I’m Jake Newman. The Portland Logbook is my love letter to this city: the food worth hunting down, the history that refuses to die, the corners you only find if you’re paying attention.

The Fish That Got Me

It's halibut season, which means you're about to start seeing it show up on menus all over Portland.

And every year it reminds me of being a kid.

I grew up thinking I didn't like fish. Or at least I thought I didn't like salmon, which in my head was basically the same thing. Then one day, my uncle convinced me to try halibut.

I remember being skeptical. He kept telling me, "If you like fish sticks, you'll like halibut."

Turns out he was right.

That was probably the fish that made me fall in love with seafood.

One of the things I didn't realize until I moved to Maine is that seafood has seasons just like strawberries or tomatoes do. That's part of why you'll suddenly start seeing halibut popping up on menus around town right about now. Every spring it seems to show up all at once. Restaurant specials, fish markets, chalkboards outside places you've walked past a hundred times.

Halibut is one of those fish that don't need much to be delicious. It's mild, flaky, and somehow manages to feel rich without being heavy. To this day, it's still one of my favorites, and a big part of that is my love of fish and chips. If halibut is on the menu, there's a good chance I'll order it.

The crazy thing is that the fish itself is enormous.

The piece of fish on your plate comes from an animal that can weigh hundreds of pounds. Some Atlantic halibut get so big they look more like something you'd hear about in a fishing story than something you'd order for dinner.

They're weird, too.

Halibut start life swimming around like a normal fish. Then, as they grow, one eye slowly migrates to the other side of their head, and they spend the rest of their lives lying flat on the ocean floor.

Lobster gets most of the attention around here, but halibut season is one of those things I look forward to every year. Not because it's trendy or because chefs tell me to. Mostly because every time I see it on a menu, I think about that conversation with my uncle.

Turns out he knew exactly what he was talking about.

Go Find Some Halibut

Greetings from England 🇬🇧

I'm over here this week for the wedding of two of my best friends. I've known the groom since we were kids growing up next door to each other, and I met the bride in high school. Somehow they found each other without my help, and now I have an excuse to spend a week wandering around England.

Since this is technically a Portland newsletter and not an England newsletter, I don't have much local reporting for you other than this:

The English absolutely nailed breakfast.

I know baked beans before 9 a.m. sounds wrong. Trust me, I thought so too the first time.

But after a few mornings over here, I'm convinced. Eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast, baked beans, and enough food to make lunch completely unnecessary.

One of my favorite parts of traveling is seeing what people consider normal. The things locals don't think twice about because they've grown up with them. Here, that's a full English breakfast.

As much as I love eating local food back home in Maine, there's something pretty great about getting to experience the traditions of another place too.

Also, if anyone knows where I can get a proper full English in Portland when I get home, let me know.

See you back in Portland next week!

-Jake

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Portside Real Estate Group

Thinking of Moving?

🏡 Hi its me Jake! I write The Portland Logbook, but I also help people buy and sell homes in and around Portland.

If a move is on your mind, I’m always happy to help you think it through.

Lets get a coffee!

THIS WEEKS CONDITIONS
☀️ SUNRISE: 5:00 AM
🌅 SUNSET: 8:22 PM
✨ Local Opening’s: Reef’s Ice Cream Truck
✨ Local Artist of the Week: Ed Asher Briant
❤️ Local Job Listings: Montes Fine Foods

🐾 Adoptable Buddies of the Week! 🐾

🐶 Louise – 5 yrs
A sweet, gentle dog who takes a minute to warm up but quickly shows her affectionate side. Looking for a patient home that will let her settle in at her own pace.

🐶 Otis – 7 months
A young pup with soulful eyes and an endless supply of love. Friendly, playful, and always ready to show off his toy collection. The kind of dog that's easy to spoil.

🐱 Riley – 11 yrs
A charming old gentleman who can be a little grumbly at first. Give him some time and you'll find a sweet, affectionate cat underneath. Best in a quieter home without young kids.

If the link doesn’t open anymore, it means they’ve already been adopted!