The Kennebec Explorer 2014 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 17

Eating is one of the many things we do well here. Other Tasty Bits Leave it to Mainers to find a way to make a meal out of virtually anything and while there are far too many foodie things for us to serve up, we have selected a few tasty things that are worth looking into when you visit Maine’s Kennebec Valley. We’ve heard that Lake Parlin Lodge has a dynamite chef and they have a barbecue menu too, check it out and let us know. If you are in Belgrade for dinner, head over to the Village Inn for the duck (but call ahead for a table). Breakfast. One of Our Three Favorite Meals Treats for You We tend to like our diners here, and we have done a good job of keeping this eating tradition alive. Some great diners include the Purple Cow and the Flatlanda in Fairfield. Dave’s Diner is a classic in Gardiner. The Downtown Diner in Augusta gets started early too. Locals seem to go nuts for the Windsor Diner. Wherever you land you can count on a diner having freshly baked pie; go for the blueberry, always. The Bankery in Skowhegan and Waterville’s Holy Cannoli offer up the sweets like nobody’s business. It seems to be available everywhere now, but ice cream right from Gifford’s stand in Skowhegan or Waterville cannot be beat. For pure heaven try Kennebec Chocolates on the rotary in Augusta. But the favorite for candy and treats has got to be Scrummy Afters in Hallowell. Lunchtime Favorites. We can pass on a lot of treats, but put a Whoopie Pie in front of us and you’ve got our attention. Put one from Skowhegan’s own Al’s Pizza down in front of us and we can’t resist. Al’s has repeatedly taken home the state’s Whoopie Pie Festival (yes we have one of those) People’s Choice Prize. I’ll take two. The China Dine-ah offers reliably yummy takes on traditional diner fare. We recommend checking out Augusta’s Red Barn for some great fried seafood. If you are in the mood for a sandwich, Day’s Store in Belgrade satisfies, as do Kel-Mat or the Pick-up Café in Skowhegan. If you’d rather grab a hotdog, look for Don’s in Augusta or Bolley’s in either Hallowell or Waterville. We also like the Maine Barbecue Co. in Winsdsor. Road Notes on Places to Stop Thompson’s in Bingham, you can blow by this place and never think twice, unless it’s meal time, because then the street is all parked up. For good reason. Get a doughnut. Kniffin’s Custom Meats and Smokehouse on Rt. 201 in Anson is the place to stop for some of the best chops and bacon in the state, and it is right down the road from Maine Maple Products which continues to win the state’s Blue Ribbon for their maple syrup year after year. Selah Tea Café in Waterville is a refreshing stop. Take a break and have a ‘cuppa’ with a friend and just slow down at this in-town oasis. Dinner in Waterville. Satisfaction Guaranteed Waterville has been attracting some real talent over the past few years and now it’s all coming together. Here are notes from foodie insiders on five great picks for a meal out in Waterville. 18 Below was on the top of the list of more than one person, don’t miss out on their freshly prepared fish and meat dishes. But, especially the fish. Joseph’s Fireside is a great meal, well prepared and fun. Mainely Brews is a pub-style place worth waiting in line for. Silver Street Tavern picked up its game and now has a tasty eclectic menu. Finally, Buen Apetito is churning out delicious Mexican food in a casual atmosphere (their sauces are bona fide delicious). Bonus: Barrels Market attracts a local, kinda crunchy crowd, but with their new expanded offerings it is worth swinging by for tasty takeaway lunch. Whoopie Pie Festive Foods The Skowhegan State Fair is a fair food mecca, but then any of the festivals or fairs in the region can fill that craving for a tasty-but-bad-for-you-meal. Then there are the special food events like The Taste of Waterville which brings restaurants in from all around. If you love bread, the Artisan Bread Fair after the Kneading Festival is something you should make the trip for. How About a Tasty Beverage...or Two In 1996, Oak Pond Brewing Company opened the first brewery in Maine after a 115-year gap. They stuck with the classics, such as their Nut Brown Ale with its complex eight-malt blend, an Oktoberfest lager and some seasonal brews you’re sure to love. Tree Spirits of Oakland makes beverages of another sort. Winemaker Bruce Olson is turning Maine’s sweetest apples, pears and maple syrup into award-winning wines and distilled spirits. This year they introduced Absinthe — making them the only approved Absinthe maker in Maine. While we are talking about Oakland be sure to stop in at the Riverside Farm for a night of fine dining and music or the areas finest brunch. We would be tossed out if we failed to mention our very good friends at The Liberal Cup in Hallowell who offer a rotating menu of 21 beers all year long. Kennebec River Pub & Brewery, located at Northern Outdoors Adventure Resort in The Forks, offers great seasonal brews and some of the finest IPA in the region. Whew! Now, let’s eat! To learn more about dining in the region, visit KennebecValley.org. 15