The Summer of 2014: Maine Fare in Belfast--Friday, June 20th

Every year, there's a sustainable, local food fest in Belfast, Maine, called Maine Fare.
Belfast is one of the quaintest towns on the coast and since we're foodies, it was something we definitely wanted to attend. Because we didn't purchase tickets and would have to purchase them there, we would be paying $30 for tastes of food, demonstrations, cooking classes, and other scheduled events. We knew the traffic wouldn't be fun on the way there, but we were ready to brave the roads and take the hour and a half drive. The drive was stunning, as are most drives throughout Maine. On the way, we passed multiple ice cream and food stands, antique shops, coops, boat sales places, and small homes.

The first thing we attended was a farmer's market--and when I say farmer's market, I don't mean like the dinky ones we have in Phoenix. This market took up an entire school yard. There were vegetables, woolen goods, cheeses, breads, vinegars, relishes, jellies, ice cream, flowers (both potted and cut), meats, pork and sausages, baked goods, salmon, smoked foods, and a small group playing folk music. I swear I was transported back to the hippy era of the late sixties/early seventies. It was magical. Around the corner was an arts and crafts sale: woolen goods, clothing, aprons, turned wood items, furniture, paintings, a lot of pottery (pottery is BIG BIG BIG in Maine), children's clothes, jewelry, sculptures, handmade soaps. For some reason, I can't get in to the "crafts" of Maine. Perhaps it's my Phoenix self that doesn't appreciate woolen goods and some of the "grandma" crafts that one would likely see in Sun City. I'm not saying that there aren't true artists here, as this is an artist's haven. Most of the towns provide beautiful spaces/lofts for the artists and every town has a Maine-made shop full of very beautiful and very expensive arts and crafts. It was quite cool out so we didn't stay there very long. We were anxious to go into the actual Maine Fare event which was down by the dock.

Half of the Belfast Farmer's Market

Yup, you can always find me at the cheese tent

The other half of the Belfast Farmers Market

Water Buffalo Sausage--YUP!

They had these corms for sale--but we forgot to go back to buy some for back home.

A space for artists

Growing on the outside of the Gallery wall

Then there were the unusual shops. So different. Filled with amazing (and sometimes very expensive), not your run-of-the-mill gifts and goods. We visited a number of shops there and picked up a few little things (meaning not expensive rather than diminutive in size) and then we were ready for the Maine Fare.

Main Street, Belfast ME

Main Street, Belfast, ME

Sit-a-spell art on the street--This was my favorite

But, first, we were hungry and instead of relying on the unknown at Maine Fare, we thought we'd hit one of the very cute restaurants on Main Street. We had to move the car because, like Bar Harbor, the town was crowded and the parking, everywhere, was limited to either two or three hours. It was then that we found Darby's--a pub/restaurant. The menu looked great and the place was adorable. We were seated in one of the small dining rooms. The place was hopping. Bob ordered a chicken sandwich with bacon and swiss chees and with a side of sweet potato fries (again) and I had fried clams with sweet potato fries and cole slaw. Both of us got a beer this time as we were in a pub, after all. It was almost 2:30 PM when we finished lunch. So, since the Maine Fare took place between 1 and 5, and we were full, we decided to forego the festival and continue checking out the adorable shops. That turned out to be a mistake.

These huge flowers were REAL--and in Darby's Pub

A painting Bob fancied

Darby's bar

me at Darby's--Happy! Happy!

Our lunch spot

Our visit to the wine and cheese store ended up being successful (meaning we bought a bottle of wine and a bottle of an interesting beer--Chateau Jihu--by Dogfish Head--based on a 3000-year-old Chinese recipe that included a chemical analysis of the pottery it was fermented in), as well as manchego, gorgonzola, and other cheeses, cheese paper (which is supposed to keep cheese fresh longer), and a Calabrese salami. Another shop, Gourmet Girl, provided us with a Chipotle relish, chocolate-caramel sauce, caramel and sea salt sauce, and a Bourbon caramel sauce. I also tasted the homemade ketchups (including the smoked onion--yummy). A few shops later, and, again, we were shopped out--the Fare was over in an hour, so we headed home. On the way, we made a few stops in Ellsworth (it seems that no matter where we go, we go through Ellsworth). FUN!