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Kennebunkport Maine Bed and Breakfast Accommodations and Cottages

Archive for the ‘Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfasts’ Category

White Barn Inn: 2010 Guest Chef Series

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Travelers visiting Kennebunkport often come to indulge in the best of everything – dining, shopping, and, of course, lodging at the Maine Stay Inn.  For those guests, the White Barn Inn’s five star, five diamond restaurant is a must.  Chef Jonathan Cartwright’s creations never fail to impress, and their service is like no other.  Think white gloves and choreographed plate presentation.  But be prepared, gentlemen must wear jackets.

But for two weekends this spring, the White Barn Inn will import not just the best ingredients, but chefs as well!  For the weekend of April 9-11, master chef, Christoph Zangerl, will bring creativity from the five star Interalpen Hotel in Tyrol, Austria.  Then from April 23-25, another Relais and Chateaux chef, Joseph Lenn, will take the helm while he visits from Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee.

So that makes April a perfect time to visit Kennebunkport and the Maine Stay Inn – for a chance to experience incredible cuisine with a new flair.  Take a taste of Austria or the American South without ever leaving New England.  Remember, we’re always just 86 miles from Boston!

Cooking in the Kennebunks

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

On the Marsh Bistro, a fine dining restaurant in Kennebunk’s Lower Village, will be

On the Marsh Kennebunkport

Summer Gardens at On the Marsh

offering two gourmet cooking classes this spring. Join executive chef, Jeffrey A. Savage on Sunday, April 25 and May 2, 2010 for “The Insider’s Culinary Experience.”  After enjoying gourmet breakfast at the Maine Stay Inn, head over to On the Marsh for a four hour culinary adventure – and take home recipes exclusively for attendees.  You will learn techniques for creating an appetizer, entree, and dessert.  After enjoying the meal you’ve prepared, take a sampling home to share with your family!

This incredible culinary opportunity includes food, wine, and class materials.  Aprons will be provided.  On the Marsh will limit classes to six students, so book today.  Class cost is $120.

And, if you invite five friends along, you’ll receive the lesson absolutely free!  So bring along five of your girlfriends for a weekend at the Maine Stay – relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect – and on your way home, indulge in an incredible culinary experience to cap off a fantastic weekend.

Gluten Free Vacation In Kennebunkport

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Enjoy gourmet gluten-free breakfast at the Maine Stay!

The prospect of going on vacation can be very nerve-racking for someone following a gluten-free diet.  Will I be able to eat anything?  If there are gluten-free options, will they be any good?  Will there be anyone who can help me figure out how to eat safely?  Rest assured, the Maine Stay is here to help!

The innkeepers of the Maine Stay Inn, Judi and Walter, have over a decade of experience with gluten-free eating, because their daughter, Johanna, also on staff at the Maine Stay Inn, has a gluten allergy. For that reason, guests of the Maine Stay Inn following a gluten free diet can eat without worry – but please let us know in advance!

But breakfast is only the foundation of a gluten free vacation – what about lunch and dinner in Kennebunkport.  Not to worry – we’ve got you covered!

Bandaloop, a favorite of everyone at the Maine Stay Inn, offers a multitude of gluten-free options.  As part of their menu, you can pair any protein source with any of their signature sauces, and most of these are gluten free.  Make sure to ask your server, just to be safe!  My personal favorite “safe” option at Bandaloop is grilled salmon with their caramelized chili coconut curry sauce.  It comes paired with a medley of the freshest vegetables and turmeric rice in a bath of Thai-style curry sauce.  Delish!  But the truth is, everything on the menu is incredible, and many of the options are Celiac safe.  Their salads offer great options for lighter fare.  If you’re looking for something a little richer, try their bone-in pork chop with caramelized onion-gorgonzola cream sauce.  But the gluten-free options don’t stop here – Bandaloop’s Creme Brulee is always incredible, and a recent discovery – their raspberry-lime crisp – is also wheat-free (their oats aren’t certified GF, but if you regularly handle rolled oats, then this is a tasty treat that is normally a no-fly zone).

For more casual fare, try Pier 77’s The Ramp – this small restaurant takes excellent care of all its patrons and is attentive to the needs of gluten-free eaters.  Their hand cut French Fries are out of this world, and their Beet and Spinach Salad is just as delectable.  Add perfectly seared salmon, and you have a healthy meal safe for gluten-free eaters.

But even gluten intolerant people sometimes want ultra casual food in a fun environment. And you normally wouldn’t even consider a Brew Pub, but Federal Jack’s, the local pub (which serves lunch and dinner daily), offers quiet a few gluten-free options.  But the most important thing about gluten free dining there is to tell your server. Tell them what you would ideally like to eat and have them ask the cooks what your best options are.  As a frequent eater at Federal Jack’s there are good options.  Salads, as you well know, are good choices, and they have a variety of GF salad dressings.  They key to eating as safely as possible here is to ask for dressing on the side – that way there is no contamination from crouton crumbs or other ingredients – they’re packaged separately from other foods.  Usually safe, french fries and potato skins are out, but sweet potato fries are in.  Their house rice is Celiac friendly, and a great side to their safe meats – even burgers (not the buns, of course) are safe, as they are filler free.  Looking for something lighter?  Federal Jack’s vegetarian chili is safe and fantastic. Even their dessert menu has choices for Celiacs – check out their Crema (similar to a creme brulee, but no burnt sugar on top, with flavors varying weekly) or even their brownie sundaes – they keep gluten free brownies in the freezer.

Some other area restaurants that easily accommodate gluten free patrons include The Cape Arundel Inn, Pier 77, Mekhong Thai, The Kennebunk Inn, Nunan’s Lobster Hut, and On The Marsh. As with any restaurant, make sure you server knows that you cannot eat gluten and that they convey this to the chefs.

The Maine Stay Inn, with its experience in gluten free cooking, is the perfect bed and breakfast inn for a safe and healthy getaway. So book your vacation at the Maine Stay Inn and Cottages in Kennebunkport, a small town unlike any other, offering a plethora of dining options for those with gluten intolerance,  and treat yourself to a safe and healthy getaway.

Worthy Wednesdays at One Dock

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Kennebunkport’s One Dock just added another reason to visit Maine during the early spring – in addition to the great specials at the Maine Stay Inn, of course!  Every Wednesday during March and the beginning of April, the restaurant at the Kennebunkport Inn, One Dock, is donating 15% of the night’s revenue to an area foundation.  The evening of March 10th went toward the Senior Center of Lower Village Kennebunk and this coming week’s event will benefit the Brick Store Museum, a local history museum.  Located in downtown Kennebunk, The Brick Store Museum preserves the rich history of the Kennebunks to share with future generations.

Current exhibitions at the Brick Store Museum include:

  • Pennies to Ride: The Kennebunks’ Turn of the Century Trolleys
  • Mailed from Maine: Vintage Postcards of the Kennebunks
  • Civil War Quilts
  • Happy Birthday, “41″! (a celebration of George HW Bush’s 85th birthday and his impact on the Kennebunks
  • Salon Style: Fine Art from the 1830s
  • Lafayette’s Visit to the Kennebunks (1825)

Now there’s no excuse not to visit the Maine Stay Inn and Kennebunkport during this early spring season – great food, great accommodations, and a great time – and for a great cause!

Kennebunkport Restaurants: Mexican Cuisine

Friday, March 12th, 2010

One thing that any mecca of dining is incomplete without is Mexican cuisine. Kennebunkport lacks no longer!  No, Kennebunkport hasn’t gotten a new restaurant, but a favorite one has taken on a new flair.  Bandaloop, a favorite Kennebunkport restaurant, is now “Banda-Lupes” on Tuesday nights.  You’ll find their same fresh and organic ingredients and mouth-watering cooking, but a whole new menu!  Everything from appetizers and cocktails to entrees and desserts will take on a “South of the Border” flair, bringing a little warmth to your cold-weather stay in Kennebunkport, Maine.

The Maine Stay Inn says “Banda-Lupes” is not to be missed!

Maine Brewery Tours

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Maine may be known for its bed and breakfasts, beaches, and beautiful antique shops, but it is also home to a plethora of breweries.  In fact, there are about thirty different breweries throughout the state, with a high concentration in Southern Maine.  Kennebunkport, or Lower Village Kennebunk, is home to one – Federal Jack’s/Kennebunkport Brewing Company.  KBC, the original home of Shipyard Ale (with it’s own brewery in Portland), brews seven different blends, all of which get pumped directly to the bar at Federal Jack’s Brew Pub.  Can’t get fresher than that!  And while you’re in town, be sure not to miss a tour of the brewery.  Tours require reservations – let the Maine Stay make them for you!

Kennebunkport and the Maine Stay Inn is the perfect place to begin your exploration of the Maine Beer Trail.  Just a short drive from the Maine Stay is the Run of The Mill Public House and Brewery, located in Saco, Maine.  Continue traveling up the coast along scenic Route 1 to Scarborough for your next stop at the Sebago Brewing Company.  Next up – the breweries of Portland!  While it is home to several small brewing companies, Allagash Brewing, DL Geary Brewing, Gritty McDuff’s, and Sebago Brewing, it is also the current home of Shipyard Ale – the Shipyard Brewing Company.  And at just 30 miles from the Maine Stay, it’s not to be missed!

If you have any steam left, head north toward Freeport – home of the famous L.L.Bean, but also to two breweries!  Leave the ladies (if they’re at all like me) in your life for an afternoon of shopping, and hit the pub – you can’t go wrong at Gritty McDuff’s (a microbewery and brew pub) or at stop at Freeport Brewing Company.

Of course, there are oodles more breweries to visit on the “Maine Beer Trail,” so book your reservation and ask the Maine Stay Innkeepers today to help plan your Maine Brewery Tour.

Kennebunkport Restaurants: Dessert Digs

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

So you’ve had dinner and just need a little something before snuggling into your cozy bed at the Maine Stay Inn.  Where do you turn?  The Maine Stay has you covered!

Dessert dining can be a huge challenge for visitors, because they may have eaten on their way to Kennebunkport and may be uncomfortable going into a restaurant just for dessert. But an evening just isn’t complete without that sweet treat!Kennebunkport Harbor

So here are some great options in the area for those needing just dessert:

  • Old Vines (This wine bar in Lower Village Kennebunk is a great stop for after dinner noshing – their selection of cheeses and cured meats are great for non-sweet eaters, their homemade desserts are top notch, and they offer a great assortment of after dinner drinks.  The best part? They’re open late!)
  • Federal Jack’s (While we at the Maine Stay Inn recommend this eatery for Maine basics – fried fish, chowdah, and steamed lobster – their extensive dessert menu has options for all tastes (but pass on the bread pudding – they do other things much better).  And like Old Vines, they serve late – in season their “Late Night” menu is available until midnight.)
  • Ben and Jerry’s (I wouldn’t be a true New Englander if I didn’t mention this area favorite.  They’re located just steps from the Maine Stay, so they’re a perfect evening stop after exploring Dock Square.  But they’re seasonal, so winter visitors, don’t be disappointed!)
  • Roly’s English Fudge (Also a short stroll from the Maine Stay Inn, this favorite on Ocean Avenue offers a huge selection of English style fudge – think a bit more crumbly with undertones of caramelized sugar – and gelato.  This is a must-taste for chocolate lovers and those looking for something light and fruity.  Keep in mind, though, that they operate on limited hours in the winter, so check with the innkeepers before venturing out!)
  • The Ramp at Pier77 (At the Maine Stay, this one of our personal favorites for a casual lunch or dinner, but their desserts are out of this world.  You might be most comfortable digging in at the bar if you’re just ordering that after-dinner snack, but their staff will take great care of you no matter the size of your order!)

Even for that little bedtime snack, Kennebunkport offers ample options.  But don’t forget that for just $20, the staff at the Maine Stay Inn will create a homemade dessert and deliver it to your room for the ultimate romantic experience.  Kindly give us a few days notice if you think you’d like to indulge!

Kennebunkport Restaurants: Bandaloop

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Just steps from the Maine Stay Inn’s front door lies a funky restaurant with a name to match – Bandaloop.  And while the atmosphere is rustic and Bohemian chic, the cuisine is anything but.  Located about three very short blocks from the inn in a residential area adjacent to Dock Square’s shopping district, you might miss it, if not for the bright red door.  Walking into this converted barn (that’s how I perceive it, at least), you will find a wide, modern bar and soft lighting, aided by twinkling white Christmas lights along the upper balcony.  The upstairs houses a few small tables and a quiet, intimate atmosphere with great views of the roughly hewn rafters and ample opportunity to people watch.  And while the downstairs is more tightly packed and bustling, you have a chance to watch the amazing skills of Chef Scott Lee, owner of Bandaloop.  Personally, I love an open kitchen – you know the food is hot and fresh, because you see it come out of the pan, onto the plate and into your belly – no waiting under some heat lamp.  That would be entirely counterintuitive here, as “fresh is best” clearly dominates this eatery.  In the past they have offered a covered, heated patio during the warmer months and into foliage season, but a recent dinnertime visit revealed exterior construction for a more permanent addition of seating area.

The waitstaff at Bandaloop Restaurant is cheerful, but not overbearing, and very helpful to those of us plagued by indecision.  But at Bandaloop, indecision must be incredibly common – the menu is just too good!  A two-page menu and handful of specials shouldn’t be terribly troubling, but when you consider the option of pairing any protein source with any of their signature sauces (and there are around 7 of each), the menu seems to grow exponentially!

In all honesty, there is nothing that I wouldn’t like at Bandaloop.  Their trend is toward organically raised products and interesting combinations, many with an Asian fusion flair.  My personal favorite is their grilled salmon or fried tofu with caramelized chili-coconut sauce.  But you certainly can’t go wrong with their spinach salad and Mac & Cheese!  And the menu offers a host of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options.

No matter the season, we at the Maine Stay Inn recommend reservations – even on a Wednesday in March.  So let us make on for you, because Bandaloop is certainly not to be missed!

Maine Summer Vacation Package

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Kennebunkport is the ideal place for your summer vacation – stunning beaches, fine shops and galleries, and incredible restaurants.  And Kennebunkport’s location is ideal, as it is just 90 miles from Boston, 30 miles from Portland, ME, and Portsmouth, NH, both home to great cultural opportunities and more great dining (always my primary concern!), and of course, just 40 miles to famed Freeport – the home of L.L. Bean.  I just can’t fathom what isn’t to like about Kennebunkport.  I mean, I may be biased, but still.  Really, though, you can reach Kennebunkport incredibly easily and even without a car.  Once you are here, you don’t actually need a car – great sandy beaches are only about a mile away and excellent restaurants and activities are just a short stroll from the inn.  The outdoor opportunities are innumerable – and incredible.  And did I mention the food?

The Maine Stay Inn, of course, makes it our business to make your vacation better than you imagined.  Kennebunkport is wonderful, but a stay at the Maine Stay Inn and Cottages it the key to making your Maine Summer Vacation perfect.  So this summer, from June 1 through September 15, the Maine Stay Inn will offer complimentary passes to the Kennebunk Beaches with any two or more night stay.  That means you can enjoy the glories of Southern Maine’s incredible beaches at no cost to you!

March Getaway: 3rd Night Free!

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

For the entire month of March, enjoy three nights for the price of two at the Maine Stay Inn in Kennebunkport.  It’s like two seasons for the price of one!

Is it Spring?

Experience our charming winter one day and glorious springtime the next.  Although this is how New England weather works year round, March is particularly prone to rapidly changing weather. We’re not even through the first week of March and we have already seen gentle snow with blustery winds and fifty degree days with ample sunshine!  But take advantage of our incredible “Third Night Free” package and you’re sure to experience a little of everything.

...Or Still Winter?

If anything is certain, though, it is that you will want to curl up by our cozy fires at night with your special someone, relax in our jetted tubs, and dig into our hearty gourmet breakfasts each morning.  So join us for three nights this winter (or is it Spring?) for the price of two, because two nights at the Maine Stay Inn just isn’t enough!