Colorful culinary traditions are abundant in New England!
We’ve been to most of North America and each region has unique tastes that they have perfected. New England is one of those regions. Much like the South, Southwest and the Midwest the area has also been touched by immigration. That’s why the taste of Italy is still strong in the region and for our money, the best Italian we’ve ever tasted (we’ve never been to Italy though). Here are our five must-eats of New England:
1. Lobster Roll in Maine- The quintessential New England treat is the lobster roll. The best lobster roll in the World is the Maine lobster roll we had from The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport, Maine. The lobster is as fresh as you can get (they are pulling them off the back deck from the ocean), then steamed in ocean water. The meat is picked by hand. It’s served on a fresh round white roll that is baked daily 11 miles away at Reilly’s bakery in Biddeford, Maine. It’s served with an option of mayo, melted butter or if you want both! It’s no wonder why they sell as many as 500 of these per day! Located at 2 Western Ave, Kennebunk, ME 04043. Find their menu and more at their website.
2. Cannolis in Boston- Italians in North Boston have left their mark on the city. Some great Pizza (Sadly, Galleria Umberto was closed for July when we were there) and pasta can be found in the Northern part of Beantown. One place stood out to us though, Mike’s Pastry. I didn’t even know I loved Cannoli’s so much until I bit into one of these. Fresh cannoli shells filled with ricotta cheese. But it doesn’t stop there. They also provide the flavors of Italy: Limoncello, Amaretto, hazelnut, and pistachio. BUT WAIT, there’s more. Oreo, mint chip, chocolate dipped, pecan caramel and the list goes on. Cases upon cases of fresh cannoli, just waiting to be boxed up and enjoyed. We visited the 300 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 location. Find out more and their other location by visiting their website.
3. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven- This is one of the best and oldest pizzerias in the United States. (See our Pizza post from a bit back where we put them only behind Detroit’s Buddy’s Pizza) They have been doing it the same way since 1925—baked in a coal-fired brick pizza oven. They are most known for their white clam pie—crust, olive oil, oregano, grated cheese, chopped garlic, and fresh littleneck clams. This is not our cup of tea due to our not liking clams that much. It was delicious (for clams), we preferred the tomato pie—tomatoes, grated pecorino Romano cheese, garlic, oregano, and olive oil. YUMMMM!!!!! Plus, we had a bacon and cheese that would knock your socks off. The location we went to was located at 157 Wooster St, New Haven, CT 06511. Find their menu and other locations on their website.
4. Seafood in Salem- The Clam Shack in Salem was a very lucky find for us. We just happened upon this delicious seafood shack by chance as we were driving around Salem after learning about witches. Well, this seafood was enchanting. It quickly became one of our favorites of the trip. Fresh seafood, perfect views of the bay and the best clam chowder I’ve ever tasted! They are located at 98 Restaurant Row, Salem, MA 01970.
5. Italian food on Cape Cod- Finding Montano’s Restaurant in North Truro, Massachusetts out on the Cape was a total accident. The perfect ending to a scenic day and driving around Cape Cod. This is what you would assume the best Italian cuisine would taste like! Why? Because it is! This place boasts made from scratch, fresh pasta, and pizza dough. It’s easy to see why it’s a local favorite. They are located at 481 US-6, North Truro, MA 02652. Find out more on their website.
