Other than exploring supermarkets for new cereal flavors, my favorite activity after a deployment is to catch up on eating copious amounts of amazing food. My unit received orders to deploy to Graffenwoehr, Germany following Russia announcing going to war with Ukraine. Don't get me wrong, it was a great opportunity for my career and we accomplished a lot in the 6 months we were there, but I couldn't stop dreaming about the delicious food waiting for me at home. So, naturally, the first thing Alyssa and I did was plan a trip to The Cliffhouse in Ogunquit, ME after I got back. We were looking for somewhere more tropical at first, but it doesn't help when both of you are procrastinators and wait until the last minute. However, it turned out to be one of my favorite trips of all time because of the great Northeastern cuisine. My friends give me a hard time because I constantly talk about Maine and how beautiful everything in the state is: the people, the scenery, and the food. Now, this is a food blog, so I'll stick to talking about the food. Maine is most well known for their fresh lobster, and for good reason. The lobster is sweet almost like a scallop and fresh to the point where it was probably caught that morning. So, you have this perfect lobster meat, but what they do with it is absolutely incredible. I had it two ways when I was up in Ogunquit: on a pizza and in a lobster roll. Cornerstone Artisinal Pizza is located right outside of Perkins Cove and serves everything from pizza (obviously), meatballs, salads, and sandwiches. There are fire pits outside and the vibe represents the inner fancy pizza lovers that lives within us all with dim lights and a wood interior. The Lobster Pizza just happened to be the special that night and I had to try it. I know it sounds a little weird to some, but what is a lobster pizza other than a lobster roll served on a flat bun? That is exactly how it tasted. The lobster was sweet, the mayo drizzle was decadent, and the spring onions added the perfect amount of bite. The crust was thin and allowed the lobster to sing. The only complaint was from Alyssa because it smelled "fishy," but she thinks everything smells so don't take that critique to heart. That was the first meal we had and it was a perfect start to a perfect vacation.
Now, my favorite food destinations are the hole in the wall mom and pop shops. Why? The food is never made exactly the same, but just as delicious. The customer service is real, whether it's overly polite or short and to the point. There are no rules or regulations: it is unadulterated food and service. Footbridge Lobster is located down the street from Cornerstone and located within Perkins Cove nestled between all the cute "Hallmark" shops. It's a small shack mainly ran by one man that you can tell was a Mainer through and through. You walk up to the window and there is really only one item you can order: a lobster roll with a side of Cape Cod Kettle Chips and a Moxy soda. What's so special about that? Look at the picture! There was so much lobster I could barely fit my mouth around it! With a mixture of freshly caught tail and claw meat, you can order this beautiful creation three different ways: cold with mayo, warm with melted butter, or a combination of the two. I got the tourist order and got it with mayo. Took less than 2 minutes to make and it was served with a side of lemon. When I say it was the best lobster roll I have ever had, I mean it. So sweet and so simple, but the combination of the fisherman making it and the simplicity of it all makes it admirable. Grab a roll and sit next to the water for an undeniably serene experience. From a fantastic fancy preparation to the beautifully basic, Ogunquit knows how to prepare their lobster. I promise it is not just the hype that Maine has the best lobster. These two establishments set the tone for the rest of the trip and made me feel like I was experiencing Maine right.
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