From Lobster Rolls to Lighthouse Strolls – Wrapping up the Merry Month of Maine

Well, it’s time to share my final post from our amazing trip to Maine. It truly was probably one of the best times we’ve ever had. Every night we ask each other, “What was your favorite thing today?” and it’s so hard to pick even ONE favorite because it has been magical. The locals tell us we brought the beautiful weather – very little fog and rain in South Addison and cooler temps in every city we’ve stayed in. Here’s a recap of where we left off with Tea with Eleanor. You can catch up here.

The Lost Kitchen – Freedom, Maine.

Visiting Erin French’s hometown of Freedom has been on my bucket list for a long time. During the pandemic, I binged her beautiful show on the Magnolia Network – The Lost Kitchen, and in our book club we read her memoir Finding Freedom: A Cook’s Story, Remaking Life From Scratch. The Lost Kitchen has three seasons so far, featuring French and her team, who invite adventurous travelers from all over the globe to dine at her restaurant in Freedom. To secure a reservation in the dining room, they request that a handwritten postcard be mailed to them when they open for the season in April. It’s by lottery if your card is pulled out of the almost 70,000 they receive. The dining room space is limited, and the menu and price per person are preset, but if you’ve watched the show, it truly looks like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Fear not, though, you can still experience The Lost Kitchen feel by shopping in Erin’s store and enjoying nibbles and bites in The Little Lost Kitchen, which is what Mr. Twist and I did during our visit. From the moment we stepped out of the car and walked over the bridge to the property, it was everything I’d hoped it would be.  We passed by bees buzzing among the flowers in the garden, and watched the fish swim in the river-fed pond. I immediately made a beeline for her store. Two stories filled with home and kitchen accessories, herbs, candles, and her signed copies of both her cookbooks (buzz was she’s testing recipes for a third cookbook for 2026).

I picked up some posies and rose sugar for sprinkling on sugar cookies and cocktails, a few gifts for Christmas, and her first cookbook, as I needed the recipe for the fried chicken we enjoyed during lunch.  They had vases filled with cupcake cosmos and wildflowers from their gardens edging the property and French music playing. I could have stayed all day!

But we were ready for lunch. Mr. Twist ordered a wedge salad, and I ordered the fried chicken because it came in a basket; we shared a nibble tray. Our table number was a tiny iron skillet (note to self – I need these for parties – how fun as a placecard).

While we waited for our food, we enjoyed sitting by the fire, sipping Cap Fizz Italian sparkling wine made by Illahe Vineyards with a peak of her Airstream camper in the background. Speaking of the Airstream – Erin has a new show Getting Lost With Erin French, which chronicles her adventures during the winter season, when the kitchen is closed, traveling across the country to discover new ingredients and fresh inspiration for another season of cooking.

The food was not only gorgeous, it was delicious. I can’t wait to get home and make her recipe for cornflake fried chicken. It wasn’t greasy at all and was served piping hot from the fryer alongside a buttered buttermilk biscuit nestled inside the cutest little basket!  I smell a party in my future.

 

Happily filled bellies, it was time to hit the road for the lovely drive back to our cottage in South Addison.

Here are some other highlights from the last week:

We departed our sweet little cottage in Addison on August 30 for Camden. Along the way, we were told by my Instagram friend BuckRun Farm to check out the Granite Garden Gallery in Sullivan, and I am so glad we stopped. Located in a historic granite quarry adorned with stonework from the abundance of raw natural materials on the land. It really helped me to appreciate the work of artists who create from all forms of nature’s gifts.

Mr. Twist has his eye on the granite sailboat sculpture!  Absolutely stunning.

Then, we arrived in Camden for a charming 24 hours of walks along the cobblestone streets, windowbox dreaming (that’s a fall project for the house), lobster stew, wine and cheese, and a cozy night’s rest at The Elms of Camden Bed & Breakfast. Small world – one of the Innkeepers grew up in Fort Worth, and I think we were in kindergarten together! What are the odds!?

 

We are finishing up our stay for three days in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite cities. The downtown is gorgeous, quiet, clean, and safe. So stay tuned for a follow-up on that stay. But you can always stay up to date on our adventures by following me over on Instagram here.

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing the receipt of their Merry Month of Maine postcards! It’s been fun to see how you’ve been merchandising them – super impressive!  I finished my postcard campaign before we left Addison, writing handwritten personal messages to each recipient for a total of 164 cards!  It’s been fun to send you a little piece of my trip.

Happy travels!