Shopping for clothes at Jill McGowan, Inc and Lunch at Duckfat
Continuing on with our road trip, we soon approached the historic and vibrant coastal city of Portland, Maine. Portland is the state's largest city and it offers unspoiled landscapes of this amazing Casco Bay region. There is so much to do and see here. One of our stops was to Jill McGowan, Inc. Jill is a clothing designer who believes in creating beautiful clothing that is comfortable, fashionable, and of good quality that will never go out of style.
After trying on these lovely garments, no one, except for petit Jill Dienst, felt much like eating. However, we wanted to check out Duckfat, a little European style fry and sandwich place owned by Chef Rob Evans and his partner, Nancy Pugh, the owners of another fabulous Portland eatery right across the street, Hugo's. Chef Rob Evans actually won the James Beard award this year for the Best Chef of the Northeast for his excellence at Hugo's.
Hi Martha,
Did you buy any clothes?
What did you have to eat?
I would have thought there would have been a packing list for such an adventure - a checklist would be a great addition to the website.
Hope you had fun on your holiday.
Pru
Posted by: Pru | July 24th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Amazing road trip--I am tempted by the fare at Duck Fat. And...what gorgeous fabrics! The wool-lovely! Reminds me of my recent trip to the hat-making capital of France!
Best regards!
Posted by: Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm | July 24th, 2009 at 8:04 am
I really like the linen smock Hannah is wearing. It looks very comfortable.
Martha, some time in your up coming blogs can you give us an update on the Spalding Fly predators that Betsy used on the farm? Every time I pass by a horse stable(we have many near our home)I think of Betsy and those flies.
Posted by: Julie | July 24th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Martha,
Are you still road-tripping?
Well, I suppose today's stop is better than shopping for clothes at 'Duck Fats', and lunch at 'Jill McGowan Inc,'! Ha!
Just kidding! I'm sure that both places are wonderful. But how many items at Jill McGowan's did you just snap a photo of and leave on the rack? Hee hee!
I hate to shop! It's the truth!, You?
Posted by: tinay | July 24th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Martha this was the very best blog. Talking about trying on clothes but being in a hurry to eat at a place called Duckfat which has the best fries and shakes. And not having a map.. A true classic. Thanks, you are great at this.
Posted by: Margie | July 24th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Duckfat is my favorite restaurant in the country. Every time we go to Maine we have to stop there as often as we can.
Posted by: Angel | July 24th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Martha...heads up!..GPS...I have a TomTom and used it for our Maine trip and it saved so much time and wasted driving..Thanks for tips on Duckfat..have not gone there yet.
Diane Roumeliotis
Posted by: Diane Roumeliotis | July 24th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I love Jill McGowan's designs! They are expertly crafted of unique yet timeless fabrics. I never tire of them! So glad that you have discovered one of the gems of Portland.
Posted by: Kristen | July 24th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Well, it's been a fun week, tagging along on your adventures in Maine, Martha. It's nice to meet some of your old friends as well as new acquaintances. Looks, too, like the weather was kind to you as well. Good friends, good food, blue/white-fluffy-cloud skies, and Frannie-n-Sharkey helping to navigate (or back-seat-drive [giggle]...life is good, isn't it?!
Maine just fascinates me - New England, in general, genuinely fascinates me - old colonial settlements so rich in history. Being a Marylander, I guess New Englanders consider us as being southern folks (and we ARE the northern-most southern state along the east coast), but I don't consider myself at all as being a southern girl (geographically)...now, Virginia just below us, the Carolinas, or Georgia - yes!
Your photos and blog, as well as the girls' 'bwog' (that's what little Edgar =^..^= calls it) are evidence that you had a fun time, and I'm glad, as you deserve it!
Edgar usually uses TheDailyWag, Martha, as the proper place, now, as his forum, but he did want to wish you a happy and mrrrowy FelineFriday!
=^..^=
"I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs."--Joseph Addison
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | July 24th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Hi Martha,
The ‘Specials of the Day’ advertised outside of Duckfat looked pretty darn good. I think I could manage any one of those meals with no problem and the fries looked very tempting.
I'm not much for shopping though except for garden or office tools but it looked like a fun adventure for you and the 'gals' to stop at Jill McGowan, Inc. I hope you all bought something that you liked but if not, no doubt it was an experience just to see the action in the back room. I’d like to watch a garment maker cut out a pattern or even make a pattern if an item is special ordered. You’ve shown us many seamstresses in your previous show over the years which I found quite amazing; especially the way they handle those fast sewing machines. Zip and the seams are finished!
Thanks for sharing your road trip with us. Maine continues to be on my list of places to one day visit. Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 24th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Wish I could go to Jill McGowan's store! I should really take the family to Maine at some point. I bought this beautiful Jill McGowan Divine Shirt on the cheap off of Shop.com and I love it (http://www.shop.com/Jill_McGowan_Divine_Shirt_Broadcloth%2C_Long_Sleeve_(For_Women-45555180-p!.shtml).
I can only imagine what I would do in a store filled with her stuff!
Posted by: KatLuvsShoes | July 24th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Hmmm Martha!! That looks wonderful. I love that you take pics of everything so that we can experience your trips too. Those fries did look good!!!! Have fun. Love, Theresa
Posted by: Theresa G. | July 24th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Hi again, Martha and pit crew,
Had a chance to view all of the photos; especially your visit to Jill Mcgowan's, and WOW! Jill and her sister Jolene have design written all over them! And that was my thought before seeing any of their creations; just their crafty red hair and freckles...stichin' witches!
I totally agree with Jill about the can't-have too-many white shirts! I love a white shirt! Maybe one day I'll have one of hers.
And furthermore! I didn't want to leave the McGowan's so I brown-bagged it and ate lunch there, too! Ha!
Now, let's see what all the fuzz is about Duck Fat's...I love chalk boards, so personal. Also have to give credit for any business willing to stay open 7 days a week. I'll have the grilled peach salad and look out the window at Hugo's place and toast Rob Evans for winning the James Beard award!
Must visit Hugo's though...someday...when I find myself in Maine!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Posted by: tinay | July 25th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Hi Martha, Two more fabulous places we got to see while you were on this great road trip. How many miles did you travel(one way)? It must have been a blast to take your time and visit so many wonderful places. These last two were terrific. The photos inside the clothing manufacturing place remind me of when I was 19 and worked during the summer at Pacific Trail, a shop that made all kinds of jackets right near downtown Seattle. I lived in Ellensburg and my aunt worked at Pacific Trail sewing zippers in most of the jackets. I got to work in the cuttingroom. It was one way to make money to go to college in Ellensburg. Thanks for bringing back memories. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 25th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Martha,
I am glad to hear that you are having a good time in Portland. I lived there 20 years and miss it. You must eat at David's on Monument Square. Say hi to David for me if you do.
Posted by: marc Quirion | July 26th, 2009 at 12:03 am
When I come here I always look for the comments signed by =^..^= . They are always here and they are always the greatest. Do they pay you to post? If not, they should. You are an outstanding commentator/writer. Thank you Martha and thank you =^..^= for always brightening my day!
Posted by: Lin Valentine | July 26th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
(This little blurb will be written with Lin Valentine in mind.)
Thank you, Lin, for your kindest words! No, noone pays me to write here on Martha's blog - gee whiz, they'd prob'ly like to pay me to NOT write something from time to time! [giggle] I always reiterate to Laura and Eliad a 'thank you for putting up with me' occasionally.
The cat logo =^..^= has become my trademark, due to my love for cats, especially my aging Edgar who will be 18 in August, and his younger and spunkier calico sister (sisfur) Mandy, who is a young 10. Despite the work they create for their mama, they're the little loves of my life!
I am sure that if you spoke to me in person, you'd see the similarities in my spoken words, as I write e-x-a-c-t-l-y how I talk! I think that's how folks relate to me (and put up with my 'short stories'). [giggle]
Thanks again for your kindness AND support to keep on keeping on!
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | July 27th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Duckfat is one of my favourite places in Maine but one should NEVER pass up the fries...share them instead.
Posted by: Shellie Andrews | July 27th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Duckfat is a required stop every time I hit Portland. The fries are incredible. You should also check out the Standard Baking Company on Commercial St. They supply the bread for the panini at Duckfat , and have the most amazing breads and pastries.
Posted by: Lisa Alexander | July 27th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I love your show! I love to cook , and you are very inspirational to me.I would love to hear from you, and maybe some day be able to meet you, or go to one of your shows.
Posted by: Esmeralda Brubaker | July 27th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Martha,
I'm not one to ever blog, twitter, etc., but I do like to follow my favorite people..anyway, my cynical husband says that you are not the one who is writing this blog..that you PAY someone to do it. I say that all the entries "sound" like you are the one writing-and "you wouldn't do that." Please prove him wrong!
Thanks,
Jill Fulton
PS My best friend is an old producer of yours..Jennifer Tracy..she tells such wonderful stories of her experiences with yu.
Posted by: jill | July 27th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I love Duckfat and am so happy to see it on your blog! It's one of my favorite places in Portland (along with Cinque Terre for Italian).
Thanks for sharing your journey though Maine!
Posted by: Betsy | July 29th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Hi Martha,
My husband, daughter and I are planning to go to Portland and Freeport, Maine on Labour Day week-end. It is about a six hour drive from our home in New Brunswick, Canada. I was curious what you chose to eat at Duckfat. I woudn't mind checking out either that restaurant or Hugo's when we go down.
Posted by: Rhonda Kennedy | July 29th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Rhonda in NB, do not pass up the fries at Duckfat. I haven't had anything bad there but my least favourite paninni was the Thai Chicken. Also, make sure you check out the Standard Baking Company on Commercial St, it's set back off the street, next to the Hilton(I think). Fore St is also a great restaurant for dinner, it's directly above Standard Baking Co.
Posted by: Shellie Andrews | July 30th, 2009 at 11:45 am