There are 20 some odd purveryors which include many local farms.  You can find everything from meats to cheeses, to jams, loads of fresh veggies, even soaps and ice cream.

For us, this trip also included lunch at the Uproot Pie Company which is a mobile wood fired brick over pizza outfit.  Our personal pizzas were to die for!!

We picked up a bunch of verggies for dinner tonight.  Can’t wait to try them out.

If your in town on a Thursday morning, this is a must see stop.  you won’t regret it!! Of course the location ain’t too shabby either!!!

As part of poetry month, LimeRock Inn and the other Historic Inns of Rockland have teamed up with the Library to offer “Poems on Pillows”.  Every guest that stays at any of the Historic Inns of Rockland during April will receive a different poem on their pillow for each night of their stay.

To learn more about Rockland Poetry month and see the schedule of events, click here.

Here is a composite shot I took of the super moon. It really was an amazing site!

The International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association’s (IFWTWA) Excellence Awards program recognizes the world’s finest travel and tourism industry professionals as experienced by the organization’s journalist members. Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine earned IFWTWA’s Award of Excellence in Hospitality for its outstanding inns and exemplary guest services.

According to the IFWTWA member journalist who nominated Historic Inns of Rockland for recognition: “The Historic Inns of Rockland (4 properties) all work together in setting and complying with high standards of service. In addition, they have received the State of Maine award for conservation practices. During the past two years, I have stayed at the inns, toured, eaten, interviewed innkeepers, videoed their kitchens and have been impressed with their commitment to service, cleanliness, green practices, friendliness, and delicious food.”

The award nomination was carefully evaluated and recommended by IFWTWA’s Excellence Awards Committee and the award approved by IFWTWA’s Board of Directors.

“As a winner of an IFWTWA Excellence Award, Historic Inns of Rockland demonstrates the professional standards that represent the best in the hospitality industry,” said Maralyn Hill, IFWTWA President. “This company and others in its class set – and raise – the bar in the hospitality field worldwide.”

About IFWTWA: The International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) is a global network of journalists who cover the hospitality and lifestyle fields, and the people who promote them.

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!

We got a tour of their winemaking process where they were currently working on a Blueberry wine and a Chardonnay.

The vineyard is located on a former horse farm on a hilltop in Owls Head with absolutely stunning views of Penobscot Bay and the Camden Hills.

The main house contains the tasting room where we sampled a Reisling, an Oak Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir.  Now, I don’t normally care for Riesling as I find it too sweet but this was absolutely delicious.  It was not too sweet and had a slightly crisp and tart finish. 

The tasting room is stunning and has a small shop with Breakwater Lighthouse gift items with proceeds going to the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Light.  They also sell their wine of course and branded gift items.

Breakwater Vineyards offers free tasting every Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 pm in season.  If your in the area, this is not to be missed! 

Thanks again to All Aboard Trolley for transportation.  The stretch Escalade, complete with 4 TVs, ambient lighting, fireplace, laser lights, fog machine and every imaginable bell and whistle made us feel like movie stars!!!

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. 

Thousands turned out for the annual Summer Sostice Festival in Rockland, Maine

Click here to see some more photos from the event.

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!