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Things I Miss About Portland, ME

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Lots and lots of people. I made a lot of good friendships. There is a genuine quality to Mainers. Ayuh

My therapist
Pei Men Miyake, especially at lunch. I loved getting ramen and fried brussel sprouts
The potato pancakes, rye bread with delicious spread, beets and soups at Schulte and Herr. Such a treasure of Portland, Maine and BYOB.
The atmosphere and food at Saigon on Outer Forest Ave. If you haven’t been there you need to go. Lanna craved their spring rolls so much she is now making them since we moved.
The pork fried dumplings at China Villa in Westbrook. There is much better Chinese in Connecticut, with very good takeout American chinese, and fantastic and legit Chinese places like Iron Chef that is cash only and is what Taiwanese people would call food.
The atmosphere at work, going remote is not the same.
Seeing the Presumpcot Falls in Westbrook through my window, although my view across the Naugatuck Valley in Connecticut is spectacular.

The wonderful drive down the Fore River Parkway and down Commercial Street into Portland.
Tennis on the Eastern Promenade, there isn’t too many views better than that for a free park.
The atmosphere in Portland, Maine, it’s just so comfortable.
Having a car. Trying to share one is not the same.

Having family nearby, it was nice to have the in-laws crosstown.
Having that connection, and having dinner once a week was really nice. Also having someone to watch the cats.

Ansonia and the Naugatuck Valley is beautiful but I often miss Maine. It’s a special place.

Durgin Park **

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Durgin Park is one of the institutions of Boston.

“There from before you were born,” on 1827 according to Wikipedia.

I have heard of it before on cooking/food shows, and it got a great 5 star review on Roadfood.com that said it was worth going to from anywhere. But, really meh. It’s fine. But I live in Maine. It’s not hard to find New England food here. Boiled dinner is part of the tradition. I am sure a lot of you are having it today with St. Patrick’s Day and Corned Beef and Cabbage.

I can get great New England food that is far better than Durgin Park at my mother-in-law Dottie Maheux’s house. Having the pot roast which was recommended by Roadfood.com as leftover now and it’s fine. Not great, just fine. Honestly the corned beef and cabbage leftovers I had for lunch was better. I ordered the pot roast with squash and mashed potatoes. The pot roast was fine, if a little bland. The squash had nice flavor and the mashed potatoes were fine. The baked beans were actually quite good, probably the best thing I had there.

Even the room isn’t really that interesting. Feel like it should have more character. The restaurant was bought by Ark Restaurants in 2007, and maybe that calmed things down.

There is rumors that Durgin Park used to have rude service. Honestly, the server was one of the best parts of the meal, very sweet. And she did try to warn us off the Indian Pudding that Foursquare and RoadFood mentioned. I think my father-in-law would have loved it, but he ADORED molasses. For us, it had a very odd texture and taste. And she noticed we didn’t eat much of it, and took it off our tab. Very much appreciated.

So, it’s an option in Faneuil Hall but I bet you can find much better food for the price. Glad I can say I went, but I am very unlikely to come back. I think you can get much better food at a bean supper. Now that’s a Maine cultural institution I need to go to. I have lived in Maine since 2005 and still haven’t been to one, I will soon.