2nd Annual Boattalk Semi-dinner Cruise Report
It didn’t make any sense to go over to Seal Harbor and visit Martha and the Rockefellers because of the fog. And the only entrant in the Martha Stewart Recipe Boattalk Potluck Challenge had more cents than culinary skill- he tried to pass off some supermarket sushi as from the Martha Entertains With Hanafords not -a- book. No prize there. But there was plenty of good food, a full boat of good people and the wall of fog we entered as we left Northeast Harbor only added atmosphere.
The second annual Boattalk semi-dinner cruise was wicked good. We are indebted to Bar Harbor Cruises and the Sea Princess with Captain Andy Allen at the helm. We are also grateful to the cruisers who helped raise $800 for community radio WERU and generously filled the tip jar which we gave back to the boat. It’s good to be good to people who are trying to be good to you.
Like last year there was some tension about the weather. The sun was sort of almost out in Northeast as we filled the boat but the mouth of the harbor was a fuzzy white wall. Not a navigational or entertainment hazard, the fog, which was really only kind of medium, was like being in a scenic moving watercolor. Just outside the harbor we watched the beautiful new Morris 52 “daysailor” showing her bottom as she sailed out of and back into the mystic, hard on the wind on a port tack. We headed over to Southwest Harbor for an anchorage tour and then up Somes Sound, the only fiord on the east coast, which was, as often, less foggy than outside. Valley Cove is always a stunning spot and I’m telling you having the mountain which plunges into the water and makes it so deep next to the shore cut off halfway up by the fog didn’t make it less so. Just up-sound we visited Man-O-War Brook where a bit of a waterfall tumbles into the sea 10-fathoms deep right next to the shore and where ships used to take on fresh water–and where a pair of eagles sat watching us. Wave to the eagles–it’s always a good sign.
The top of the sound has two sides and we went west into Somesville Harbor first. The house with the cement beam cantilever over the cliff and the water is a perfect example of a Maine scene you can only see by water. My neighbor, who is a landscaper, pointed out some of his work he had never seen from the water side. Isn’t it all about point of view and good to be able to see things from different ones? We also checked out the boats at Henry R. Abel’s, yacht yard and lobster pound, on the eastside and then headed back to the dock. A three hour cruise, Gilligan wasn’t on it and there were no pirates. We’re sorry if you missed it.
Not just because of the fog, there was plenty going on inside the boat as well as out. In addition to the general good eating and BYOB-ing, Alan provided commentary on the Mr. Microphone PA and I visited around telling stories. We got some heavy gossip on the long time Boattalk subject Raw Faith we can’t talk about on the radio. For instance. More fun, we had a happy birthday to Judy sing along. And the ultimate in participatory feedback, Capt. Yo, a usual Boattalk suspect and the master of Annie McGee, my favorite little pinky schooner, brought a beautifully carved cedar full hull model of the Sea Princess herself (designed by our senior whenever he can co-host Giffy Full) and showed it off with commentary. Yo told how interested a kid who saw him floating it in Echo Lake was. Imagine a kid, a model boat and a pond with no digital video anything in sight. It’s all old school and no telling what sticks with a kid. The young lady from Penobscot who spent her time in the wheelhouse with Andy had never steered a boat before…
Almost too much fun. Maybe the second annual Boattalk semi-dinner cruise was even better than the first ,but that would have to be your judgment call. There were people who can compare and other people already planning to bring more friends next time. We are under some pressure to add a fall edition. There is also the possibility of a trip out of another harbor: Belfast-Camden- Rockland? All we would need is you and a boat.
As I told Alan after–sometimes I’m proud to know him. And how much fun it is to play an expert on the radio and share some of the boat in Boattalk with you. Are you on the boat? We can always talk about it.
Boattalk Galley-talk: I like to say a good trick is one that keeps working, Alan and I have been working on ours and some people even liked them. By request here is some recipe on Alan’s semi-famous green chile salsa and my re-occurring feta spinach quiche which really comes from Morning Maine host Karen Frangoulis.
Feta-spinach quiche: I’m not an over organized measurer but here is the idea–cream together feta and cream cheese, beat in eggs and some milk. Add some sauteed spinach and onion, salt and pepper of course. I put basil on anything and nutmeg is good with spinach or what ever you think. Pour into a pie shell and bake till golden brown. This time I added hunks of avocado. Whatever the proportions, it kind of has to be good.
Mike Joyce / July 09
Alan’s green salsa: First it is very important that you make this at least a week in advance to let the flavors meld together. This makes a large quart of salsa, so you can cut the measurements in half to make enough for just a few people (2 1/2 or less), but the left over salsa makes a great additive for stews, meatloaf, and tuna salad.
Destem and trim bottoms off 12 tomatillos. Chop and drain the tomatillos while you process the rest. Save the drained juice for a fine reduction sauce. Prep and chop a vidallia onion. Chop very fine six jalapeno peppers then add and chop two poblano peppers. Mix the peppers and onion in a medium bowl, add 1/4 cup lime juice, 1/8 cup green habanero sauce, and 1/4 cup sugar. Add tomatillos, stir all, cover and put in the fridge stirring occasionally for several days. A few hours before you are ready to serve, chop and add a bunch of cilantro. Enjoy.
Alan Sprague / July 09
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