Comments on: Road Trip #2 – Quintessential New England

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:43:00 +0000

Like Karen, the owner of Kafe Lila, says, I think you have to go down to Narrangansett Beach for the clam cake experience. If you want some Brazilian food, there were plenty of little corner shops selling that, but Pawtucket’s a bit far from the ocean.

“It could be worse” That’s already pretty much the state motto for Maine.

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:34:50 +0000

Hmmm. Pawtucket, like much of the rest of New England, spends a lot of time and energy celebrating its past while its present, and possibly future, don’t hold out much cause for celebration. One thing I have found remarkable about L-A is their steadfast (if occasionally delusional) belief in a bright future for the “Cities of the Androscoggin” while other places on which Richard Russo’s fictional Empire Falls was based seem to have the mottos “It’s good enough” or “It could be worse” and settle for that.

Still, I’d make the trip for the clam cakes (or, better yet, a pint of fried whole clams) alone. Thanks for the report.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:59:07 +0000

Maybe you can get a job with the Lewiston-Auburn Chamber of Commerce!

I’m pretty sure that they already have a slogan like that: Lewiston-Auburn: Taking Shit-Hole To A Whole New Level. Plus some festivals.

By: karen

karen — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:51:37 +0000

I too did not know what a coffee cabinet was. I am originally from NY and we actually did not have coffee milk on our menu until a little while ago. Our favorite customers from Flying Shuttles across the way wanted it, and I can never refuse. I do intend to make homemade coffee syrup soon. As for clam cakes, you should go to Narragansett, but I was surprised to find they are nothing like a Maryland clam cake, they are more like a fritter with a few bits of clam. Thanks for stopping by my shop! Too bad you missed our Ice Cream Social, we had hundreds of people plus great music. I am glad you made the trip.

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:23:04 +0000

Thank you for explaining what a coffee cabinet was… inquiring minds wanted to know.

By: Karan

Karan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:18:09 +0000

“Even the place where I grew up, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, which takes shit-hole to a whole new level, has local festivals and community pride events and one or two markers of infinitesimally insignificant historical repute.”

Maybe you can get a job with the Lewiston-Auburn Chamber of Commerce!