New England boys know a thing or two about road trips, and apparently they were singing about them in the 1800s as they dashed over the river and through the woods filled with holiday cheer. That familiar tune has been working its way into my consciousness with the first signs of frost, particularly now that I am a grandmother myself. Every year at about this time, we start planning a winter wander through the towns of Midcoast Maine to gather the makings of our family’s holiday meal. 

Breaking with tradition, we will not wait this year until everyone is seated at the table before realizing we have food but nothing to serve it on. First stop on our wander is St. Andrews Thrift Shop, where our finds include a sweet ironstone platter and a set of French salad plates. These will pair beautifully with a centerpiece handmade by members of the Boothbay Region Garden Club. 

It’s a beautiful crisp day. We make a quick stop at Pinkham’s Gourmet Market for scallops. Buttery and sweet, these will be a perfect appetizer to balance our main course. Heading out of town and caught up in our enthusiasm, we briefly contemplate joining the community turkey shoot. What could go wrong? Better heads prevail and we head to Beth’s Farm Market in Warren for our holiday bird, also picking up apples for pie-making and a gorgeous stalk of Brussels sprouts to be roasted and served as a side. Along the way we stop to say hello to Jasper Ludwig at The Alna Store. In the store’s curated market, a loaf of freshly made sourdough bread speaks to us. 

As we wind our way towards the village of Whitefield, do we crack the car windows while cranking up the heat to replicate the sleigh ride vibe? Maybe. After several unplanned stops for cider and eggs at roadside farms, we fortify ourselves with pumpkin donuts at Chase Farm Bakery. (I buy a few bags of Mary Alioto’s Dansville granola, a favorite no longer sold at the Boothbay Farmers Market.) 

We then get seriously behind schedule at the Sheepscot General Store, where every delicacy has a story. So many beautiful things made by people living locally. Apparently I’m not alone in “nerding out” on flour, pickles, cookies, plants and the people who cultivate them — it’s a community pastime and the Sheepscot General Store is the heart of the community. We ditch our shopping list, leaving with an eclectic hoard — two jars of Sparrows cranberry sauce, some small batch apple cider vinegar from Eden Acres Family Farm, and a half gallon of ale from the Sheepscot Valley Brewing Company. (Is this considered a single serving?). We can’t pass up the beautiful Swiss chard, bright radishes, and tiny Hakurei turnips. 

Finally, we stop at Morse’s Sauerkraut Market in Waldoboro for fine cheese, German biscuits, and European chocolates. (We love the idea of a roadside market, far off the beaten path, whose raison d’etre is sauerkraut.) 

At some point on the way home, we turn off the GPS because, you know, the horse knows the way. Inevitably, we get lost, which is essential to the most wonderful wanders. Maybe you will get lost too — finding your way home down back roads and, if you are lucky, stumbling across a handwritten sign reading “Butter” posted at the crest of a small hill. There, you will find an Amish farmer selling but one perfect provision for your holiday table — a most beautiful block of butter, decadent in its simplicity. 

Radish Sandwiches with Butter and Salt 

Slice a baguette lengthwise. Butter generously. Sprinkle with salt. Layer with sliced radishes, with any greens or herbs you have on hand.