Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Here at LimeRock Inn, we offer all the modern amenities you would get at any high end hotel and more and we don’t charge extra for any of it. All our guest rooms feature flat panel TV’s with built in DVD players and Ipod docking stations. We have a 24 hour guest pantry that offers complimentary waters, soft drinks and a variety of snacks. The guest pantry also has an office center with computer, printer and fax machine and we have free secure wifi throughout the inn. Lastly, and most importantly, a three course gourmet breakfast is included in the room rate!!

This is really just the tip of the iceberg as to our offerings. Check out our website to learn more!! Or stop by and see for yourself!

So tonight for dinner, Spinach ravioli served with a traditional brown butter and sage sauce.  To solve the problem of an absence of protein, I stopped at Hannaford and picked up some Al Fresco chicken sausage seasoned with roasted peppers and Asiago cheese.

Sausage in Sage and Brown Butter Sauce

Why the blast of domesticity, you ask?  Well, that’s the best part.  I hope you will consider joining me at Café Miranda on Saturday morning, March 19^th for a Pasta Throwdown between me and chef owner, Kerry Altiero.  Café Miranda is known far and wide for their homemade pastas and specialty sauces featured on their eclectic menu.  But last time we talked, Kerry challenged me after teasing me about my more traditional hand–rolled pasta making style.

The finished dish was quite delish!

Ciao for now!

Rockland, ME – - The LimeRock Inn in Rockland, ME was chosen by our readers of LanierBB.com Travel Guides as  North America’s “Best Location for Walking to Shops/Dining” for 2011. Having unanimously received the greatest number of votes out of 8,500 properties by their loyal B&B guests and regular visitors to LanierBB.com, LimeRock Inn earned one of the industry’s most prestigious awards.  Last year, LanierBB.com readers awarded LimeRock Inn with the distinction of “Most Affordable Luxury Property”, making this inn a two-time LanierBB.com award dinner.

 “Warm, welcoming and full of character and charm, P.J. Walter & Frank Isganitis offer exceptional hospitality and effort to go that extra mile,”said Pamela Lanier, owner of LanierBB.com and travel guide/cookbook author. “Earning themselves the designation of “Best Location for Walking to Shops/Dining for 2011” with Lanier readers, this B&B truly stands out above the rest,” finished Lanier.

 “We’re delighted to receive a Lanier award for the second year in a row,” said Frank Iganitis, LimeRock Inn co-owner. “It’s especially satisfying since this award came directly from our guests, and one of the things they love most is our location, which is a great selling point for the inn” finished Isganitis.

 The LimeRock Inn, a turreted Victorian mansion,  is an exquisite example of Queen Anne architecture. Featuring two front parlors, spacious guest rooms and an inviting wrap-around porch, LimeRock Inn offers guests the chance to experience luxury and elegance in a gracious historical setting. Located in Rockland’s Historic District within strolling distance to the renowned Farnsworth Museum and Rockland’s thriving Main Street and harbor, the Inn is perfectly situated for those who enjoy exploring Rockland’s downtown and waterfront by foot or for leisurely driving tours of the Midcoast region. Eight sizeable guest rooms are decorated blending period details with comfort and luxury.

 Pamela Lanier’s Bed and Breakfasts, Inns and Guesthouses International has been assisting inn goers with a comprehensive variety of boutique lodgings since 1982, announcing an “Innkeeper of the Year” winner for 28 years in a row, the oldest and most prestigious B&B vote program in the world.

 Thinking of visiting Rockland and the Penobscot Bay region, or want to meet these exceptional innkeepers that put their heart and soul into their B&B? Contact the LimeRock Inn today and you’ll be received at their B&B with open arms! For more information and reservations, visit LimeRock Inn at www.Limerockinn.com or email info@limerockinn.com.  To talk with the Frank and PJ, call 207-594-2257. 

Crabmeat Quiche

3 large eggs

4 ounces Swiss cheese (shredded)

¼ cup finely chopped onion

½ cup mayonnaise

5 ounces lump crab meat

Salt & pepper

 9 inch tart dish

     Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll out your favorite pie crust as thin as possible and lay over tart dish after coating with non-stick baking spray.  Fold edges over into dish and press into the edge to create the outer pie crust.  Evenly distribute chopped onion and shredded Swiss cheese over the pie crust.  In a small mixing bowl, combine eggs, mayonnaise, crab meat, salt & pepper, to taste.  Add egg mixture to pie crust and bake in pre-heated oven for 45 minutes.  Serve warm. (Tip:  After baking and turning off the oven, cover the quiche with aluminum foil in the oven to keep it warm until serving.)

P.J. Walter, left, and Frank Isganitis, center, accept the chamber's Beacon Award on behalf of The LimeRock Inn Saturday night at the Samoset Resort. The resort's General Manager Connie Russell, right, presents the award. (Photo by: Daniel Dunkle)

The presentation is as follows:

     After relocating to the Penobscot Bay region from New Jersey, these partners purchased an existing business that was already successful.  Together, they represent the principle that individuals working together can achieve results greater than the sum of the parts.  This idea is paramount in the way they run their business, interact with their colleagues and reflected in the industry brand that they have helped create.

      One of these individuals is a bit more low key choosing to stay behind and “man the fort” in order to allow the other the opportunity to be more overtly community minded.  However, he works tirelessly using social media and other online outlets like when Rockland was nominated by Captain Brenda Thomas of the schooner, Issac Evans, as one of the Coolest Small Towns In America last year.  Through his efforts, Rockland came in second in the online voting and received the “Editor’s Choice” designation in the October issue of Budget Travel magazine.

     The other individual is likely better known in the community.  Despite being “from away”, Rockland has embraced them with open arms allowing this individual to become a founding member of Rockland Main Street, Chairman of Rockland’s Economic Development Advisory Committee AND Rockland’s Comprehensive Planning Commission.  He is also a member-at-large of Rockland’s Board of Assessment Review and an Executive Committee member of the Chamber.

      Through their efforts, the region has hosted celebrities like Bobby Flay, Samantha Brown, and Rachel Ray.  In addition, the region has received television recognition on the Food Network, HGTV, Wheel of Fortune, CBS Good Morning, The Today Show, and at least four appearances on WCSH6-NBC Portland as well as countless local, regional and national print publications.

     They use all of these opportunities to shine a light on and promote the Penobscot Bay region, and I never get the impression the attention is about them or their business. They always make their efforts about the region and local community and why it’s so great to come here. They are tremendous ambassadors of the Penobscot Bay region.  For all these reasons, we offer the Beacon Award to The LimeRock Inn owners, PJ Walter and Frank Isganitis.

We are so incredibly honored and humbled by receving this award.  The way we operate is reflected in a quote from the Community Person of the Year Winner, “If you see something that needs to get done, do it.  If you don’t know how to do it, learn.”  These are words to live by!

Anyway, the Tandem Tasters are part of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association.  Maralyn and Brenda stopped by one afternoon to watch me make Key LimeRock Pie.  We had a lot of fun, and they seemed to enjoy the tasting part too.

Historic Inns of Rockland are hosting the 6th annual Pies on Parade in January 2010.  If it sounds yummy to you too, think about coming to Rockland next January for a taste.

Our downtown matters!  Rockland’s downtown is vibrant and alive.  Anchored by the Farnsworth Museum and The Strand, Main Street is home to award winning restaurants and chefs, a useful variety of local shops; and an enjoyable array of galleries from reclaimed to fine art.

If you have not been to Rockland, it’s worth the trip.  If you haven’t been recently, it’s worth the trip back.  From rotating exhibits in the museum and galleries to the every changing storefront windows, there’s always something new to discover.

From Boston, we’re just 30 minutes North by Cape Air at Logan Airport.  Round trip tickets can be purchased for as little as $150.  Train enthusiasts can take a two-hour excursion from Brunswick and enjoy one of the most scenic rail trails in North America.  Of course, nothing could be finer than sailing up the Maine coast into beautiful Penobscot Bay and being greeted in Rockland Harbor by the Breakwater Lighthouse.

Call us for reservations and availability!

On on interesting side note, while Frank was on the way down to Portland, he got a call from the local NBC news reporter for some quotes on the Cruise Ship industry here in Rockland. Frank is the chamber cruise committee chairman and he was featured in a story on this evening’s news. Since Frank was already in the Portland news station, they just interviewed him there. Leave it to Frank!