Photo courtesy of Robin Robinson

The 61st annual Lobster Festival officially opens today in Rockland. Admission is free all day today — look for carnival rides, face painting, the coronation of the Sea Goddess, tours of the U.S. Coast Guard station, and live music. Plus lots of lobster to eat. (Click here for the complete schedule.)

But the event you don’t want to miss takes

This quote was overheard at Just Barb’s in Stockton Springs, home of the self-proclaimed “best fried clams in New England.”

Three older people, one woman and two men, entered the restaurant, which was packed with locals and tourists alike. A few moments later, they reemerged, evidently not willing to wait until a table was available. That’s when one of the men said, “We’ll go shoot a duck and have a roast.”

Paolina’s Way (10 Bayview Landing, 207-230-0555, in the alleyway on your right as you drive down to the Camden public landing) has just opened its doors, bringing crisp crusts, delicious cheese, locally-grown San Marzano tomatoes, and all kinds of specialty meat and fresh vegetables to Camden. These pies, which are Italian-style thanks to chef Stefano Valenti from Sienna, Italy (and also a relative of owner Christina Sidoti), are worth

Summer is in full swing, and it appears as though our thoughts have turned to appropriately summery topics: Cookies, cocktails, cars, and cooling off in the ocean. Oh yeah, and lobster.

• The chocolate chip cookie seems to be all the rage this summer, according to the NYTimes. The best one I’ve had in Maine (so far, I’d welcome other candidates) can be found at Cappy’s

The Fourth of July means one thing to me: clambake. Ever since I was born, my family has been doing clambakes every Fourth on Cousins Island in Yarmouth. (It’s rumored that Bobby Flay came to this very island on his show Food Nation to attend a clambake. See his recipe here. I have three words: Throwdown, Bobby, and my Dad!) It’s not just about the smoky, seawater-infused taste