Homarus Americanus

While in Maine we ate a great deal of lobster. Why? (Do I really need to answer why?) It is delicious. It was available and plentiful. It seemed reasonably priced against all other menu options. And, after years of being on the fence, I finally had not just a taste of, but an entire serving’s worth of Lobster Ice Cream. It was very good. But, I doubt I will ever have an entire ice cream cone’s worth again. At Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium they sell their homemade ice cream along with fudge and a wide variety of chocolates. Their Lobster Ice Cream is rather famous and they happily give a sample to those who ask. It’s a simple, buttery ice cream into which buttered bits of lobster are incorporated. It is very rich, but not overpoweringly so. The tiny pieces of lobster are quite perfect. The hiccup comes when you bite into a larger chunk of lobster and you find yourself chewing on - well - frozen lobster. At that moment, it’s a bit disconcerting.

What was the best lobster we had on the trip you ask? That had to be the Lobster Stew and Popovers at Jordan Pond House. Several years ago, our friends Tom & Gale recommended we order it and we have never looked back. When we finished our hike on the Carriage Road last Friday, we made a beeline to the dining room. As logs crackled on the fire in the nearby hearth, we were seated at a window table with a view out to Jordan Pond and The Bubbles. The Stew has lots of lovely lobster in a cream, butter and sherry “broth”. The waitstaff brings out piping hot popovers, which are served with strawberry preserves and butter. I always order a lemonade which is freshly squeezed and accompanied by a tiny pitcher of sugar syrup so you can sweeten it to taste. The relaxed atmosphere in an elegant setting, the good service, the delicious food and that beautiful view make a luncheon or tea at Jordan Pond House a “must do” when traveling to Acadia.