Bergdorfs Lobster Roll

Just because it's winter doesn't mean you can't hanker for a Maine lobster roll. Bergdorfs' Holiday windows even show a crab roll-to-be. une plateau de crustaces svp.

Does a fish roll exist?

Oh to be off swimming in nice warm caribbean waters.

Does her bodice look inspired by Alexander McQueens mussel corset?

Oh to just shake your lobster snowglobe.

And have Luke's Lobster truck show up in front of Bergdorfs.

Bergdorfs' blue lobster drove me down to Luke's storefront on 93 E. 7th street Saturday at 1:05 the joint was empty.

Naturally when my friend arrived 10 minutes later, the joint was jammed.

Natch we both got the lobster roll special for $17. Everything comes from Maine including Miss Vickies chips and the ME soda pop. The roll has NO mayo only big hunks of very fresh Maine lobster and a bit of seasoned butter on a perfectly toasted bun.

For true authenticity you sit on lobsters while you eat.

Lobsters are all over this joint.

Please stop by Luke's Lobster truck on 5th Ave. & 59th st?

Painting with David Dewey

Monday- first day out painting in Rockland, Maine with David Dewey. This is our subject matter or whatever you feel like painting.

David starts his demo at 9AM with a thumbnail painting of the two chairs. David talks and paints while we watch. And listen.

I doodle.

Then on to painting!

At 4 o'clock David crits our work.

Shirley Cook did this wonderfully loose watercolor.

This is Shirley's terrific thumbnail.

Sue DelPonte's lovely page combining drawing, paint swatches and large thumbnail.

My combo thumbnail/watercolor of the two chairs. The first day is always the hardest, getting your feet wet in watercolor.

Speaking of feet, the majority of workshoppers are wearing Keen's shoes. Next time.

And then la piece de la resistance of the day!

FRIED CLAM SANDWICHES at the Rockland Cafe!Yay

Official LOBSTER DAY for us is on Thursday so we must wait.

But it's impossible to wait for ice cream cones.

Maine deck chairs are everywhere, even miniature versions.

BONJOUR PAINTING WITH DAVID DEWEY!

I Forgot 2 Shoot My Food...

Heading up to Maine on Sunday morning, I had at least 8 hours on the bus to think about lobster... Alison said, "I know a great place where the lobster rolls are only $6.95". Off we go in search of the cheapest lobster roll in the USA. An hour or so later after circling and circling the same route over and over, Alison says,
"I know it was here last year, just over this hill ..."
I beg her, "Can we ask somebody puleeze?
Can we stop in there and just ask?
No, they won't know" she responds.
I am ready to take a bite out of Alison's arm.
Finally Alison admits defeat.

We head back into Rockland and go to the local's hangout, The Rockland Cafe on Mechanic Street... Naturalment in my ravenous haste I forgot to shoot my seafood chowda' for you. I did remember to shoot the excellent ($12.95) very fresh (with not too much Mayo) lobster roll. Packed inside a Kaiser toasted bun by the way.

Petit dej' at the General Store used to be quite fab...

They had something called a 'breakfast pizza'. It sounds disgusting but it was just bacon and eggs on top a crispy crust. Miam-miam!

Instead I got just eggs over-easy with toast. *Note the jar of home-made strawberry jam dangerously left on the table...ahem

They do still have my favorite cookie and the price has not changed. Yay. I show great restraint and get just one.

I am not the slightest bit tempted by these whoopie pies - if only London bakers knew about the General Store in Owls Head they would be rushing here...

I admire the local brew of blueberry and raspberry jams, but somehow or other I resist. It's just the first day of my week in Maine. Plenty of time to indulge...

Lunch is simply a peanutbutter sandwich. I'm saving myself for dinner. A bunch of us arty girls leave painting class early to go off to an opening somewhere or other near Boothbay. We get lost, Maine signage not being all it could be...

Later we end up at a tres authentic local eatery. OK a rather shack-like joint that Pam remembers has terrific crab rolls. And yes it is still there since she went just a week ago. YAY!

We park ourselves on la terrace and enjoy the scenic view of the draw bridge etc.

The crab roll is everything we dreamed it would be. Tons of fresh crab piled on toasted hot dog buns. And again, very easy on the Mayo. 'Chips' come with it. There is a heaven on earth. I order an extra slaw, remembering to get my much needed daily 4-5 veggies up here. Do chips count as a veggie?

We go off to another local joint for dessert. And let's face it really, can Moody's Diner on route 1 be topped?

They have been baking lemon meringue pies to beat the band since 1927, When I spotted these mashed numbers on sale for $1.50, I said we had to try it. It tasted very mashed...

My rhubarb-strawberry pie a la mode with Round Top Ice Cream was out of this world divine. Extremely tart and combined with the vanilla ice cream...well words cannot do it justice. And Round Top ice cream has to be the best there is. No question hands down. Super creamy in an old-fashioned way.

Pam ate up her coconut cream pie without saying a word.

Alison and Margaret 'shared' a portion of raspberry pie a la mode. This is what a HALF! portion looks like. It has to be the very best pie on the planet. Oh why did I not get the raspberry? Please do get it and think of me when you pop into Moody's.

Moody's is the perfect end to a perfect Maine day.

Enjoy your breakfast. I hope it's a breakfast pizza...

More to come on painting in Maine

BONJOUR MAINE EATS!!