I am someone who not just likes yogurt; I love it. But when it comes to Stonyfield Farm, it’s more honest to describe my feelings as LOVE (all caps). It’s been a passionate affair, me and SF. In the beginning it was honeymoon hot. We’d rendezvous daily – on average, 12 oz. – sometimes more. Over the ensuing months, I started noticing others.. but still. SF remained first in my heart. Back in 2008, when I won a Stonyfield Recipe of the Month contest, I thought I’d reached the pinnacle of yogurt pleasure. Until, that is, we moved to Maine and I was finally afforded an in-person visit to the very birthplace of my beloved, Stonyfield Farm’s Yogurt Works. Perhaps that face-to-face meeting was the turning point. I always knew how much I loved him, but I never dreamt he felt the same way about ME. Now. I know it’s true.
Weeks ago I was in the throes of Dress Quest 2010. I’d driven north to check out a chi-chi shoppe, when suddenly I saw concrete (or maybe aluminum siding) proof that SF LOVES ME JUST AS MUCH AS I LOVE HIM!
WHOOMP!! THERE IT IS!!!!!!
Tucked into an upscale strip mall just north of Portland in the town of Falmouth, Maine, is MY BOYFRIEND the restaurant to top all others. The one, the only, Stonyfield Café. When first I spied his distinctive blue & yellow sign, I simply couldn’t believe my eyes. You know when you reaaaaaaalllly reeeeeallllly like someone, and you search for them wherever you go, just hoping to catch a glimpse? Well, this first meeting felt exactly like that. But BETTER. I was (as I said) embroiled in Dress Quest 2010, just a few frocks short of institutionalization. My sanity was hanging on a dime. I blinked once, I blinked twice. But three blinks later, SF was still there. (That guy above w/ the chairs wasn’t there yet. Or he might have noticed my SHEER UNBRIDLED DISBELIEF.) I floored it into the ample parking lot, hustled my kids from the car and literally HOOFED IT into the restaurant. (For fear it would disappear before I got in.)
Once inside, I gazed in wonder at the beauty of his form..
Despite my daughters’ cool exteriors, I was a jangle of nervous palpitations. OOOoHhhHhhHHHHH!!! Good thing SF already loves me more than any other girl on the face of the planet (don’t be jealous) AND knows how to be forceful when necessary! We dutifully took our place in the queue.
Here we are, self-seated and ready to tuck in. The girls got Mac & Cheese kids meals w/ homemade flatbread – baked right there in SF’s MIGHTY BRICK OVEN.
Just looking at it made me HOT ALL OVER!
Phew! So warm in here.. I opted for something lighter to help cool me down. A Balsamic Cran Salad – no “extra protein” necessary. With a Chocolate Underground yogurt, for afters, of course.
The first bite. And the verdict is……???
MMmmMmmmmm! SF is GOOOOOOD. So good in fact that we inhaled our lunch in mere minutes. (Pardon me.)
I didn’t want to embarrass anybody by licking my plate like an animal, but I would have, if only SF and I had been ALONE. (grrooowwwwlll)
NEXT. Time to freshen up! OOOooh SF, I’ll ALWAYS be your GAL!
Afterward I noticed how wonderful SF is – providing ample seating for a larger family, as well as free comfy space for community groups to gather. That is just so thoughtful! (Stud.)
And then. it truly was goodbye. SF begged me to share a glass (or three) of organic wine with him, or splurge on some frozen yogurt for the kids. But it was still early, and the girls were full. So with that we parted ways. But not for long. Be seeing you soon, SF! Try not to miss me too much. xo
