Rockland is the home of the Maine Lobster Festival and
Lobsterpalooza - two events dedicated to
all things lobster. During our first visit
in 2013 we met the delightful and talented Louise MacLellan-Ruf, the property
manager at the vacation rental where we stayed. Louise has a passion for food
and cooking that equals, and in some cases, surpasses our own.
Louise had entered the Lobster Mac and Cheese contest at
Lobsterpalooza which was to take place after we left. The night before we headed
back to Denver she brought us a piping hot sample of her recipe. I took one bite and said “You’re going to
win!” Much to our delight, she did.
Almost every restaurant in town offers delicious lobster
based entrées. If you like to cook, like
we do, there are many sources of fresh lobster.
Jess’s Market (located at 110 S. Main Street - just 3/10 of a mile from Elijah
H. Hall House) is an excellent source of all types of fresh seafood. A
knowledgeable lobster wrangler at the market took the time to tell us about the
differences between hard shell and soft shell lobsters. If you’re in Maine
during soft shell lobster season be sure to try this slightly sweeter, easy to
crack open, variety.
We also purchased lobsters right off the boat at the
harbor in Rockport for just $3 a pound. Other easily accessible places to find fresh lobster include the dock at the Vinalhaven Ferry, the Owls Head Lobster Company and grocery stores. Our
neighbor, Tim, is a working lobsterman and will fill orders for guests at
Elijah H. Hall House.
Click here for Louise's prize winning Lobster Mac and Cheese recipe. If you're interested in a class with Louise to make this dazzling dish, let us know and we'll arrange it.
