And sometimes you do put yourself out there emotionally and nothing happens. Then you eat your feelings. It's cool, they taste really tasty. Then you go home and purge the unnecessary contents of your apartment and stumble upon notebooks from college containing pages you have zero comprehension of (Evolutionary Biology 401)...
I started with dumplings at Bao Bao on Thursday, after being stood up. Again. There was a tap takeover event of sweet and sour beer and cider. I ordered the full flight of six: Ommegang Shadow Brewer and Ommegang Rosetta, Hidden Cove Brewing's Derogation, UFF Sirrah, Oyster River Hoboken Station's Cider, and Liquid Riot's Raspy Trouble. To accompany my imbibing, I ordered theist Kung Pao chicken pan-fried dumplings and Asian slaw. I was stuffed and happy by the time I left that night. The Rosetta and Raspy Trouble were the best. I saw the Rosetta at The Blind Pig the next day as well so hopefully they will stick around these parts.
Another night brought me up to Brunswick to meet a friend. We walked around the Bowdoin campus and then up to Bombay Mahal for some Indian food. I had been bailed on a lot that week and in a twisted turn of events, I accidentally forgot to have drinks with a good friend. So much for my karma getting back on track! I ordered curry chicken and she got something with a creamy mushroom sauce. Both were good but it solidified my love of Thai curry over Indian curry.
On to the next, I was introduced to Zapoteca's happy hour about a month ago and have spent the best $20 on spicy love ever since. I'm headed there tonight to replay the meal everyone needs to experience: muddled jalapeño margarita ($6) with house-made guacamole served with fresh and salty chips ($5), plus corn tortillas filled with pulled chicken and lightly fried ($5). Underneath said taquitos, you will find two of the greatest salsa's every produced. Go there from 3-6, every single day.
Now I'm at Lil's in Kittery. I first came here on President's day, six days ago. At 45 minutes from Portland, it's a small commitment to a new favorite. Awhile back, I somehow found Lil's Facebook page and "liked" it. Since then, I've been seeing photos of crullers pop up now and again and I just couldn't deny the lust anymore. I drove down to an area of Kittery I had never been with a tank devoid of gas but I made it, parked and found a seat in the window of Lil's sun-filled cafe. Both today and last visit, I ordered a roasted beet salad that includes red onion, yellow cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, sunflower seeds and apple sherry vinaigrette on a bed of the most delicious greens from Golden Harvest Produce Market. The bowl was overflowing with goodness and I had a hard time finishing the salad in one sitting. Somehow, a cruller (or two) made its way into my life as well. Come to Lil's. Order anything on their menu. Be happy.
When I was here last week, I was writing a very good (so I thought) blog piece on doing fun things alone. Then I somehow deleted it and couldn't bring myself to recreate it. So I will post this now to avoid repeating my deleting mistake. Moral of the story, being alone sucks but suck it up. There are things to see and do out there! Go enjoy! And eat more crullers.