We were taking a rare overnight trip for Lorna's Birthday. Friday we went to Cadillac Mountain and had dinner in Bar Harbor, then spent the night in Camden.

We started Saturday touring scenic Rockland. Rockland has a thriving foodie scene, with plenty of fine markets and artisans both in town and in surrounding towns. Some of those are listed at the bottom of this post.

Best of Show has to be the incredible lobster club sandwich at the Brass Compass in downtown Rockland. It features all the meat of a very fresh 1-1/4 lb Lobster and plenty of perfect bacon. It's enough for two. The lobster stew was equally generous and made fresh while we watched. We didn't need the Maine Blueberry Pie, but got it anyway...

Thus fortified, we headed out on a foliage drive up scenic Route 17 toward Augusta, to Union, in search of the Sweetgrass Farm Winery. The road meanders between long ridges with lakes and fields that open up fine vistas. This is farm country, home to the famous Union Fair every August. 

I wanted to get to Sweetgrass because they make what I think is the only artisanal Dry Vermouth made in New England. Here is their still:

The visit was a success! Keith and Constance are friendly and knowledgeable, and I bagged a bottle of their dry vermouth and a bottle of their peculiar Cranberry Gin (report on that to follow in Artisanal Gins made in New England).

From Union, we took Rte 220 south to Waldoboro, stopping at the famous Morse's Sauerkraut for their awesome Maine mustard pickles, Jacob's cattle beans for Richmond, Dutch salty licorice for me in the car, a bockwurst for home and some of the other foodie goodness to be found in that remarkable store. It's a great place to discover things you never knew even existed!

From Waldoboro, we took the beautiful Route 32 down to Pemaquid Point. The wind was picking up and the sea was quite rough, but there's nothing as rugged as those amazing rocks at the end of Pemaquid Point; the old lighthouse was in no peril.

As we headed back up the unremarkable Route 130 toward Damariscotta, we stopped at the Pemaquid Craft Coop, where I found the dark chocolate Merlot Sea Salt Bar from Safe Harbor Confections of Waldoboro - just in case we got hungry on the long drive home to Plymouth!

This stretch of midcoast Maine, a 50-mile loop along Route 1 from Waldoboro to Camden through Rockland and inland to Union boasts one of the best concentrations of markets and artisans of foodie goodness anywhere in New England. In addition to the places mentioned above, you can find: Beth's Farm Market, School House Farm, Sweetgrass Farm Winery, Savage Oakes Winery, Lakin's Gorges Cheese, Fresh off the Farm organic meats and produce, Rock City Coffee Roasters, Good Tern Coop and Sweets and Meats Market in Rockland, Market Basket in Rockport, French and Brawn Marketplace in Camden, and of course many fine restaurants.