APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS + HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER

With today being exactly a month into autumn, and the fact that Halloween is just next week, I’m trying to embrace the season as much as I can. The only problem living in Southern California is that October doesn’t necessarily equate to cold, chilly days, but rather we usually get stuck with 80° or higher days mixed with Santa Ana winds. This combination leaves us with very dry and warm air, and sadly, can lead to pretty bad wildfires. Doesn't sound like the cozy fall days that other parts of the country get to enjoy, does it? (Hello, I’m Debbie Downer!)

I’ve been doing my best to ignore these non-ideal temperatures by partaking in events that are perfect for the season. Last week, my family and I did our annual night out at Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights, where the whole theme park is turned into a haven for all things spooky and Halloween-related. And just this past Saturday, I went with a group of friends to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery via Cinespia to watch a screening of the original Halloween to celebrate it’s 40th anniversary. Although both of these days were pretty hot and dry (it reached 90° on Saturday), it still helped me get in the spirit.

Of course, I’ve been taking this sentiment with me to the kitchen. The recipe(s) that I’m providing you with today are ones that define the season - I don’t think you can get more “autumn” than with apple cider doughnuts. These babies are a quintessential autumn treat that people go crazy for at apple picking farms, farmers markets, and of course, doughnut shops (like Sidecar and Blue Star - some local favorites of mine). Unlike the last time I posted a doughnut recipe, these will be fried in vegetable oil and therefore not baked in a doughnut pan. There will be a couple of things you’ll need in order to make a successful batch of these fried doughnuts: 1) a large pot or Dutch oven 2) a kitchen thermometer to keep on eye on the oil temperature and 3) a doughnut cutter. This is the doughnut cutter I used and it worked perfectly.

The day I was frying up these apple cider doughnuts was unfortunately a pretty hot day but I didn’t mind due to the amazing smells it gave my apartment. Although I didn’t have to put a sweater and socks on, I was hugged by the warm spices that define the season (cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) and that at least made me feel like it was a proper autumn day.

Besides giving you a recipe for the doughnuts, I’m also including a recipe for apple butter, which is actually one of the ingredients listed for the doughnuts. You of course have the option to buy store-bought apple butter to save time, but I definitely think making your own apple butter is worth it and will feel like such an accomplishment. Although it is a bit time consuming (the apple butter cooks in the oven for about 3 hours), it is fairly a hands-off process with the most tedious step being to peel the apples. My best advice would be to treat this entire post (apple butter and doughnuts) as a weekend project: make the apple butter early on a Saturday, followed by making the doughnut dough and allowing it to chill in the fridge overnight, and finally frying off the doughnuts on Sunday morning for breakfast. That way, it’s not all too overwhelming and allows you to enjoy each process.

The apple butter recipe yields about 2 cups and since you only need half a cup of it for the doughnuts, you luckily are left with a good amount to enjoy in other ways. Not only can you gift a jar of it to a friend or family member, which they would LOVE, but you can also choose to be selfish and keep it for yourself to spread on toast, waffles, scones, etc. I say to go with the latter option, but hey, I’m only recommending it because you deserve it after all the work you put in it!

Unlike in apple pies or other fruit desserts where there are specific “baking apples” to use, the apples that work best for apple butter are ones that have a softer skin. These varieties include Fuji, Gala, Braeburn, Honey Delicious, and McIntosh. Feel free to mix and match - I did a mix of Gala and Fuji.

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Makes about 16-18 doughnuts

Recipe adapted slightly from Bon Appétit

Ingredients

• 2 cinnamon sticks (3 inches in size)

• 3 cups apple cider

• 1/2 cup apple butter, store-bought or homemade (see my recipe below)

• 1/2 cup buttermilk

• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

• 1 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. baking powder

• 1/4 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp. cloves

• 1 tsp. kosher salt

• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• Vegetable oil, for frying

For cinnamon-sugar topping:

• 1 tbsp. cinnamon

• 1 cup granulated sugar

Directions

1. In a large skillet, bring the apple cider and cinnamon sticks to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the liquid reduces to a thick and syrup-y consistency, about 20-30 minutes. There should be about a 1/3 cup of liquid when finished. Scrape into a medium bowl, and whisk in the apple butter, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Set aside.

2. In another medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, 1 tsp. of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Set aside.

3. Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a bowl large enough for a hand mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the eggs one a time, making sure to mix well before adding each one.

4. With the mixer on low, add in half of the dry ingredients, then half of the wet ingredients. Repeat once more, and mix until well incorporated. The dough will be very sticky.

5. Transfer the dough to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet that is generously dusted with flour (use about 1/3 cup). Sprinkle more flour on top of the dough, and with floured hands, gently press out the dough until it is 3/4” thick. Dust once again with flour. Tightly wrap the baking sheet with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

6. Whisk the cinnamon and granulated sugar in a bowl (this will be for the doughnut topping). Set aside.

7. Take the baking sheet out of the fridge, and begin punching out doughnuts using a doughnut cutter. After first batch, gather the scraps and re-roll the dough out gently and punch out more doughnuts. Repeat until you have 16 to 18 doughnuts and doughnut holes.

8. Using a Dutch oven or large pot, heat about 3 inches worth of vegetable oil on medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees F (you’ll need a kitchen thermometer for this). Working in batches, fry about 3 to 4 doughnuts at a time for 2-3 minutes per side, until they’ve reached a deep golden brown. Once all doughnuts are done, fry the doughnut holes for about 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer each finished doughnut and doughnut hole to a cooling rack (place paper towels underneath to catch any excess oil), allow them to cool for a few minutes, then toss into the cinnamon-sugar mixture while the doughnuts are still warm. Enjoy! Doughnuts are always best when eaten the day they are made, but are okay the 1-2 days after when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Homemade Apple Butter

Makes about 2 cups

Recipe adapted slightly from Food Network Kitchen

Ingredients

• 4 lbs. of assorted apples, peeled and chopped (read above for best apple varieties)

• 2 cups apple cider

• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/8 tsp. cloves

• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg

• 1/8 tsp. cardamom

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven or large ovenproof pot, combine the apples, apple cider, brown sugar, and salt and cook on the stovetop over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, partially cover with the lid, and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the apples are soft. Removed from heat, and stir in the lemon juice, vanilla extract, and spices.

2. Preheat the oven to 250°F. Using an immersion blender (or you can carefully transfer the cooked apples to a blender and work in batches), puree the apples until smooth. Place the Dutch oven or pot into the oven, lid removed, and bake for 2.5 to 3.5 hours, stirring every 30 minutes, or until the apple butter is a deep amber color. The time it takes depends on what kind of apples you use.

3. Allow the apple butter to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to two/three weeks. Enjoy on toast, scones, waffles, etc. and/or use for the doughnut recipe above!

SWEET POTATO CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

Before leaving for our trip to Maine last week, I felt like I was in dire need of a break from baking. I kind of felt like I was in a rut and I just wasn’t feeling that inspired - it happens every now and then, and it’s perfectly normal. I’m happy to report that the trip completely helped me out of my slump mostly due to all the incredible and creative pastries/baked goods I consumed over the few days that we were there. Even though I ate healthy for a few days when we returned home (did you see my guide and how much we ate?!), I was SO excited to get back to baking this past weekend.

If you read my Portland city guide, you may have noticed that I recommended a lot of bakeries and cafes, but it wasn't only at these incredible spots where I found my inspiration. One of the mornings, we trekked to the Deering Oaks Park farmers market and perused what Maine had to offer in terms of fresh produce, flowers, dairy products, etc. At one of the numerous booths, they had samples of different fall-flavored baked goods, including sweet potato chocolate chip muffins - a kind of muffin I didn’t even know existed. Alex and I both took a (big) piece and fell absolutely in love with them; as much love as you can with a baked good. I turned to him and said “I can’t wait to go home and figure out how to replicate these”.

So, I did exactly that. I returned home and tested out a couple of different recipes until settling on what I thought came as close to the farmers market version. In one batter, I used olive oil while in another I used vegetable oil. In another batch, I roughly chopped up dark chocolate into misshapen pieces, while in another I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. In the end, the winner to me was the combination of semi-sweet chocolate chips and vegetable oil, although if you’d prefer to use olive oil, there wasn’t that huge of a difference in flavor.

Another aspect of this recipe worth noting is that there are two flours being used: regular all-purpose flour and white whole wheat flour, a flour you can easily find at any grocery store. With the addition of half a cup of white whole wheat flour, you’ll get a bit more nutrition and in terms of flavor, the muffins will take on a subtle nuttiness - nothing overpowering though. I noticed that most of the sweet potato muffin recipes that I came across online used only a type of whole wheat flour, mainly to yield “healthy” muffins, but today my goal was to recreate the ones I had in Maine, and in the end, the blend of flours came out on top. Note: whole wheat flour is perfectly acceptable in place of white whole wheat flour.

I’m sure you’re wondering a couple of things regarding the sweet potato aspect of these muffins: 1) do the muffins taste savory because of it? and 2) how do I prepare the sweet potatoes? For the former question, these absolutely do not taste savory, and I suppose the best comparison would be to desserts that use pumpkin. Like pumpkin, sweet potatoes have a mild sweetness that works beautifully when used in baked goods and other desserts. In the end, you’ll end up with a hint of sweet potato, but mostly you’ll just be enjoying an incredibly moist muffin with cozy fall flavors and a healthy portion of chocolate chips. As for the latter question, you’ll have to put a little more effort in for these muffins because it requires you to bake the sweet potatoes before even getting to the muffin batter. Just like making a baked potato, you’ll have to roast the sweet potatoes for about 45 min. to an hour, allow them to cool, and then scoop out the interior, no skin included. You only need 1 cup of “mashed” sweet potato, but I would recommend baking 2 medium sweet potatoes just in case.

I strongly recommend topping each muffin with additional chocolate chips before popping them in the oven. This makes the muffins look more bakery-style, aka more appealing to the eye and honestly, there’s nothing wrong with more chocolate. Lastly and most importantly**, pay attention to the oven temperatures (yes, plural) given in the recipe, because this will aide you in getting that lovely domed muffin top that we all enj0y to eat.

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Muffins

Makes about a dozen muffins

Recipe adapted from Genius Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1-2 medium sweet potatoes, you’ll need 8oz. worth of mashed sweet potato

• 2 eggs, room temperature

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. milk, any kind, including almond

• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. oil, olive or vegetable

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour/white whole wheat flour

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus more for sprinkling on top

Directions

1. Roast the sweet potatoes: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Wash the potatoes and pat dry with a paper towel. With a fork, poke holes all over the potatoes. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil, place on a baking sheet, and bake in the oven for about 45 minutes, or until fork tender. Unwrap the potatoes from the foil, and allow them to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing open and spooning out 80z. (1 cup) worth of sweet potato. Mash with a fork and set aside. You’ll most likely have extra.

2. Raise the oven temperature to 425°F. Line the muffin tin with liners or coat each muffin cavity generously with nonstick cooking spray.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, mashed sweet potato, milk, and oil. In a separate bowl, whisk the two flours, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add this to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. With a spatula, fold in the chocolate chips.

4. Using an ice cream or cookie scoop, fill each muffin cavity almost to the top. Sprinkle 5-6 chocolate chips on the top of each muffin. Bake in the oven at 425°F for 5 minutes, then lower the oven to 350°F, and bake for an additional 15-17 minutes. The muffins are done when the tops are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean.

5. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Enjoy warm, or the next day!
   

TRAVEL GUIDE: PORTLAND, MAINE

The Portland Head Lighthouse in all its glory

Update - As of May 2020, I’m now very lucky to call Portland home! Because of this, I of course have tons of new recommendations and tips to offer, so if you’ve found this page, shoot me an email.

Having just returned from a third trip to Portland, Maine, I feel pretty confident in sharing my own guide to the city. I’m in no way an expert on Portland, but after exploring the small peninsula that is filled to the brim with beautiful landscape, culture, and friendly people, I do feel like I have a bit of an understanding. By doing my own research prior to each trip, having friends who live in the city (hey Spencer and Mike), and from my own experience from visiting, I believe I have a good outline for any future visitors.

Our selected treats from Tandem Coffee: hazelnut and blackberry scone, salted chocolate chip cookie, and a half-eaten egg and sausage biscuit

I’ve traveled quite a bit, both domestically and internationally, and I have to say that Portland, Maine is simply one of the most unforgettable and picturesque cities I‘ve visited thus far. Not overwhelming like other larger cities can be, Portland has a very open and comforting feeling to it. From the cobblestone-lined streets, to the old Victorian homes, to the beautiful water views - it all evokes a charming feeling that I don’t always get here in California. Although a smaller city, the amount of restaurants and bars and shops in Portland is staggering. And the craziest part is that these establishments aren’t just good, but are outstanding. There obviously is a reason why Portland was named Bon Appétit’s “Restaurant City of the Year” in 2018 - a feat that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

So this is why my list is mostly comprised of food and bar recommendations. At home, Alex and I live *fairly* healthy-ish lifestyles, but when we’re on vacation, all bets are off and we pretty much plan our trips around what we’ll be eating and drinking. Donuts before heading to another breakfast? Sure. Grabbing cocktails at 2pm because that bar we’ve been wanting to try is around the corner? You betcha. When we’re on vacation, we want to try as much as we can and because of this, I have so many GOOD options for you. I personally prefer finding local spots to get a good sense of the community, but I definitely sprinkled in the worthy tourist-y spots in today’s guide.

Signs of autumn at Deering Oaks Park

Walking through Munjoy Hill, a neighborhood in east Portland

I want to let a couple of things be known before giving my list. Both times Alex and I visited were in October, which from my understanding, is pretty ideal (edit: our last visit was in May and also a great time to go due to the lack of tourists! Although the weather is hit or miss). There are a good amount of tourists in town for the fall foliage, but nowhere near as many during the summer months. The weather is amazing - chilly, crisp air with either beautiful sunny or cozy, rain-filled days. Another thing I want to add is that we stayed in a hotel, the Hyatt in Old Port, our first two visits and an airbnb the third time in the Arts District, with both experiences very enjoyable. Old Port is the “touristy area”, and reminds me of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, but much more appealing in my opinion. The streets are all charming and lined with cobblestone and there are tons of really good restaurant and bar options that the locals even go to as well. Also, what we liked about Old Port is that it is essentially in the center of the peninsula. So if we wanted to go check out either the West End or Munjoy Hill/East End, it was only about a 15/20 minute walk in either direction.

Our view of Casco Bay from our hotel room at the Hyatt

Things to Do:

Walk. And I mean walk everywhere. If you’re primarily staying on the peninsula, the best way to see what the city has to offer is by using your own two feet. If that coffee shop you’ve been dying to try is about 2 miles away (about a 30 minute walk), don’t even think about taking an UBER there! Chances are, on the way to that coffee shop, you’ll come across a ton of restaurants, bars, and shops that you didn’t read about, and you’ll make a mental note to check out later. Something that wouldn’t be possible from a car. Alex and I on average walked 9 miles a day on our visits, and it was on those walks where we found our love for the city. It is also how we justified eating everything and anything in sight. The only time where Alex and I needed to take an UBER was when we visited a couple of sights south of the city (more on that below) where it would have taken hours to walk to, or if there was some pretty crazy rain.

Trail in the Eastern Promenade

Eastern Promenade - Going off on the beauty of walking through the city, one of the best places to walk to is the Eastern Promenade, at the tip of the peninsula. It has a 2.1 mile paved trail, which boasts an incredible view of Casco Bay and the surrounding islands. It’s a beautiful and peaceful walk, and one of the first activities Alex and I did on our first trip to the city.

Arriving at Peaks Island via a ferry ride

Ferry Ride - Portland is surrounded by a number of islands that are in eyesight from the city. The most popular to visit of those islands is Peaks Island, which is easily reachable via ferry through Casco Bay Lines. The ride is less than a half hour, and gives you a whole different perspective of Portland as well as the other islands. Peaks is populated by a good amount of people, and there are a variety of businesses - restaurants, art galleries, museums, etc. You can either rent a bike to get around the island, but I strongly advise renting a golf cart (25 bucks for 1 hour) and cruising to Battery Steele - an abandoned/rundown WWII military fortification. Other islands to check out include Long Island (a favorite in the summer when wanting to visit the beach but avoid the crowds) or Great Diamond.

A gorgeous water view just north of the Portland Head Lighthouse

Portland Head Lighthouse - This one is pretty obvious, but it would be crazy to not include Portland’s most recognizable attraction. The lighthouse is located in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, south of the peninsula, so you’ll definitely need a car to get there - the ride is about 15/20 minutes. I think it is 100% worth seeing because it is absolutely beautiful no matter what time of the year you visit. Side notes: 1) Alex got an amazing lobster roll from the food truck/trailer that is parked there at peak visiting times, Bite Into Maine and 2) Fort Williams Park has a number of historic Battery forts to check out.

Fresh, local produce at the Deering Oaks Farmers Market

Deering Oaks Park + Farmers Market - Deering Oaks is a 55-acre park that’s worth checking out especially on Saturdays, when the farmers market is going on. I personally love going to the local farmers markets when I’m visiting a new city because not only do I get to feel like a local, but I get to see what the state has to offer in fresh produce. This farmers market is beautiful and plentiful, and allowed me to try some treats that I can’t wait to make for the blog soon.

Portland Museum of Art - The oldest and largest collection of public art in the entire state of Maine. The museum is free to all every Friday from 4-8pm, and definitely worth checking out. Alex and I went to one of the museum’s Halloween events, a screening of Night of the Living Dead and were able to check out the rest of the museum for free afterwards.

Beer flights and a seriously good pretzel at Maine Beer Co.

Breweries - Portland has an insane amount of local breweries - Allagash, Rising Tide, Oxbow, Austin Street, Bissell Brothers, etc. - with some tasting rooms on the actual peninsula itself. Alex and I are partial to Maine Beer Co. which is actually a 20 minute drive north of Portland, because we’re in love with their beers (Lunch is our favorite) and the added bonus of having some of the best pizza in the state.

Portland Flea For All - An indoor flea market, open only Friday-Sunday, with an impeccably curated collection of vintage furniture, clothes, and everything in between.

Little Ghost - A cute thrift store with some seriously good vintage clothing.

Folly 101 - A beautiful home goods store with its items organized in sections by color. I wanted EVERYTHING, but only walked away with a small vase and a pretty drinking glass.

Blanche+Mimi - A home goods store, beautifully presented with mostly new items as well as vintage items like glassware.

Harmon’s Floral Company - My favorite florist in the city. They also sell various home goods like vases and planters for a decent price.

Venn + Maker - Another home goods store that focuses on selling handmade goods that are high quality, including jewelry, furniture and other various home items,

Food

Breakfast/Coffee

Our order at Dutch’s: Traditional Breakfast Sandwich and the Scallion Stallion bagel

Camp/outdoors vibe at Dutch’s

Dutch’s - A breakfast and lunch spot slinging some quite delicious food. Alex and I have only been for breakfast and we loved it. I read the breakfast biscuit sandwiches were popular, so Alex got the traditional one of those while I got the Scallion Stallion on their homemade bagel. We loved the food, as well as the restaurant’s decor. Also, an older couple gave us their cinnamon roll when they didn’t want it and since they looked like normal, nice Maine people, we happily took and ate it. I’d definitely recommend the cinnamon roll after that experience.

View of the bar at Marcy’s Diner

Exterior shot of Marcy’s

Marcy’s Diner - Traditional diner food for breakfast and lunch, that is located in a charming, but very small, space (see picture for exterior shot). Gets very crowded on the weekend due to its size, so get there early and don’t forget to bring cash!

The day’s pastry selection at Tandem Coffee

Tandem Coffee Roasters - Converted from an old gas station, Tandem is probably the most popular place to get great coffee and AMAZING baked goods in Portland. Briana Holt, the mastermind behind the shop’s pastries, is unbelievably talented and so creative with her flavor combinations (dark chocolate and ginger scones, peach mezcal pie, kimchi and cheddar brioche, etc. etc.). We’ve tried a couple variations of the scones and cookies, but Alex and I are partial to the egg and sausage biscuits. Tandem is just the kind of place you walk into and want to try everything that is behind the glass case, and you absolutely should if you can. But get there early(!!!) because they do sell out of food and it would be a very sad thing if you weren't able to try any of Briana’s creations.

Bard Coffee / Arabica / Coffee by Design - Three solid coffee shops that Alex and I frequently visit. All have amazing oat and almond milk lattes.

Holy Donut flavors (clockwise from top left): Fresh Lemon, Maine Apple (my favorite), Maple Bacon

Holy Donut - YES, I know this place is very touristy but I think it’s worth checking out if you’ve never tried this kind of donut before. The donuts are made with Maine potatoes, thus yielding an amazingly textured dough. Get there early if going on the weekend, if not, visiting during the week before lunch has never been a problem for us.

HiFi Donuts - Another great donut shop that sells three different styles of donuts: 1) cake, 2) cruller and 3) yeast. My favorite donuts to get are the Honey Dip yeast donut and the HiFi Cruller.

Inside the train-car restaurant, Palace Diner

Palace Diner - This breakfast and lunch spot located in Biddeford, Maine (about a 30 minute drive south of Portland) serves classic diner dishes that are executed perfectly. We went for breakfast and I got the traditional plate of scrambled eggs, potatoes and toast and I don’t think I’d ever eaten such amazing scrambled eggs in my life. Oh, and I forgot to mention that the restaurant is in a 1927 dining car with only 15 counter seats. AND, the people who work there are legitimately the nicest people ever. Cash only!

Ohno! Cafe - A local spot that serves pretty incredible specialty breakfast sandwiches all day long as well as other typical lunch/dinner items like soups and sandwiches. Also can buy takeaway beer and wine.

The most perfect croissant and a pear-pistachio danish at Belleville

Exterior shot of Belleville

Belleville - A small, local spot with quite honestly some of the best pastries I’ve had in a long time. Their croissants are perfection and so unbelievably flaky and buttery. At lunch time, they put out Roman-style pizza which is supposed to be equally as amazing as their breakfast spread, but sadly we didn’t get to try it. Next time! Also, the Portland Observatory is across the street, if you want to see a great view of the city. Edit: they now have “pizza nights” where they open up the restaurant from 5-9pm (Thurs-Sat) and serve their amazing pizza, along with beer and wine, as well as some other food options.

Standard Baking Co. - Standard has become my favorite bakery since moving here not only because they serve probably the best pastry I’ve ever had in my entire life (the morning bun with walnuts, which you MUST order when you visit), but also because the prices are very reasonable. Portland can be a bit pricey, but Standard is one of the only places where we can get a baked goods that don’t cost 5 bucks each.

The Morning Bun w/ walnuts from Standard Baking Co.

Traditional bagel sandwich on an everything bagel at Purple House

The Purple House - a bagel shop located in North Yarmouth (a 20 minute drive north from Portland). They specialize in Montreal-style bagels aka the bagels are made in a wood-fired oven. The bagels are SO good (I tried the everything bagel) and they had flavors that I had never seen before like maple sugar and rosemary sea salt. They also serve lunch (pizza and sandwiches) and an array of desserts like brownies and cookies that are also baked in the oven. The restaurant is tiny with only one table inside, so I’d recommend getting your order to-go. Note: The Purple House is closed during the summer months!

Lunch/Dinner

Alex’s oyster selection at The Shop - he chose one of each from what was available that day.

The Shop by Island Creek Oysters - I have to be fully transparent right now and tell you that I do not like seafood… any seafood. But Alex is quite the opposite, so I wanted him to eat as much seafood as he could when we’re in Portland. I read about The Shop in Bon Appétit and knew it would be a cool place to check out regardless of not being able to eat a single thing on the menu (minus the bread and butter). Alex ordered one of each of the daily selection of oysters and it came out beautifully presented. He really enjoyed his meal, while Spencer (another non-seafood person) and I watched on with a glass of wine in hand.

The best sandwich I’ve had in a long time: ham and butter sandwich, and a bottle of rosé from the The Cheese Shop of Portland

Cheese Shop of Portland - The BEST cheese shop that is owned and operated by a husband/wife duo with an amazing selection of cheeses as well wines, imported goods, and other charcuterie necessities. They also sell a couple of different sandwiches for lunch, with their ham and butter on a baguette (from Standard Bakery Co.) being my absolute favorite. It’s so simple yet the quality of ingredients is what makes the sandwich incredible.

Duckfat - A popular restaurant that is tiny, doesn’t accept reservations, and therefore has the longest wait times. Is it worth it? Totally! The restaurant is known for it’s duck-fat Belgian fries which are truly amazing. This was also the first place where I ever tried poutine and it’s safe to say that I’m a huge fan. They also have a smaller version of the restaurant called Duckfat Friteshack located on Washington Ave. in the same area as Oxbow Brewing, so if the wait is too long at Duckfat, walk over to this location where you can score their delicious fries and a couple of other menu items.

Sichuan Kitchen - Our favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. The food here is anything but your typical menu at other basic Chinese restaurants (don’t expect to see orange chicken on the menu). Everything that we’ve ordered from here has been amazing, but our favorite dishes are the Zhong Dumplings, Gong Bao Chicken and Ants Climbing a Tree. Note: the food can be pretty spicy, but you can give your preferred level of heat when ordering,

East Ender - Located right next door to Duckfat, East Ender gets a lot of people coming in who are waiting for their table at Duckfat, although East Ender doesn’t need the help. The food is typical American food but done very, very well: I love the burger and Alex’s go-to is the mussels. We prefer sitting upstairs at the bar, where it’s quiet and cozy. Super good cocktails as well.

Exterior shot of Ruski’s

Ruski’s Tavern - A very old dive bar (since 1892) that’s a local favorite. Serves up pretty tasty bar food all day long, but we’ve only been for dinner and it was great. Definitely a good place to get a beer and hang with friends.

Takeout from Taj

Taj Indian Cuisine - Seriously, the best Indian food I’ve ever eaten! The restaurant isn’t located on the peninsula but is a short car ride away in South Portland. The people who work here are the absolute nicest ever which makes me love the restaurant even more. One of my favorite things about their menu is how accommodating they are with people who may be vegan or vegetarian. An example is that you can order coconut cream to be used in place of heavy cream in various dishes for no extra cost.

Half Baby Arugula, half Farm from Bonobo

Bonobo - A super cozy pizza spot on the West End. The pizzas are made in a huge wood-fired oven, and are literally, some of the best I’ve ever had. When we went with our local friends, we ordered three pizzas, with each one having two different toppings, and it was amazing. My favorites were the Baby Arugula and Gruyere, but honestly, they were all so good. Local beer, great wine, and an inviting atmosphere. Definitely one of my favorite places to eat.

El Corazon - A Mexican restaurant that is most similar to what we have here in Southern California… which is because the owners are from Los Angeles! They have great margaritas, chips and salsa, and other typical dishes like tacos and enchiladas. A definite favorite spot.

Noble Barbeque - A favorite dinner spot of ours when we just want to pig out and eat really tasty food. Our go-to order is splitting the Korean Barbeque Chicken Platter (which comes with french fries, house pickles and cornbread) and the Caesar Salad.

Drinks

The Snug - Located across the street from the very old, yet beautiful Eastern Cemetery, The Snug is a dark and cozy bar where I could see myself finding refuge during a cold winter night. I got a hot toddy when I was there and it was absolutely perfect when seated in the private booth.

Eastern Cemetery, the cemetery located across from The Snug

Maps - A small and comfy beer and wine bar adorned with vintage maps and vinyl records that the owner has been collecting over the years. They also serve grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade cake; it’s perfect. Our bartender was super nice to us when we went which made the experience that much more enjoyable.

Top of the East - A lounge located at the top of the Westin hotel that gives you a beautiful view of the whole city. Try to get a table at the window for the full effect.

Great neon signage at Arcadia

Arcadia - A barcade (a bar with arcade games) is pretty much Alex’s dream place. We always love checking out barcades (Blipsy in Koreatown is our LA fav), but I think Arcadia is best. They have really good and reasonably priced cocktails and local beer on tap, an amazing collection of classic games, and friendly staff. It’s a super laidback environment and we love being there.

Alex posing in front of Tomaso’s - before the Jell-o shot

Tomaso’s Canteen - A great little bar with a drink special where you can get a Bud Light and a Jell-o shot for $5.50. Enough said.

Our drink orders at Portland Hunt and Alpine Club: Alex got the House Old Fashioned and I got the Clove Hitch

Portland Hunt and Alpine Club - A higher end cocktail bar where you can get fancy drinks, but are worth the price for how good they are. Alex and I stopped in for a drink before heading to dinner one night, and were very pleased with our cocktails of choice. I loved the atmosphere and can’t wait to go again to try more of their creative drinks.

LFK - Probably my favorite bar in Portland. Located in Longfellow Square, LFK kind of has the appearance of a funky coffee shop with it’s eclectic furniture and decor. The cocktails are incredible, the vibe is very laidback, and the food is supposed to be good too (didn’t have the chance to try it). This is the kind of bar where I could hang out every Friday night and never get sick of it.

Drink lineup at LFK

Lincolns - A speakeasy located in the Old Port area. What sets this place apart is that any drink you order is 5 bucks. Cash only!

Local 188 - Also located in Longfellow Square, Local 188 is a tapas restaurant, but we only ever went for the drinks, which were always amazing. The drinks menu is very impressive and the service was great.

Vena’s Fizz House - The front of this place is a store where you can buy vintage glass and barware, as well as housemade bitters and sodas. And in the back of the store, there’s a small bar where you can get some stellar cocktails. I left the shop very happy and with a couple of vintage glasses to take home (including the red ones in the picture above).

Beautiful colorful trees in Cape Elizabeth