The Sweet Side of Maine.
These are a few of my favorite things:
Milk chocolate-covered salted almonds
Peppermint stick ice cream with hot fudge
The brownie recipe from Baked
Honey soft serve with magic shell and honeycomb candy at The Honey Paw
Chocolate sea salt doughnut from The Holy Donut
Brigham’s Mocha Almond ice cream
A marshmallow-y, crispy Pavlova with June strawberries
I once wrote an article with the opening sentence, “Bakery is my favorite word,” and I stand by it to this day, unabashedly. I’m here to wholeheartedly embrace my love of all things sugar, and to share the sweet part of life with you. While Maine’s reputation rests on lobsters and blueberries, and I do love both those foods, it’s Maine’s sweet stuff that calls to me. The state is filled with it: artisan chocolate makers, cake bakers, cookie geniuses, ice cream churners, and others abound. Their creativity never fails to delight. Some are James Beard Award- nominees, while others are just starting their sweet little businesses. I’m looking forward to exploring them all and bringing you along.
Summers spent in Maine as a child gave me an early taste of the state whetting my appetite for more, and I’ve now lived in Maine full time for close to twenty years. When we moved here, Portland was at the beginning of its rebirth as a travel and food lovers’ destination. Food blogs were just beginning to catch on, and I started my own called Mignardise, a French word for a small treat with your after-dinner coffee. It was the perfect vehicle for combining my love of food and writing. The blog eventually led to what I have always considered my dream job (so far) – Food Editor at Maine magazine. It’s still astonishing to me that there was a job that let me eat all over the state,, sampling specialties both traditional and updated.
So why start a blog about sweets now, with so many people facing serious issues in the midst of a global pandemic? These are difficult, challenging times. Dessert, always my favorite part of the meal. brings small joys into our lives, and who doesn’t need a little extra joy right now? And when we get to whatever the new “normal” is, that will still be true.
There will be no talk of calories or “I really shouldn’t”. Save that for another day, if you must mention it at all. When you’re with me, dessert is a must, no guilt. I’m embracing my love of all things sweet, and I hope you will too. As Leigh Kellis of Holy Donut says, we need to honor our cravings. We can eat salad tomorrow.
There will be occasional recipes, from Maine dessert stars and some of my own favorites. I hope you like chocolate.
Life in Maine is sweet. Embrace it.