We are so proud to announce that our long time guest Suzie Jobes (previously featured on our blog) was just named the winner of the Maine Lobster Festival Cooking Contest with her dish “Lobstah Puff.” Suzie (pictured at the far left) and her husband Bob visit us at the Inn several times a year. They are both avid “foodies” and are always experimenting with new recipes, expanding their repertoire. I often receive emails from them with pictures and descriptions of their latest ventures.

Suzie entered the contest after talking to one of our cooking class participants during my “Dim Sum” cooking class this spring and created this recipe especially for the Lobster Festival competition. The day it was announced that she was one of the five finalists she called us at the Inn and was so ecstatic. When Suzie arrived in Camden last week she revealed that she had not slept much in the past few weeks, attributing it to anxiety over the contest. Well, now that it is over and she won, we hope that Suzie has settled back into her regular sleep pattern. Before her return to Florida I asked her if she planned to enter the competition next year and she smiled, nodded and whispered to me her ideas. Congratulations Suzie, my lips are sealed!

We received this email and photo from some recent guests:

Hi Mary Jo and Michael,

Two days after our return to Newfoundland we were at our ocean side old fisherman’s home, where a local lobsterman (a friend) sets his pots around our dock, as a result, of course, we had our first meal of the year, fresh from the ocean.

I have already used one recipe and looking forward to completing the whole book.

Our stay was wonderful, and be assured we will return.

Regards, Albert and Karen

We just published our winter 2007 newsletter and have been receiving a lot of great feedback. Thank you for your notes!

Michael and Mary Jo
___________________________________

Hello,
Just to let you know, I still have a postcard of the Heartstone Inn at my desk at home. I paid you a visit about two years ago, in the winter, and came away saying that it was about the best inn I had ever visited, and I have been to many. It was not just the look of your place, but the warm friendly nature of the staff that made me feel as if I was visiting their home as a welcome guest. I still think about my visit, to this day.

I will be back again.
Glenn
___________________________________

Hello,
My husband and I stayed at your inn for our 5th anniversary in 2001. We’ve continued to get your e-mails, although we’ve not been back to Maine since then. This weekend, my sister and her husband are there for their 5th anniversary. Their names are Mike and Mary _____.
When we were together at Thanksgiving, they mentioned that they were thinking of Maine for their anniversary and asked if we had a recommendation. In addition to your e-mails, we had just received your postcard at home. I thought of the Hartstone immediately. Your updated and informative Web site provided all they needed to know. The trip to the James Beard House and the recent Boston Globe coverage were terrific endorsements.
I’m sure they’ll have a wonderful weekend.
Just thought I’d let you know how your e-mails were making a difference five years later. We hope to make it back to Camden one day.

Patti and Ritchie
Memphis
___________________________________

Dear Michael,

We had such a wonderful time at your inn to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary last May (2006). Brian and I were dazzled by the meals you prepared and your famous souffles. My husband was thrilled with the tour you gave us of your kitchen and was looking forward to feeling well enough to return to the Hartstone Inn for your cooking classes. As a heart transplant recipient with a compromised immune system, there were many complications. My Brian passed away on September 23, 2007. I just wanted you to know that we had very happy memories of our trip to Camden, Maine and that it was a pleasure to meet you and your lovely wife.

Sincerely,
Maureen