May I present Elle Logan, Stanford graduate, Olympic Champion and former Welch House employee. She’s a really nice lady, too. And check it out. . . She even has her face on a Bubblegum Card.

Elle Logan, gold-medal winner
and former Welch House employee

Since day one, we have hired locals (instead of overseas workers) to be part of the Welch House team. Under the watchful eye of Tammy, our lead Housekeeper, and both Susan & I, these high school and college-aged girls worked side-by-side with adults who listened, offered advice and corrections when necessary. For some strange reason it resonated with many of them, and they grew up and moved on and looked for great things to accomplish along the way.

After making beds and cleaning bathrooms and folding laundry and weeding the garden for a summer or two, many Welch House girls have gone on to become really great women. Not that they weren’t good girls to begin with, but I like to think that we helped.

When they come home to Boothbay Harbor, they stop by the Inn and see us when they can. They sometimes bring their husbands and their children, and they talk about their current lives in New York or Boston. And despite the hard work they engaged in here, they speak fondly of their friends they worked with and of Susan & Tammy & I and what it meant to be part of the Welch House family.

Tammy, Leah, Ginger, Mae and, of course, KJ
former Welch House employees

We real like parents all over again, complete with wedding and baby pictures on the fridge, and while our legacy here at the Welch House may be defined by when we replaced the Kitchen or last paved the driveway, I like to think we’ll live forever in Boothbay Harbor, as long as some former Welch House employee drives by with their grown kids and says “I used to be a housekeeper there. God. That was a great summer.”

But we hardy Yankees always manage to find an enjoyable way of passing the dark months. A couple of years ago, local musician Dave Gagne approached McSeagull’s owner Ralph Smith with an idea to help them both. His wildly popular reggae band, the Dani Tribesmen, are known for their sell-out cruises on Sunday nights during the summer. What about offering brunch on Sunday afternoons in the winter, complete with live music? Hence “Reggae Church” was born.

The Boys and Girl
that are Dani Tribesmen

It isn’t church at all, of course, though many locals have incorporated it into their post-church routine on Sundays. There’s a special brunch menu (in addition to the full McSeagull’s lunch and dinner offerings) that features Welch House granola, plus Mimosas and Bloody Marys. But our favorite part is the broad range of people it attracts: from retirees to families with little kids to groups of 20 somethings and everyone in-between.

When Susan’s parents come up from Portland for a visit, they’re often the first ones on the dance floor. You’ll spot them right next to bartender Gigi’s 4 year old daughter Charlie and her pink plastic guitar. This is small-town living at it’s best, and a special treat for visitors in the off-season.

Take a look at the Dani Tribesmen for contact information, some tasty music and more news.

Reggae Church starts this Sunday, February 12th and will continue until Ralph just can’t do it any more.

In Boothbay Harbor, we are lucky enough to live in the middle of a good food galaxy, and Ralph & Elena Smith are going where no Foodie has gone before. At least in Boothbay Harbor.

Their latest dream is Mine Oyster, a Raw Bar and Gathering Place with room for Wedding Parties, Family reunions or any other function that deserves excellent food and a great atmosphere.

Mine Oyster,
the new Raw Bar in Boothbay Harbor

Susan and I were lucky enough to get a tour the other evening when we were chatting with Ralph at MacSeagulls. Located in the same building the housed J. H. Hawks, it sits on Pier One, right next door to MacSeagulls.

The ground floor is going to be the Raw Bar, and it’s open and full of light. The walls have some very clever oyster quotes from historical figures and artists wonderfully lettered and the style reminded me right away of being in a Gasthause. Several bars are clustered around the Raw Bar Chef’s station, so you know you can have a beer with your oysters and chat with the Shucker to boot. That, boys and girls, is very cool.

Upstairs is twice the size of the downstairs, and has a dance floor. When not being used for a wedding, this will be “Night Club” in the true sense of the word. Ralph is talking about utilizing more local bands and having live music there pretty much through the season. Wa-hoo.

The facilities pale in comparison, though, because the menu is what is going to make this place sing. Listen to this . . .

Well, first of all, they have oysters. Oysters Moscow, Oysters Ginger, Oysters Granita, Oysters Rockefeller, Oysters Mexican, Oysters Roman, Oysters Spanish, Oysters Parmesan, Oysters Fire & Ice, Oysters Blue Cheese & Bacon. They have them steamed in wine, along with Little Necks, Mussels, Snow & King Crab and, of course, Lobster.

Lobster Cocktails, just the Tails, just the Claws. I’m a dark meat guy, so just give me the tails, OK? Ralph is also offering Sushi. Nigiri & Sashimi. I am absolutely giggling right now!

Ralph is looking at opening Mine Oyster in time for Fisherman’s Festival, so when you come up, we’ll see you down there.

Local fresh blueberries and other fruit, crabs, lobster, vegetables, herbs, eggs, coffee, cheese, maple syrup, honey, the list goes on and on. All these ingredients find their way to your plate courtesy of innumerable professionals around the state. I want to take a posting or two and talk about some of my favorites.

Wicked Joe is a small (but growing) coffee roaster that has been providing our Welch House Blend for several years.

Bob Garver, of Wicked Joe Fame

See how Bob is tasting the coffees? Well, when we were searching for a blend we decided on our “formula” by tasting, like you would wines. I won’t tell you the secret formula of Welch House coffee, but suffice to say you won’t find our blend at DD. Why go to such lengths for coffee? Well, when you leave our breakfast room, odds are that our coffee will be the last thing on your lips, and as such, it should leave you with a good, lasting memory.

Wicked Joe isn’t the first coffee purveyor we found . . . in fact, we used three or four other small roasters that just didn’t measure up in the end. But Wicked Joe has stood out in just about every way.

Here’s why we’re loyal fans:

• Their coffees are certified Organic and Fair Trade, but are also certified Bird Friendly by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and they belong to the Rainforest Alliance, Cup of Excellence, Direct Trade Relationship and other sustainable coffee organizations.
• The product is consistently excellent.
• The Staff is exceptional; Take Bryden, our Sales Rep., for example. During the Summer he is constantly dealing with frantic Innkeepers (like me) who don’t have enough sense to plan ahead on their orders. He does it, year in and year out with patience and a genuine desire to make sure we’re happy.
• Most important, they’re located down route 1 in Brunswick and I know that each pound of coffee we buy helps keep several of our neighbors employed.

So wait. We get a superior product that is uniquely designed and produced for the Welch House, it is delivered to  our door and most important, guests rave about it. Talk about your “Win-Win”.

L.L. Bean was founded by, well, Leon Leonwood Bean in 1912 and this boot design, “The Maine Hunting Boot” was his first product.

The often imitated, never duplicated Bean Boot.

He was an outdoorsman himself, and was sick and tired having nasty, wet and cold feet when he went hunting.So he got the idea of attaching leather uppers to rubber work boots. Enlisting the aid of a local cobbler for production and mounting an out-of-state mailing campaign, he received orders for 100 pair of boots. After fulfilling the order, 90 pair were returned as defective. He made good on each and every pair, and he vowed to ensure the customer was pleased with the product, no matter what. That exists to this day.

In 1951, he had a friend that was going fishing early in the morning and was in need of important tackle. L.L. took him to the store and opened it up in the middle of the night, and the next morning proclaimed “we have thrown away the keys” and from then on, the flagship store has been open 365/24. The doors don’t even have a provision for locks.

So why am I crowing about L.L. Bean? Well, they are a company that not only talks about their values, but demonstrates these values every day. You see, the equipment for manufacturing Bean Boots is still in Brunswick, Maine. While Converse Shoes (2001), Hathaway Shirts (2002), and Canned Sardines (2010) have all left New England, L.L. Bean takes on what other companies feel is a burden; making many their products in the US. Because of their commitment both to customers and Maine workers, L.L. Bean stands out as a model for micro-economies to come.

Freeport, where the L.L. Bean main store is located, is just 40 miles from the Welch House. There is a hundred or so outlet stores in the vicinity, so the Christmas shopping there should be special. Stay at the Welch House Inn with our “90 years, 90 dollars” special. Click Here to check our specials.

Thanks to L.L. Bean for the image of their Bean Boots.