Greetings from the Harraseeket Inn!  With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it's time to give thanks once again for your patronage over the years.  We're blessed to have such wonderful guests here at the Harraseeket Inn.  It's you, together with our loyal and exemplary staff, that make this such a special place. Stepping through the doors is like coming home to family and friends. Thank you all. 
Two very special members of the Harraseeket "family" seen frequently here at the inn.  Bartender Rhonda beat cancer this year, and our much beloved Mrs. Christy is still beautiful and going strong at 85 years of age!

Hear ye, Hear ye!
Exciting news!  Coming up on Saturday, December 1  is the long anticipated launch of the  Harraseeket Inn's Farm to Table Dinner Series  in our Maine Harvest Dining Room.  We'll be posting a schedule of upcoming events in this series both here in the newsletter, on our Facebook page and on our website. Each of these dinners will have different themes and menus, and host knowledgeable speakers from from the Maine Farmland Trust, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners, local microbreweries and vineyards and other experts in their field. Our premiere event will be be a wine tasting dinner, and is being presented by Michael Jenkins.  

His bio, in his own words; "An erstwhile beer brewer turned wine professional with fifteen years of experience in the wine industry. Most recently, I was New England Regional Manager for Frederick Widman & Sons, a portfolio specializing in family-owned French and Italian estates.  I'm currently District Manager (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont) with Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits, a supplier that's focused on high-value brands that over-deliver at their respective price-points. I hold my Advanced Certificate in Wine & Spirits from the WSET, and have passed the Court of Masters Introductory Sommelier Course."  
The Menu

- 1st Course
Wild Field Medley Salad- Cara Cara Orange Marmalade Toast, Whipped Ricotta
Josh Sauvignon Blanc OR Josh Rose

2nd Course
Halibut Scallops with Laughing Bird  Shrimp Curry Sauce, Charred Lemon
J Carr Carneros Chardonnay

3rd Course
Boneless Duck Confit- Red Cabbage- Apples
Josh Central Coast Pinot Noir

4th Course
Pineland Beef- Mustard Seeds. Onions- leek Tagliatelle, potato donuts. 
J Carr Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

5th
Chocolate Soufflés 
Josh North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

65.00 pp plus tax and tip
Seating is limited to ensure that everyone enjoys the presentation in an intimate setting. For Reservations and more information call 1-800-342-6423
Great food and wines, great company all served up in a great setting.  What could be better than that? Bridge the gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas and treat yourself to a fun night out.  'Tis the season!

Speaking of bridges, there's this little bridge near Boothbay, not far from Freeport, that deserves mention before being demolished.  The  Barters Island Bridge is over 86 years old and one of only two pony truss hand-operated swing bridges remaining in Maine (and the U.S.).  It spans the Back River and connects Trevett to Barters Island. Fishing boats pass under the bridge to gain access to the Sheepscot River without having to go all the way around the island, hence the need for a swing span that opens to allow passage.  To think that one person can, by human effort alone, make a big heavy bridge swing open for each boat and then close it again up to eleven times a day (and enjoy doing it) is a marvel in our push-button computerized world of today. That this one person  is a  woman  is downright astonishing. Check out this short CBS video  to see this bridge (and this remarkable woman) in action, and if you want to witness it yourself, better hurry.  The powers that be have determined that the historic bridge is outdated and must be replaced in order to keep pace with the modern world.   What a loss this will be!

There are lots of fun things happening this time of year in Freeport.  LLBean's Northern Lights Celebration is ongoing until December 31, see the link below. Coming up soon on the first weekend in December is Freeport's legendary and fun-filled  Sparkle Weekend. Craft fairs and fun weekends abound. What better way to celebrate the season than to spend the day whittling down your shopping list and then sharing your "treasure hunting stories" with friends over afternoon tea or supper in our Broad Arrow Tavern?  Check out our Girlfriend's Getaway package on our website, it's one of our most popular! Our Broad Arrow Tavern serves from 11:30 am until 10 pm daily off the menu, as well as offering our very popular luncheon buffet daily, 11:30 until 2,  except for Sunday.  Sunday is our award-winning Lobster Sunday Brunch served in the Maine Harvest Dining Room, featuring all you can eat fresh Maine Potts Harbor lobster and many other mouth watering creations from our talented chefs.  Yum!  Brunch reservations are recommended well in advance as we sell out very quickly. (1-800-342-6423)
 
  This holiday season we're continuing a special tradition at the Harraseeket Inn. We'll be putting up a Christmas tree that will be decorated with ornaments brought by YOU.  If you want to be a part of this special tradition, the next time you visit for a meal or for an overnight stay, bring along an ornament we can display on what has become YOUR Christmas tree. It would be extra special if it had your name and the year you first visited us on it.  We started out with a tiny tree on top of the piano but in a few short years this very special tree has become the biggest one of all, located in our Drawing Room. 
   Harraseeket Community Tree
Special Offers and Upcoming Events:
*Thanksgiving Day Grand Buffet at the Harraseeket Inn.Our chefs have outdone themselves yet again.  We're on a wait list now for reservations but there's always next year, and the way time flies by, planning ahead is a good idea.  Wishing all of you a day filled with the warmth of friendship and the love of family.
*LL Beans Northern Lights Celebration from now until December 31st.  If you have kids, or there's the least little bit of kid hiding in your heart, you'll want to check out their schedule of events and get in the spirit of things!
* Visit Freeport  Sales and fun happenings in town! Everything "Freeport" in one handy website, 
*Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment  A wonderful farm to visit just a few miles from the inn, right on Casco Bay and next to Wolfe's Neck State Park.  They have holiday activities scheduled, including the Night Tree Event for kids, that are just outstanding.

There's a great selection of family oriented and educational outdoor events planned at the park, and it's just a short drive from the inn.  Beautiful wooded walking, snowshoeing and skiing trails along the rugged shoreline of Casco Bay. 

* Please note that our Maine Harvest Restaurant is not currently taking reservations for dinner service during the week. We're pleased to announce our new and exciting Harraseeket Inn's Farm to Table Dinner Series.  These events will be scheduled on Saturday nights, beginning December 1. Check out the schedule on our web site. Our full buffet breakfast is served as usual in the Maine Harvest and is open to the public from 7 to 10:30. This breakfast and our afternoon tea are complimentary to guests who book directly with us, either over the phone or on our website. Our award winning Sunday Brunch will also continue to be served in our Maine Harvest Dining Room, reservations recommended at 1-800-342-6423. The Broad Arrow Tavern is open for lunch and dinner as usual, first come, first serve!
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Last month's trivia (which I thought would be so difficult) proved so easy that most of you identified the old farm implement.  This month's trivia question is a two-parter.   What's the name of the woman who operates the Barters Island swing bridge? Which part of her job does she like the least as bridge tender, so much so that she often engages her husband to do it for her?
All correct answers win a voucher worth $5. toward food or lodging on your next visit.  You may redeem up to 12 at one time, a $60. value, preferably in the year they were won.  One per household, please. Please be patient with my replies, there are hundreds who respond to this trivia. Try to answer within one week or be VERY patient, you might have to wait until the following month to get your reply. Good luck, Happy Thanksgiving and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Penny Gray
The Gray family