Tag Archives: review

Delizioso!

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A new Sicilian restaurant opened recently and you know we were all over that.

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Small and unassuming, it was packed tight with hungry customers and upon entry we were asked if we had a reservation.

For lunch.

On a Tuesday.

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We didn’t, but happily snagged the last two seats at the bar…. which is where my husband always wants to sit anyway.

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The Limoncello spritz was lovely and fit the decor perfectly.

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My arincini was too die for. Light, pillowy and perfectly prepared. The bread was freshly baked and the husband’s meatballs were juicy and correctly spiced.

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The husband had –

Canneloni Al Forno
Lacinato Kale + House Ricotta + Marinara + Mozzarella + Pecorino + Lemon Zest.

It was light and flavorful and even though it contained the devil’s weed… I liked it.

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I opted for –

Porcini Marsala*
Local Wild Mushrooms + Pecorino + Pistachio + Thyme + Busiate Pasta.

Which was absolutely divine. The flavor was amazing…rich and layered.

This place may be small and hard to get in, but we’ll definitely be back.

Yum!

😊

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There’s nothing worse than dishwater beer.

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I’m always up for trying a new brewery so we headed north to Auburn.

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Hop water?

No thank you.

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I suppose the empty tasting room should have been our first clue…

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But the beer list was interesting and we tried a flight.

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Of which we liked exactly none.

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With a giant cat sticker watching us, we tried two more…

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Sadly with the same result.

The beer was so flat, tasteless and uninteresting I ordered a watermelon gimlet instead.

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And though we won’t be back anytime soon for beer, they did make a delicious sandwich.

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Turkey and melted Brie, spinach and red onion, with rosemary and fig aioli on grilled ciabatta.

That alone was worth the visit.

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Timber!

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By the time we finished the craft show and museum at the college we were famished, not to mention thirsty, and headed for a restaurant I’d heard good things about in Bangor called Timber.

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Upon entry we saw snow globe dining had made a return. This started during Covid and people liked the private option so much some places have continued the trend.

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I don’t want to eat in a plastic bubble, but to each their own.

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Timber was named to reflect the logging heritage of Northern Maine…

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So rustic woods met casual elegance in the decor.

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Being with my husband, naturally we sat at the bar.

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Which is never my first choice, but it is closer to the cocktails so I don’t complain too loudly.

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Round one? A blood orange cranberry margarita.

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Timber’s cocktail menu is multi paged and varied and I happily sampled a few.

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Round two was a Stoli blueberry fog with a fantastic elderflower foam. The only thing wrong with it was the size of the glass. Bring me a pitcher!

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Yes, there was food. Perfectly prepared crab cakes with spicy corn relish for me.

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French onion soup for the husband. He was a bit disappointed in this as it wasn’t the traditional preparation… but I thought it was wonderful.

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Round 3 for me was a Hendricks cucumber cooler. Crisp, green and herbal. Perfect.

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Loggers on the way to the rest room.

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Brick oven forest mushroom pizza with arugula and fontina cheese for me. Hand tossed and so rich I barely got through half… but it was heavenly.

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Butternut squash ravioli with cranberries, feta cheese, tomatoes and spinach for my other half. Thankfully he loved this.

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When it came to dessert I drank mine off the special menu.

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A sugar cookie martini. I don’t usually like these over sweetened concoctions but in place of pie? It works.

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Husband opted for lemon meringue cheesecake and coffee.

Heck, someone had to drive…. and it certainly wasn’t going to be me.

🤣

The donut review.

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On our way back from the disappointing brewery the other day I made the husband pull into The Holy Donut…. because I’ve posted about them a few times but haven’t had the chance to try them.

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The almost $24 half dozen box cradled comfortably in my lap, we made for home.

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I was excited to try these extremely popular, much talked about, potato laden famous Maine treats.

Flavor assortment from top to bottom:

Apple cider glazed, apple cinnamon, toasted coconut, maple bacon, vanilla chai and the one slot I afforded my husband… an old fashioned. Yes, the only donut he likes is plain, to which I respond – why bother.

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As I dove in to taste test, the first thing I noticed was size. These things are big.

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But sadly, like everything else…. quantity does not equal quality. While the apple cider glazed and toasted coconut were tasty enough, I have to admit I was underwhelmed. The donuts were heavy, thick and generally nothing special. I admit to trying a chunk of each one while they were fresh and can’t say they were worth the effort or price (3.75 per). People go nuts for these things in Maine and will stand on line outside the stores in order to purchase them but honestly, after trying them? I don’t understand why.

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I hate westerns.

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For the last 39 years I’ve lived with old westerns playing in the background of my life. The husband loves them and they’ve been his go to when he has nothing specific in mind to watch on tv for the almost 4 decades we’ve been together.

He loves old western movies with John Wayne and Gary Cooper and Henry Fonda.

He loves old western television series like The Rifleman and Tales of Wells Fargo and the Virginian.

Me? I hate them all. Always have and thought I always would.

Until I started watching Yellowstone, which I really don’t consider a western, and liked it so much I had to subscribe to Paramount Plus so I could watch 1883… which most definitely is a western.

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Yup. An honest to God western complete with cowboys, a wagon train, bandits, buffalo, Indians and some breathtaking views of what the Great Plains once was.

I loved it all.

The acting was surprisingly good and Sam Elliot made me cry. Who woulda thunk it! This show is a love story… to the west and a way of life long gone. It has a gravitas that grabbed me and didn’t let go.

I binged, and when it ended? I wished for another 30 episodes.

Me. Wanting more of a western. Somewhere… pigs are flying.

Starring Tim McGraw and an almost unrecognizable Faith Hill…

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With cameos by Tom Hanks, Billy Bob Thornton and Graham Greene… it’s newcomer Isabel May who narrates it’s heart.

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Her voice can be haunting, and with the right swell of music laid on top of glorious cinematography?

Trust me, it’s a winner.

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Ya gotta try these!

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As I was picking up some frozen pitted cherries for my morning smoothie at the grocery store, I saw something interesting I knew I had to try.

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Tru Fru.

Individual pieces of ripe fruit… flash frozen and covered in chocolate.

Nothing more.

And nothing less than delightful.

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I don’t have a huge sweet tooth but every now and then I like s little touch of dessert after dinner and these are perfect.

I take a few out of the freezer and let them sit 15-20 minutes before eating… and am now totally addicted.

The raspberry and strawberry have the deepest flavor… but the blueberry and cherry are good as well. They make a banana which I would love, but I haven’t found that one yet.

https://trufru.com/

👍

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The resort, pros and cons.

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This is one of the timeshare resorts where I’ve been wanting to stay for some time and we were lucky to grab a few days in the fall because they’re usually booked solid.

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Located in the White Mountains, right off the Kancamagus … you couldn’t ask for a more perfect spot.

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Pro..

Nestled in the trees, on the side of a hill with mountain views from every side….

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It was blissfully quiet yet within walking distance to town.

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Our condo was nice. Comfortable furniture in muted autumn colors, a fireplace…

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Full kitchen…

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And two comfortable bedrooms.

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No, the husband and I don’t sleep separately…

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But booking a two bedroom unit means we have two bathrooms as well…. and that my friends, is the secret to a happy marriage.

Con…

Over looking the master bed?

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A moose whose eyes followed you around the room. Very disturbing, that.

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Pro…

The whirlpool bathtub was in the bathroom.

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Con…

The fixtures were outdated and the only soap offered was in this environmentally friendly dispenser.

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Ever try to shave your legs with liquid soap ladies? I don’t recommend it.

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Pro…

Glorious foliage and mountains right outside our balcony.

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And terraced rocks all around the property.

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There was even the namesake Pollard Brook running right down the middle.

Results of review – adding it to my “would stay there again” list, I’ll just have to remember to bring my own bar of soap.

👍

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Meanwhile at Casa River…

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Night time visitors continue to surprise us when we walk back from the barn.

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And while surprising us is no big deal? Surprising them can be.

🤢

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A friend of my husband’s gifted him this Red Sox clock. He loved it and immediately hung it on the man cave wall. I on the other hand, realized it’s outdated. It says “7 time World Champions” when the number is currently 9. The reason for the gift is now apparent, at least to me.

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Lord Dudley Mountcatten? He couldn’t care less.

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Behold the wonder I found at the package store. Margarita wine! Taste test and review to follow..

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Our neighbors have all the luck. They get an exotic bird with iridescent plumage….we get a red squirrel bitch with sharp teeth.

😡

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A recommendation pour vous.

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I don’t often recommend beer to friends because everyone tends to like something different. But once in a while I come across a special one that makes me so happy…. I have to share.

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This strange Belgian concoction has a delicious whiff on chocolate upon introduction…. and then sweeps you skyward in a heady sour cherry cloud.

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Pairs well with rich and dense desserts?

Then bring on the 12 pound chocolate fudge layer cake and River is one happy blogger.

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Seriously, if you like sours? You’ve got to try this one.

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Frank A. agrees.

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Magazine chuckles.

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I have stacks and stacks of free magazines I have yet to read. ( If you’re interested let me know, I’ll hook you up.)

Here are a few articles that got my attention.

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Online reviews of our National Parks. Proof positive people are idiots.

Although it’s hard to argue with ‘a very very large hole’ for the Grand Canyon.

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Thank you, no.

A month ago they were pushing mermaid shampoo and that was bad enough.

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Avocado pudding?

I’d rather eat kale stuffed meatless meatballs.

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I think I’ve mentioned my hatred of dolls and all things doll like. But a museum filled with uber creepy antique ones?

Now that’s a blog worth writing.

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Llamapalooza?

I am so down with that!

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Kind of underwhelming?

We visited Plymouth last fall and saw this oh so famous rock.

Kind of is the understatement of the year.

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