Hangry in Maine

Sometimes I think Maine is just showing off. We’ve got lobster rolls, blueberry everything, potato candy (we’ll talk more about that in the future), maple syrup so good it makes pancakes worth waking up for, and of course, the Maine Tasting Center in Wiscasset. Established in 2021, the Maine Tasting Center is where you can basically take a crash course in eating your way through the entire state without having to zigzag up Route 1 for a week straight, although that would be wicked fun too!

I headed down, well, technically up, the coast to check it out this past June with my senior group, and let me tell you; this spot is like a greatest hits album of Maine food and drink. If you’re a local looking for a fun day trip (and a possible chance to spot Big Al in the wild) or a visitor trying to get a bite-sized sample of everything we do best here, this place is definitely worth the stop.

So, what is the Maine Tasting Center?

Think of it as a mash up between a tasting room, a class room, and a food nerd’s playground. It’s tucked right off of Route 1 in Wiscasset, aka the “prettiest village in Maine” and also home to 85% of the tourists on the Eastern Seaboard in July, but that’s another story.

The Center’s mission is to celebrate and support “small Maine food producers-farmers, fishermen, and makers- by connecting them with the public through storytelling, education, and hands-on experiences.”

That means one afternoon here and you’ll get to taste local cheese, honey, wine, beer, cider, and other goods, as well as learn something that’ll make you sound smart at “suppah” later. It’s a win-win.

What you’ll find here

• The Tasting Room: this brewpub style space features rotating menus of Maine-made beer, wine, cider & cocktails, plus small plates featuring local ingredients. It features indoor & outdoor seating, a small retail shop, and hosts daily & weekly Flavors of Maine tasting events! Check out the Flavors of Maine tasting events here!
• The Learning Center: this is a state of the art learning facility that is equipped with a demonstration kitchen and a classroom. This is where the real fun happens and where I fell in love with this place. (Side note: I brought my work group here for a Needham making demonstration and tasting one afternoon, and we had so much fun learning about one of Maine’s iconic candies and getting the hands-on experience so we could make our own at home later on.) They offer everything here: hands on cooking classes, tastings, demos, lectures, all focussed on Maine ingredients. Think everything from pairing cheese and mead (yes, mead is making a comeback) to rolling out dumplings and creating fillings with a Maine twist! They also offer group classes, both at their facility and will travel up to an hour to you. Check out their upcoming classes & workshops here!

• The Discovery Center: newly renovated and still a work in progress, the Discovery Center is an 1,800 sq. ft. exhibit hall that will feature permanent interactive exhibits that will highlight Maine state food and drink associations and the producers they represent. Take a stroll through and learn about Maine’s iconic food and drink industries & explore other resources to help you make the most of your time in Maine!

• Local Maine Producers: the Center highlights Maine makers big and small, so one visit may introduce you to a local creamery, your new favorite cider, or even the next seaweed snack producer! It’s basically a networking event, but for your taste buds!

Why it’s worth the trip

Sure, you could drive around the state collecting your own sampler platter of Maine, but gas is expensive and lobster roll lines test the patience of even the kindest soul. The Maine Tasting Center does the curating for you!

It’s perfect for:

• A foodie field trip with friends
• Date night that’s not just “Netflix and another frozen pizza”
• Learning a new skill
• Out of towners who need to understand that Maine is more than just Stephen King, lobster, and Bean Boots

What’s next for me here

I actually have 3 things lined up already for the rest of this season with the Maine Tasting Center. I’ll be back this coming weekend to take their Chinese Mooncake class (yes, mooncakes…in Maine!). An instructor is going to walk us through doughs, fillings, and how to use those gorgeous pressed molds, all while using Maine ingredients. I’ll be sure to post a full recap of the class with lots of photos and a breakdown of what’s like to spend 3.5 hours learning (and eating) these intricate pastries.

Then at the end of the month, I’m taking my senior citizen group to the 3rd Annual Needham Festival, which is hosted at the Maine Tasting Center. It’s an event that celebrates the rich heritage of Maine’s iconic potato candy on the official Maine Needham Day! There will be demonstrations, candy vendors from all over the state, craft & food vendors, live music and more! Look out for a few blogs about this, one about Needhams, including a recipe or two, and one about my experience at the festival!

Then, in October, the Center is coming down to us, and hosting an interactive Cheese Tasting & Mocktail Mixology workshop. We will learn how to pair Maine-made artisan cheese with fun & flavoral non-alcoholic mixed drinks, made using Maine ingredients! It’s the perfect blend of education and indulgence, just in time for the holiday hosting season. Again, look out for a blog post about that experience! I don’t really drink, so I’m excited to learn about mixing mocktails.

So stay tuned, there’s so much more to come!

Final Thoughts

If you’re the kind of person who thinks “educational outing” means a dry museum, the Maine Tasting Center is here to prove you very, very wrong. This is learning with snacks (the best kind of learning, in my professional and very hangry opinion). You get to taste your way through the state, chat with people who are just as passionate and obsessed with food as you are.

What I love most is that it’s not just a one and done visit. The rotating classes and events mean every trip can feel totally different; one week you’re sipping blueberry wine and snacking on chevre, and the next you’re elbow deep in mashed potatoes and coconut, making your own Needham. It’s basically Maine’s version of Hogwarts, but your wand is a whisk and the only spell you need is “Accio cheese board!”

Bottom line: If you’re a local, it’s worth getting out of your same old routine and making a foodie field trip of it. And if you’re visiting? Add it to your list between lobster rolls and lighthouse; you’ll thank me later.