Regards | Portland, ME

I have started writing over on Substack. I'd love it if you subscribed! I was seeking a way to re-circulate my blog and email my community when I publish a new post. Perhaps a newsletter of sorts? What I have found on Substack is a large community of very good writers that inspired me to write a bit more, too. Yes, I'll continue to post here, but my hope is that Substack gives me some more visibility. I recently wrote about this very night in Portland, Maine which will publish straight to the inbox of my subscribers. 

On this Mom's getaway we had dinner at REGARDS. I loved our experience here and would fondly recommend it!

They have an excellent wine program and (after cocktails at CBG, Paper Tiger and Blythe & Burrows) we went straight for wine by the glass. Our first was from the skin contact or orange wine section: a Bosman ($16) Fides Grenache Blanc from Western Cape, South Africa. Second, from the whites, a glass of Dorcha ($13) Sauvignon Blanc from Lower Styria, Slovenia, to close out the evening.

To eat, some of the most inventive, thought provoking plates:

casco bay oysters ($10) smoked trout roe, bergamot mignonette

scallop crudo ($24) matsutake xo, chile de arbol, toasted jasmine rice milk

birra tacos ($22) preserved tomatillo, queso oxaco

hamachi collar ($36) shio koji x tare, morita emulsion

Regards

547 Congress St.

Portland, ME

Vila Nova de Gaia

Going to Gaia! 

Gaia is the village across the Douro River from Porto. You head here for Port Wine Cellar Tours and to see the beautiful sunset over Porto's Ribera District. Camden expressed with a lot of enthusiasm the things he wanted to do once we arrived - and one of those things was taking the train! Always one to love checking out a cities public transportation system, we navigated Metro do Porto from our closest train station at Campo 24 Agosto, changed lines at Trindade and over the Dom Luis 1 Bridge we sped to our final stop General Torres. 

Crossing this iconic bridge either by train or on foot (preferably one of each!) is a great thing to do in Porto. The upper level is for the metro and the lower level is for cars and pedestrians. Getting off at General Torres and walking towards Taylor's afforded us a peaceful walk with gorgeous views across the Douro looking back at Porto.

After Taylor Fladgate and Pink Palace we made a spontaneous stop into Fonseca. (It was right there!) What can I say we were on a roll. Fonseca has a port and chocolate pairing so indeed more fun for the kids was had. (We drank the port, the boys got some chocolate.) 

We headed downhill from the terracotta-topped port wine warehouses to Cais de Gaia. This did involve folding up the stroller and carrying it down some staircases.

Cais means pier so now we are on the Gaia waterfront; a district teeming with excitement. There's live music, marching bands, cute shops and lots of restaurants. The boys got some ice cream and a toy each (a Porto cable car and a TukTuk)! We got draft Super Bocks and listened to a band before settling in for a traditional Portuguese dinner at Beira Rio. I had a glass of white wine from Douro (the pours are bigger here, right?) and Bacalhau. More specifically Bolinhos de bacalhau which are salt cod croquettes made with a mixture of potatoes, bacalhau (codfish), eggs, parsley and onion. Ryder loved these too and here began one of his favorite words to say on the trip. B A C A L H A U. Super cute. Both boys ate lots of french fries. That's a great thing about Portugal: restaurants always have simple, medium cut, golden yellow French fries on the menu. Camden probably survived on them. 

The sun is setting and Camden has fallen fast asleep in the stroller. Ryder took a long nap earlier so he's awake for shopping at The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine and some truly wonderful cocktails at House of Sandeman on The Terrace Bar. Mine had Basil, Bob's had a a toasted marshmallow! We crossed the Eiffel Tower inspired (it was designed by a disciple of Gustaf Eiffel) Dom Luis 1 Bridge on foot and our epic day in Gaia has come full circle back to Porto!

It's Monaco (€9) Porto Sandeman Beat White infusionado com Marshmallow, Sumo de Limão, Cranberry Juice, Brown Sugar Syrup, Egg White and Caramelized Marshmallow

Le Centaure (€12) Sandeman Beat White, Gin Grennall’s, Sumo de Limão, Xarope de Açúcar, Macerated Basil and Ginger and Basil Leaf

Vinhos do Porta Fonseca

Rua do Chopelo, 84

4400-187 Vila Nova de Gaia

Beira Rio

Av. de Diogo Leite, 64

4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia

The Sandeman Terrace

Largo Miguel Bombarda, 67

4404-507 Vila Nova de Gaia

Ronda | Spain

We departed Palacio Pinello at 8:30am via taxi to the Santa Justa train station where we picked up a rental car. The drive through the Spanish countryside from Seville to Ronda is outstanding. 

Ronda itself is otherworldly; remarkable bridges, magnificent vistas, and steep cobblestone streets lead you around this dramatic mountaintop town.

This was the chilliest day with rain on and off. We were not experiencing the typical Spanish heat and sun on this trip that's for sure. Under gray skies we discovered all the viewpoints over El Tajo Gorge carved out by the Guadalevin River.

The latter part our afternoon lead us just down the road to Bodega Garcia Hidalgo. Tricia booked a wine tasting which turned out to be a super memorable experience.

A husband + wife team warmly welcome you to their family run winery which also happens to be their home. We took a little tour of the vineyard and wine cellars, and knew we'd be tasting wine of course! What we did not know is that they would have a white linen tablecloth tasting set for each group on their plant filled terrace, serving an exceptional spread of homemade food. 

We were presented with a just baked loaf of crusty bread accompanied by fresh jam, tangy relish, hand churned cream cheese + a luscious pate. Next, plates of local cheeses and cured meats. The tapas were flowing as much as the delicious wine and when she brought out her homemade Spanish tortilla - warm, fluffy and filled with soft potatoes, I nearly lost my mind it was so good!! 

If you find yourself in Ronda and you book a tasting at this winery (which you should!) come hungry! We loved the wine and took home a bottle of red each. 

 Ronda - nothing short of spectacular + a must visit: Bodega Garcia Hidalgo

San Gimignano | Tuscany