Spending the Summer in Maine

I’ve been lucky enough to spend time in Maine with friends the last two summers, and I’m absolutely counting down the days until I’m back at the end of July—this time with new and old baking friends for our Maine Baking Retreats. Maine is one of those special places where the pace feels a little slower, the rugged coastline is understated and spectacular all at once, and there’s such pride in the food that’s grown there and cooked with love. I’m looking at you, blueberries.

When people ask what I’m most excited about on our upcoming retreat . . .

The wild blueberries are so incredibly sweet—I couldn’t believe the flavor packed into their tiny size the first time I tasted one. I’ve never picked blueberries in Maine before, so I’m especially looking forward to visiting a farm near Camden, where we’ll fill our baskets (and try hard not to eat every single one on the spot!) before turning them into jam at the gorgeous Tops’l Farm. I’ll do my best to carefully transport some Maine blueberries home to Alabama in my carry-on, and if I manage not to snack on them the entire flight, I’ll bake this Blueberry Pound Cake.

I’m not ashamed to admit I have a daily lobster roll quota. When in Maine! I prefer mine with butter, though I’ve never once turned down one with mayonnaise. One of my favorites comes from McLoons Lobster Shack, where we’ll stop for lunch on our way from Portland to Camden.

And speaking of McLoons—I always save room for one of its whoopie pies, the official state dessert of Maine. I can’t wait to try our very own Brian Hart Hoffman’s version, which he’ll be teaching in Portland. He’s been hard at work perfecting his recipe, and I’m personally hoping for a very generous amount of frosting.

I’ve dreamed of visiting Salt Water Farm for years, and I’m thrilled to spend a full day at this renowned cooking school in Lincolnville with owner Annemarie Ahearn and her team. Together we’ll bake Blueberry Buckle, a Mixed Berry Galette, Raspberry Cobbler, and Hermits, a classic New England cookie.

And you simply can’t visit Maine without spending time on the water. From Portland Harbor, we’ll set sail on Casco Bay to catch a sunset and take in the charming port town from the sea, along with views of the surrounding islands and iconic lighthouses.

But the absolute best part of every retreat—and every single guest says this—is the friendships. Something happens when the right people come together over a shared love of baking in a beautiful place. It doesn’t have a name, exactly. It just stays with you.

If you’d like to learn more about our Maine retreats, reach out to our event director, Charlotte Atkins, at events@bakefromscratch.com. Charlotte makes sure every detail of our retreats is perfectly planned so all you have to do is pack.

There’s a reason Maine shines in July and August: crisp coastal mornings, comfortable afternoons, and golden evenings perfect for gathering around the table.