401997 Wed May 16 07:09:11 -0700 2007 1 13 New England 0 2573754 Sat. morning we started our trip north with breakfast at the Fish Tale diner in Salisbury, MA. Beautiful location overlooking all those boats but it was a ittle too chilly that day to eat outside. Nice service at the counter but breakfast was just okay. A's short stack of pancakes (3) were some of the most anemic cakes I've ever seen. Eggs and bacon were fine, homefries a little better than usual, toast actually better than usual (sad how many places screw up the toast). Prices maybe a tad higher than you'd expect. Not ready for a stop on the way up but once in Portland, we split a small order of fries at Duckfat, served with the horseradish mayo. These were very nice, very crisp. Thought about getting a panini there or roast beef sandwich at Henry VIII's but just not ready for real food. Did get cookies at Two Fat Cats Bakery on India St. which was a beautiful sight, all that baking going on in front of you and the pies and cakes looked incredible. A. enjoyed the peanut butter cookie, choc. chip was okay. Iced coffee at the cafe down the street (Breaking New Grounds maybe). After more walking, A. got a Gritty's Vacationland special at Three Dollar Dewey's on Commercial St., only $2.50. That's a deal. Started the real food at Norm's Downtown Lounge on Congress but the menu wasn't as exciting as our previous times there. We just split the steak salad for $10.95, very tasty served with warmed flatbread. I had a nice pineapple martini and A. had some other beer. Good service and I sitll love the feel of the place, esp. when we time it right before the crowds (7:45 on Sat.). We then walked around trying to figure out our next stop, both Cake and 51 Wharf had some interesting things on the menu but they were pretty dead. So we walked to Fore St. and found two bar seats and ordered their wonderful mussels. I know people here have said they've gone downhil but the mussels still rock. Also split an app of venison w/ polenta that was pretty tasty tho not as good as the mussels. Got a glass of viognier to go with it. Started talking to the people next to us who are opening a restaurant in Warwick and we said we'd taste each other's dessert. Our was the winner, some caramel mouse w/ a little bread pudding. They had a cherry cake w/ ice cream but the cake was on the dry side. Nice bartender, great space, kind of wish I'd tried a new place but happy with our time there. Sun. morning I made a quick dash around town and saw that Becky's was jammed so trucked down to Standard which was hopping at 9:15. Out of choc. croissants but the fiancier was wonderful. We then stopped at Arabica on Free. St. so A. could get some coffee and I grabbed a choc. covered biscotti just to try it but wicked dry. I like the cafe itself tho. We then took our time going to Portsmouth, stopped at the flea market on the way and then hit York's Best for a clam and scallop platter. The guy working there was wicked nice, we didn't want the full seafood platter so he gave us the two way combo for slightly less. Came w/ a few onion rings, fries and a fair amount of cole slaw (as opposed to those tiny cups). We sat out on the picnic bench and enjoyed it altho it might have been a little over fried. No real complaints tho. Works Bakery Cafe provided a good iced coffee. Portsmouth Brewery provided A. some good strong iPA. Dinner was great, starting with the $1 bites at Pesce Blue at the bar. Things were a little scattered since there was no real bartender and the owner was kind of running around cuz it was very busy whe we first arrived (about 7:30) but cleared out quickly. Plus the back of the bar was kind of a mess. But when I finally got my peach cosmo I was pretty happy. We ordered the white anchovies and grilled vegetables, both of which were great (esp. the veggies) as was the bread which I tried to keep from wolfing down. The owner was really nice and we enjoyed talking to him. He didn't even mind that we were moving on to Black Trumpet for dinner. I got the table I wanted on the 2nd floor by the window and again, it took a while before we were able to order drinks. i asked some questions about the whites and she brought me two tastes which was nice. Went with the Albarino, more beer for A. Just got a small plate of rock shrimp w/ fiddleheads in a great sauce to start. Since we'd already had some food at PB, this was a good amount to start, and delicious, but hard to pass up soft shell crab w/ polenta. Took a long time for our entrees to appear but I was happy with my hanger steak w/ mashed yucca and black trumpet cream sauce. Got the sauce on the side but it was excellent. A's cod was a little boring but the brandade cod cake was very good. Too full for dessert which is unusual. It's a cute little space, not overly crowded on Mother's Day, server was really nice (fun talking about food both there and PB), glad to have finally gotten there, even if it's not really Lindbergh's Crossing any more. About $75 before tax and tip. Wed May 16 07:09:11 -0700 2007 14253 Joanie 1 2574032 And how could I forget breakfast at the Friendly Toast? We saw the prices of the pancakes were pretty high, $4.50 and above for one cake. But these are some pancakes. About as big as plate, good fluffiness, nice and browned. I went with 2 granola/apricot ones (should have stuck with one but got two more breakfasts out of it). A. had two regular cakes and left half a plate too. Would be curious to try some eggs and potatoes but was really in a pancake mood. Great old lamps and knick knacks all around, new wave in the restaurant (Modern English) and hardcore in the kitchen (Minor Threat). Walked back to our hotel (Port Inn on the bypass, great place just a 20 min walk from town) and got an iced coffee at the cute little cafe next to Celebrity Sandwiches. No room to stuff in fried clams at the Clam Box on the way back home but did play a round of mini golf at that place on Rt. 1 in Rowley. Wed May 16 08:33:28 -0700 2007 2573754 14253 Joanie