Summer was glorious around here. We dove deep into the spirit of the season. We loved the heat and the sun, and even tolerated the humidity (mostly). We woke up early with the birds. We took long walks across the causeway to Clark Island and on other trails on the St. George Peninsula and around MidCoast Maine - The Thomaston Town Forest was a new and delightful discovery. We visited the island of Monhegan, which is a very pure sort of place. We swam as often as possible, which was a lot. We swam in the ocean right here across from the Craignair Inn. We swam at the saltwater quarry, which is a magical natural pool surrounded by trees and granite, hidden in the depths of Clark Island. We swam at lakes in Rockland and Camden. We dove into the ocean at Drift Inn Beach in Tenants Harbor after work, when the tide was coming in. Whether it’s freshwater or salt, there is nothing more refreshing than floating in the waters of Maine. It’s absolute heaven.
We went kayaking. We interned at an oyster farm with one of our local purveyors for the restaurant, which was hugely rewarding; even though it required waking before dawn. We went to country fairs and rode rides and ate ice cream. We stayed outside late, watching the fireflies and then the stars come out. We threw parties and hosted the Fourth of July Fireworks for the community of Spruce Head. We read books and went fishing and saw some great live music and rode bikes and played in the sand as much as possible, while also working really, really hard. It isn’t easy, but we believe in a Thoreauvian way of addressing life. We want to experience everything, taste everything, see every sunrise and sunset. There is just so much to see and do on this Earth, and especially in Maine, where there are so many hidden coves, roads, and swimming holes on this craggy coast. That’s why we moved here to begin with. To live in harmony. It was a busy and beautiful and exhausting and rewarding few months.
We feel a sense of accomplishment and are ready for the shift in weather and atmosphere. Chilly mornings call for coffee on the deck, wrapped in a blanket. The leaves are beginning to turn bright red, oranges and gold. Fall is finally in the air as we round the corner of September. It’s time for another kind of weather and the inward activities of the chilly and darker time of year. It’s wonderful to return to favorite hobbies, or take on a new creative endeavor. It’s lovely to revisit traditions and plan new ones. It’s a time to adventure and explore, both the inner and outer landscapes. It’s a dreamy time. And though not as easy in its allure, it is a magical time to visit Maine, or live more deeply in Maine. Outdoor exploration doesn’t end when the temperature drops. And The Craignair Inn only gets cozier the deeper we go into the woods of winter.
One way of honoring the season we’ve grown to love and look forward to, is with our Winter Passport Series at The Causeway Restaurant. Now in its third year, the monthly suppers have become a staple in our community. Spruce Head is a somewhat isolated village of fishermen and artists. Many of us retreat into our homes, especially when the sky turns dark early. And that’s right and good. It’s important to nest and putter. But it is equally important to visit with others, to share meals, to share stories, to laugh and catch up and relate. Being human, we need to socialize. Being Mainers, we need a good excuse to leave our snug home after 5 on a Thursday. We think we came up with a great one! One Thursday a month, from October through April our kitchen creates an entire menu based on a foreign location.
The dining room feels like the best dinner party. People dress up. It’s an occasion. And the food is always extraordinary. In years past, we’ve been to Spain and the French countryside. We’ve let the good times roll in the spirit of New Orleans Mardi Gras, and indulged in the bounty of the sea with a feast of the seven fishes, inspired by the Italian Catholic Christmas Eve tradition. Traditions are important. They help anchor us in space. Something to look back on, something to look forward to. A continuity as so much around us changes. We believe that these Winter Passport dinners are becoming a welcome tradition among many locals in MidCoast Maine and a reason for summer visitors to drive up from points south and stay at the inn. It all feels very festive and cozy, like an old movie with parlor games and charming characters and a bar cart.
In 2024, we are looking forward to a few new additions to the regularly scheduled programming. First up, a night in Paris, complete with wine paired with each course, from soup to dessert with classics like coq au vin and beef tartare adding elegance and flourish to an already decadent evening. There is an element of armchair travel to these events, which adds education and delight to an otherwise dull Maine weeknight. There is a sensuality and a sense of exploration. Whether you’ve traveled to these far flung places before and recall those moments through taste and smell, or have always longed to visit, say the City of Light and maybe feel your desire reinvigorated through a bite or sip. We’re adding wanderlust and rare glimpses of foreign cities to your life without leaving Maine.
We’re excited to discover what Executive Chef Gil Plaster cooks up for a Greek odyssey on November 21 when the Maine weather will be properly chilly and the days are short. On January 23, we'll host a Middle Eastern repast flavored with mint, paprika, and coffee. If you have always wanted to expand your horizons on the open land of Argentina, where gauchos roam the verdant grasslands, make a reservation for February 20th. We love Maine. It's home. We love the seasons that rise and fall. And we love to travel, seeing new places, experiencing other people, other culture, other food. So these winter dinners are the perfect way to spend our time. The woodstove is burning, and the sea is stunning and steel gray. Visit Spruce Head for a stay at our award-winning Maine Bed and Breakfast and dine at The Causeway for enchanting evenings.