Costal cuisine

I've just returned from a culinary tour of Maine. Those Maniacs know a thing or two about true, natural ingredients. They say Portland is a foodie town, but the whole state is eating well. From Rayes Mustard factory in Eastport, to a tiny bakery in South West Harbor cranking out great nutty German bread, town after town boasts outrageous organic fare. Bread to beer, chocolate, to co-ops to coffee, Maine has it over Mass. I thought I was getting away to commune w/ nature and perhaps tackle a lobster or two, but great food kept getting in the way. The best store in New England has to be the Belfast Co-op. Located in the waterfront town that gets (happily) spared by tour buses in favor of Camden and Bar Harbor, this hippie-era shop where a membership is something like $60, has the best of everything. Cheese, organic wine, vats of DIY peanut butter, artisinal bread, and one hell of a beer section (museum is a better word) makes this supermarket a must stop. We always make a side trip when cruising down Coastal Route 1 to shop at Whole Foods w/o the aggressive pricing and condecention. But on this trip I found another great Co-op in Ellsworth, Me. Another cool town that gets passed by the tours. I'll get back to you on the name of the shop, but downstairs is a wine shop/art gallery and upstairs is a luscious trip of the best of Maine purveyors. Massachusetts need sto take Maine's lead. In order to shop local, we need to start producing local. Portland started a campaign two years ago, Keep Portland Local. All the shops have this sticker in the window. Coffee shops are roasting beans right there in the back, not being shipped in over state lines. It's tempting to move to Maine, but why not try to make more edible gems ourselves? Lowell needs a good bakery.