Dawn F.
Yelp
York, Maine ***you can experience this on a small scale in Costa Mesa, CA
If you've never tried Stonewall Kitchen Jams, they are just the best. There are many ways to try them even if you don't make a trip to Maine anytime in the near future. Most gourmet food stores around the country sell their products, but there are also other ways to creatively find and try their products, read below ***.
In just over a one hour drive outside of Boston, a quick drive through a part of New Hampshire and into Maine will take you to the adorable town of York, Maine. We happened to drive right by the Stonewall Kitchen sign when our tires almost screeched to a stop and I asked my husband to pull in to one of my favorite jam companies. I had no idea they were located in Maine, and even more so had a company store, cooking school, restaurant, and production facility that were opened to the public! I was so excited we happened upon this spot! I was even more excited when I found out that they have duplicated this on a smaller scale on the West Coast at Macy's South Coast Plaza Home Store in Costa Mesa, CA. After my Maine Visit, I can't wait to visit the West Coast Macy's Stonewall Store and Cafe (West Coast cafe opened just for lunch every day from 11am to 3 pm -they even sell lobster rolls and clam chowder and a thanksgiving turkey and stuffing sandwich...so excited to try soon!). I had no idea this CA location even existed out our way, its fairly new as I think it opened some time in 2018!
Back to Maine...there is an observation window to see what is being bottled for the day (you can not enter the plant itself just view), a very well appointed on site cooking school where you can pay to take classes and learn how to make and then partake of mouthwatering creations, a company store where you can literally taste and try every single product they sell...if you are into sampling, this is a gourmet food sampling mecca of bottled jams jellies, sauces, condiments. I was satiated with our earlier breakfast stop at Flour Bakery in Boston, MA, but the hot breakfast items coming out of the cafe inside of the company store looked enticing, and their pastry case rivaled what I saw at flour...definitely looked worth a try, but our tummies were full.
We bought some jams for gifts for family and friends in the area, they gift wrapped the jars nicely with high quality trademark bags and tissue. We were sad that even their tiny jars were larger than the 3 oz minimum for TSA non checked bags, we could not take mini bottles of jam back home with us...but glad there is a location in CA.
***I was delighted to learn a little secret...I recognized some familiar flavors and realized they private label a few jams and condiments at a fraction of the price for one of my favorite grocery chains staring with "T" and ending with "J"...with a " 's " at the very end. Think grapefruit, peach and corn items and, you will find some of their products, but I would not doubt there are more.
The garden in the summertime...is spectacular...one of my favorite parts of the visit. Done by a local landscape gardener, it was more than my eyes could take in, so I snapped away at the photos, just gorgeous! I hear they decorate with Christmas trees outside come Wintertime!
Worth a stop if you love gourmet jams, jellies, condiments, oil, vinegar, visiting factory stores/production facilities, or love cooking in general!