We went to Portland to see a Degas exhibit at the Portland Museum of Art, and stumbled into an old friend!

Years ago we used to visit the old Portland Public Market regularly. We dined on fresh fish washed down with draft Allagash White Ale at Scales, shopped for liquids from the incredible selection at Maine Beer and Beverage, and always sought out local cheeses and charcuterie from Kris Horton.

As we were leaving the museum (having missed coffee at the already-closed cafe) I asked the woman at the admission desk where I could find good locally-roasted coffee. She pointed me down the block to Monument Square.

The moment we walked in the door we knew we were on familiar ground. The K. Horton cheese counter stretches ahead and off to the right, full of interesting imported and local products, and half-hidden by even more tasty wares along the counter in front and atop the cases. It was like we had left off a conversation last night and picked it up today, although it must be five years or more since the old Public Market was closed down to make way for condos.

Lorna scored a Stonington Fog from Sunset Acres Farm and I bought a trio of cheeses from Nezinscot Farm before moving deeper into the market to Maine Beer and Beverage. Here's a report on those three cheeses. 

Maine Beer and Beverage is a star player when it comes to showcasing Mainiac drinkables. As usual I could not buy everything that I wanted without imperilling our mortgage (and liver) so I settled for a Narragansett Bock, a Number 19 Baltic Porter from the Bull Jagger Brewing Company, and a Lavender Mead from Maine Meadworks, which we will enjoy tonight with those three Maine cheeses from Nezinscot. Tell me where you can buy those three elixirs anywhere else and I'll buy them for you!

There was more to be had in the "new" Public Market, including the cuppa Joe that I went there for: I found a dark roast from Rock City Coffee upstairs in the "restaurant" space that, like a foreign land, you really have to explore to understand.

Lorna and I were sad to see the old Public Market close, but we are happy to see it is alive again in  Monument Square, right on Congress Street atop the Old Port in Portland.