home at last

we just returned to michigan from our two week new england honeymoon road trip. lobster is the hot shit in massachusetts & maine, along with local beer, and strawberries were still going strong on the roadside. Some of the culinary highlights for me were..

ithaca, ny: felicia's atomic lounge's gin & vodka infusions. cucumber gin & tonic, basil vodka tonic, & lovage vodka bloody mary all were outstanding (later we will try to infuse some of our own liquor and post the recipes and results)
maxie's supper club 1/2 off happy hour oysters from mass, connecticut and prince edward island.

hudson, ny: the spotty dog books & ale served us up pints of local beer on the cheap. I had the "mother's milk" stout from keegan ales in kingston, ny & monica had the "kick ass brown" from ch evans brewing co. in albany.

boston, ma: the beehive's deluxe raw bar platter for two was amazing (oysters, a whole lobster, ceviche, jumbo shrimp, and tuna tartare) and we got to see a live salsa band.
the other side cafe was a chill lunch spot for hipsters and their hot fixed gear bicycles. we had nachos and beer on the patio- never a bad combination.

bar harbor, me: mckay's public house wins for most bacon on one menu and for best mussels of the trip. They came out in the traditional shallow bowl heaped high and studded with blue cheese, bacon, leeks, butter and white wine, garnished with fresh herbs and served with foccaccia. the added elements were in just the right amount and the mussels themselves with delecate, clean and fresh tasting.

montreal, quebec: brasserie reservoire served it up right with artisanal beers and creative small plates. we shared a local cheese plate with three different cheese all from quebec, a lightly fried cup of calamari & japanese seven chili aioli, & a bowl of tender housemade ricotta gnudis (like gnocchi or italian dumplings) in a citric orange saffron consomme with braised fennel. oh and their beer was damn good, too. i had the noire, mo had the blanche x2.

added note: thanks to everyone who fed us along this trip- it would have been a cold bag of salami without you. xox.