<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" Maine isn&amp;#039;t called Vacationland for nothing. Tourists have been flocking to this state for nearly as long as the waves have been crashing on the rocky shores. While vacationers may have given some restaurants nationwide acclaim, the locals also know a thing or two about the best \u2014 and often overlooked \u2014 places to get a wholesome seafood meal. After all, it takes a hearty amount of comfort food to get Mainers through those endless winter months. The most obvious payoff comes in a red shell with two claws. Served steamed, broiled, stuffed, or mixed with a touch of mayonnaise and piled high in a top-loading hot dog bun, the lobster is king. You&amp;#039;ll find it on menus up and down the coast in quintessential shacks on rickety wharfs teetering over the sea below. Saying who serves the best is nearly as dangerous as playing in traffic, but here are a few of the top contenders: Waterman&amp;#039;s Beach Lobster, South Thomaston; Five Islands Lobster Co., Georgetown; Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster, South Freeport (especially good after a day of outlet shopping); Clam Shack, Kennebunkport. While cruising the back roads, be on the lookout for signs announcing baked bean suppers. This New England tradition originated with the Pilgrims \u2014 they cooked up extra beans on Saturdays to avoid working on the Sabbath. These days, anyone can have their fill at these communal suppers held in granges, churches, or firehouses. Mainers come out in droves to celebrate the best flavors of their state, from strawberries, potatoes, clams, eggs, and maple syrup to salmon, wild blueberries, apples, and oysters. For a complete listing of festivals check out Maine Festivals and Events. A perennial fall-time favorite is the Common Ground Fair. Look for Charlotte and Wilbur among the prizewinning livestock, chat up some friendly farmers, sample local foods, and learn about sustainable agriculture and other environmental issues. And what would a Maine fair be without the Manure Toss? Maine cuisine isn&amp;#039;t only about eating fried clams at picnic tables by the ocean. Fine dining establishments have received rave reviews for their use of foods sourced from specialty purveyors. Local chefs take pride in their seasonal menus, featuring produce bought from neighboring farmers who harvest the best that Maine has to offer. Among these restaurants are Fore Street, Primo, and Arrows. Unlike many lobster shacks, these restaurants are open year-round. Who wants to huddle by the water trying to eat a lobster with your mittens anyhow? Waterman&amp;#039;s Beach Lobster 343 Waterman&amp;#039;s Beach Rd. South Thomaston 207-596-7819 Five Islands Lobster Co. Five Islands Rd. Georgetown 207-371-2990 Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Town Landing South Freeport  207-865-3535 Clam Shack 2 Western Ave. Kennebunkport  207-967-2560 Fore Street 288 Fore St. Portland 207-775-2717 Primo 2 S. Main St. Rockland 207-596-0770 Arrows 41 Berwick Rd. Ogunquit 207-361-1100 Liz Tarpy&amp;#039;s culinary life has brought her from growing organic sprouts to casting characters for a popular Food Network program. In between, she&amp;#039;s cooked, eaten, read, written and traveled - a lot - using all experiences to inform her work. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.delish.com/restaurants/a786/whats-cooking-maine/>