to list for years now and you may have just convinced me to check it out next summer. Absolutely awesome!
Jen
I love how travelling and seeing other people in there different places geographically and in life reinvigorates us to work harder and do more. Thanks for sharing about Maine! Next trip, you should try and make it NorthWest (AK)!
Kitchen Mommy
Looks like an awesome trip! I thought you might enjoy knowing your pumpkin bundt cake with cinnamon glaze is making an appearance at my one year old’s bday party – reincarnated as cupcakes!
Danielle
I was already craving a trip to the East Coast. Have you been for fall foliage? Now i’m craving fresh mussels too!
Thanks for sharing!
Nicole @ the Dirty oven
Looks and sounds like you had a blast! Super excited about all things goat. Gonna have to had Maine to my list of places to visit. Loves to you.
Diana
You’re pictures are beautiful! I just want to be in Maine and experience all that you did. Those mussels, oh they’re definitely going to make an appearance very soon in my kitchen..maybe a dinner party? Have a great weekend?
Jennifer
Joy, these mussels look absolutely divine! I love reading about your Maine adventures – it’s a place that is very high on my list for travel.
One question about the recipe – how large is the cast iron skillet that you used for two lbs. of mussels? I have a very large c.i. skillet (12″ diameter, 2″ deep) and am wondering if it can hold all four pounds – it would make such a gorgeous presentation for a dinner party!
skylar
Maine is phenomenal.
I, like you, was raised in Los Angeles but dream in pine needles and salt air. I went to college in Maine and try to go back every year. Portland is basically my favorite city on the planet. Did you get to Gritty’s? Flatbread? Silly’s? So much food and so much love in such a small space. Now your next step in your Maine love affair is to go back during the Winter. I for one am trying to create the vibe of Maine in my own LA life. It’s difficult, but I’ve decided it’s not impossible. I love LA. I love Maine. I will forge them together somehow. And I think it will probably involve berries and beer.
Glad you found a place in Maine.
Carolyn
Joy, this is amazing, thank you! I’m about to book a trip to Portland with my husband for our 1st anniversary next month. This is so helpful, we’re going to eat like crazy on this trip. We had stopped in Portland on our way back from our honeymoon in Bar Harbor last year and seriously had the best meal of our loves at Miyake. Can’t wait for more!
Also, my brother and I just made a plan to come visit you in Vermont next weekend. We’re SO excited!!
Carolyn
Seanna Lea
You are making me miss Maine and as a vegetarian I cannot eat many of the treats that are quintessential to the state I grew up in! Gah!
Cheryl Lewis
We had so much fun hosting your first meal in Maine! It was a fun for us to create an event between our two restos and really show off Portland along with our favorite farmers. Portland has so much to offer and you really “got it” on your trip. I LOVE that you compare us to Austin; it’s one of our favorite cities!
I just signed up for your blog, it’s a great one!
Best,
Cheryl
Karen@Mignardise
Hi Joy,
Thank you for such an enthusiastic and poetic love letter to Maine. I’ve been here for 10 years and am never leaving, for all the reasons you mention and many more. I noticed though, how you said you could picture living here “in the summer months”. That’s funny – you’d have to learn to love winter too! It’s the best baking season. If you come back next summer, I hope you’ll visit Royal River Books in Yarmouth (just north of Portland). We’d love to have you!
Thanks for the mussel recipe – Fore Street and Standard are pretty awesome.
Star
I’m living my dream here in Maine! So glad you were able to hit some of our favorite spots.
Elsa
Coming to you from Portland, Maine, and as it happens, just last night some friends and I planned an upcoming night of mussels at my place. One friend will bring the mussels, another will bring the salad, I’ll make the bread and provide all the mussels fixin’s: garlic, herbs, wine, butter. Almond butter would make a great addition!
I join you in urging folks to make mussels at home! They’re delicious, inexpensive, nutritionally rich, and they cook in just a few minutes. How often do you find a food like that that also feels luxurious? Plus, when you make them at home, you can have as much bread as you like to soak up the amazing broth without having to pester a waiter for it.
Next time you’re in Portland — there will be a next time, right? — I recommend breakfast at Hot Suppa and cocktails on the patio at Caiola’s, where the menu is ever-changing, but the polenta fries are forever.
Erin
Just a note to say Hi! from a new reader in Portland, ME! I really enjoy your blog and I was so excited to see photos from some of my favorite places. Glad you liked your visit!
Kim
This entry really hit me where I live, Joy. I’m Boston born and bred, and I’m so thankful to live here, but frequently my husband and I escape to Portland, Maine (when we aren’t escaping to Portland, Oregon – my other true love in this world). We’ve been to Fore Street several times and are actually going up in a few weeks for my birthday dinner. Super excited!
Fore Street is pure heaven and I’m so glad you had a chance to come here and experience it. Maine’s magic is seen so deftly through your eyes in this post and I want to thank you for coming here, experiencing it, and then sharing that through your blog. I’ve always loved Portland but can never tell if I’m biased or not. Your words and photos made it real to me – that what I see, everyone can see. I just wanted to thank you.
Also, this recipe is amazing. You opened my eyes to how skilled you truly are – there are restaurant secrets I never would have though of going on in here. Kudos on yet another thoughtful and excellent recipe interpretation.
I’m so thankful for you Joy – your blog, your book, your voice, and your experiences. Thank. You.
Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi)
I’ve always wanted to go to Maine. My mother’s family is from there and she spent every summer as a child eating lobster and warshing clothes. This solidifies that Maine will be my next vacation. And almonds in mussels? Genius!
Diane, A Broad
I love love love mussels (despite having gotten a hold of a bad one at a restaurant once and having the worst two days and nights of my life), especially with hot crispy fries! Almonds are genius.
Karl & Margaret
Joy – thanks so much for the shout out and the love for Maine. You have captured so much of why we decided to make it our home. That dinner at El Rayo with you and the other bloggers was definitely one of the highlights of our Summer, not just the delicious food, but the great company and new friends. Glad you are enjoying the book. Hope to stay in touch.
Best wishes, Karl & Margaret
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
i loved reading about your maine adventures, joy. you are a wonderful storyteller! and these mussels look divine – that nut butter is doing something to me. i might just have to try this…
Carrie @ Kiss My Whisk
I love Maine and Mussels! This recipe will be tried out in my kitchen soon!
Celia
You are moving Maine to the top of my to-visit list! Please keep your travel memories coming.
In the last few years, I discovered that mussels are amazing. Thanks for a fancy yet approachable recipe to make mussels in my own home! (By “serves 4” do you really mean “serves 1 mussel-starved lady”? I think with the right bread I could really clean up.)
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
I love mussels I also love falling in love with Maine through your pictures!! So beautiful! I never thought to add nut butter to mussels, great idea!
V.Mayer
I used to live above a barbershop on Fore St.(in 1980)! My boyfriend & his dad ran the local fish market, so we ate alot of fresh seafood (scallops were my favorite). Doesn’t sound like the area’s changed much, fortunately!
Annie @ Annie's City Kitchen
Ok, I don’t think I’m much of a mussels person but you definitely sold me on Maine! I’ve actually always dreamed of moving to the east coast because it just seems cozy!
Jessica
I miss Maine! I had the opportunity to visit a few times over the past year, and it was wonderful. I think I had (amazing) oysters at Fore Street. The restaurant Grace is also amazing, its in a beautiful old church. And I spent a lot of time in the Rockland area; I can’t believe I missed the coffee roaster!
Thanks for helping me reminisce!
BERNIE SMITH
Thanks a lot, now we will never get in to FORE STREET.
Only kidding. Great Post.
We happen to be at your round table before you that night. Hope we did not make you wait to long??
Bernie ( Peaks Island )
Mary P
Joy, awesome, awesome post!!! Beautifully written and insightfully photographed. I want to drop everything and sprint to Maine right now.
I don’t mean to gush, but I have to give this acknowledgement. I’m a little late to the party (been reading about 6 months now) but you’ve quickly become my number one favorite blog. I love your authentic and gracious yet playful voice, and your recipes… well, they’re pretty maj too :D Keep on keepin’ on!
MauraEverything
So incredible to read about my adopted hometown/home state through your eyes. I feel so fortunate to bringing up my kids here, thanks for describing Maine in such a beautiful way. Agreed, the Standard Baking Company breakfast rolls are divine.
Julie
What a beautiful post! Seven years (and some change) ago I took my honeymoon to Portland. I agree, Maine is extremely special. I haven’t been back since, which needs to be corrected at some point. We spent a lot of time at the beach and went to a minor league baseball game – Go Sea Dogs!!! Such a fun time, and I love your post. Can’t wait to go back to Maine. :)
megan
acknowledging my bummed-out-ness that you met a bunch of my actual friends, and I didn’t know until after.
amanda (simplemittens)
Now I have to visit Maine!
(and now I understand how the Soule’s are doing it ;)
Tracey
I am a mussel fanatic. At least once a week, when my kids are at their dad’s, I stop by the fish market, pick up a couple of pounds of mussels and steam them. I also eat them on the couch with plenty of bread, wine and napkins! This recipe looks amazing and I think I will be stopping at the fish market tonight to try it!
Recipe aside, this was really a beautiful and thought provoking post. You are great writer, in that you seem to whisper to the soul.
Thanks
Meister, The Nervous Cook
what a timely post: i’m headed to portland in 2 weeks (!) to run my first marathon (!!) and will definitely be eating some tacos at the finish line. (okay, maybe after a shower.)
Candace
Go to Taco Escobarr! It is awesome. And… better than El Rayo. Sorry Joy!
MEGAN
I spent a week last summer WWOOFing in Maine on a blueberry farm and it was the most amazing and eye opening experience of my life. It is a beautiful world up there and I want to go back everyday!
xoxo
Megan
Candace
Joy, I can’t believe you were here in Portland!! It makes me wonder whether I scurried past you on Commercial Street while running to work. I am so happy that you loved your time here! Portland is a huge food and arts town- its low-key, sorta hippy-trendy vibe is comfortable and earnest. I moved here four years ago after college, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Hope you make it back!
Rachael B
I have never tried mussels before – pretty much everything else oceanic of the new england variety. I don’t know why I haven’t indulged, but this makes me want to. Maybe, just maybe… I will.
Megan
Yay Maine! Joy – thank you for such a beautiful love letter to my state – my city…it’s nice to be reminded of the absolute awesomeness that I have the privilege to live every day! Visit often!
Jaime
What a beautiful post! I was in Portland over the summer and now I am craving to go back! We did not go to these little gems. We did go to duckfat which was really yummy.
Brianne
I’m dying to get to Fore Street! Thank you, THANK YOU for making it possible to get a preview of their awesomeness in my kitchen, two hours away.
Maine rules. The way of life here is so different from everywhere else–and I say that as someone who didn’t grow up here. Your appreciation for it makes me appreciate it even more.
Karine keldany
Beautifuk photography and great story. Your words are very inspiring. Maine was on my travel list and now it is on the top. Thanks for sharing. Warm regards from Montreal!
Kendra
Again, thank you for making your recent trip to Maine come alive – for those of us who have not yet lived this experience! I’m inspired just reading ;)
Carly A
Seriously, Joy. I live 20 minutes from Portland, ME and I just moved here two months ago from Pittsburgh. Maine is so beautiful!!! I haven’t been to any of the places you mentioned in your post, which makes me a bit sad but also excited to go check them out! I’m so glad you had a nice vacation here.
Toni
My husband and I LOVE Portland Maine ! it’s one of our favorite places to go. The food is amazing ! We stumbled upon Fore Street last time we went and it was soo good!
Maine rocks !
The Savory and The Beautiful
I must go back to Maine and try your version. Loved your pictures! It’s only 6:39 am and i’m now craving mussels for breakfast :-/) Happy Friday chica xoxo.
Amielle
I love all of the photos and the little stories about everything. Definitely adding Maine to the list of places I need to eat my way through. :)
Adeline
Very inspiring post for the weekend!
Also, random fact, my parents met in Marseilles in the 70s then decided to leave the city and go raise goats in the mountains. Growing up on homemade goat’s cheese and olives was pretty awesome indeed. :)
Keisha
Thank you for such an inspiring post! It was exactly what I needed to hear. As I’m reading your post im making my daily commute to work..not exactly in the best of spirits..but your post really cheered me up. Thank you so much for saving my Friday!
Margherita
I absolutely loved reading this post.
It must be fascinating to be able to see what’s happening in an awesome bakery, especially one where they take two days to make the rolls….serious stuff!
robyn
oh yes yes yes! my favourite meal is mussels, bread (obviously-and more bread-like you said) and a glass of white wine. my last meal of choice actually.
You make maine sound so great. it is-not saying it isn’t. it is. but I want to go back (been twice)-but honestly-now thinking-maybe it is time I give living in the states a try!
Beautiful!
Thanks for sharing!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
What a fabulous post – yes, it’s possible to achieve our dreams in a variety of places, but sometimes a certain place on earth just speaks to a person and really is the end-all-be-all for that person. Sort of sounds like your place is Maine. I love that you have this Happy Place to go to and daydream about.
And the mussels look perfect!
Janae @ Bring-Joy
“[…] how hard we work for the dreams that we have. How unromantic they can be. How exhausting. How full of pests and taxes… and how it’s totally worth it all, but still totally hard.” So, so true. Nobody gets a free ride to success or making their dreams become a reality (well, *almost* nobody). Love these thoughts, I agree, I think Maine is a magical place. Thank you for sharing so many lovely places & thoughts, Joy.