The Maine Clambake: Reimagined

The Maine Clambake: Reimagined

The clambake is a honored New England tradition. Rhode Island claims proudly that it is the original home of the traditional New England clambake, full of lobsters, clams, fish, native sausage, corn, and of course a bowl of clam chowder – and believe us… no one leaves hungry after that feast! While Rhode Island might have dibs on the rightful home of the Downeast Feast, the Maine lobster is on another level!  

Clambakes have been enjoyed by thousands, all year long. However, there is something about a summer cookout with mouth-watering lobster and a cold beer. Our perfect day would be a morning hike, afternoon soak, and a lobster dinner with friends.  

If you think about the classic Clambake, you might be thinking red and white checkered linens, lobster bibs, chowder, and a seaside spot. While we work to find a “new normal” in events, we wanted to reimagine how this classic festivity would look in the wake of COVID19 restrictions.  

If you have not experienced the Maine Clambake yet, come on up and we will roll up our sleeves with you and get to work. 

Setting the Scene  

We have opted out those tired red and white checks for something a little more modern. Introducing our Black and White Clambake vision. This look has a touch a elegance, while remaining casual and comfortable. We have incorporated copper chargers, bistro napkins, and specialty smoked glassware to the tablescapes. Instead of highboys and cocktail tables, how about lounge seating? Guests can mingle with each other from a safe distance.  

June 18, 2020

Kathy Landry

Destination Management and Events

The Maine Clambake: Reimagined

The clambake is a honored New England tradition. Rhode Island claims proudly that it is the original home of the traditional New England clambake, full of lobsters, clams, fish, native sausage, corn, and of course a bowl of clam chowder – and believe us… no one leaves hungry after that feast! While Rhode Island might have dibs on the rightful home of the Downeast Feast, the Maine lobster is on another level!  

Clambakes have been enjoyed by thousands, all year long. However, there is something about a summer cookout with mouth-watering lobster and a cold beer. Our perfect day would be a morning hike, afternoon soak, and a lobster dinner with friends.  

If you think about the classic Clambake, you might be thinking red and white checkered linens, lobster bibs, chowder, and a seaside spot. While we work to find a “new normal” in events, we wanted to reimagine how this classic festivity would look in the wake of COVID19 restrictions.  

If you have not experienced the Maine Clambake yet, come on up and we will roll up our sleeves with you and get to work. 

Setting the Scene  

We have opted out those tired red and white checks for something a little more modern. Introducing our Black and White Clambake vision. This look has a touch a elegance, while remaining casual and comfortable. We have incorporated copper chargers, bistro napkins, and specialty smoked glassware to the tablescapes. Instead of highboys and cocktail tables, how about lounge seating? Guests can mingle with each other from a safe distance.  

Your venue space may be a bit larger and cavernous due to the social distancing and gathering size guidelines. We don’t want guests to feel lost in the space, so why not add some open-sided cabanas to the space. This will create a beachfront vibe, and along with low strung bistro lights and hanging lanterns, it will be a more intimate dining experience.  

The Menu  

We may have changed the look of the event, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find our own way of celebrating this traditional menu. Traditionally guests would be served family-style, however with the help of our expert staff members, we will be providing each guest with their own plated feast! Craving something delectable… this is the menu for you.

We are all managing changes to our lives, events, gatherings, and plans for the rest of the year, but we want to help your team celebrate and enjoy friends and food in Maine. 

Buses, Bikes, and Buggies | Navigating Your Way Around Portland Maine

Buses, Bikes, and Buggies | Navigating Your Way Around Portland Maine

Shortly, the constraints of the COVID19 virus will be lifted. Life will return to a new normal with meetings, tours and events with transportation included.  At Portfire, we recognize the importance of the health and safety issues involved when it comes to transportation.  We are taking extra precautions with our vehicles, staff, and safety precautions. Our trained staff will be onsite to coordinate and to ensure all precautionary procedures required will be adhered to.  We know your guests aren’t coming to Maine to see the inside of a motor coach, so our new policies will be as non intrusive as possible. That way your guests can actually enjoy Maine!

Portland has the perfect blend of past and present and is a cauldron of varied attractions.  There’s something for everyone!  Museums, quaint shops, mansions, microbreweries, waterfront scenery, galleries, historic homes and a variety of diverse restaurants catering to every taste.  But how is you’re your group going to get there from the hotel?

The Old Port is dotted with quaint streets, cobblestone alleys, and one ways. The best way to see this area is by foot, the oldest form of transportation! One of our friendly, expert guides will escort your group down these enchanting streets. As they amble through town and down to the waterfront guests will learn of its historic past, its present and its future plans to keep Portlandas one of our nation’s top and fastest growing destinations for tourism, meetings and events!

If walking is out of the questions, we have plenty of other modes of transportation for your group. We offer both traditional and nontraditional modes of transportation. Whether that be on luxury coaches, bicycles, trolleys,to horse drawn carriage, we have something to please everyone.  Larger groups can sit back and relax in a luxury motor coach as one of our local knowledgeable guides informs them of local facts, legends and folklore.  Perhaps a step into the past via a ride in an open-window trolley enjoying the warmth of the sun, the inviting sounds of the city and distinct fragrances of the coast.

Maybe a more intimate mode of transit is to their liking?  Available for a very limited number of people at a time is a horse drawn carriage tour, rewarding guests with the sounds bird chirping while the horses’ hooves clip & clop along!  Another slower paced option with the obvious health benefits of bicycle tour is an obvious choice.  Your guests will enjoy access to smaller, less visited locations often overlooked from within a larger vehicle.

And what of transportation by sea you ask?  Perhaps a group trip with an island excursion is in order.  Portfire Events will charter a vessel suitable to the size of your group to one of the many islands for a one of a kind event.

There are many options available to get around Portland.  Let Portfire Events get your guests where they need to be in memorable fashion.